WHY START A CHAPTER?
Most parishes already have good things going — rosary groups, Bible studies, Knights of Columbus, service organizations. Men of St. Joseph isn't trying to replace any of them or compete with them. What it does that most other things don't is provide a lifelong fellowship rather than a time-limited program. There's no curriculum to exhaust, no series to finish. Just men showing up week after week, year after year, growing together.
What tends to happen in parishes with a strong Men of St. Joseph chapter is that other ministries get stronger too. Men who are spiritually engaged don't stay in one lane. The ripple effect is real — and it starts with a small group of men willing to be consistent.
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN THE MEN OF ST JOSEPH?
As a man you have a deep, almost instinctual call to accomplish and have impact. That need is what drives men to discover new worlds, develop new technologies, and accomplish “impossible tasks”. It’s also with pushes us to succeed in business, build, create, hunt, fish, and compete in sports. But in the end we are all called for more than reaching the mountain tops of this world. Our ultimate goal is much more significant: Eternal Life with Christ. For most of us that can seem more daunting than scaling a high cliff face. But the truth is that is what men are built to do. Men are called to be spiritual leaders. Our number one goal in life is not wealth or professional esteem but to get ourselves, our wives, children, and even our friends to heaven. It may seem an impossible task but it’s not. Our calling to become spiritual leaders becomes easier when we have the accountability, support, and example of other men all focused on the same goal. That is the purpose of the Men of St. Joseph. And that is why we hope you will join us.
The Men of St Joseph is designed to give you the structure, insight, confidence and support you need to help get you and your family to heaven. In the end we have to ask ourselves, is there anything more important than that? Join the Men of St. Joseph. Help yourself and your family climb that Most Important Mountain.
WHO ARE THE MEN OF ST. JOSEPH?
We are lay Catholic men — ordinary men in ordinary parishes — committed to becoming the spiritual leaders our families need. Our weekly meetings are built around faith, prayer, and honest discussion of what it actually means to live as a Catholic man today. The vision behind it isn't small: St. John Paul II called the family the fundamental cell of society. Men of St. Joseph exists to strengthen that cell, one man at a time.
WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?
Our mission is “To put the family in the hands of the Father.” We believe it is time for men to step up and take a leadership role in guiding their families, friends, parishes and their communities towards Christ and the fullness of His Catholic Church.
WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU MEET?
Men of St. Joseph chapters meet once a week at their home parish — typically early morning on a weekday, often before or after daily Mass. Find a chapter near you.
WHAT DO YOU DO AT A MEN OF ST. JOSEPH MEETING?
Meetings run about an hour. They're intentionally simple: prayer from the Magnificat, shared intentions, a reading from the upcoming Sunday Gospel, and discussion — focused not on academic analysis but on practical application. What does this mean for how I lead my family? How does it apply to what I'm actually dealing with this week? That's the conversation.
ARE YOU A “SMALL-GROUP BIBLE STUDY?”
No, Men of St. Joseph is not a “small-group” organization. It is common to start a group with 5 or 6 men, but depending on parish size, chapters grow to 20, 30, 40, or more men. Growth is encouraged. During the discussion portion of meetings, though, some of the larger groups do break out into smaller groups, to facilitate discussion.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE A PARENT TO BE IN THE MEN OF ST. JOSEPH?
No, not at all. Men of St. Joseph are made up of men in all states of life, single, married, widowed, and divorced.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO ATTEND MEN OF ST. JOSEPH MEETINGS?
Catholics and non-Catholics alike are welcome. The structure and mission itself are fully Catholic in nature, adhering to all the teachings of the Catholic Church.
ARE YOU A SERVICE OR FUND RAISING GROUP?
No. Men of St. Joseph is not a service organization, a civic group, or a fundraising arm. The mission is spiritual formation — helping men grow in faith and lead their families. Everything else flows from that.
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MEN OF ST. JOSEPH?
You become a member of the Men of St. Joseph by attending the weekly Men of St. Joseph meetings at your parish.
HOW DO I FIND OUT IF MY PARISH HAS A MEN OF ST. JOSEPH CHAPTER?
Find a full list of Men of St. Joseph chapters here.
HOW DO I START A MEN OF ST. JOSEPH GROUP AT MY PARISH?
If your parish doesn't have a chapter yet, we'd like to change that. Start here and we'll be in touch.
HOW IS THE MEN OF ST. JOSEPH ORGANIZED?
The Men of St. Joseph is a private juridic person and private association of the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church, in accord with the Code of Canon Law, erected, established and approved by the Archbishop of Mobile, on June 13, 2011. In civil law, the Men of St. Joseph is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation.
IS THE MEN OF ST. JOSEPH A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION?
Yes; in the United States the Men of St. Joseph is listed in the Official Catholic Directory, under the Archdiocese of Mobile, and is thus recognized as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
*Magnificat is a monthly Catholic publication containing daily prayers for morning and evening, the official text of the daily Mass, and daily meditations and devotions. www.magnificat.com
