Men of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte have started the Fraternity of St. Joseph to support one another, especially younger men of the parish, in their life journey as Catholic men. (Photo provided by Ray Haywood)CHARLOTTE — A new ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is attracting men young and old to come together and support one another in being the faithful Catholic men they are called to be.
The mission of the Fraternity of St. Joseph is to impart the value of each man’s faith-filled gifts to the next generation of Catholic men within the faith community. The men’s group began meeting at the Charlotte parish in November, and as the Year of St. Joseph launches in 2020, it aims to inspire other parishes follow its example.
Its emphasis is on promoting the virtues, increasing men’s participation in the Eucharist and the sacraments, and encouraging them to learn more about their faith.
Founders of the Fraternity of St. Joseph see the ministry as a lived fellowship, where growth in moral posture and family values is the footing. It is an institution committed to steadfast faith-filled men who hold themselves and each other accountable to their families and the communities that they will ultimately transform around them.
Parishioner and founding member, Ray Haywood, believes all participants in the fraternity “will be gained in the knowledge that as brothers, we are stronger when we are united in standing, working and praying together! Iron sharpens iron.”
“I believe that the third millennial will be led by St. Joseph,” Haywood says. St. Joseph can be the guide for men, especially fathers, to grow in their vocation and strengthen their families.
He sees the fraternity as a way for men to share with each other the life lessons they have learned and bring clarity to the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead for men who want to live their faith intentionally.
“In our humanity, we stand confused and outside of ourselves when we face things on our own,” he says. “We are not meant to face our journey alone. Not even Jesus faced the journey of His physical life alone.”
“The message we will be sharing and handing on (to younger fraternity members in particular), contains the life lessons that only wisdom can hold true. Truth is told to us all slowly, and over time,” he adds.
The parish’s Deacon Joe Diaz is another of the fraternity’s founding members.
“One of the biggest issues in our society is the breakdown of the family – where single-parent families, divorce rather than reconciliation, and the quest for the ‘almighty dollar’ have become the accepted norm rather than the exception,” Deacon Diaz points out.
Parental authority has been weakened because of this breakdown in society, and young people today lack examples to follow.
“The Fraternity of St. Joseph at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is trying to help combat this by giving men, young and old, a place to explore their faith and their roles and responsibilities as Catholic men within the family and society,” Deacon Diaz says. “It is striving to give those attending the meetings, good, strong and solid Catholic tools to combat the secular influences that are attacking the family.”
The group’s regular meetings include study of Catholic books, discussion of current news events and experiences in their lives, and a general question-and-answer session. The group is also reading Haywood’s new book on Catholic fatherhood, “Tools to Ready the Journey.”
“While this fraternity may not solve all the ills of our society, it can give the men of our parish the tools to be good leaders – good Catholic leaders in both their families and society. As a supporter and attendee, I am happy to lend my knowledge of the faith and experience to the Fraternity’s efforts,” Deacon Diaz says.
Father Matthew Codd, pastor, believes the Fraternity of St. Joseph is important “because so many young men don’t understand the importance of their faith. They need good, strong male role models who can teach them how to see value in what Christ asks of us as fathers and men, and how to navigate the confusing times we live in.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
For more info
The Fraternity of St. Joseph is open to all Catholic men over age 18. They meet at 8:30 a.m. every first and third Saturday in Aquinas Hall adjacent to St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. Have questions about joining or starting a similar group at your parish? Contact Ray Haywood at 704-707-5709 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..