"Through a word of the year, we can become more attuned to God’s voice in Scripture or in our prayer. Oftentimes, when my word shows up in the Liturgy of the Hours or I hear it proclaimed in the Sunday readings, it captures my attention and refocuses me on what the Lord is speaking to my heart. "
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Do not grow weary in these dark days of winter. The Lord is near, drawing us ever closer to Himself. Let’s resolve to stay awake and alert, ready to meet the Lord with hearts wide open to receive everything from Him.
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If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the season of Advent with young adults in your parish, here are some things our partner parishes and others have tried. Remember, like Lent, Advent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
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We asked our partner parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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My encouragement to all of us – most especially myself – is this: don’t let the lie of perfection rob you of your seasonal joy. The Lord invites us to slow down, make space for Him, and prioritize the preparation of our souls over the social media-worthy preparation of our holiday events.
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Young Adults from St. John the Evangelist in St. John, IN went on a Mission Trip to Omaha, Nebraska where they worked with the ministry of Hope of the Poor. Hope of the Poor reaches out and serves some of the most forgotten, neglected, lonely and abandoned people in downtown Omaha and on the Native American Reservations. We encountered people living in the depths of poverty - some in conditions that seem unimaginable.
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Before discerning our charisms and using them to serve our community, it’s important that we begin with our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God. If we are rooted in this identity – if we believe that this sonship or daughterhood is the truest thing about ourselves – then we can more freely use our charisms in service of the Kingdom without being distracted, discouraged, or disheartened by other identities we might put ahead of our deepest one. We are free to be exactly who God created us to be.
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It’s one thing for the Lord to move in the garden. It’s another for us to recognize His movements and join in the work. He will never force His work on us; He always prompts a response because he wants our “yes” to be freely and generously given.
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Saints became saints because of the way they loved and their obedience to what God asked them to do regardless of the hardship of the circumstances. Hence, for us to become saints, we have to love well.
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We asked our partner parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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Time is given to us by God in order to grow in holiness, to discover meaning, to forge connections with the people and the world around us. If we look at time in this way – given to us for our sanctification – then time spent pursuing the true, good, and beautiful is never wasted.
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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Harvest only happens when we have done the work of preparation. Harvest in the soul occurs when we go deeper into the mystery of faith, accompanied by the Lord, so that we may come to know Him better – and therefore, ourselves.
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Our relationship with God, our loving Father and Creator, is not like any other relationship we have in our life. He is the One who will meet us with inexhaustible love and mercy, no matter what we bring Him. In fact, he wants us to share every part of ourselves with Him.
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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In these moments of tiredness, I invite you to think of the weariness of Jesus. He spent His years of public ministry surrounded by people who were desperate for His words, His attention, His healing touch. He was constantly giving Himself away.
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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As you make your plans, don’t forget to plan for God’s goodness. Don’t forget to leave space for God to act. His goodness is not an accident or a coincidence. It is not a way He covers up our mistakes or rewards our good behavior. His action in our lives at every moment is to bring about our growth in holiness and draw us closer to Himself.
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It matters more how we use our tools versus which ones we use. The goal is to invite young people into a space of prayer, listen to them, call out their gifts, build relationships, and facilitate an encounter with the Lord. If a program or another tool helps make that possible, use it! But never let a program take the place of you – your witness to the work of the Lord in your life and the unique and unrepeatable way you can love with the heart of Christ.
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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Summer is always a good time to slow down and take stock of where you are. Whether your daily routines are changing or remaining stable, this new season is a reminder that the year is halfway through.
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I was intimidated because of background and ignorance but I learned on the retreat that you don’t have to be clean or perfect to come to God. God and His only begotten son want to be part of the journey, and I found so much strength and courage in that.
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Hospitality is a sacred relationship between a host and a guest. It is a relationship of sacrifice and gratitude, giving and receiving, mutual trust. There is a level of vulnerability in each of the parties involved in an exchange of hospitality. The Rule of Saint Benedict, which is near and dear to our hearts at Saint Meinrad, says, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35).” (Rule 53:1)
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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Koinonia This Greek word has no direct translation into English, but it can be understood as communion, fellowship, intimacy, solidarity, to share, and to act in common. In short, koinonia captures the reality of how we are meant to live with one another. Koinonia is what we are created for.
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One of the best companions we can have is mother Mary. She is a model of receptivity, trust, and discipleship – her yes to being the Mother of God paves the way for our small, everyday yeses to God’s plan. In this month of May, ask Mary to draw closer to you and be your companion in the garden of your soul.
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At the end of the day, I look back and wonder: What did I really accomplish? Was I present to others? Was I present to the Lord? Did I live today, or did I just fill my time?
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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This season, above all, is a season of joy. Death becomes life, darkness becomes light. The sorrowful are comforted, the despairing have hope, and the ground is teeming with the possibility of new life. We just experienced the greatest gift of our lives: the life-giving death of Jesus Christ. It seems backwards by human reasoning – how could life come from death? It’s one of the profound mysteries of our faith, and it points to the power, creativity, and mercy of God.
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We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
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Judas sold Him out. Peter, James, and John couldn't stay awake for His vigil in the garden. Peter eventually betrayed Him. His own people wanted to kill Him. But these are the very people who should bring us hope.
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Friends, how is the garden of your heart looking now that we are well into Lent? The pre-Lent preparatory work has given way to mid-Lent preparatory work – we are never truly finished growing.
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Lent is about encounter. It’s about going out into the wilderness to meet the Lord. It’s about rejecting those things that get in the way of our relationship with Him and moving closer to His heart. It’s a time of healing.
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Here are some resources that our Partner Parishes found helpful in 2023.
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I always have a feeling of anticipation before Lent. The Mass readings seem a little more intense. Places of growth in my heart are rising to the surface. Bad habits are becoming more obvious. Ideas for how to approach the season with intentionality flash through my head. The air feels a little more charged. And God feels a little bit closer.
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As we reflect on the previous year of ministry with young adults, here are some of the biggest lessons and insights from our partner parishes...
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You are a gift, and your life is a gift simply because you were created intentionally by a God who loves you. He didn’t need you (He doesn’t need any of us, really), but He wanted you to exist and so you do.
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Saint Meinrad recently attended the SEEK Catholic conference in St. Louis where 20,000 participants – most of them college students – gathered to worship, share in community, and learn about our common call to discipleship.
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Every year in January, I’m reminded to take a moment (or many) to plan my goals for my little farm. There’s no grand resolution or major lifestyle change, but an ever growing, evolving, and learning process to improve. So, too, in our faith life do we need seasons of rest and planning.
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Written by Jocelyn Alvarez who recently completed Alpha at St. John the Evangelist Parish. "Before Alpha, I was seriously doubting that God even existed. I grew up Catholic following my parents’ faith, went to a Catholic school, and did my holy sacraments. I do not have a strong faith background other than sometimes going to Mass on holidays and being promised a good breakfast after on Sundays... ...I would pray so much in my childhood, praying for the bad situations that came out of my household to change, but they never have and they unfortunately still haven't. Coming to Alpha I have realized God was listening and maybe not able to change my situation but giving me His ultimate love and strengthening me to continue to live under His guidance."
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Originally published December 2022
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies.
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A reflection for the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
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Insights on mental health and ministry from our time with Beth Hlabse, M.S., LMHCA, director of the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at the McGrath Institute for Church Life.
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies.
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I was looking back through my journal and came across a reflection I had written while in Adoration earlier this year. It felt very timely to relive this experience, since our Church is inviting us to return to the Eucharist – the source and summit of our faith – during the National Eucharistic Revival...
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Today is the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. At Mass, we hear one of my favorite Gospel stories of all time: the appearance of Jesus to His disciples in the upper room...
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies...
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When I was in college, I was asked to give a witness talk for our Catholic center’s annual retreat. I was really excited…that is, until I received my topic: resolution and commitment...
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On April 28-30, the Young Adult Initiative hosted our Spring 2023 Gathering – a semi-annual meeting of partner parish representatives at Saint Meinrad. Our presenter for the weekend was Katherine Angulo V., M.A., from the McGrath Institute at Notre Dame. She spoke to our group about multicultural parish and young adult ministry...
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies...
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A reflection on John 21:1-19 by Cassie Schutzer, director of the Young Adult Initiative...
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked, “Where did you see God at work in your life this month?” Here are their testimonies...
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The National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) recently hosted an online conference on “What’s Working in Parent, Family and Adult Faith Formation” and invited our director, Cassie Schutzer, and Dr. Tracey Lamont from Loyola to speak about ministry with young adults...
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As we reflect on the last year of ministry with young adults, here are some of the biggest lessons and insights from our partner parishes...
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In order to accompany young people, we need to know what they care about. We need to know what is important to them. We need to know their struggles and hopes and challenges and desires.
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Saint Meinrad recently attended the SEEK Catholic conference in St. Louis where 17,000 participants – most of them college students – gathered to worship, share in community, and learn about our common call to discipleship.
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It’s so easy to slip into a routine of busyness during the Advent season. It’s almost automatic, comfortable for us. There is always an event to plan, a gift to buy, a card to write, a service project to coordinate. If we aren’t careful, we can blink and miss the season altogether.
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked, “Where did you see God at work in your life this month?” Here are their testimonies:
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I was struck while visiting the tomb of my patron, St. Francis of Assisi, of the beauty of his being surrounded by the tombs of his brothers (literally in a circle around his tomb in the crypt chapel). Even in death, he is surrounded by his first friends to join him in the Order of Friars Minor, who encouraged him, built him up, loved and supported him by their prayer and friendship on the road to heaven.
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Ministry became synonymous with anxiety, which led me to question whether I had discerned my vocation correctly. Thankfully, I received the peace that I needed when God put a question on my heart: “Who do you work for?”
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Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked, “Where did you see God at work in your life this month?” Here are their testimonies:
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We are built for community, and we were never meant to live a life of faith on our own. We desire spaces where we are seen, welcomed, and known. We desire people in our lives who love us despite the qualities we deem unlovable. We desire a place to share our God-given gifts with others.
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I think to truly know and understand a person, we need to listen to their story. We need to ask about how God is working in their life. We need to know what their hopes and dreams and challenges and struggles are. In this five-year journey of the Young Adult Initiative, we are truly on a journey together and I want you all to know me.
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