But first… what an incredible season it has been. We have learned, laughed, and lived into the witness of some truly amazing saints.

A special thank you to everyone who joined us on Facebook Live to meet our bloggers, vloggers, and the Forward Movement team. If you missed it, you can catch the replay on Facebook or YouTube:

This year was all about community makers and bridge builders, and we are so grateful you were part of this growing, faithful, joy-filled community as we deepen our love of Jesus 

And remember, Lent Madness is not just for Lent…

Join us this summer for 2027 saint nominations

Tune in this November for the bracket reveal

And stay connected for fun all year long

But now… the moment we have all been waiting for…

Click the link below for a special presentation of the Golden Halo Winner from Bishop Phoebe Roaf..

CLICK FOR THE GOLDEN HALO WINNER HERE!!! 

👑 The Golden Halo matchup is here 👑

And to celebrate, join us today at 12pm EST on Facebook Live as we meet some of our bloggers, connect with friends of Forward Movement, and celebrate all things Lent Madness 2026! 🎥

On behalf of Fr. Christian and me, thank you for an incredible season of fun, faith, and fellowship. Together we have lifted up community makers and bridge builders, and hopefully become a little more like them along the way. This has truly been a labor of love, and we are so grateful for all of you 🙏

But before we celebrate… we still have a Golden Halo to award ✨

Will it be St. Mary’s champions, Constance and her companions

or

The Arch himself, Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Two incredible witnesses. One final vote! As always, it is up to you. Pray about it, join us live, and VOTE 🗳️

We’ll see you on Facebook live today, this summer for 2027 Saint nominations, & in November for All Bracketstide!!!💜 (more…)

🔥 IT IS THE PENULTIMATE DAY OF LENT MADNESS 🔥 Which means tomorrow at noon we go LIVE 🎥 Join us for our Livestream Watch Party on Facebook Live as we meet bloggers, vloggers, and the amazing people who make Lent Madness happen and love it just as much as you do. We will see you tomorrow at 12:00pm 👀

But first… yesterday 😏 The tournament is almost complete and we have our final Faithful Four matchup to decide who will face Constance and her companions in the Golden Halo final. The martyrs of Memphis just sent all the Lutherans to Heartbreak Hotel 🎸 after defeating Martin Luther 69.68% to 30.32%

But that was yesterday…Today’s matchup is our toughest choice yet 🔥

First up, the man who wrote the rule of life, shaped monasticism, transformed worship, and built a legacy of discipleship across the world ⛪

It's... Benedict of Nursia!!!

vs

A man who lived the Golden Rule, stood against injustice, and helped transform a nation, a communion, and the world ✝️🌍

It's...Archbishop Desmond Tutu!!!

Two giants of the faith. One final spot in the Golden Halo. Who will meet Constance and her companions in tomorrow’s final… you decide

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4️⃣The Faithful Four is here!!4️⃣
In today’s video we are kicking things off with another faithful four, the past & present SEC!!

We hope you had a blessed Palm Sunday as we step into Holy Week and move closer to crowning this year’s Golden Halo winner 😇

The Faithful Four speaks for itself. We have read the bios, heard the legends, and seen the merch. Now it comes down to one simple question… who is most deserving of the Golden Halo?

First matchup of the round 👀
The Graces from Graceland, Constance and her companions, take on the man who made Reformation cool… Martin Luther

Do the girls of St. Mary’s School have what it takes to topple the Lutherans?
Will Wittenberg prevail over Memphis?
Only one will advance to the finals… and that choice is yours

Either of these two may face the winner of Friday’s matchup, Saint Benedict of Nursia who took down Blessed Gerard 55.09% to 44.91% 🔥

Watch the video, read the blogs, and vote!🗳️

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🔥 The final matchup of the Elate Eight is here 🔥
And it does not get more blessed than this.

Under the banner of ora et labora, the man who taught the world how to monk, the one who has taken down two greats… it is Benedict of Nursia ⛪

But standing in his way is a saint of service. Under the banner of “for our lords the sick and the poor,” a model of care for all people regardless of background or creed. Having already taken down two monastics, he is going for a third… Blessed Gerard ✝️

A Benedictine medallion vs a Maltese cross
A rule of life vs a life of service
Two incredible saints, both bringing elite level kitsch.

You cannot go wrong… but only one can claim the final spot in the Faithful Four 👀

And they will join Constance and her companions, who marched into the next round like the ducks at the Peabody Hotel 🦆 (look it up trust us!) winning 61.23% to 38.77 over Peter

Watch the video, read the blogs, and VOTE 🗳️

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🎤 What do you get when you mix papal vestments and Memphis, TN? No, it is not Elvis in a mitre… it is today’s Lent Madness matchup!!!! 😎

In one corner, from Vatican City, 🇻🇦 The defeater of Apostles Thomas and Paul. The man with keys to pearly gates. It is PETER 🔑

In the other corner, from Memphis, TN 🏥 The nuns who stayed when others fled, their healthcare outmatched Cosmas and Damian’s. The Martyrs of Memphis outshined the Martyrs of Uganda. It is Constance and her Companions ✝️

Two more than worthy contenders, two powerful stories of faith and witness, and one step closer to the Golden Halo.

They bring the best kitsch of Memphis and Vatican City swag out today, as they battle for a spot in the Faithful Four… alongside yesterday’s winner 👀

THE ARCH himself, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who dominated Archbishop Janani Luwum 71.69% to 28.31% 🔥 Watch the video, read the blogs, and VOTE 🗳️

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🔥 This is the ELATE 8 🔥 Join Fr. Christian and Fr. Michael for a full breakdown of our final rounds, crown new Canons of Comments, and lift up how these saints have transformed our faith.

The Elate 8 is all about SWAG. We have read the bios. We have heard the legends. Now it is time to see what kind of kitsch and merch these saints bring to the table.

First matchup of the round…

The denominator of denominations. The man who froze Wesley’s warmed heart and kicked the stool out from Richard Hooker… it is MARTIN LUTHER.

But he faces his toughest challenge yet.

Noah had the ark, but Joan has been sailing through this bracket. She sent Marina the Monk packing, put Nino on the midnight train back to Georgia, and now the pride of Orléans steps into another divine showdown… JOAN OF ARC.

Two giants. One spot in the Faithful Four. The Elate Eight is fully set after Constance and Her Companions sent Cosmas and Damian to Graceland, 82.49% to 17.51%. Will the Martyrs of Memphis make it onto the faithful four with either Joan of Arc or Martin Luther?

Watch the video, read the blogs, maybe even grab some merch… and VOTE.

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🚨 Special Guest Picker Alert! 🚨 A familiar face returns and we have missed him. The Rev. Tim Schenck is back to help decide who takes the final spot in the Elate Eight. Today is a true healthcare showdown 🏥✨

Cosmas and Damian, the brothers who healed for free, are "Walking in Memphis" to face Constance and her Companions, the nuns who gave their lives caring for those suffering from yellow fever in Memphis, TN

Healing hands vs. sacrificial hearts. Two powerful legacies. One final spot.

Only one will join the original healthcare hero in the Elate Eight, Blessed Gerard. His Hospitallers just sent Clare and the Franciscans home in a nail-biter, 51% to 49%. We expected upsets. We expected heart stopping moments. But who knew we'd all this holy healthcare to bring us through it!

Watch the video, read the blogs, go see your Primary Care Physician, and VOTE!

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Another week in the books and we’re one holy showdown closer to the Elate Eight. Today’s matchup is giving family feud, but make it saintly.

It’s sister vs. brother, blessed vs. beloved, hospitalers vs. holiness heavyweights

Clare of Assisi vs Blessed Gerard

Will the founder of the Knights of St. John, yes those legends of Malta and the original ambulance crew 🚑, need to call in backup for Clare? Or will the Franciscan faithful and Clare’s cloistered crew quietly and prayerfully carry her straight into the Elate Eight?

Meanwhile, Archbishop Janani Luwum has already punched his ticket, sending Fr. Damien off to an early offseason with a final score of 69.75% to 30.25%. Somewhere, Damien is catching waves and wondering what could have been.

Only one spot left today. Only one advances.

Vote now. Choose wisely. Brag loudly.

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