Our Story
Origins and Mission
Fit for the Kingdom began back in May 2023 in New Zealand, when Bede, Matt (who had just gotten married), and Tomas—decided to turn our regular “boys’ chats” into a podcast. We were talking a lot about what it means to live a fully integrated life: physically, mentally, and spiritually. We wanted to help young people, especially young Catholic men, cultivate themselves for the good of the Church and their vocations.
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The podcast resonated more than we expected—not just with guys our age, but even with their parents. What drove those conversations was a shared love for Christ and a real desire to seek Him more deeply. Although all three of us were raised Catholic, our personal journeys back to the faith were different, which gave our discussions a range of perspectives. Books like Devotion to the Sacred Heart (given to us by Brother Dismas), Soul of the Apostolate, and Divine Intimacy were big influences.
It all started with simple but profound questions: how to live purity and chastity, what modesty actually means, and how to build real habits of prayer and self-mastery. That led to the backbone of our lives: daily Mass, the Rosary, spiritual reading, meditation, workouts, and lots of “tips and tricks” that helped us push forward toward sanctity. We’re not claiming to invent anything new—just trying to live and share what the saints and mother the Church have shown us.
Growth and Expansion
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What started as a podcast in our mates mum's garage quickly turned into something bigger. We wanted the sense of fraternity we had to extend beyond our immediate friend group—so we started youth groups, camps, and retreats. And the fruit of that has been clear: just in our local New Zealand community, we’ve seen seven marriages, five babies born, and five friends enter religious life—and there’s more coming.
Our first major event was a Brotherhood Retreat in New Zealand. We brought together school-aged guys and older young men (18–22) for mentorship and brotherhood. Led by Fr. Philip from the Brothers of St. John, we packed five 4WDs and headed into the New Zealand wilderness in the middle of winter. That retreat had everything: rugged adventure, daily Mass, Eucharistic processions, and even the consecration of the wilderness—and our nation—to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In Australia, things kicked off at Purpose Conference 2023, where we ran a stall and connected with heaps of young Catholics. That moment really marked the beginning of our work there. Now in 2025, we’ve launched St. Michael’s Troops in Sydney—a major step forward from the smaller version we ran earlier in Christchurch, although resuming soon in NZ too.
St. Michael’s Troops is an event designed to call young men to live their Catholic faith with strength, virtue, and brotherhood. The event, run quarterly, focuses on fostering brotherhood in a world that tears it apart through Holy Mass, a group training session, a powerful talk on faith, and a shared BBQ. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, networking, or simply a stronger connection to your faith, this event offers something for every Catholic man. Together, we combat isolation and strengthen the bonds that unite us in Christ.
Current Leadership and Activities
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As of 2025, Matt has taken a step back to focus on his family, but we’ve been blessed with a solid network of friends who continue to help run events. Fit for the Kingdom has become much more than just a podcast—it’s a mission. We now run retreats, give talks, and organize events in both New Zealand and Australia.
Bede is based in Sydney, working and studying, and Tomas has just gotten married and is back in New Zealand with his wife, restarting things here and discerning how best to serve the mission in this new season of life.
Even with all of life’s changes, we’re still committed to the mission God has given us. Whether it’s through an event, a retreat, or a casual chat, we’re continuing to show that living for Christ with discipline and passion is not just possible—it’s essential.
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What keeps this whole thing alive is grace. At the heart of Fit for the Kingdom is a deep belief in Christ and the truth that we are called to be saints—no matter what we’re doing. The movement highlights discipline, self-sacrifice, and virtue—not just in the gym, but in every part of life. As St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Fitness isn’t the end goal—it’s a tool. Our aim is holiness, and physical training becomes part of that when it’s ordered toward love of God and others.
With the momentum we’ve seen, we’re actively looking to grow. We’re open to collaboration with priests and parishes, and we want to create more spaces for young people to encounter Christ: more retreats, more youth groups, more formation opportunities.
We’re also on the lookout for donors and supporters—people who want to help us with the costs of editing, gear, event funding, and everything that goes into running a mission like this. If you're reading this and want to be part of it in any way—prayer, support, or showing up—reach out. We’d love to hear from you.