God Squad is a group of young men and women who desire to strive in their spiritual life with the same intensity as some students strive in sports, band, theater or other extracurricular activities.  Scripture says:

NAB 1 Timothy 4:7 “Train yourself for devotion, 8 for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future. 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 For this we toil and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe.”

NAB 1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. 25 Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 26 Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. 27 No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

The practical goal of God Squad is to train people in lives of genuine devotion through spiritual exercises and meditation.  It is also intend to encourage a fuller participation in the traditions and practices of Lent culminating in an intense celebration of the Triduum and Easter Week.

The spiritual goal of God Squad is to die to the old self and rise as a new creation in Christ.  It is to be “crucified with Christ” as St. Paul says,

“I have been crucified with Christ;
and the life I now live is no longer my own…
But Christ who lives in me.”
Galatians 2:19-20

The basic format of the God Squad imitates the format of the Sports.  Thus sports terminology is used as an analogy for the spiritual life:

• Coach = Chaplain and teachers who assist in organizing and arranging the God Squad events.
• Captains = Student small group facilitators who maintain accountability, lead prayers, lead discussion groups, help organize the calendar and carry out various tasks and responsibilities
• Squad Parents:  Parents of God Squad students who desire to support their students through creative activities and chaperoning.
• Seasons:
• Recruiting Season: inviting other students to participate in the Lenten Season.
• Advent Season: A minor season of training focusing primarily on shared morning prayer.
• Lenten Season:  The primary season of God Squad including all its events, practices and traditions
• Training Days = daily activities.
• Study the playbook: Meditation on Scripture
• Doin’ Ropes: praying the Rosary
• Scrimmage: Daily Mass
• Huddles: Student led discussion groups
• Laps and Lunges:  Stations of the Cross
• Hall of Fame, Squat Thrusts, Wind Sprints: Studying the lives of the Saints, praying various Litanies, Divine Mercy Chaplet
• Game Day = Sundays celebration with one’s family
• Olympic Games: Easter Triduum.
•  “Hell Week”: a week of intense fasting and penance including an integral confession.
• Conditioning: prayer, fasting and almsgiving throughout Lent
• Prayer and Fasting Warriors / Angels:  Members assigned names of entire student body to pray and offer sacrifice on their behalf
• Training Camp: All-night Vigil
• Calisthenics – Small Charitable works done on someone else’s behalf.
• Cardiovascular – Brief visits to the chapel or small prayers offered to God throughout the day. 
• Squat Thrusts – Litanies
• Wind Sprints – Divine Mercy Chaplet
• “Crucified”: Achieving Varsity level participation.  Students receive a Benedictine Cross usually blessed by the Pope.
• Lettering: A BC “Liturgy and Spirituality letter” will be awarded to any student who has made varsity two years in a row, two JV and one Varsity year.
• Pins: A ‘Monstrance’ designating participation in God Squad Advent or any Vigil celebration.
• Varsity: Those who achieve the highest level of participation and accountability (80% of weekly routine).
• Junior Varsity Requirements:  Those who are held to a lower level of participation and accountability (at least 50% of the weekly routine).
• C-Team:  Students who wish to participate without accountability.

Varsity Level Requirements:  participation in the following

• Attend the Easter Triduum either with their family or with the Squad.
• Participate in at least 80% of the weekly routine:
• Monday through Friday 6:45-7:30.
• Saturday 9:00 – 10:15.
• Go to Confession regularly.
• Attempt to go to daily Mass as often as possible (on your honor).
• Fast and offer sacrifice on behalf of BCCHS
• Attempt to go to the four special occasions:      
• Fat Tuesday Opening Celebration
• Laetare All Night Vigil
• Holy Thursday Sader Meal
• Divine Mercy Closing Celebration

Junior Varsity Requirements: 

• Participate in at least 50% of the required God Squad days.

• To fully participate in Traditions of Lent
• Prayer
• Training Days
• Fasting / abstinence
• Fast on behalf of BC students, facuty and staff
• Assign names to each varsity student
• Almsgiving (Calisthenics)
• Suggesions for daily good works
• Special Days
• Shrove Tuesday
• Latarae Sunday: All night Vigil
• Divine Mercy Closing Celebration
• Special Events / Practices
• Combined Morning Prayer and Mass
• Novus Ordo Mass
• Extraordinary Form of Mass
• All-Night Vigil
• To prepare for deep participation in Sundays (Game Days) and Triduum (Olympics)
• Sundays and Triduum are always spent with family. 
• If family does not participate in the full Triduum, members are required to join the God Squad.
• Chrism Mass: reception of oils
• Holy Thursday:
• Seder Meal
• Mass of the Lord's Supper
• Good Friday
• 'The Passion of the Christ'
• Easter Vigil
• To belong to a community striving in spiritual training.
• To be accountable for and to encourage one another in fulfilling one’s Lenten commitment
• Hebrews 10:25 “We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

• The Spiritual Goal of God Squad is fundamentally based on the Two Great Commandments (Matt 22:32-40):
• “You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
• This love of God is fostered through the use of the adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, meditations, devotions and through the encouragement of a genuine sacramental life.
• “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• However, the love of neighbor is fostered through gatherings and meetings that support conversation, such as huddles as well as prayer exercises that are not in the Presence of the Eucharist which allow students to interact with one another.
• Not only does God Squad train one in a genuine love of God and love of neighbor but it also intends to instill a true desire for salvation as St Peter says in 1 Peter 1:20:
• “The goal of your faith is the salvation of your soul.”
• To train one’s daily life of true devotion
• To order one’s spiritual life to the awareness of grace
• Sacramaents
• Frequent Confession
• Suggested daily Eucharistic Participation
• Training in an Indulgenced Life:
• Four Daily Plenary Indulgences
• One Half Hour of Scripture Meditation
• One Half Hour of Adoration
• Rosary with Pious Association of Faithful
• Stations of the Cross
• Requirements for Plenary Indulgences

1. Coaches
1. Purpose
2. Duties / Roles

• Priest
• Faculty

2. Captains
1. Purpose
2. Duties
3. Squad Parents
1. Purpose
2. Duties

Dear God Squad Parents,

            In an effort to further encourage the students in their commitment to God Squad and to allow you to become more personally involved, the idea has been proposed to start a sort of God Squad Booster Club.  Just as the various sports have groups of parents to give them moral support, we believe the God Squad students would benefit from such a boost.  The idea involves a group of self-led and organized parents, or “Squad Parents” (Squad moms / Squad dads), who would perform similar tasks as a Booster Club.  This could possibly include, but is not limited to, such things as:

1. putting up name signs in the commons,
2. decorating student lockers,
3. providing morning donuts, cookies, milk or juice,
4. having a pancake breakfast feed,
5. being prayer angels to various students,
6. and helping chaperone events such as the Lenten Vigil: 2/29-3/1; Seder Meal: March 3/20; Divine Mercy Celebration: 3/30). 

It would be necessary for parents to take initiative on organizing this group and its activities, as well as handling transitions from year-to-year. 
This is an amazing way to support our students in an extracurricular activity that is not carried out in the presence of spectators.  This would give the students a sense of appreciation and encouragement as they carry out their Lenten duties. 
If you are interested in helping organize or participating in such a group, please contact Karen Peck (peckkaren@bcchs.org) as soon as possible, since the season has already started.  Thank you for all of your continued support and prayers.

Peace in Christ,
God Squad Coaches

(Coaches: Fr. Jarrod, Aubrey Logsdon, Lisa Carlino, Fernando Martinez, Karen Peck, Cecilia Rziha)

God Squad’s weekly schedule is based on the weekly rhythm of the ‘Spiritual Exercises’ of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Ash Wednesday – 1st Saturday of Lent:          Preparation Days
1st Week of Lent -                                               Purification Days (Hell Week)
2nd Week of Lent -                                              Encounter with Christ
3rd Week of Lent -                                               Encounter with Christ
4th Week of Lent -                                               Encounter with Christ
5th Week of Lent -                                               Passion of Christ
6th Week of Lent -                                               Holy Week
7th Week of Lent -                                               Resurrection of Christ

The daily spiritual rhythms of God Squad are largely fomed by reflecting on the Church’s Sacramental Life, Liturgical Life and Indulgenced prayers: 

Monday:  Doin’ Ropes
Student Leader:

Opening Song
Morning Prayer
“I have been crucified…”
Transition Song
Rosary with Meditation (Coach)
Salve Regina
Anima Christi
Divine Praises
St. Michael

Tuesday: Playbook
Student Leader:

Exposition
Opening Song
Morning Prayer
“I have been crucified…”
Transition Song
Meditation
Closing Song
Anima Christi
Divine Praises
St. Michael

Wednesday:  Scrimmage

Fr. Jarrod Leads

Opening Song
Morning Prayer
“I have been crucified…”
Opening Song
Communion Hymn
Post communion
Anima Christi
Closing Song
St. Michael

Thursday:  Huddles
Student Leader:

Opening Song
Morning Prayer
“I have been crucified…”
Move to Library
Discussion Groups
Circle Prayer
Anima Christi
St. Michael

Friday:  Laps and Lunges
Student Leader:

Opening Song
Morning Prayer
Stations of the Cross
“I have been crucified…”
Reverencing of the Relic
Behold O Kind and Most Sweet Jesus
Parce Domine
Divine Praises
St. Michael

Saturday:  Hall of Fame / Wind Sprints
Student Leader:

Opening Song
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Silent Meditation / Coach’s Reflection
MP Opening Song
Mass Opening Song
Offertory Meditation
Communion Hymn
Post communion:
Anima Christi
“I have been crucified…”
Closing Song
St. Michael

Four Special Occastions

• Fat Tuesday Opening Celebration
• Laetare All Night Vigil
• Holy Thursday Sader Meal
• Divine Mercy Closing Celebration

Call and Response: Galations 2:19-20

“I have been crucified with Christ; and the life I now live is no longer my own…But Christ who lives in me.”

Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. 
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.
Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

Anima Christi  (Partial Indulgence)

Soul of Christ, Sanctify me.
Body of Christ, Save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from you.
From the malignant enemy defend me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me to come to you,
That with you Saints I my praise you
Forever and ever.  Amen.

St. Michael, the Archangel

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in this day of battle.  Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.  May God rebuke him we humbly pray and do, thou or Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast down into hell Satan and all his evil spirits who wander throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

O Bone et Dulcisime Iesu (Partial Indulgence)

Behold, O Kind and Most Sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech thee that thou wouldst impress, upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment; while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate they five wounds, having before my eyes the words David the prophet put on thy lips concerning thee: “They have pierced my hands and my feet.  They have numbered all my bones.”

Rosary Closing Hymn
Salve Regina (Partial Indulgence)

Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae,

Vita dulcedo et spes nostra salve,
Ad te clamamus exules filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
In hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
Illos tuos misericordes oculos
Ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
Nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O Clemens, o pia, o  Virgo Maria.

Much of God Squads training comes from the implementation of various indulgences, both plenary and partial.

Requirements for gaining a partial indulgence:

• One must be baptized.
• One must be in a state of grace.
• One must have at least the general intention of doing so.
• One must carry out the enjoined works at the stated time and in due fashion, according to the sense of the grant.

Additional requirements of a plenary indulgence are as follows:

• A plenary indulgence may be gained only once a day, all other indulgences on the same day are partial.
• One must exclude all attachment to sin, even venial sin.
• One must receive a sacramental confession within a reasonable time (8 days).
• One must receive Eucharistic Communion on the same day as the indulgence.
• One must pray for the intention of the Holy Father (usually one Our Father and one Hail Mary)

The Four General Concessions of Indulgences:

• The First General Concession:  “Cardiovascular”: 
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make at least mentally, some pious invocation.”
• The Second General Concession:  “Calisthenics”: 
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, led by the spirit of penance, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need.”
• The Third General Concession: 
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.”
• The Fourth General Concession: 
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.”

Plenary Indulgences:

• Eucharistic Adoration for at least a half an hour. 
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration lasting at least a half hour.”
• Marian Rosary:  “Ropes”
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who…devoutly recite the Marian rosary in a church or oratory, or in a family, a religious community, or an association of the faithful, and in general when several of the faithful gather fro some honest purpose.”
• Sacred Scripture, reading or at least listening for a half an hour: “Playbook”
• “A plenary indulgences is granted to the faithful who read the Sacred Scriptures as spiritual reading…with reverence due to the divine word, for at least a half an hour; if the time is less, the indulgence will be partial.”
• Pious exercise of the Way of the Cross:  “Laps and Lunges”
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who personally make the pious Way of the Cross.”
• Holy Thursday:
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously recite the verses of the Tantum ergo after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday during the solemn reposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament.”
• Good Friday:
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly assist at the adoration of the Cross in the solemn liturgical action of Good Friday.”
• Holy Saturday:
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, at the celebration of the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of their own Baptism, renew their baptismal vows in any legitimately approved formula.”
• Prayer before a Crucifix (Behold O Kind and Most Sweet Jesus)
• “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who on any of the Fridays of Lent devoutly recite after Communion the prayer En Ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu before a crucifix.”

Parital Indulgences:

• An Act of Spiritual Communion:
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, using any duly approved pious formula, make an act of spiritual communion…
• or an act of thanksgiving after Communion (e.g. Anima Christi, O bone et dulcissime Iesu).”
• The Salve Regina, Memorare, Regina Caeli
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly address the Blessed Virgin Mary with some approved prayer.”
• Prayers in Honor of St. Joseph
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who invoke St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a duly approved prayer.”
• Adoro Te Devote, O sacrum convivium, Tantum ergo, visit the Blessed Sacrament
• “A paritial indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration;…or offer any duly approved prayer to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament (eg. Adoro te devote, O sacrum convivium or the Tantum ergo.)”
• Angele Dei (Angel of God)
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly invoke the care of their guardian Angel with a duly approved prayer.”
• Act of Contrition, Confiteor (I Confess…), De Profundis (Ps 130, Out of the Depths, ), Misrere (Ps 50, Friday Morning Prayer), or any of the grdual or penitential psalms)
• “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, especially in preparation for sacramental confession…examine their conscience with the purpose of amendment;…devoutly recite an act of contrition, according to any legitimate formula
• Litanies (Squat Thrusts)
• A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite approved litanies (e.g. of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Josesph, and of the Saints.

God Squad Absence Make-up Form

Name:  _________________________________________________________________

Day Absent:_____________________________

Reason Absent:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Day Made-up:_____________________________

Activities and schedule of Make-up:  (At least 40 minutes of prayer)

Fr. Jarrod’s Signature:  ________________________________________________

God Squad Absence Make-up Form

Name:  _________________________________________________________________

Day Absent:_____________________________

Reason Absent:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Day Made-up:_____________________________

Activities and schedule of Make-up:  (At least 40 minutes of prayer)

Fr. Jarrod’s Signature:  ________________________________________________