A boy does what feels good
A man does what’s right.
The Objective
Lolek was the nickname of Karol Józef Wojtyła, a man better known as St. Pope John Paul II. Lolek means “Free Man” and this is what we aim to create. The mission of Operation Lolek is to initiate the next generation of men by teaching them God’s design for masculinity and helping them understand how to discern God’s will for their life. The boys train physically and spiritually along with practical applications in what it means to be a man. When the training is complete the boys are initiated into manhood by men of their parish community.
These newly initiated men, will be the future leaders of the Church. They will be the clergy shepherding Jesus’ flock and the laity raising families and evangelizing the world for Christ. They will live as free men, not simply doing what their flesh desires to do, but having the understanding, discipline, and focus to do what God has called them to do.
Meet the Team
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Ben Tlougan
FOUNDER
Ben is a husband and father of four. He holds a BS in Ministry from The University of Northwestern St. Paul with minors in Criminal Justice and Bible Studies. He also holds an MA in Pastoral Ministry from St. Paul Seminary and School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas. Ben became Catholic in 2015 after deep study into the writings of the early Church fathers.
The passion and vision for developing strong men took hold in 2010 while he was serving in the US Army in Afghanistan. It became clear to him that many men will never be able to answer the internal question of “Do I have what it takes?” In 2018, he ran a program with boys from his youth group initiating 6 boys into manhood. It was extremely successful and meaningful to all those involved and continues to form and shape the young men to this day.
Ben has worked for many years in youth, young adult, and men’s ministries. This experience has continued to demonstrate the importance of this mission and has informed the development of this program. -
Colin Faust
Founding Board Member
Colin is a husband and father of three. In 2010, while serving with the Marines in Afghanistan, he stepped on an improvised explosive device or I.E.D. resulting in the loss of his left leg and sustaining severe injuries to his right. Following years of surgeries, rehabilitation, suffering, and general disorientation in life, Colin experienced a powerful conversion to Christ in the Catholic Church. Since then, he has rigorously pursued studies in philosophy and theology, culminating in an MA in Theology from the Saint Paul Seminary and School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas.
Being a father to three small boys, Colin feels a deep calling to apply his theological training, unique life experience, passion for service, and God-given strengths toward the formation of the next generation of men. He firmly believes that this formation should emphasize the whole person- body and soul- entailing the proper cultivation of the intellect and the right ordering of the will. In effect, it is Colin’s passion and mission to help young men become wise, virtuous servant leaders who are equipped to embrace the challenges that exist in the modern world.
Colin has taught theology at St. Thomas Academy and is currently the Director of Discipleship at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.
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Mike Rabon
Founding Board Member
Mike is a husband and father of three. He serves at his home parish as a member of the RCIA team and helps coordinate the annual Men’s Retreat. Mike is passionate about teaching boys and men about who God has designed them to be.
Mike graduated from The University of Iowa with a B.S. in Political Science and minors in History and Mass Communications. He has been working in the business world for over a decade. Mike has been a member of the inaugural class of National Review Institute's Chicago Regional Fellowship program, he has served as an At-Large Board Member of the Twin Cities Iowa Club since 2019, and he is a member of the Board of Directors for Cana Family Institute.
