Who We Are
Fit Shepherds aims to have every man in our community be in the best physical and spiritual shape of their lives. We strive to model our lives after the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
What We Do
Fit Shepherds are formed through demanding workouts, fraternity, and discipleship. We accomplish this through weekly peer-led outdoor workouts, followed by reflections and fellowship with the goal of forming men into leaders of their family, church, and community.
Watch the video to learn more about Fit Shepherds!
How We Got Here
Fit Shepherds is the creation of Fr. Mark Bernhard and has been implemented within many parish communities throughout the country.
“When I was in seminary, I knew the importance of investing in men in order to reach the family and change the world. I believe that if you want to get the family, you have to get the man. Even with this being the case, often times at the parish the attention of the priest can go toward the women in their 70s and 80s—I didn’t want to be a priest that had all my time be with the knitting club (please don’t hear what I’m not saying—I love these ladies). I was relating all this to Jesus in prayer one day and I heard the Lord say: “okay, then invest in men.” It was then I got an image of working out with men in the parking lot. The image was foggy in my head, but at that moment Fit Shepherds was implanted in me by the Holy Spirit.
After I was ordained a priest, I was assigned to Our Lady of Mercy in Aurora, IL. I began to meet with a couple men at the parish to formalize what Fit Shepherds would look like. On Good Shepherd Sunday (2018) Fit Shepherds took life. Fit Shepherds has served as a place for men to be physically challenged, encounter authentic fraternity, and deepen their relationship with Christ.”
-Fr. Mark Bernhard
Interested in information about starting a chapter at your home parish? Contact us and find out more!
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“There’s a crisis of good men in our world today. The standards that society hold for men seems to keep getting lower and lower and lower. We, as a society, have bought into the mantra that men will be men, boys will be boys. ... There’s a strong, strong narrative out there that lends to the idea that faith, religion, a relationship with Jesus – that’s a woman thing. Raising kids in the faith, that’s a mom thing. Taking kids to church, mom’s job. ... This narrative that is so strong leads to the idea of thinking that it’s ok for men to objectify women. ... This narrative lends to fatherless homes, or at least to being absent. … A new narrative needs to be created. ….So what’s the solution? …. I suggest that we work out together. … Meet me next Saturday in the church parking lot at 7 o’clock to work out. Those of you who have played sports growing up know that there is a special bond that is formed together when you work out with others. ... The goal is what? The goal is to write a new narrative. The goal is to transform the culture. To raise up better men for our society. To raise up better men for our families. Ultimately, to invite guys who are not of this fold to a life-changing encounter with Jesus.”
-Fr. Mark Bernhard