A Dram of Wisdom
Brotherhood, Beauty, and the Call to Heroic Masculinity with Fr. Deacon Andrew Bennett
In a recent attempt to record an episode of A Dram with Friends the audio cut in and out. So now it’s an article describing how host Sean Lynn shares a rich conversation over a pour of Glenfarclas 25-year-old single malt with Fr. Deacon Andrew Bennett—a deacon in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, faith communities director at the Christian think tank Cardus, and former Canadian Ambassador for Religious Freedom. The bottle of Glenfarclas was obtained to celebrate our 25th annual men’s conference (with the 29th on the horizon), this episode blends the warmth of Scotch, the depth of Eastern Catholic tradition, the thrill of fly fishing, and timeless insights on liturgy, perseverance, and brotherhood. It’s a reminder that true heroism for men lies in planting roots where God calls, fostering deep friendships, and embracing the Church’s living tradition amid a spiritual revival sweeping North America.
Whiskey as the Spark of Brotherhood
The episode opens with a ritual as old as male camaraderie: selecting a dram. Fr. Deacon Andrew chooses the Glenfarclas 25 as it evokes memories of a sublime Glenfarclas 15 enjoyed in an Oxford pub. “Taste before you cut,” Sean advises, echoing his father’s wisdom on adding just enough water to unlock the malt’s flavors without numbing the tongue. They debate dilution ratios—Fr. Mallon’s 35% rule versus bolder theories—landing on the simple joy of savoring life’s finer moments with a brother.
This isn’t mere indulgence; it’s a gateway to deeper bonds. As Sean notes, Heroic Men’s mission thrives on brotherhood: “You don’t know if you might meet your best friend tomorrow.” Fr. Deacon Andrew reinforces this, sharing his priest-friend’s maxim: “The people that come into our lives are there for our salvation.” From homeless encounters to lifelong allies, every meeting shapes us. For men building lives in Calgary, Ottawa, or beyond, this dram underscores Heroic Men’s ethos—never pass up an opportunity to connect, especially in Christ.
St. Joseph: Foster Father Across Rites
Turning to devotions close to Heroic Men’s heart, the conversation honors St. Joseph, Sean’s “good buddy” and how a statue at our new shrine had inspired the commissioning of The Litany of St Joseph which Sean called a soul-penetrating musical experience. The score has been gifted to the Sistine Chapel and St. Joseph’s Oratory. In the Ukrainian Greek Catholic tradition, St. Joseph—called “Joseph the Betrothed”—shines on the Sunday after Christmas alongside King David (his Davidic lineage linking to Christ) and James the Brother of the Lord (possibly Joseph’s son from a prior marriage). Icons depict him humbly offering turtledoves at the Temple, hands folded in quiet guardianship.
Fr. Deacon Andrew serves at Ottawa’s National Shrine of St. John the Baptist, blessed by St. John Paul II, housing a wonderworking icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. This Eastern lens enriches Roman devotions: Joseph’s solemnity on March 19 aligns with Heroic Men’s upcoming month-long challenge, urging men to embrace fatherhood—spiritual and biological—as protectors of the domestic church.
Fly Fishing: Casting Lines into God’s Creation
Amid Calgary’s rivers, the Bow and Elbow call to Fr. Deacon Andrew, a devoted fly fisherman who eyes them longingly during visits. “They look pretty fishy,” he quips, praising the Bow’s world-class status. Sean recalls how powerful the rivers were during the 2013 flood fury. Sean shares policing tales and upcoming trips: which includes fly fishing in Wyoming with Bishop Scott McCaig, family drives to Idaho Falls.
Fly fishing mirrors apostolic life—Peter, Andrew, and John as “fishers of men.” Referencing A River Runs Through It, Fr. Deacon Andrew celebrates its contemplative rhythm: dry flies for the beloved disciple John. Even a coworker losing his sight adapts with “Take a Blind Guy Fishing,” proving resilience. For Heroic Men, these waters symbolize patience, stewardship of creation, and male adventure—perfect for buddy-system challenges that draw men from isolation into shared pursuit.
Sacred Music: The Timeless Voice of Tradition
A highlight: the resurgence of sacred music in liturgy. Fr. Deacon Andrew laments praise-and-worship’s emotional pull in Mass—”not entertainment”—favoring Gregorian chant (Latin West) and harmonized polyphony (Eastern Slavs). Pope Benedict XVI’s The Spirit of the Liturgy frames tradition as the Holy Spirit’s living breath: “timelessness” in Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli, Victoria, Tallis’s “If Ye Love Me,” or moderns like James MacMillan (third-order Dominican) and Arvo Pärt.
In his parish, an a cappella congregation chant cycles through tones, memorized like muscle memory—no organs, just human voices, echoing ancient councils. Coptic rhythms with cymbals and triangles may trace to Jerusalem’s Temple. Sean speaks of the St. Francis Xavier choir and being present as they sung Good Friday services exemplify this; Augustine’s “singing is praying twice” rings true. Heroic Men’s Litany of St. Joseph skips guitars for classics—Mozart endures because it’s objectively beautiful. This beauty evangelizes, drawing youth eclipsed for 50 years but now reviving.
Wisdom for Heroic Men: Persevere in Your Square Kilometer
Fr. Deacon Andrew’s doctorate-honed counsel cuts deep: Reject the world’s myth—”be anything, change the world.” Christ’s salvation is done; our role? “Plant yourself” in God’s assigned plot, perhaps a square kilometer of family, parish, work. Thank God for gifts given and withheld (he’s grateful for squash talent over hockey prowess). Persevere through ups and downs: prayer, asceticism, sacraments fuel the ascent.
Crucially: Do it with brothers. Christ chose 12 friends; Paul and Barnabas complemented each other. Heroic Men’s March challenge embodies this—buddy up, compete parish-to-parish, diocese-to-diocese (Calgary vs. Edmonton? Game on!). Ottawa’s exploding parishes mirror Calgary’s vibrancy: 40 catechumens at Sean’s parish, national revivals (125% growth in France 2015-2025; 950 in London’s dioceses last Easter).
Yet caution: Avoid triumphalism. Form converts into missionary disciples—Sean shifts “pew-sitters” via God Squad Canada, CCO, Seeds of the Word. Fr. Sean Winger’s homily warns: Entry is the start; the Spirit demands dynamism.
Revival and the Heroic Call
Canada pulses with renewal—God Squad’s 29th conference, Heroic Men’s nationwide push to grow ministry to me across the country. Fr. Deacon Andrew combats antisemitism with pastors and rabbis, echoing Catholics’ duty to our “parent company.”
This dram ends Gaelic-style: whisky as uisce beatha (water of life), paling beside Christ’s true font. Men, seize opportunities, chant the timeless, fish the rivers, befriend boldly, persevere planted.
Join the March Heroic Men Challenge: Buddy up, activate your square kilometer. Parishes compete, dioceses rival—Calgary won’t yield! Visit HeroicMen.ca to enlist, evangelize via magazine, build the brotherhood igniting revival. God works through blunt instruments like us—apostles prove it. Let’s cast our lines.
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