10 "Good News" moments of 2011

Last year, I celebrated the close of 2009 with a list of the top ten highlights of the year associated with Theology of the Body, Kenosis and Ruah Woods. I always enjoy remembering what God has done in the past 365 days, so I’m going to embark on the project again this year. What opportunities have we been blessed with this year?

10) Brian Butler coming to town

In April, Ruah Woods partnered with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to host Brian Butler’s Theology of the Body for Teens training program. It was so refreshing to hear Brian speak, holding his audiences captive by sharing the hunger of teens for a challenging, beautiful message. It was also encouraging to see how many teachers, DREs, youth ministers and parents filed into St. Peter in Huber Heights and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Anderson Township to learn how to communicate TOB to the youth.

9) Kenosis Discipleship Week

In July we had our first Kenosis Discipleship Week – an opportunity for high school students to receive from the Lord and then to learn how to concretely give of themselves to their schools, parishes, family and friends. We had Mass every day, generously offered by local priests. We spent time in prayer, reflection, small groups and education sessions. We also had working groups, bringing their gifts and talents to the table to see how they can reach others in creative ways.

8) Tremendous range of speaking opportunities

It is such a joy to be able to share various aspects of Theology of the Body with an incredible range of audiences. This year, there were plenty of high schools, parishes, a couple of middle schools, Northern Kentucky University, Marian University, the Edith Stein Project at the University of Notre Dame, Theology on Tap, the first Parrhesia young adult conference in Cincinnati. With such a range of topics and audiences (junior high, high school, college, parents, academics, young adults), I am always given new opportunities to learn and to grow.

7) Kenosis Restore retreat: Encounter at the Well

This year’s Kenosis Restore retreat centered on John 4 – the encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well. It was a wonderful opportunity for the teens to pray, reflect in silence, spend time with other Kenosis teens, and learn about Christ’s thirst for union with each of us as a unique, unrepeatable person. These retreats are vitally important to our philosophy of first receiving God’s love in a relationship with Him, which enables us to give in whatever way the Lord invites us to give of ourselves.

6) World Youth Day

Madrid, Spain was my third (and quite possibly, last) World Youth Day, but my first as a chaperone. It was beautiful to watch the teens’ desire to be open to all that God had for them on the pilgrimage. It was also quite stunning to witness a million or more young people kneeling in the mud in complete silence during Exposition

of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Pope Benedict XVI. This is exactly what people need to experience when they accuse the young of an inability to rise to the challenge of faith.

5) Teaching at the seminary

What a tremendous gift it was for me to be able to teach a Theology of the Body master’s course at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West and the Athenaeum in Cincinnati this fall! It was an honor to be able to teach future priests, as well as two laypeople. I was also given the opportunity to further immerse myself in Theology of the Body and in the more precise theological aspects of the teaching that are not fit for hour-long talks or teen retreats. It is also exciting to see how an “adequate anthropology” might impact future homilies, marriage prep programs, and other parish initiatives.

4) Working with the Kenosis teens on various projects, retreats, etc.

This year, my fellow Theology of the Body education coordinator and I have striven to give the Kenosis teens opportunities to use their gifts and talents to build a culture of life and a civilization of love. We have had a junior core of six high sch

ool students on TOB for Teens retreats. Two teens created an incredible new promo video, which debuted at our September banquet. Some students have traveled with us to speak to junior high students. There are countless opportunities to use gifts of speaking, design, video work, writing, prayer and leadership to serve the youth of the Tri-state area.

3) Hearing a young man at TOB for Teens talk about his sudden desire to become a priest.

During a Theology of the Body for Teens program, one young man struggled to put into words the consistent call he felt during the program: “Even though you didn’t talk much about it explicitly, I kept hearing this voice say, ‘Be a priest! Be a priest!’ Then you brought a seminarian to speak to us, and I felt like he was talking to me. I want to consider going to college seminary next year, because I think this may be where God is calling me.”

2) Called to be More vocations pilgrimage walk

How to summarize one week of walking 150 miles with ten high school students and five adults in order to pray for vocations, discern personal vocations and to witness to the astonishing fact that God always calls us to be more? There were plenty of blisters, sore feet, injured knees and

ankles, long days of walking. But there were also beautiful churches (we stopped to pray in 30 of them), wonderful conversations with people along the journey, a wealth of community prayer and plenty of laughter. Even in the suffering, there

was joy. The teens are still talking about the pilgrimage walk and the ways in which it has impacted them.

1) John Paul II’s beatification

Not only was John Paul II beatified this May 1, but I was blessed to be present at St. Peter’s Square for the big event. How incredible to stand with a million or more people from around the world, as Pope Benedict XVI made the official proclamation. We applauded until our arms ached while they unveiled the portrait of Bl. John Paul II. The beatification gave me the chance to thank a man who I never had the opportunity to meet while he was on earth (though I did see him from a few feet away at World Youth Day 2002). Bl. John Paul II’s influence on my life continues to this day. How fitting to make a pilgrimage in order to thank him and to thank God for sending us such an incredible Holy Father in a unique time in the history of the Church and of the world.

Called to be More highlights -- #15

Highlight #15 – Seeds leading to unknown fruit.

After two weeks of unpacking the lessons learned from Called to be More, it’s time to wrap up with the overarching lesson and highlight. The most exciting aspect of the pilgrimage is that we have yet to know the fruits that God has in mind. The readings for Mass on our final day, July 10, were extraordinarily appropriate. The Gospel was the parable of the sower, which reminded us that our week had been a time of planting seeds, which God will water and allow to bear fruit in His timing.

The week of walking was certainly an adventure, but it’s a reminder that all of life is to be an adventure too. It struck me at various points during the walk that any of these young men could be ordained some day or married someday. Any one of these young women could be professing religious vows one day or walking down the aisle one day. I’m confident that whatever their vocation, God will use the time during the Called to be More pilgrimage as a moment when He stirred in their hearts a deeper calling.

We also don’t know what seeds were planted with others – with pastors we met, parishioners we conversed with, strangers we walked past. We don’t know who read the back of our shirts. We don’t know who read about our story in the Enquirer. We don’t know was touched by a simple pilgrim’s smile.

What we do know is that we can be confident that God will take our offering of the pilgrimage – the suffering, the joy, the reflections, the prayers, the silence, the conversations, the sacrifices, the uncertainties, the confidence, the footsteps – and allow them to bear great fruit. What a joy to watch it blossom!

Called to be More highlights -- #14

Highlight #14 – The generosity of others.

We live in a culture that says to receive makes one inferior. And so we avoid receiving at all costs. But on the Called to be More pilgrimage, we had to receive. And we were blown away by the generosity of others. Parishes provided incredible meals – homemade spaghetti and pasta sauce, pizza, homemade blueberry sauce on pancakes, tacos, breakfast sandwiches, etc. People met up with us to bring water, knee braces and extra baby wipes to make up for the lack of showers. Pastors greeted us. DRE’s and youth ministers brought us cold water and snacks. Strangers prayed for us. Six additional adults walked with us.

We had a roof over our heads every night. We only had to buy one meal on the road. We left the pilgrimage with more snacks than we before we left Cincinnati. We received encouraging e-mails and messages throughout the pilgrimage.

Called to be More highlights -- #13

Highlight #13 – Saying “no” to distractions.

It was remarkable to me how many of the teens left their cell phones at home, or shoved them into the bottom of a bag where they couldn’t be distracted by the lure of texting or the desire to check the score of the game. Instead, they came on the walk to find fewer distractions. They wanted the silence of prayer, the immersion into a culture of other young people seeking holiness, the delight of spending several times each day in front of the Blessed Sacrament. They wanted the freedom of not knowing where they were going or what time it was. They wanted the simplicity of saying “yes” and allowing others to guide them. They wanted a week without carrying money or technology or iPods.

And with fewer distractions, God’s voice could be heard in the stillness more clearly.

Called to be More highlights -- #12

Highlight #12 – A special prayer.

One of the groups was walking near Dayton, when they began chatting with a young woman walking by. She wanted to know the purpose of the walk. Eventually the pilgrims asked if they could pray for her. She burst into tears and explained that she was trying to get off of drugs. The adults offered to pray with her at that moment, which the woman accepted. After praying together, the adults were able to give her some advice about seeking help for her addiction. Even though they eventually parted ways, the woman’s story was on the pilgrims’ minds during the trip and was an intention carried during the remainder of the journey.
Perhaps this woman’s life was changed because of an encounter with strangers on the sidewalk of a busy street.

Called to be More highlights -- #11

Highlight #11 – Theological conversations.

I joked during the trip that in order to be a chaperone it was necessary to have a Ph.D. in theology. The pilgrims had intense questions about so many aspects of the faith – liturgy, morality, prayer, the saints, Church history, spirituality, growing in virtue. Long walks and breaks in the bus allowed for plenty of time to discuss the beauty of the faith, with teens learning from other teens, teens learning from adults, and adults learning from teens as well. The fruits of conversations were often shared with others at a later period, affording another opportunity to consider newfound knowledge.

Some of the pilgrims commented that the time for conversations about the faith with people they trusted was an invaluable aspect of the trip.

Called to be More highlights -- #10

Highlight #10 – A garden of vocations
St. Therese once wrote about God’s children as a garden of wildflowers – the beauty and variety of each one pointing to the Creator. Along our journey we witnessed a garden of vocations. We encountered diocesan priests, Dominicans, Franciscans, Sisters of Charity, members of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. We met a Byzantine priest and a priest from the Fraternity of St. Peter, which celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass. We met a couple who had been married for 49 years. We met young couples carrying their newborns. We had the opportunity during the week to see the universality of the Church.

Called to be More highlights -- #9

Highlight #9 – Giving away the cross

On our retreat day before we began walking, each pilgrim was given a small crucifix to carry during the walk as a symbol of uniting ourselves to Christ and the cross. At one parish, I noticed a pilgrim giving his cross to a young boy (about 10 years old). He entrusted the crucifix to him, giving him advice about staying close to God, caring for his family and being open to God’s plan for him. It was a touching moment to watch one young man pass on to another the joy and responsibility of carrying the cross. The little boy was also quite moved, and I noticed later that he had tears in his eyes as he held his new tiny crucifix.

I wonder what role that seemingly simple gesture will play in his future vocation.

Called to be More highlights -- #8

Highlight #8 – Reflecting on the saints.

One of the beauties of the pilgrimage is that each member of the group was involved. A few weeks before setting out, each person was assigned one or two topics on which to present during the week. Each day had a theme, and within each theme several saints were chosen as witnesses of the virtues or topics we were contemplating. There were 25 presentations given during the week. Our pilgrimage binder included meditations, prayers, quotes and Scriptures to allow for further reflection.

It was incredible to hear the witnesses of all of the pilgrims and to learn about the varied ways in which the saints answered the call to be more. Each of us walked away with more knowledge about the saints, inspired by their “yes” to God.

Our themes and saints for the week were:

Monday: Freedom in giving: We can only find ourselves in a sincere gift of self.
• Bl. John Paul
• St. Louis de Montfort
• St. Monica
• Bl. Pier Giorgio

Tuesday: What is a vocation? How are we called to holiness in the everyday and in the big picture?
• St. Therese: Little Way
• Bl. Zellie and Louis Martin (St. Therese’s parents)
• St. John Vianney

Wednesday: Trust and patience in discernment
• St. Joseph Cupertino
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
• St. Teresa of Avila
• St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Thursday: The humility and joy of the call
• St. Philip Neri
• St. Francis of Assisi
• Mother Teresa
• Unknown saints

Friday: Suffering: Accepting the invitation to be united to the cross
• Bl. Chiara “Luce” Badano
• St. Maximilian Kolbe
• St. Josephine Bakhita
• St. Paul

Saturday: Mary
• Mary’s intercession and fruitfulness
• Freedom of Mary’s fiat (Annunciation)
• Mary’s daily call (Wedding at Cana)
• Trust and patience every day in God’s plan
• Humility and joy (Birth of Christ)
• Standing at the foot of the cross (Crucifixion)

Sunday: Resurrection: Following God’s plan leads us to eternal life

Called to be More highlights -- #7

Highlight #7 – Interceding for others.

The openness to God and to others on the pilgrimage enabled it to be fruitful. Along the way, we asked everyone – from police officers, to priests, to the elderly to pre-teens – what intentions they would like us to keep in our prayers. We wrote them in our prayer journal, which we carried throughout the journey. These intentions remained in our prayers throughout the week. Each step of the journey became a prayer for others. It was a gift to be able to offer prayer to everyone we encountered, knowing that we can unite with others by interceding for them. And, where two or more are gathered …

Called to be More highlights -- #6

Highlight #6 – Beauty of church architecture.

It was an amazing gift to see 30 churches in one week’s time within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In general, the pilgrims seemed most captivated by the older church buildings, whose stained glass windows, high altars, painted ceilings and large statues captivated their imaginations and invited them to turn their thoughts heavenward. There is something remarkable about the ability of a beautiful church to raise our gaze to the Author of all beauty. Soaking ourselves with so much beauty in one week’s time will surely have an impact on all of us.

Called to be More highlights -- #5

Highlight #5 – Humility.

Some people may be wondering why we are accompanied by a bus on this trip. First, there is a matter of practicality. When traveling with several people under the age of 18, we have to be especially mindful of their physical well-being. It would not be possible to ask them to carry their luggage during their treks to churches. There are also times when it becomes necessary to take a break, resting in the cool bus.

But there is also a theological reason behind our use of the support vehicle. Often, we are tempted to think that we can go it alone, do everything, handle all things on our own. Mandating that no one person walk the entire 150 miles underscores that we are all members of the body of Christ, that we are all necessary to this trip, and that it is imperative that we recognize in humility that we cannot do it alone, nor can we do it all. Consequently, though it may seem otherwise at first, the support vehicle is also a vehicle for growing in humility and awareness that God is God, and we are not. (Praise Him for that!)

Many of us realized through our physical limitations during the trip that we couldn’t do it all. There was a lesson in humility as many (if not all walkers) learned that they can be a gift in ways that seem small or insignificant – praying in the bus, making rosaries, sacrificing the inability to walk, encouraging others. There is a simple humility in learning that God doesn’t ask us to be Superman, but to be who He created us to be, and even in this simplicity or seemingly ordinariness, He calls us to be more.

Called to be More highlights -- #4

Highlight #4 – Prayer for parishes.

At our parish visits, Fr. Kyle Schnippel would lead us in a prayer for the parish. We prayed for the pastor, the deacons and staff, those who were sick and suffering, those who are married, and for special intentions of the parish. It was such a blessing to intercede at each church for those who enter the same doors each week. The focus on prayer for each parish was a reminder that prayer is the greatest gift we could offer on our journey. It also served as a reminder of the unity and universality of the Catholic Church.

Called to be More highlights -- #3

Highlight #3: Authentic community.

The vibrant community life of our 15 pilgrims was due to its foundation – the love of Christ. Within minutes, the young people were enjoying getting to know each other, sharing intense spiritual conversations, praying with one another and laughing together. With a strong community prayer life, this joy continued throughout the week. It was a community that was not self-created or self-sustaining. It was from God and for God.

In a vocation to religious life or to marriage, there is a need to understand authentic community, and the virtues of charity, patience, trust and humility that are required. The pilgrimage week was a great opportunity to “practice” these virtues and to discover the freedom and joy that come from giving to and receiving from others.

Fr. Kyle's summary of Called to be More

Be sure to stop by Fr. Kyle Schnippel's blog for his overview of the vocations pilgrimage walk.

My highlights will be posted for the next two weeks -- there's lots to be said!

Called to be More highlights -- #2

Highlight #2: Getting to know priests and seminarians.

What a blessing to travel with one priest and two seminarians during the pilgrimage! Many of the teens commented that they valued interacting with priests and seminarians during the week, as well as watching priests and seminarians interact with one another.

Not only did we travel with priests and seminarians, but we also met several throughout the journey. We spoke with the pastor of almost every parish we visited. Several seminarians stopped to chat at various parishes. We also had an incoming college seminarian serving as a pilgrim with us.

All of these interactions allowed us to see God working in others’ lives, the generosity of a “yes” to God and the joy that comes from following Him.

Called to be More highlights -- #1

The “Called to be More” vocations walk is over. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that the walking 150 miles portion is over. The greatest aspect of the pilgrimage, in my opinion, is that its fruits remain largely a mystery. Still, there are many wonderful things to celebrate and reflect upon as we unpack (both literally and figuratively). In the next several days, expect to see some of the highlights from the journey.

Highlight #1: Joy in suffering.

This seemed to be a theme echoed by all of the pilgrims, teens and adults alike. To see a group of 15 people hobbling around with taped ankles, knee braces, Band-Aid-covered blistered feet, heat rash and sunburn, yet still smiling, laughing and joking was incredible. It wasn’t a shallow happiness either. The pilgrims were authentically joyful. There was a joy in viewing suffering through the “eloquence of the resurrection,” as Blessed John Paul II referred to it. There was a joy in knowing that God’s love was greater than any blister or shin split. There was a joy in knowing that God will transform the sufferings offered to Him, allowing them to bear great fruit. There was a joy in realizing that embracing the sufferings of the day united each pilgrim to the cross and to Christ in a greater way. And there was a joy in knowing that the suffering was a shared experience, a bond within the community.

We made it to the cathedral! Now we are enjoying lunch before parting ways in a couple of hours. What a pilgrimage!

"A constant consideration of God's will and God's plan"

One last "Called to be More" letter ...

What does it mean to be called to be more? This is a question that I have often asked myself when considering my vocation. Society today is full of things that we need to be more of—more happy, more beautiful, more sexy, more rich. These things mean nothing to Christ. Christ Himself shaped each and every one of us even before we were conceived. He formed us in His image and likeness, giving us beautiful gifts that, most of the time, we don’t even use to their full potential. Being more to Christ means being more than beautiful, more than sexy, more than rich. It’s being more than our failed human nature and actively pursuing Christ daily.
A pursuit of Christ necessarily requires seeking His will in every aspect of our lives. That is what we all are called to do. A vocation is not simply choosing to go into the priesthood or religious life. It is so much more than that. It is a constant consideration of God’s will and God’s plan.

God created us. God loves us. God formed for us the best possible lives. When I think of my vocation, marriage vs. religious life vs. chaste single life, sometimes I get scared. I think, “I will never get to have kids of I don’t get married, and I love kids. Why would God ever do that to me?” But, in all honesty, God knows what I love more than I do. God knows what will make me happy more than I do. God’s will is more beautiful and amazing than my will can ever be. Do not worry about your vocation. Do not fret. Try to live each day as Christ wants you to, and if you do so, your vocation will simply come to you. It will seem simple and easy. It looks hard now, the road looks rough, but trust and pray and God will pull through. And you will truly prove that you were made to be more.

In God’s love,
Melissa

We finally have Internet to share Called to be More pictures!

Above: After nearly 150 miles, can we still say, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings?"

Above: Group shot at Holy Cross-Immaculata with Brian and Andrew, two Cincinnati seminarians.

Above: We've arrived at the St. Lawrence festival!

Above: Fr. Kyle is given the opportunity to announce the Called to be More pilgrimage at the St. Lawrence festival.