Inspiration from His Eminence, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

There are places in this world where the veil between heaven and earth feels thinner – where the beauty of creation speaks directly to the soul. Camp Angelus is one such place. Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin’s natural splendor, it is more than a campsite. It is a sanctuary. A mission field. A sacred ground where faith is nurtured, virtue is cultivated, and brotherhood is forged. And home to the annual Troops of Saint George Midwest Assembly.

His Eminence, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, captured this truth with grace and conviction during his sermon at the 9th Annual Troops of Saint George Midwest Assembly:

“It is the source of deepest joy for me to return to Camp Angelus, a place of extraordinary natural beauty, for the Holy Mass, this morning. I am especially happy that it continues, as it did originally, to serve a holy purpose, to be a place which fosters a deeper knowledge, love, and service of Our Lord.”

Camp Angelus stands today because of the faithful who refused to let it be given over to secular use. Their dedication preserved a space where the divine is encountered not only in prayer and the Sacraments, but in the rustling of leaves, the crackle of campfires, and the laughter of boys learning to become men of God, as His Eminence expressed “I commend those faithful Catholics and those who have joined them and succeeded them.”

The Troops of Saint George have found a spiritual home here. As the TSG mission leads men and boys to admire and praise the order and beauty of God’s creation – lived out in every hike, every rosary, every moment of silence beneath the stars. In a world that often confuses strength with dominance and identity with self-invention, the Troops offer a different path: one of virtue, honor, and fraternity. His Eminence shared further:

“The Troops of Saint George helps Catholic men and boys to know their true identity in Christ and to be faithful in their thoughts, words, and actions to Christ and, therefore, to be faithful to themselves. The members of the Troops of Saint George unite themselves to Christ in the Sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist, so that they may practice virtue, honor Christ and themselves as Christians, and form a fraternity as true brothers of Christ and of one another. They see in the beauty and order which God has placed in nature, in the outdoors, an image of the beauty and order which God has written upon the human heart. Virtus Honor Fraternitas is the way to respect that beauty and order, the way to happiness in our life on earth and the fullness of happiness in Heaven, in eternal life, the destiny of our earthly pilgrimage. Saint George, our heavenly patron, is our model of virtue, honor, and brotherhood, even as we ask him to intercede for the grace we need to overcome anything which weakens us, dishonors us, and destroys our brotherhood.”

As we look to the future, may the bond between Camp Angelus and the Troops of Saint George grow ever stronger. May this sacred ground continue to inspire generations to live with courage, humility, and holiness. And may Saint George, our heavenly patron, intercede for us as we strive to overcome all that weakens, dishonors, and divides.

Join the Mission

If your heart is stirred by this vision, if you long to be part of a movement that honors Christ through nature, virtue, and brotherhood, then come and see. Visit Troops of Saint George | Virtus. Honor. Fraternitas. to learn more, find a local troop, or start one in your community. Please also visit Camp Angelus – A Catholic Refuge on the banks of the Chippewa to learn more about upcoming actives and ways to get involved.

Let Camp Angelus and the Midwest Assembly be your inspiration. Let Saint George be your guide. And let Christ be your strength.