Youth
Living Saint
I never met Mother (now Saint) Teresa of Calcutta, but there are plenty of writings about her unassuming presence. She was small in stature, and later in her life she was worn by her work and sacrifice. One would probably not pick her out of a crowd as a woman who “looks” like a saint. […]
Back For Dinner
I have been volunteering with an organization that works with youth in foster care. Each month the youth and adult volunteers meet at a local church and use the big kitchen to cook a meal together. We have been hosting different groups of people who have enjoyed the dinners. There is one young man in particular that […]
Young Theologian
As I drove from the wedding to the reception the other day, a young woman who I hadn’t seen for a couple of years rode with me. She couldn’t wait to get into the car and give me the update on all that had happened. As I saw her grow, somewhere along the way she […]
Lessons From Workcamp
I was busy today doing things around the house and helping my dad with home projects. At one point I looked in the mirror and realized that I was wearing one of my Workcamp t-shirts and sweatpants that I bought at the first Workcamp that I attended. I smiled. When I was a youth minister, […]
Giving Youth a Chance
Today I helped with a spaghetti supper to help support foster families. This particular activity focuses on the teenagers. I learned more about one particular woman who is a foster parent. In the past, she ran a homeless shelter in the city. She encountered several teenage boys looking for a place to stay. She wanted […]
Hearing From a Friend
Today I heard from a friend that I haven’t seen in over a year. I was blessed to have him work in youth ministry with me. He was always one that I looked up to and knew that I could count on. I always admired his quiet, yet strong faith and his desire and ability to […]
Power of Prayer
Tonight I talked with a friend who told me a story of how a group of kids learned about the power of prayer. Every year the youth group participates in a 30-hour Fast during Lent. They have nothing but bread and water for 30 hours and at the same time raise money for the local food […]
Powerful Reminder
I have been participating in a “retreat” held in one of classrooms in the church for the past few weeks. It is a 10-week session called “Consoling the Heart of Jesus” by Fr. Michael Gaitley. It is pretty deep theology, but I love it. Tonight we finished a few minutes early so we could go […]
Do For the Least Ones
Today I went to a meeting to find out about a new program at my church that is geared toward helping teens who are in foster care. A mom who fostered teen boys spoke to us about her experience and what might be expected behavior. She has fostered over 70 young men. She talked about the […]
Good Friend Connection
Many years ago I moved to a new location and found a new church. I met a woman who became one of my best friends. Together we worked with the teenagers in the parish, trying to start up some type of youth ministry. Neither of us knew exactly what we were doing, but exposed the […]
Still Finding God 