By Joseph Dunlap

Today, young men encounter moral questions very early in life. This forces them to pick a side before they are properly formed. That’s why youth formation programs are very important for young men and the society they must help build.

This vital training for the future lies at the core of the youth programs of Tradition, Family, Property—Texas.  Responsibility, courage, perseverance, and many other leadership skills at the service of the Faith were the focus of the TFP’s 2026 Spring Camp held at the Big Bend National Park in Texas from March 22-26. Young men from as far as Kansas came to participate.

Four Challenging Days

Over the course of four days, the young Catholic men would have to complete arduous hikes, rough camping, challenging discussions, and face jeers in a public street campaign against a Drag Queen Story Time for all ages.

The first day consisted of an early rise and a long 10-hour drive to the campsite. Located deep in the heart of the Big Bend National Park, the campsite had the basics and was a far cry from a hotel room. Along the way, participants sang TFP songs about saints and heroes of the past, played games, and implored God’s grace through the recitation of the Holy Rosary. The first day may have been a lesson in patience more than anything, but the next one tested their capability to suffer without complaint.

15 Unforgiving Miles

After another early rising and a quick, hearty breakfast, the hikers found themselves at the starting point of an undulating 15-mile trail. Warning signs of mountain lions and bears, along with the need for plenty of water, convinced the participants that this would not be a walk in the park.

As a matter of fact, on a previous excursion, TFP members encountered one of the stealthiest dangers on the trail: a mountain lion. It had moved some 30 yards from them before the hikers remembered to make a lot of noise when confronted by this danger. Thankfully, the big cat retreated, melding into the woods.

Although the 2026 adventure did not include another mountain lion encounter, it still had its own difficulties, as the heat and sore muscles took their toll. Each unforgiving ascent was a challenge to give up, but no one did. After passing over several summits and scrambling up Emory Peak, the group closed the loop to finish.

Chains are Only as Strong as the Weakest Link

The next day proved to be a shorter hike, but more geared to understanding the principle that the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Each participant had to force himself to think of the others, as the hikers fought the urge to leave the less capable behind.

Both in the world and in the spiritual life, selfishness brings down many relationships, including the most important one: with God. Everyone is called to help others and make up for shortcomings. In this way, all can reach sanctity and heaven for eternity. That hike was very good practice for this interdependence.

All stayed together, even singing songs along the way. It was hotter than the previous day, but the views from the top were reward enough.

Uninvited Guests at Camp

A hearty meal of steak and potato salad would have brought the day to a close if it weren’t for some uninvited guests. Twice during the night, the campers heard rustling in the bushes and around the campsite. To their amazement, large groups of javelinas, or medium-sized wild pigs, surrounded the tents and grazed as if ignorant of their presence. Thankfully, there were no altercations between the two groups, and the javelinas passed by without incident.

TFP Campaign Against Drag Queen Story Hour

Arguably, the most exciting and most challenging event took place off the hiking trail.

On the final day, the young men were invited to make a stand in the public square. It is often said that men will go to war rather than face ridicule. Being jeered and heckled is never a pleasant experience, but TFP members confront this abuse every time they hold a prayerful protest. Our Lord Himself was mocked and even spat upon by His own people. Those who fight for Him on earth should expect nothing different. So, the final test for the participants was to face their fears of ridicule by praying a public rosary of reparation.

After racing back to Houston, they set up on the public sidewalk outside of Gerry’s Grill. With signs, banners, and the grace of God, they protested a Drag Queen Story Time for all ages being held there. There were jeers and ridicule from passing cars, but also many honks in response to the signs, which read, “Honk! Against Drag Queen Story Time.”

The young men really shone as they stood up for a return to order in America, a return to God. They prayed several rosaries and other prayers during the rally. One of the young men commented, “Wow! I almost forgot how much I love campaigns like this!” It was a great way to end the short Spring Camp, fighting against the immoral corruption of America’s most innocent.

Facing fears and instilling leadership skills in the service of Holy Mother Church are exactly what this country needs to truly be one nation under God. If the younger generations do not face the evils of the day, then they will be swept away by the current. That is why TFP holds these camps and will continue to do so in the future.

By Joseph Dunlap

Unafraid TFP Tour Defends Traditional Marriage in the Wake of Charlie Kirk Assassination

The assassination of Charlie Kirk showed the rage of the left in the face of a growing public reaction to woke policies. Some people mistakenly think that conservatives should back away from the public square because of the left’s violence. 

The volunteers met with a largely positive response from the community

However, for the volunteers of Tradition, Family, Property—Texas, retreat is not an option. In the second half of September, they organized a pro-family tour defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman, across cities and college campuses all over Texas. 

Corpus Christi: “Don’t Talk to me! You’re Going to End up with a Hole in your Neck!” 

The campaigns began at a busy public intersection in Corpus Christi with signs and banners proclaiming a pro-family message. 

“We want to be highly visible,” TFP-Texas volunteer Cesar Franco said, “so as to garner as much public attention as possible.” 

The volunteers met with a largely positive response from the community. Hundreds of cars honked their horns after seeing large signs reading, “Honk for Traditional Marriage” and “God’s Marriage = 1 Man + 1 Woman.” 

One couple drove up with huge smiles on their faces, saying, “We just got married and we are definitely with you on this!” Another man was so pleased that he stopped his vehicle and thanked the campaigners. He told one volunteer that the topic “is the issue of the century.” 

Several pedestrians also had favorable comments for the pro-family campaign. A local professor handed the volunteers a leaflet which outlined the scriptural basis for the pro-family message. Another man watched the campaign for some time before engaging in conversation. However, when he did speak, he explained how he was against homosexual marriage because it hurts the parties involved and confuses the children. He brought up the horrible diseases that afflict those involved in sexual deviations and how children deserve a mother and father. 

Although mostly positive, several passersby did not agree and even threatened violence against the volunteers. Some people decked in rainbow capes stationed themselves across the street. Although they held signs with generic slogans like “Love Wins,” they neither cared to define what that meant nor even talked with the TFP volunteers. 

A sinister masked man came directly up to the campaign. He held a sign intended to mock the campaign, but it read, “I am with stupid.” Kevin, a TFP volunteer, asked him what he thought of the campaign, to which he angrily retorted, “Don’t talk to me! You’re going to end up with a hole in your neck!” This comment naturally brought the police, but they deemed the remark insufficiently threatening to warrant his removal, so he stayed to heckle the volunteers.

“Don’t talk to me! You’re going to end up with a hole in your neck!”

Austin: “Yes! Finally! Some Normal People in this Town!” 

After several campaigns ranging from Brownsville to Houston, TFP volunteers proclaimed their pro-family message at the Texas capital, which is known for its liberal attitudes and its motto: “Keep Austin weird.” 

The presentation of the TFP campaign had its own effect on the debate

However, both on campus at the University of Texas and at a public intersection, many honked their support for the campaign. One man even left his vehicle at the UT campaign to congratulate the volunteers by shaking their hands. Several other students and pedestrians had words of encouragement. One said, “Thank you and God bless y’all!” Another exclaimed, “Wow, I can’t believe it. I mean, this campus is pretty liberal, and yet you’re here. Thank you very much!” A third man read the signs inviting the public to honk, then exclaimed in a booming voice, “Yes! Finally! Some normal people in this town!” He honked all the way through the intersection and beyond. 

The presentation of the TFP campaign had its own effect on the debate. All the volunteers wear a specially designed sash called “the cape” which is bright red with a gold rampant lion pinned on it near the right shoulder. The cape grabs attention and is highly symbolic of the volunteers‘ deep Catholic tradition. However, the most attention-grabbing element of a campaign is the eighteen-foot-high blue pole that flies a large, red banner emblazoned with the same golden lion. Clean-cut volunteers in jacket and tie complete the impression. One man, favoring the homosexual agenda, exclaimed, “I disagree with your message, but I admire your aesthetics. This is beautiful.” 

In addition to support and opposition, there are also those who try to ignore the campaign. The goal of such an attitude is to discourage the volunteers by insinuating that they are being unpersuasive and wasting their time. 

However, when indifferent ones saw the public response in favor, they reacted with ridicule, cursing, and heckling. One man on a bike confronted the volunteers with sneers and curses. Another man mocked the campaign by wearing a mask combining large black eyebrows, a mustache, a fake nose, and glasses. Neither one engaged in the debate but rather displayed their hatred and their insecurity. 

College Station: Students at Texas A&M University Join TFP-Texas 

Among all the campaign locations, TFP-Texas found that the most reactive response was at Texas A&M in College Station. It didn’t take long for both sides to gather around the volunteers to either join or heckle. Two students in particular joined the volunteers and debated fellow students on the issue of traditional marriage. With their help, TFP volunteers handed out hundreds of flyers showing the dangers of homosexual “marriage” for the family and for society. 

One student tried to define marriage as a contract between two people who love each other. However, one volunteer explained, “That may sound fine at first, but that is a very dangerous definition which is already being used to promote morally unacceptable relations like pedophilia. If the two are consenting, then by the ‘LGBT’ definition, a whole range of sexual perversions becomes permissible.” 

The student was naturally against pedophilia, but the volunteer went on to explain, “Unless you have a moral code based on natural and divine law which cannot be changed by man, no matter what we say here today, some selfish group of people in the future is going to make acceptable whatever they want.” Indeed, the only thing keeping society from chaos is the principle that good should be done and evil should be avoided. However, if men are redefining good and evil, then barbarism is the only result. 

Another student suggested that people should be free to love whoever they want. However, another volunteer explained that there is a difference between lust and love. He said, “Just looking at the biology of mankind, we can see that the marital act is naturally for the procreation of children, which is its proper end. Otherwise, the act is performed for pleasure’s sake, where the two end up using each other for their own satisfaction. This mentality will inevitably lead to all sorts of selfish desires that are opposed to true love. Only in marriage between one man and one woman can love be rid of lust.” 

This is why God’s marriage is between one man and one woman, primarily for the procreation and education of children, while secondarily for the love and care of the spouses. 

After several days on the road, TFP-Texas ended its tour realizing the majority of Texas was pro-family and pro God’s marriage. This all happened only a short while after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, but neither this threat nor any other stopped TFP-Texas from spreading the truth.