The Company of St. Andrew began with a simple idea: encounter Christ, then bring someone else with you. That is what St. Andrew did. He met Jesus, then went and found his brother Simon and brought him to Christ.
Why “Company”
When most of us hear the word company, we think of a business. But long before that, a company was a band of soldiers. They trained together, fought together, shared the burden, and refused to leave one another behind. Somewhere along the journey, they stopped being just fellow soldiers. They became brothers.
The word companion carries an even older idea, from the Latin cum panis, “with bread.” A companion was someone you shared bread with. And when you share a table with someone, eventually you begin sharing more than food. You share life.
That is the idea behind the Company of St. Andrew. We are called to walk toward Christ, and we were never meant to make that journey alone. A Company can be a few people around a table, an existing prayer group, a Bible study, a brotherhood or sisterhood, or simply people who have decided to walk with one another in faith.
Why St. Andrew?
St. Andrew was one of the first to follow Jesus, but what has always stood out to me is what he did next. He went and found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Then he brought him to Jesus.
That is the spirit of the Company. You do not have to have all the answers. You do not have to be a theologian or have your faith figured out. Encounter Christ. Walk with others. And when you find something good, invite someone else to come and see.
What Does a Company Look Like?
Keep it simple. Share a meal or a cup of coffee. Pray together. Spend some time with Scripture or use one of the reflections on this site to start the conversation. Talk honestly about faith and life. Listen to one another. Help carry each other’s burdens. Then go back into the world and try to live what you have talked about.
A Little About Me
I’m David Bonaventure. I’m a husband, father, businessman, engineer, and Catholic trying to follow Christ a little better every day.
My faith journey hasn’t been one big conversion moment. It’s been a lot of little yeses.
More than 20 years ago, one of those yeses led me to Adoration. Later came Manresa House of Retreats, then ACTS, Exodus, a few men’s brotherhood groups, and a lot of people God has put in my life along the way. Each one has pulled me a little deeper and usually led to another yes.
Although I am currently taking master’s-level theology courses online through Franciscan University, I am not a priest, deacon, theologian, or spiritual director. I’m a guy with a family and a career who is trying to listen to God in the middle of ordinary life and say yes when I believe He’s asking something of me.
The Company of St. Andrew, the reflections, and the books on this site are really just more of those yeses.
Come and see. Maybe God is asking for one of yours.
