ROCKLEDGE | Three new fraternities at St. Mary Parish in Rockledge began the journey through St. Michael’s Lent, offered through Exodus 90, a program designed to lead men to grow spiritually through practices of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity.

St. Michael’s Lent is a 40-day spiritual exercise begun by St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. Described in The Little Flowers of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure, the period begins on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15) and ends on the feast of the Holy Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (Sept. 29). St. Francis began the devotion shortly after receiving the stigmata, in honor of Our Lady and St. Michael.

This is Duane Frey’s third year participating in Exodus 90. The program provides meditations, reflections and other practices throughout the year. For the men of St. Mary’s, the Lenten experience taught them more about St. Michael, the angels, and how to be a better spiritual warrior. Frey said this year was focused “on spiritual warfare and the battle we’re facing.” He described the 40 days as, “reinvigorating my recognition that the closer I get to Jesus and the more I work to serve Him in the Church, I almost now anticipate attacks.”

Through specific Scriptures like St. Paul’s letters to various communities, prayers, and disciplines, the men became more aware of the good and evil that surrounds us and how God has provided angels for protection.

“It also brings attention to our guardian angel. We are all assigned a guardian angel and should not be afraid to commune and seek their protection, and offer praise and thanksgiving for them,” Frey said. Acknowledging the disciplines are hard to commit to, from cold showers to fasting twice per week and a 2 a.m. holy hour, Frey said, “Having this recognition of good and the evil that’s pulling us in one direction or another has been rewarding for me.”

Serving 33 years in the Air Force with 23 years in active duty and seven deployments, Frey said he has a “warrior ethos mindset.” He believes this is part of his attraction to St. Michael. “This figure of strength is natural for me. I am naturally drawn to that type of imagery,” he said. Participation in Exodus 90 over the past three years led him to see a need in his parish, so he helped launch three fraternities at St. Mary’s this year.

Javier Nieves is part of one of them. Although involved in the Church, he desired something to help him deepen his relationship with Christ. He said St. Michael’s Lent has him thinking about God 24/7 and that’s what he likes.

“(St. Michael’s Lent) gives you the strength to face all the atrocities we face on a daily basis,” he said. “It shows you there’s a bigger power; that you’re not alone.”

His takeaway, “It empowers us as men to lead our families to a better Christian life, a closer Christian life with God. The empowerment we receive by St. Michael taught us that we’re not alone — that with him and God we can win any fight we encounter. We don’t have to be afraid of anything.”

Formerly in the Navy and Coast Guard, Nieves has long looked to St. Michael as a mentor. When he first joined the military, his mother gave him a St. Michael medal. He credited God and the archangel for protecting him during some very close calls.

Rodney Philgren is a father of three and married for 33 years. He was attracted to a program that will continue and be sustainable. “When you say ‘yes’ you don’t know what the Lord has in store. For me it was the obedience and discipline,” he said. As a disciplined person he was intrigued. He likes the structure, noting it helped him grow in his faith.

Although he believes in his guardian angel, he said he never really gave it much thought. Philgren said he learned more about the spiritual domain and living in that versus the world in general.

“That simple awareness, even looking at nature from the St. Francis perspective – how God put His hand on all of this we’re blessed to be a part of. It tells me I’m not in this alone. I know I have the Holy Spirit in me, but just knowing that I literally have a warrior that’s helping me every day, fighting every moment that I have in my life helps,” he said. “So, I call upon him more than I ever have in my life. Just saying the words, ‘St. Michael, help me right now. I’m feeling weak.’ To be able to call upon him when I didn’t for the past 55 years, is brand new to me.”

Philgren looks forward to continuing Exodus 90 and what lies” “ahead. He especially appreciates the fraternity and growing in faith and friendship with other Catholic men on the spiritual journey. He said St. Michael’s Lent has “given (him) comfort and confidence to move forward.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, October 02, 2025