Only a small percentage of men achieve freedom from pornography and sexual addiction by just reading about it. The most successful plans for achieving freedom include responsible individual action that is coupled with mutual support and accountability.

St. Joseph’s Freedom Groups offer a safe and anonymous place for men struggling with sexual purity. Men receive support and encouragement from the honest and transparent dialog. By following the organizing steps below, you can form an effective small group to support men in their battle for purity.

1. Prayerfully discern that you are to do this. Place your efforts under the patronage of St. Joseph. Talk with your priest.

2. Find a couple of other guys to help you start a group.

3. Choose a meeting time (evening, or early Saturday morning)

4. Find a sponsoring priest and a parish that will allow you to have the weekly use of a small meeting room.*

5. Gather your small group resources:

·     Breaking Free booklets
·     Pure Mind Scripture Memory Kits
·     A L.I.F.E. Guide: Men Living in Freedom Everyday by Mark Laaser
·     A few of the Breaking Free sets of CDs and tapes for loaning out.
·     A Contemporary Adult Guide to Conscience for the Sacrament of Confession
·     Every Young Man’s Battle DVD
·     Download helpful articles from www.dads.org

6. Basic structure and schedule:
The Breaking Free booklet and The L.I.F.E. Guide provide the basic structure for your group. Each meeting will focus on one Breaking Free action step and a principle from The L.I.F.E. Guide. (The L.I.F.E. Guide continually rotates through seven principles.) Each meeting should open and close with prayer.

7. Invite men to join:
Have your sponsoring priest write a brief letter to the other priests in your surrounding area telling them about your group, inviting men to attend, and asking for a regular bulletin announcement.

He might mention to his fellow priests that unlimited quantities of Breaking Free booklets are available to them for use in counseling and in the confessional. You might offer to insert a label on the inside back cover of the Breaking Free booklets listing your meeting times and location.

St. Joseph’s Freedom Group
Confidential encouragement and support
Wednesday, 7:30 P.M. (except during Christmas holidays)
St. Charles Catholic Church
105 Main St., Anytown, IN
Join us!

Be sure to notify St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers once your group is started so we can list your group in our online directory.

8. As men begin to join your group, it is best to pair up men with an accountability partner. It is best to have accountability partners who have been free for at least six months.

Accountability partners pray for each other, provide needed support between meetings, and receive the reports from the X3 Watch accountability software.

9. As your group grows, be prepared to spin off a new group in a different location using one or two leaders from the initial group.

10. Throughout this entire process: ask for St. Michael’s, St. Joseph’s, and your guardian angel’s protection. Pray the Rosary. Frequent the Sacraments. Use various sacramentals. Remember that Satan doesn’t like men invading his turf and battling for purity.

Important notice regarding your local initiative:
The limited advice, resources, and guidelines that we offer are all listed at www.dads.org.
Check for updates in the following sections of the website: 1. Help for Those Struggling with Pornography; 2. Safe Media - Movies, TV, Internet; 3. Men’s Small Groups; 4. Prayers. Additional announcements will be made in the “What’s New” section, as well as in the Dads.org e-newsletter (free online subscriptions).

Establishing a St. Joseph’s Freedom Group requires a pioneer’s attitude. We can’t micro-manage your group, nor can we help you overcome the several obstacles you will encounter. 

It is imperative that you gather local support and find local solutions to the challenges you’ll face in starting and running a Freedom group. The staff of the Family Life Center cannot organize a group for you.  

If it doesn’t seem possible to start a local St. Joseph’s Freedom Group, then the next best option is to join one of the secular groups mentioned in the resource section of Breaking Free.

L.I.F.E. Guides by Mark Laaser & the accompanying facilitator’s manual can be purchased online at http://freedomeveryday.org/ (resource section), or by writing LIFE Ministries, PO Box 952317, Lake Mary, FL 32795, (866) 408-LIFE.

All other materials are available from the Family Life Center. 24 hour ordering at www.dads.org, or Family Life Center business hours at 1-800-705-6131.

St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers
An outreach of the Family Life Center International to Catholic men
22226 Westchester Blvd.
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
www.dads.org

* We realize that in some parts of the country it may be difficult to find a sponsoring parish in which to hold meetings. Adaptations are needed in such situations. Yet, we still encourage having a priest advisor, if at all possible. 

Rev. 04-16-200