A trio of New Zealand friends are combining the physical and the spiritual with Fit for the Kingdom, a program aimed at enriching men’s lives and connection with Scripture.
The program began as a podcast in 2023 in which hosts Bede Alexander, Tomas Mones-Cazon, and Matt Mischewski expressed themselves as they discerned their vocations.
After Mischewski left the podcast to start a family Alexander and Mones-Cazon formed youth groups, camps, and retreats, incorporating Scripture readings, Mass, and exercise, with one being initiative named St Michael’s Troops, which is an offshoot of their friendship group.
Fit for the Kingdom describes itself as being a “movement dedicated to integrating the physical and spiritual life” which promotes prayer and training to spread the Word.
While based primarily in New Zealand, the group has expanded and taken some events to Australia, most recently when they hosted a St Michael’s Troops event in Sydney.
Held jointly at Campion College Australia and Warlock’s Gym in Toongabbie in late March, the recent Fit for the Kingdom event brought about 50 young men together for prayer, formation, and physical challenges.
“The whole idea was just really to bring young men together, to grow in virtue, in holiness and in brotherhood and to do something that maybe you necessarily wouldn’t do on a daily basis,” he said.
“It’s really just about how we use the worldly goods for pursuing that which will serve us for eternity.”
Looking ahead, Alexander is not sure what Fit for the Kingdom will look like but says the group lives to “serve the church.”
“We would like to reach, ultimately, as many young men and women as we can and support them in their faith,” he said.
“We would love for it to grow and that there could maybe a gym or something opened up for men’s ministry in Sydney, we think that’d be amazing.
“We just take it one day at a time and trust our Lord and see what he presents before us.”