by Shelby Bland
(Editor’s note: In August 2024, we asked Shelby Bland, a rising journalist, to capture and share the story of how an exemplary disciple-maker launched an apostolate at his parish after attending the COR Bootcamp. This story sat in draft form until we finally caught a breath after the conference. Now that we're ready to post it, the Gardunos themselves are experiencing a difficult trial with their newborn son Damian, born in October. You can read updates and support the Gardunos at givesendgo.com/Damian)
Kindness, brotherhood, and faith. These are the core principles of Max Knights, an apostolate of friendship based out of Divine Redeemer Parish. What began as a small discipleship group has now grown into a strong community of 60 men all striving towards Sainthood.
Started by Ruben Garduno, Max Knights is part of the Diocese of Colorado Springs men’s ministry known as INFERNO. Max Knights meets monthly for fellowship and prayer, where they ask for the intercession of Mary and their namesake, Saint Maximillian Kolbe.
Ruben Garduno honors Father Jason Kea at the Max Knights gathering August 13, 2024.
Though fellowship is enjoyed by all, Garduno said after the first meeting that, “Once we started meditating on the Gospel, everyone was connected.” True friendship is forged as the men meditate on the gospel.
According to a Communio survey, 50% of U.S. adults experience feelings of loneliness, and in another survey conducted by the CDC and WHO male suicide rates in the U.S. have increased by 33% from 1999 to 2019. This crisis of isolation and despair inspired Garduno to start Max Knights.
His journey with Max Knights began after some friends at Divine Redeemer approached him about the lack of fellowship among men. They proposed the idea of creating a small men’s group to encourage more relationships to be formed.
“It was almost like God was telling us, ‘Guys, you need to do this,’” Garduno said.
A little while later Garduno, attended an Inferno COR Bootcamp training session organized by Michael Dill from Emmaus Journey, including Brock Martin from FOCUS, Luke Vercollone of Inferno Men, and Dan Donaldson of Heroic Men. Forty men came out for the event, all with similar stirrings in their hearts, to foster a greater brotherhood among the men of their parishes.
Forty men gather for discipleship leadership training at the COR Bootcamp at Mt. St. Francis Catholic Church in Colorado Springs, CO Jan 20, 2024.
Freshly inspired by the conversations and lessons learned from other men at the training session, Garduno went to his parish priest to seek counsel on next steps. After receiving approval to begin the group, Garduno once again gathered his friends and they set about inviting every man they could.
It was at this point that Garduno ran into his first obstacle: it seemed like nobody wanted to come. “Men were not very interested in attending,” Garduno said.
Despite this discouragement, the men remained steadfast in their goal. They decided that even if as few as six men attended their first event, it would still be a success.
Bishop James Golka leads adoration for Max Knights families at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church in Colorado Springs, CO October 15, 2024. (Photo by DV Morales)
Garduno shared that during this early period of Max Knights, a popular Old Testament story brought him much comfort and inspiration.
“I’m like a modern-day Moses,” Garduno said before going into more detail about what exactly he meant.
When God called Moses, Moses questioned why God would choose him for the great mission of freeing the Isrealites from Egypt. He didn’t feel good enough or like he had the necessary skills (see Ex 4:10-17). Garduno became plagued by these same fears.
Father Jason Kea blesses Ruben Garduno with a relic of St. Maximilian Kolby at the Max Knights gathering August 13, 2024.
Amid this mental battle, Garduno recalled the help given to Moses by God. Garduno recounted that God did not simply call Moses and then leave him to figure it out all by himself. God equipped Moses and sent him people to help him even more. The same was true with Max Knights.
“All you have to do is say yes, and God will provide,” Garduno said.
With a steadfast spirit, the assistance of his friends, and the intercession of God the Father, Max Knight’s first meeting was even more of a success than the men could have imagined. Twenty-five men showed up. Twenty-five men were connected through fellowship and scripture, and attendance has only increased from there.
The Max Knights men hear Fr. Jason Kea present on St. Maximilian Kolbe, their patron saint August 13, 2024.
“We have such busy lives but we acknowledge that this is something we need,” Garduno said.
This large turnout for the first event inspired even more confidence in Garduno that this mission was filling a need and was worth every bit of the hardship he had–and would–endure. With this success however, came another obstacle: doubt.
Garduno had never been a public speaker and never imagined leading a brotherhood like Max Knights and so with his new efforts came the questions in his mind of whether he was worthy to lead a mission like this. Uncertainty began flooding in along with concerns about sharing his faith with others.
Prayer became Garduno’s greatest weapon against these spiritual attacks and reminded him that although we’re still sinners, that does not diminish the work God can accomplish through us.
“The enemy wants you to think those things are true, but they’re not, they’re lies,” Garduno said.
Garduno speaks to families before the Max Knights adoration night, October 15, 2024
His advice to anyone who is experiencing this same pull back while following a call God has placed on their heart is, “to say yes, forget about doubts, and take the leap.” Taking inspiration from Mary’s wholehearted Fiat, we too can say yes to what God is asking of us. Part of this yes is trusting that God will provide for all that we need.
Max Knights has now been going strong for 11 months. “We can see the fruits of it so far,” Garduno said.
Although this group is based out of Divine Redeemer in Colorado Springs, its effects are widespread. Max Knights has been bringing a greater attention to the need for masculine brotherhood, as well as the ability for men to grow into a deeper and richer faith with the help of one another.
“I was blown away by what I heard,” said Mike Dill, Inferno Director of Empowerment, “Men shared how this group brought them back from the brink of suicide and from homelessness, and how their trust with the Church was restored here. A large part of evangelization is just that simple accompaniment on the long journey of healing.”
Helping men heal has lasting impacts on society, especially when it comes to creating strong families and priests. Garduno’s obedience to God is forging a lasting legacy of strong men who will nurture life, strengthen love, and witness to the wonders of a life devoted to Christ.
“I always say that God does all the work, we are just His instruments,” Garduno said. For more information on Max Knights, please visit their website here.
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