Charis Ministries

Please enjoy the music while we transfer you to charisministries.org...

2010-10-08T11:33:00.004-05:00

For right now, we're putting the blog on hold as we experiment with posting news, resources, and reflections on our new website! Visit charisministries.org to check out the fresh new look and find content that once landed on this blog.

Blog junkies, don't fret. We are considering continuing with the blog later on once we rethink it's mission and goals. But for now, enjoy charisministries.org!

Peace,
Mary Ellen

12 Ways to Pray on the Go: Apps for Your Smartphone

2010-08-30T15:48:00.002-05:00

U.S. Catholic has compiled a list of smartphone apps that can foster your spiritual life on the go. From iConfess, an app that has a list of prayers and tips for examining your conscience, to Loyola Press's 3-minute daily retreat, you can carve time out of your day to pray! Check it out.

The Spiritual Life is About Making Connections

2010-08-26T19:29:00.005-05:00

An excerpt from the new book for young adults in their 20s and 30s, Already There: Letting God Find You, by Mark Mossa, S.J.

“My spiritual life has never come in neat little packages. No, the packages usually come somewhat damaged, despite the handle-with-care warning labels. And the contents are often not what I expected, maybe a chipped, algae green colored ceramic frog instead of that colorful tapestry of the Madonna and child I had ordered. Or some other sort of cosmic mishap that forces me to think, as cliché as it sounds, “outside the box.” Thus, the need to make connections. It takes some work to figure out why I’ve received the frog with the yellow underbelly instead of that intricately woven Blessed Mother and child. There is some spiritual lesson in this awkward amphibian that I’m meant to discover!

But to do so I need to see things in a different way.

This book will help you discover this new way of seeing. It’s not meant to instruct you how to see the way that I see. You have your own unique way of making spiritual connections and it is my hope that something, perhaps many things in this book will put you in touch with that. Therefore, what you will not find here is a step-by-step formula for spiritual success. That’s not to say my book has no structure. It’s just that instead of steps you’ll find that the book is organized around one key recognition: Whether we like it or not, each of us has a past, present and future. And that, as you might have guessed, they’re connected.

Steps don’t work for me because, if anything, my spiritual life has progressed in missteps, and not without stepping on a few toes—unfortunately, not just my own—along the way. Indeed, if I told you my life story, I expect you would say, ‘Boy, that was random,’ or, if you were less kind, you might cringe and say, ‘Boy, that was messy.’ But, perhaps you can relate to life being messy. And, perhaps like me, you are convinced (or want to be) that there is some meaning to all that messiness, some reason why I keep running into frogs instead of the Mother of God . . .”

--from the preface, "Boxes of Frogs, Mother of God."

read the whole preface here.

"First Comes Love"

2010-08-25T16:14:00.004-05:00

How do young adults come to marriage? The feature article of this month's U.S. Catholic explores the many ways that young adults today are in relationship and how, if ever, they come to the decision of marriage. A lot of my friends have really enjoyed this article, especially because of the many perspectives that it includes. Click here to read on!

-Mary Ellen

Exercising with St. Ignatius

2010-08-24T15:06:00.002-05:00

Parishioners at Old St. Pat's have been working through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius since last November. You know it's going to be a down to earth retreat when the organizer admits that he used to think: "give me a treadmill or the weight room any day over the exercise program St. Ignatius had laid out."

Check out Al Gustafson's reflections on journeying through the Exercises here.

~Lauren

What will the "What Next?" Transitions Retreat be like?

2010-08-12T16:58:00.003-05:00

The Charis Transitions retreat was certainly a memorable one for me. The retreat team was so Spirit-filled, humble, and dedicated to making the retreat be as sincere and effective as possible. And who can argue with an ice cream eating contest? J The friends I made on that retreat – both from the retreat team and the retreatants – are priceless. I encourage anyone who’s seeking an authentic weekend, who wants to put away their “stuff” and cut through the clutter, if even for a couple days, to attend this retreat. It’s both reflective and inspiring, as well as a touchpoint for someone on the spiritual path and wants to journey with others.

-Crystal C.

For more info on the upcoming "What Next?" Transitions Retreat, click here!

Reflections of a What Next? Retreat

2010-08-09T13:28:00.003-05:00

A retreat is a time to "retreat" from everyday life (i.e. routines, work, parish life, friends and family). It is a time to retreat to a different place, a place of reflection and renewal. In the end, it turns out to be a "treat" for oneself. I had the opportunity to attend a summer retreat sponsored by Charis Ministries a couple of years ago that turned out to be life-changing.

The retreat was co-led by peers. The environment was set up to be a safe place to share and explore your faith in the company of others, or if one chose, in solitude. Whether it was during small group, or during free time as we gathered to eat together or share in an ice cream social, the opportunities were provided to explore your relationship with God, each other, and the world. There is also time to be challenged, maybe in what you believe or how you behave.

The time spent provided me an opportunity to remember God's unconditional love that is always present to receive. I highly recommend considering a Charis retreat to anyone seeking time to be away and being renewed.

-Brian M.

Click here to find out more about the upcoming What Next? Retreat!

Ignatian Spirituality: A How-To Guide

2010-08-05T16:37:00.003-05:00

Per usual, IgnatianSpiritulity.com has some great new resources, particularly on its blog, dotMagis. (Boy do I love when those Jesuits get hip. What's next? Ignatian Aps for my iPad?! Oh wait, Loyola Press already HAS those! Unbelievable.) ANYwho - if you're like yours truly, you always appreciate new perspectives on praying the Examen. Check out dotMagis for new perspectives and tips on this age-old prayer, including an audio guide!

-Mary Ellen

Jesus was a great eater

2010-08-03T15:18:00.004-05:00

On Sunday evening, I attended a Theology on Tap talk at Old St. Pat's. Fr. Ed Foley, a Capuchin priest and professor at CTU gave a great talk called Which Jesus Table? Starting Points Make a Difference. In it, he invited us to look at the Eucharist from the perspective of Jesus' table ministry rather than simply by beginning with the Last Supper. In that light, the Last Supper, and the Eucharistic liturgy that we celebrate today, are a continuation of Jesus' building up of community by eating and drinking with all sorts of people.

Jesus ate and drank with sinners and outcasts, with Jews and Gentiles, with men, women and children, with the rich and the poor. Meals for Jesus were a time to welcome people and to bring them together to be with him and one another.

We often go to Mass as a time for personal prayer and to be left alone. We may go in not knowing anyone else, and leave knowing the same number. But if we are to truly embrace Jesus' idea of Eucharist, and the importance of gathering together as a community around the table, what must we do to create and be part of a welcoming community. How are we called to be part of this Body of Christ?

~Lauren

Live the Magis

2010-07-30T16:52:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow, July 31, is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. There are lots of great resources on Ignatian Spirituality and info on St. Ignatius, but one that you may not have run across is the dotMagis blog. St. Ignatius always strove for the magis in everything he did. Magis literally means "more" and refers to the ways that we can serve and follow Jesus more deeply. Ignatianspirituality.com has a blog inspired by this desire for excellence: dotMagis.

In honor of St. Ignatius, check out the blog, and ask yourself where you can live out the magis in your life.

~Lauren

A Look at Film & TV through a Jesuit Lens

2010-07-30T16:02:00.002-05:00

Charis board member, Jake Martin, SJ, is a contributing writer for America Magazine. As a young adult Jesuit, Jake always offers an insightful and relevant opinion informed by Ignatian values. Check out his latest articles reviewing the film "Breathless" and the sitcom "Community"!

-Mary Ellen

31 days of St. Ignatius

2010-07-28T13:46:00.003-05:00

Friday is the Feast day of St. Ignatius. Check out Loyola Press' resource: 31 Days of St. Ignatius.
It is full of ideas for prayer, for reading, and for reflection.

Shrimp Boats

2010-07-21T13:53:00.003-05:00

Two weekends ago we went to Tybee Island. As we sat on the beach, we were blessed with the gift of watching shrimp boats about 50 yards away from us. The boats would be out there as soon as we woke up, and they would be out there long after we left the beach in the late afternoon. For two days, I sat and watched not only the boats but the crews of these shrimping boats. It is in rare moments like this, where I get a brief glimpse into someone's life, that I cannot help but pause and reflect on what I had the opportunity to witness.

First of all, it made me thankful, for the shrimpers who were out there catching the shrimp. I rarely give a second thought to where the shrimp I eat came from or who caught it. After watching the long hours of shrimpers and after watching them stay put when the rest of us hurried inside during a severe thunderstorm, I have a new appreciation for the shrimp I love to eat. Little do those men and women know that the work of their typical day helps provide for my family an ingredient to meals that are often celebratory--finishing a project, an anniversary meal, a birthday. Finding fresh seafood where we live now is hard, and we relish the seafood from Louisiana in our freezer. I am thankful for their work!

During the severe thunderstorm, I watched these boats get rocked and tossed around from the comfort of my condo. The wind gusts were so strong and lightening so bad that I found my nerves on edge. I could not help but offer a silent prayer to protect them. My mind turned also to the wives, husbands, and children back home, who knew there mom or dad was out on that boat in that storm. I kept thinking...all of that for shrimp? Why? It is the same reason we all do our work...to make a living, to provide for our families. I am thankful for the risk they take to survive.

Finally, my mind continued to turn to the Gulf Coast right now and the oil spill. I know there are so many people that cannot get out on their boats right now and make a living for their families. They posses the same heart, the same drive, and the same perseverance that these shrimpers showed me this weekend. I am saddened for them, for their loss, and for the worry they must be carrying trying to figure out how to provide for their families. We must continue to pray for them and offer them support.

I am left in awe. In awe of the beauty of the surroundings where these men and women work. In awe of the fact that there is no "rain-delay" for their work. In awe of how long it takes for their days work. In awe of how they use their God given talent and their education. In awe of how I can take something as simple as shrimp for granted.

There are men and women all over this world doing jobs where we reap the benefits. Do we ever stop and slow down enough to really see them and acknowledge their hard work?

How many pieces of our days and our lives are affected because of someone's work?

How does stopping to realize that our lives are daily touched by someone we do now know make us feel?

~Becky Eldredge, Everything Is Holy Now

Spiritual Health

2010-07-07T16:49:00.003-05:00

The below list of questions comes from Kathy Hendricks's book: A Parent's Guide to Prayer. Kathy suggests that we need to take our pulse on a daily basis by posing questions that test our spiritual health:

1 Am I snapping at those closest to me?
2. Am I growing resentful about all I have to do at home, in the workplace, at church, or with my child's school?
3. When was the last time I was still?
4. Am I letting my spiritual needs go unmet while taking care of other details in my life and my home?
5. What effort have I put into praying?
6. Do I still have the heart for my faith? my family? my life?

I find that these questions are challenging and thought-provoking. When we neglect our spiritual needs, we often find our lives off balance. As we answer and reflect on these questions, we may find that our spiritual health is in need of some attention. It may mean needing some alone time to just be or pray. We may need time to rest and play so that our spirits can be renewed. We may need to engage in a period of discernment to see if our "yeses" need to change. Are we saying "yes" to too many things? Are we not saying "yes" to the things that matter most? Maybe, we just need to spend some daily time in prayer. Perhaps, we may find that we are in need of our own retreat-- a few days of quiet, prayer, and reflection- to feed our spiritual life.

The answers to why our spiritual health may be off are necessary and sometimes challenging questions. All of these questions are questions that we can take to prayer. We can ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in discerning why we feel "off".

What is the current health of our spiritual life? Thriving, barely surviving, non-exisitent?
What are we feeling nudged to pay attention to right now in terms of our spiritual health?
What do we need to feed our spiritual life?

~Becky Eldredge

Oil Spill

2010-06-30T14:14:00.005-05:00

Today, I read an article in the newspaper about how the oil spill had affected the owner of BP gas station in my city. The owner said his sales were down 60%. His quote was, "I never thought I would see this day, that after working as hard as I have, that I would be facing an imminent possibility of going out of business." The story went on to tell about how this man owned this gas station to provide for his family. His connection to the oil company was "strictly for the rights to the logo and a contract to buy gas."

I was struck by this man's story. He, like all of us, is trying to provide for his family. This oilspill, which he did not cause is affecting his livelihood. I am from Louisiana, and I am frustrated and saddened at the impact this oilspill is having on the people in my home state. Many, like the owner of the gas station in Georgia, will not be able to remain in business due to the affects of the oil spill. Back home, the impact on wildlife is devastating.

As we all process this devastation, I feel we are left with some daunting questions, "What can we do to help? What is our responsibility in all of this? " As I continue to pray for all of those impacted and I discern the answers to these questions, I pray:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will.
All that I am and call my own. You have given it all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it. It is yours.
Do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.

Grad at Grad--What makes it Jesuit?

2010-06-29T16:15:00.004-05:00

"What makes your Jesuit school Jesuit?"

I have the privilege of spending 48 hours with a group of people working at Jesuit schools in the Chicago-Detroit Province reflecting on this question. Gathered here are more than 50 teachers, administrators, and staff members from Chicago Jesuit Academy, Christ the King, Cristo Rey, St. Ignatius and Loyola Academy (in the Chicago area) and Brebeuf Jesuit (in Indianapolis). These dedicated people have spent at least a year working at their school and have come together to grow in their understanding of St. Ignatius, the Spiritual Exercises, and the mission of Jesuit schools.

They have a variety of reasons for why they chose to work at a Jesuit school. Some were Jesuit educated through high school or college and want to be at a school that upholds those values. Some were looking for a Catholic school where they could integrate their faith into their work lives. Some were simply looking for a job, and this is where they landed. Despite the variety of reasons, they all share a love of, and a dedication to, the mission of the school to form "men and women for others."

At Jesuit schools, there are 5 characteristics of their graduates that they want to see at graduation (known as "Grad at Grad"). Briefly, these graduates should be:

1. Open to growth

2. Intellectually competent

3. Religious

4. Loving

5. Committed to doing justice

For me, as someone who wasn't Jesuit educated, I strive to embody these five criteria now in my life, let alone when I was 17 and graduating from high school. These are the marks of people who are growing in their relationship with God and trying to live their lives as God is calling them to live.

At this point in my life, years after my high school graduation, can I say I am living out these ideals? How am I measuring up to these Grad at Grad goals?

~Lauren

"The Revolution of the Heart Begins in Community"

2010-06-24T15:57:00.004-05:00

My friend Jake wrote this thoughtful and challenging reflection that was published in Sojourners last week. He reflects on the oil spill in the Gulf through the lens of Dorothy Day's belief that "what is needed is a revolution of the heart". Day co-founded the Catholic Worker, a movement which strives to create a new society in the shell of the old through non-violent resistance and advocacy along with houses of hospitality. Furthering the movement, Jake is a co-founder and member of the White Rose Catholic Worker community in Chicago. Hope you enjoy the piece!

-Mary Ellen

"Adrift in the Gulf"

2010-06-17T13:28:00.002-05:00

"The deep ocean is not merely a difficult site from which to extract resources; it is part of a beautiful, breathtaking gift for all generations to share, preserve and pass on. We have failed in our responsibility as its stewards."

This is a thought-provoking piece on the maddening and dismal situation of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. The editors of America Magazine challenge us to move deeper in our criticism of the spill, to look not only to oil executives for accountability, but to ourselves as consumers who are called to be good stewards of our resources, but who, oftentimes, are reckless and unintentional in our consumption. It certainly makes me examine how I must change my own habits to preserve these resources which are meant for all the world, and generations to come, to share responsibly.

-Mary Ellen

Small bumps in the road

2010-06-16T13:09:00.000-05:00

My greatest hope is to incorporate my faith in my daily life. I hope for this in my marriage, in my parenting, in my daily interactions with people, and in my work. I feel capable of doing this when all is well-- when there are no disagreements in my marriage, when my children are engaged and playing happily, when there is no tension in relationships, and when work moves along smoothly. The tougher question for me: "How do I live my faith in the small bumps that we daily deal with?"

How am I incorporating my faith in disagreements? in disciplining and teaching my child? in working out problems? How does my faith come into play when my three year old has a melt down because his piece of sausage broke in half at breakfast and my patience is very thin because this melt down has occurred three times during meals this week? What do I do when the same challenging problem arises again with a person I love? What do I do when I am a placed in a situation that requires me making a difficult decision? What do I do when I am tired and cranky because I was up all night with a child, and it is coming out in my interactions with my family?

My hope and prayer is that the roots of my faith will guide me through these small bumpy moments. How often, though, I fall short. With all my strength, I pray the prayer below:

God be in my head

and in my understanding.

God be in my eyes

and in my looking.

God be in my mouth

and in my speaking.

God be in my heart

and in my thinking.

God be at my end

and at my departing.

— Sarum Primer

Thankfully, when I do fall short, I know the same place I turn to for guidance, God, will give me the courage to reconcile, to apologize, and to try again with a heart and head rooted in faith.

How do I live my faith during the small bumpy times in daily life?
~Becky Eldredge, Everything is Holy Now

What a difference a year makes

2010-06-10T16:29:00.001-05:00

June 10 last year was my due date for my first child. One year ago, I had no idea who was going to make his/her entrance into the world, nor did I have any idea of when he/she planned to do so. Three days later, I met the little man who has changed the way I look at everything. It's hard to believe that a year ago, I didn't even know the gender of the little guy who now cracks me up when he smiles his six-toothed grin and tries to drink from any cup-shaped object he can get his hands on.

My son turns one this weekend and I can't believe all that has happened in just a year. Birthdays offer the chance to look back at a year and see how we have grown. As I take stock of my own life and habits, I find myself asking how I have grown spiritually? How is my faith stronger this year than it was a year ago? How am I more connected to God now than I was a year ago? What does my prayer life look like now compared to a year ago?

As I reflect on these questions, I am challenged to look at what I can do moving forward so that I will be have a stronger faith, a deeper prayer life, and a closer relationship to God next year than I do now.

~Lauren G

Lord, Save Me

2010-06-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

Life continues to unfold in directions I never imagined happening. I find myself being called to new aspects of ministry, to new or different relationships with people, and to engage in life in a deeper way.

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself asking, "How do I do all of this? How do I do what God is asking? How do Chris and I make everything work?" I felt unsure and afraid. Its not like I was called to mission work in a far off land or to anything extreme. Rather, opportunities were presenting themselves that pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit and at the same time were causing Chris and I to, once again, look at our priorities and determine if anything needed realigning.

As we moved through the period of discernment, I kept thinking about the scripture where Jesus and Peter walk on water (Matthew 14:22-33). The disciples' boat is rocking in the storm, when suddenly they look up and see a man, Jesus, walking towards them on water. Peter (oh, how I love cocky little Peter!!!)...asks, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come on the water." Jesus tells Peter, "Come." Peter began walking on water until,suddenly, he got afraid, and says, "Lord, save me". Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him.

I think I saw myself a bit in ole Peter. On one hand, I trust God whole-heartily. On the other hand, sometimes when I begin to fill a bit unsure of unfamiliar territory, I become afraid. Peter, while a bit zealous at times, did have the common sense to cry out, "Lord, save me." As I ~~discerned~~ stressed about stepping into unfamiliar territory, that phrase did not come to my lips quite as quick as Peter's. I flailed around a bit. When it finally did come when I decided praying about it might be a good idea, I realized that just like Peter, Jesus came to help me. While I did not feel the physical outstretched hand of Jesus, I felt peace provided by Jesus' great advocate, the Holy Spirit, about the new directions after taking it to prayer over and over again.

Do we have the common sense of Peter to cry out, "Lord, save me"?

~Becky Eldredge, Everything is Holy Now

Doubt

2010-05-26T12:22:00.002-05:00

Have you ever been trucking along doing what you are called to do and then be overwhelmed by doubt? I know I have. I always hate it when this happens. I suddenly find myself questioning every decision I have ever made. I know, Chris, my hubby, will read this and laugh because sometimes when I have moments of doubt they can get rather extreme-- I doubt my abilities as a mom, as a wife, as a lay minister in the church, as a blogger, as a gardener, as a friend, and on and on.

These moments of doubt sometimes sweep into our lives from out of nowhere. We suddenly find ourselves overwhelmed with questions and fears. We question is this doubt from God? Or is this doubt not from God? There have been many times in my life when a moment of doubt came that I started trying to change decisions I have made or make new decisions. This never tends to work in my favor though. When I try to make decisions in a period of doubt they are never sound decisions! They are typically emotional decisions I have made out of fear or uncertainty.

When doubt comes these days, I have learned to do two things. First, wait it out and make no decisions. This period of doubt always passes. Second, and most importantly, I bring all of my doubts to prayer. I find through prayer, consolation will eventually come. Through prayer, I will be reaffirmed as to the direction I am heading in or I will be nudged into a new direction. This is one of the great tools I have learned from Ignatian Spirituality.

Prayer roots our discernment in God and frees us from our doubts so we can be the beloved daughters and sons of God we already are. Prayer reminds us that we are undoubtedly loved by God, and that, rather than doubt, is something worth clinging too!

How do we overcome doubt in our lives?
Do we allow God to help us overcome our doubt?
Do we need to sit with God and be reminded of God's unconditional love for us?

~Becky E.

Finding God in All Things. Really?

2010-05-19T10:47:00.003-05:00

Join Charis tonight for our final Living Ignatian Speaker of the year! Lee Hubbell will guide us through an evening of reflection about finding God in the 'non-obvious' times of our lives. Come for some thoughtful reflection and meet or reconnect with other young adults! Tonight, 7:30pm, Holy Name Cathedral. Hope to see you there!

-Mary Ellen

"I happen to have a Ph.D. in scandal..."

2010-05-18T10:37:00.004-05:00

As we move through the Easter season, our Scripture readings tell about the early Church leaders and the growth of the early Christian community. In the news, we continue to hear about how the failings of a few of our Church leaders, past or present, have caused suffering for so many.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York points out the connection between the early apostles--who were far from perfect--and present day leadership. We aren't perfect now, but we weren't perfect then. "If the survival of the Church depended upon the brightness, the virtue, the courage, the holiness of her bishops and priests," he says, "the Church would have collapsed only hours after the ordination of her first ones, the apostles."

By far my favorite line from this article (which is highly worth a read!) is the archbishop's response to a reporter asking if he was shocked and scandalized by the latest reports on abuse. He responds: "Well, yes. But I happen to have a Ph.D. in scandal, so it doesn't shake my faith. I have my doctorate in Church history, which is one long tale of sin, scandal and shock, always redeemed by the grace and mercy of God."

As we continue to hear about the failings of some of the leaders of our Church, let us pray for them, for the victims, and for our own faith. After all, our faith is not in an institution, it is in Jesus.

~Lauren G

Transitions

2010-05-17T13:34:00.003-05:00

The last couple weeks, I’ve found myself at some different graduation ceremonies and parties for people in my graduate program at Loyola University. For my JVC Magis community, this means we are just a short time away from saying goodbye to a couple of our members who are graduating. So it is a celebration, but one with some sadness.

Looking back at this time if year since high school, this has often be a time of bittersweet transition for me. I’ve been blessed to know many friends and neighbors during this time, but moving from place to place and having others do the same, a lot of these relationships have been temporary. So it can be difficult at times, but it also reminds me of the importance of making the most out of the relationships I have.

Now as (hopefully) we can finally get into the summer, I hope people find ways to enjoy some quality time with those around them.

-Jesse K

For the Least of our Brothers and Sisters

2010-05-10T08:26:00.006-05:00

This weekend, I had the privilege of being on the For the Least retreat with three dozen young adults who are passionate about promoting peace and justice. Our team gave some wonderful reflections on their experiences of working toward justice. Kyle talked about his growing concern for the environment as God's creation and the choices that he, and we, can make to be better stewards of the earth. Steve told of the ways that God has been knocking at his heart throughout his life and how he was finally able to answer the call to become a social worker for those with mental illnesses. Kate spoke about her work with refugees from Bhutan, Burma and Iraq and the challenges that come with resettling these groups. Megan talked about her experiences working with abandoned children in India and teaching kids in rural North Carolina and sent us forth to answer the question "What are we doing in God's name?". Our keynote presenter, Jonathan Currie, spoke about his job at Interfaith Worker Justice and the work that the organization does to prevent wage theft and other injustices against workers.

In listening to these inspiring young adults share their passions and gifts, I found myself reflecting on my own "growing edge" (as Kyle put it). I will probably never go to India like Megan. I know that I am not called to work in refugee resettlement. But what is it that I can do in my life that brings me more into solidarity with the least of my brothers and sisters? What is it that you can do?

"Who Can Mock This Church?"

2010-05-06T16:20:00.003-05:00

New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof offers a reflection on his experiences with the humble priests and nuns he has encountered in Sudan. They have shown him the heart of the true Catholic Church at a time when the sinfulness of the hierarchy has tempted him to disregard the institutional church. A great piece that left me with a sense of renewed hopefulness that we, as the community of believers, can be the true heart of the Church.

-Mary Ellen

How are we living the Paschal Mytery?

2010-04-29T13:45:00.002-05:00

Next weekend, May 7-9, More than 35 young adults will gather at the For the Least retreat to share their experiences working toward a more peaceful and just world.

One of our team members, Megan Sherrier, took part in the Catholics on Call program a few years ago and wrote a great reflection on the Paschal Mystery: From Discernment to Action. To hear more from Megan, all you have to do is sign up for the retreat! Hurry, registration closes on Monday.

~Lauren G.

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T14:54:00.002-05:00

Care for and the stewardship of God's creation are important aspects of Catholic Social Teaching. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day today, here are a few reflections on the environment from a Catholic perspective.

The Integrity of Creation by Phil Fox Rose on bustedhalo.com

A New Climate for Theology by Sally McFague via NCR

Catholic Conference on Climate Change of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

~Lauren G

The "Other" Catholic Church?

2010-04-19T08:35:00.003-05:00

In the past couple years, I have probably found out about more current events than I should admit from Facebook. The first place I saw the news of Michael Jackson's death was Facebook. The news that Chicago didn't get the 2016 Olympics was on Facebook a good 10 minutes before I saw it on any of the major news outlets.

The majority of the time that friends post links to articles, I take a cursory look at the headlines, but rarely take the time to read the entire article. In the last 24 hours or so, multiple people all posted a link to the same article so I had to read it to see what was causing such a stir. I'm glad I did.

Nicholas Kristof, an op-ed columnist in the New York Times, wrote the article "A Church Mary Can Love." In light of the way a lot of major news outlets have been treating the Church lately, I was a little wary, but as I read his description of the "other" Catholic Church, I so appreciated his description of the people who are on the ground every day working for faith and justice.

Obviously, we aren't two Catholic Churches, but one Body of Christ. And we must celebrate our triumphs even as we grieve our failings. There isn't one church of those "in charge" and another of those in the trenches, we are all part of the Church and need to do whatever we can to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth. That left me with the question: what am I doing today as part of the Body of Christ to bring about the Kingdom?

~Lauren G

Transitions: Living My Paschal Mystery

2010-04-14T15:46:00.002-05:00

Below is a beautiful reflection on "Living the Paschal Mystery" given by a team member, Liz at University of Georgia's Transitions Retreat. Her talk was moving, insightful, and inspiring!

"I am the daughter of immigrants, firmly Catholic and Portuguese in my upbringing, and I find myself reflecting back now on all that built my faith, my sense of the world. I think maybe, that by reflecting on my path, I can make sense of what happens to me in the now, and meet it with the same kind of faith, struggle, renewal, joy and trepidation I have always met life’s challenges with. I find myself later in life experiencing the Paschal mystery over and over, and the hope I share with you today is rooted in where I find myself now: unpacking the box of God’s surprises and both delighting in His ways and in awe of the long line of experiences that bring me here before you today.

I moved to Georgia from Massachusetts 13 years ago, seeking a Master’s degree and following who I then thought was the love of my life--only to find myself in six months with the promise of marriage dashed, alone with my thoughts and degree work, and, happily, suddenly surrounded by friends and community that became like the family support I longed for but was so far away. It was a difficult few years of adjustment and striving, and I did achieve my degree proudly--but not without finding out something about the nature of friendship and community along the way. The many different experiences of faith that surrounded me in the faces and spirits of the people I had come to know in some ways had influenced and transformed my view of life as I matured through my single years.

Many trials later--piecing together job opportunities, trying different angles on my hoped-for careers of teaching and writing, meeting new people and hoping for love as well as friendship along the way, I found myself strong in my identity as a woman who knew she wanted to change the world one word at a time. I found a place teaching literature and culture; found a forum to write; helped create numerous educational tools for others; and best of all, found a place in my church community, sharing and learning with others my age, and growing even stronger in the faith I had feared once perhaps I was only following to please my parents. I was firmly on a spiritual path, and there was no mistakening it for a prescribed path. I was--and am--living my faith journey.

Perhaps what I did not understand in 2003 was that God had a little something else in mind for me. I thought that I would remain single, that my hopes about marriage and parenthood would be set aside. Imagine my surprise then, when my husband--a tried and true Southerner who I would never have imagined for myself--walked into my life.

I at first did not want to accept he could be a part of my life--we were not this or that enough, I reasoned--and yet, slowly, God brought us together--of this I am sure, since I resisted the idea of getting together with him for awhile--and, long story short, we began that long talk that led to a belief, a hope, for creating something much different than what I had created, with God’s help, until then. On July 26, 2008, after nearly 5 years of courtship, Tra and I married in a joyful, weeklong celebration that encompassed all our friends and family, spanned 2000 miles and was a true jump start to what we knew would be a real adventure.

Adventure it was--so much adjusting after so much time single, and slow and careful planning. We wanted children, we had already talked about it, theorized about the ways our lives would change.

Then, finally, one day--I was pregnant.

God yet had other plans for me--and I think, aside from some of the struggles I had experienced before, I found myself in the deepest Good Friday I could ever have imagined. Just before Christmas of 2008, I miscarried.

I had always thought words could describe almost anything in almost any way, but there is no describing this--and the grief Tra and I shared created unexpectedly in us a bond forged in sadness and in support, in mutual understanding. We grew as a couple through this, and I found myself learning again: about the depth of my husband’s love for me; about the extent to which we would rely on the faith that had brought us together ; about the ways again family and friends would help me to see through the pain and guilt I felt, thinking somehow I could be at fault, thinking maybe I was not worthy enough to be a parent.

I felt my sister’s compassion, having herself experienced miscarriage--she helped me see that acknowledging our loss, naming our child, crying for him, commemorating him--these were all normal, all good things to do. Fr. Tom helped us acknowledge in the same way through a prayer service, helping us to begin to let go of what we had lost--what could have been. Sr. Margarita, during a time much later when I felt despair again at the thought of not being able to have children, reminded me that I should talk to and pray for my lost child--that there was beauty in doing so, in acknowledging that little possible life as a gift that would teach us in ways we could not now understand.

This dark hour in our lives created a new opportunity for us to wait in hope--somewhere along the line, after many compassionate discussions and sharing, after praying, after realizing we might need centering in our lives--Tra started and I followed in practicing Centering Prayer, a meditation focused strictly on God. Perhaps that perspective led us to a new place with God-- I felt like it had for me. I spent time sharing with friends at the Catholic Center Thomas Merton’s words in Thoughts in Solitude. I slowly shared my experience of faith during this Good Friday. Somewhere along the line, waiting in what had become my Holy Saturday moment, I started to see and feel things in a new way, even as I began to fear the possibility that we might not be able to have a child. My husband, always straightforward, no-hold-barred, set me straight one day with something that he said, something I knew inside but did not want to acknowledge: “You know, Liz, either we will or won’t have a child. It’s up to God what he wants for us. We have to accept that.” I knew he was right as soon as he said it, even though I did not want to believe it. Parenthood would be a gift God would either bestow us with or not, and it was upon us to choose to accept either possibility.

An answer came after what felt like a long time--nearly a year later. I am pregnant again--22 weeks along--and through the many trials of the first few weeks, concerns about health, and the frenzy of doctor visits and preparation of our home, I find myself at an Easter Moment, with much more to come I cannot imagine or fathom. I have so many questions about the possibilities for our baby--yet I know, as my experience until now showed me, that in time God reveals what could have been and what will be. Until then I wait in joyful hope and in a firm awareness of God’s role in all of this. I see the many ways God leads us through our losses, the many things we come to learn about ourselves through the grief and sadness we experience, through wondering what could have been. I see that God led me to accept many different things in my life I did not think possible, and to have hope and courage in the face of the unknown. I have learned all this from my experience, but I think, most of all, in the moment, from this little child I have not met yet, I have learned about God’s capacity to love us in spite of all odds."

~Liz V., Athens, GA

Looking for reflections this Easter season?

2010-04-13T17:49:00.002-05:00

Now that Lent is over and we are well into the Easter season, it may seem like there are fewer spiritual resources available to help with our prayer and reflection. For those who enjoy praying with Scripture, you can always find the readings for the day here.

America magazine also has a blog with weekly Scripture reflections based on the Sunday readings. It's a great way to reflect on the readings more deeply than we might be able to during Mass. Check out the reflection for this coming Sunday and bookmark this page for future reflections.

~Lauren G

"Why Do Catholics Stay?"

2010-04-08T16:19:00.003-05:00

Last week was the most beautiful and enriching Holy Week that I've ever had. My family was visiting from Cleveland and they spent Triduum and Easter with my community at St. Gertrude Parish in Edgewater. I attended the Good Friday Walk for Justice sponsored by the good folks at 8th Day Center for Justice. I served as an RCIA sponsor for my friend and Chicago Jesuit Volunteer, Cathy. My friends and I also welcomed our friend Amy into the Church. It was an appropriately challenging Triduum and a glorious Easter. Amidst all this beauty and communion, however, I feel an internal tension due to the increasingly horrifying reports of the sinfulness of the Church's sexual abuse scandals. While my faith is often a source of great beauty, during times of such desolation, I can't help but ask why I stay.

Regina Brett is a journalist for The Plain Dealer, the newspaper of my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She also asked herself why she stays and responded with today's article, which I found to be quite eloquent. In addition to the current abuse scandals internationally, the Church in Cleveland has suffered much loss in the last year due to the city's extreme poverty and corrupt Church politics. However, as Regina mentions, there are some tremendous leaders who are beacons of the faith and service that Jesus calls us to in the Gospels. These beacons and the community of believers are what make her stay. They're what make me stay too.

-Mary Ellen

Open Arms...

2010-03-31T14:20:00.004-05:00

In February of 2004, my parents, my brother, my sister, and myself headed off to the movies to see the Oscar nominated film Passion of the Christ. Knowing how the gory details and potrayal of the death Christ suffered caused many reviewers to find the movie sickening and treacherous, nervousness to see the film consumed me. Seeing the film for myself, I could feel nothing BUT the redemption Christ brought us. Thirteen at the time, I asked my father, "How is this movie any different from other passion films we've seen?" I wondered why so many people did not see the crucifixion the way I did.
Now almost 20 years old, I find my understanding of God's power over sin, pain, and suffering related to my reaction to Gibson's Passion. While some people saw Gibson's portrayal of the death of Christ horrendous, I saw love and reconciliation. The reality of the pain Christ suffered FOR ME was illustrated beautifully in the most real way. Christ loved ME and trusted in God's plan as he was crucified for MY sin...
Last night I attended a Reconciliation service at my university. My Act of Contrition included a daily personal promise to acknowledge Christ's love and trust in me in order to love and trust those I am currently struggling to do so with. Being reminded to ask Christ to walk with me, I remembered the scene from the Passion where one sees Jesus struggling as he carries his cross along the road. What are my crosses?
Since seeing the Passion, Reconciliation as become my favorite Sacrament. Knowing the pain and humiliation Jesus experienced as He journeyed to the cross and was crucified, I find the opportunity to attend Reconciliation a wonderful chance to get another chance. To be forgiven with Open Arms and given the chance to try again envigorates me.
With a daily reminder of God's love and trust in me, my love and trust for Him is slowly but surely helping me to love and trust others. The path Jesus walked, the pain he suffered, and the endless number of opportunities his death has given me to do what is love with his help makes Holy Week the most spiritually confirming weeks for me. As a friend said once to me, "It's so cool to be Catholic. We get so many chances and always welcomed back with open arms!"

Reflection from a Charis Retreat Team Member

2010-03-31T14:19:00.004-05:00

Hi, my name is Devyn Scheuch and I am a second year at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. As a Religion and German major my goal is to be a youth minister in the Catholic church and therefore find myself hanging out at the Catholic Center A LOT here at UGA. The fall semester of my freshman year I went on a Charis retreat and I absolutely loved it. I have been on three more Charis retreats and helped plan two of them, and every time my love for retreats and for God has deepened.

This past Saturday we ran the Transitions retreat and it was the best one yet. It worked out perfectly because we did it the day before Palm Sunday and talking about the Paschal Mystery was so relevant at this time in the liturgical year. Our speakers shared deeply about their transitions and it impacted every one of participants very personally. I remember one of the college students in my small group saying that she was going through the exact same type of transition as one of the speakers around the exact same time. She said she had only wished they knew what each other was going through so they could have been the support they needed. This brought on a wonderful discussion about how God is there for us always.

One of my favorite parts of the retreat is that a large portion of the RCIA group attended it. They will be transitioning into the Catholic faith in just a few days, andit was so nice having them all there with us! It was really cool thinking about the transition they will be making and how relevant it was to have this retreat topic. I know they all had a great time.

Everyone I talked to had such a great experience and it was wonderful seeing people working through their transitions. We had new college students, graduating students, newlyweds, two expecting mothers, and those preparing to become Catholic all in the same room discussing God’s role in their lives! It was so inspiring. I always have a wonderful experience planning retreats but this time was especially amazing. I know God was working through everyone this past Saturday and I love how Charis has showed me this.

I am so appreciative of all I have learned from the retreats I have been on and my new appreciation for Jesuit spirituality. I will continue to pray for Charis Ministries and everything that you guys do for the young Catholic population.

~Devyn Scheuch, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

I Choose...

2010-03-26T15:12:00.006-05:00

As more information about sex abuse within the Church appear in the news, I find myself getting angry. I am angry at the priests who were capable of such horrible acts against children. I am angry at those in authority who knew about it and did nothing to stop it. I am angry that we live in a world where stories like this are the norm in the news, rather than the exception. Why do I choose to continue to be a part of a Church in which this kind of thing happens?

Mike Hayes, blogger extraordinaire at googlinggod.com, had a great post that really got me thinking today. Read the whole thing here, but here's an excerpt that hit home for me:

I refuse to let people hijack my faith, scapegoat others, or simply stop serving the needs of the poor and the spiritual needs of parishioners.

We are the church…together. And that means that things are often messy. I know I’ve made a bunch of mistakes that I wouldn’t want the Ny times to know about too. So I do my part and hope it’s enough.

I stay because I am part of a family. And at the Thanksgiving meal that happens each week that we call Eucharist, we are sure to find disagreement, horror stories and dysfunction. It’s who we are, warts and all.

We are part of a Church that has Christ at its head but human beings like you and me as its body. Like Mike, I choose to stay Catholic. I choose to continue to live out my faith in the best way I know how. I choose to look for and work for solutions and ways to make our Church a welcoming and loving community. I choose not to give in to the negative messages about the Church that I love and believe in, but I choose not to sweep the problems under the rug.

I find the lyrics to the song "I Will Choose Christ" running through my head:
I will choose Christ,
I will choose love,
I choose to serve.
I give my heart, I give my life,
I give my all to you.

What will happen if we all strive to choose Christ first and foremost in our lives?

~Lauren G

IPhone and the Other 6

2010-03-24T19:50:00.004-05:00

Well, I finally bit the bullet and got an I-phone two weeks ago after my blackberry's syncing capabilities went nuts. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, and I wanted to share with you one of my newly discovered "apps". It is called Other 6.

This application for the i-phone is provided via Loyola Press, and it reminds me of a Jesuit version of Twitter or Facebook. Each day people answer two questions:
1. Where did you find God today?
2. Where do you need to find God today?

It is basically a short form of the Examen, and I have enjoyed reading where people find God and seek to find God in their days. It has also made me mindful of my own answers to those questions.

So, go check out the new i-phone application, Other 6, and begin the practice of the Examen today!

~Becky Eldredge

Distracted by the screens

2010-03-23T08:49:00.004-05:00

The most recent issue of America magazine has an article by Thomas Massaro describing a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study that shows that Americans between 8 and 18 are in front of a screen (TV, computer, smart phone, etc) for more than 7 1/2 hours a day. While this survey only focuses on kids, I would imagine that the numbers for adults are just as high, if not higher. Many of us use a computer most of the time that we are at work, check our Blackberries on the commute home, and then get home and turn on the TV to relax. I'm staring at a screen as I write this; you are staring at one as you read it. I have even started reading books on an e-reader!

I'm not making a social commentary on this phenomenon, but it did cause me to think about how I use my own time. When I have an extra half hour, what do I do? I usually turn on the TV, or surf the web. Then at the end of the day, I say that I didn't have enough time to devote to prayer, or to just quietly listening to God. Is it that I don't have the time, or that I surrounded myself with so many distractions that I didn't see the time?

As we move toward Holy Week and Easter, where are the opportunities during our day to spend a moment with God?
~Lauren G

Teaching the Faith

2010-03-18T09:44:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow, a group of teachers from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago will gather for a retreat to share their experiences and renew their commitment to Catholic education. Planning for the retreat has given me an excuse to think about the importance of education and those who are passing on the faith.

For those who are interested in Catholic education, or learning more about some of the service teaching programs that are out there, here are a few sites that might be of interest. Most of these schools allow college graduates to earn a Master degree while teaching full time in a Catholic school.

LU-Choice (Loyola University Chicago Opportunities in Catholic Education)—Loyola sponsored program serving Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Magis Catholic Teacher Service Corps—program through Creighton University based on Ignatian spirituality.

Alliance for Catholic Education—University of Notre Dame sponsored service teaching program in under-resourced Catholic schools.

Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education—University of Portland program in the Pacific Northwest.

Pray for the teachers on retreat on Friday and give thanks for those who have taught you the faith over the years.

~Lauren G.

Circles of Support

2010-03-17T15:04:00.001-05:00

Last night, I found myself gathered around a table with ten other men and women in their 20's and 30's planning our upcoming Charis Retreat at the University of Georgia. While there were several items on our agenda that we had to take care of, we kept finding ourselves in fits of laughter or on a side-topic that somehow related to the work we were doing, which in its own way improved the retreat we were planning. The energy that was around the table last night was contagious! We were laughing, listening to two of our groups talks, sharing our lives with each other, and preparing to minister to others in two weeks.

Last night, though, was a ministry in itself. A much needed ministry- the ministry that feeds us as ministers! While all of us gathered around the table last night are involved in ministry in many forms, we, too, need to be fed. The community we have formed these past six weeks revitalizes us, energizes us, and supports us. The random outbursts of laughter and discussion reinforce the work we are doing.

No matter what we do in life, we need moments like last night--moments that feed us, renew us, and energize us. We need moments, as humans, to gather with our circles of support, which come in so many shapes and sizes, and to feed our spirits. This is what community is all about!

Where do we find our circles of support?
Do we realize the importance and value of gathering with them?
Do we need time with one of our circles of support right now?

~Becky Eldredge

Talking Me Down

2010-03-12T14:58:00.004-06:00

One Jesuit I lived with, who is a close friend, would call me aside occasionally. “Talk me down from the ledge,” he would begin. Then he would proceed to tell me what he was thinking and ask, “Am I crazy to think that?” Sometimes I would say, “Yeah, that’s a little crazy,” but most of the time I found myself saying, “No, it’s not crazy to think that at all.” This way of “checking in” with people who know us well is a good practice, one that I try to practice myself.

In fact, I find this most helpful when someone accuses me of doing something wrong. Of course, my initial response is to be defensive (I didn’t do that! How could you think that!). But it helps me to put aside that initial defensiveness and go to someone I trust, asking them to tell me honestly whether I’m guilty of the thing of which I have been accused. For example, I might ask, “Have you seen me mistreat that person in the way he or she is saying that I did. “ If I have, and I just lack the objectivity to see it, I trust someone else to help me see the need for reconciliation, so that I can help bring that about.

When I tell people this, sometimes they think it’s kind of crazy. If what the other person is saying doesn’t ring true, why should you presume it’s your fault? But, I counter, what if it is? I know I’m not perfect or always in the right, even when I think I am. Another perspective can often help me see things more clearly. This is why having a spiritual director can be really important. This is someone to whom you reveal most intimate things about yourself and your relationship with God and others. And, hopefully, this is someone you can trust to be brutally honest with you, when necessary.

We are passionate people, and we all have times when it helps to have someone we can quickly call or go see, to talk us down from the ledge.

--Fr. Mark

Have you seen this scene from "Yes Man"?

I'm so hip...Sort of.

2010-03-11T16:28:00.002-06:00

So I recently decided that it's about time for me to fully enter into the 21st century and embrace the use of...wait for it...podcasts! in my daily life. I started with the usual NPR podcasts, and am excited to begin using pray-as-you-go.org as a guide for my daily spiritual life. I've heard everyone rave about it before, and I'm glad to finally be joining the ranks of hip people who use it regularly. Check it out if you want to be counted among the cool...

-Mary Ellen

Wanna hang out with the Pope?

2010-03-09T14:35:00.005-06:00

Want to go to Madrid? Want to meet up with young adults from around the world who share your faith? Want to go to Mass with Pope Benedict XVI?

Well, two of those three things can be yours if you go on the Young Adult Papal Pilgrimage in conjunction with World Youth Day. All young adults from college-age to thirty-somethings are invited to join your peers from around the globe. The trip leaves O'Hare on Saturday, August 13, 2011 and spends 10 days in a four-star hotel in Madrid, Spain to attend all the activities for World Youth Day. You'll return to Chicago on Monday, August 22, 2011. Most meals and registration for all activities is include.

If you are interested in joining, contact Paul Jarzembowski in the Young Adult Ministry Office for the Diocese of Joliet. A limited number of spots are still available.

A group from Charis went to the last World Youth Day in Sydney. Check out some of the reflections from this blog.

~Lauren G.

Jim Martin is at it again!

2010-03-08T09:42:00.004-06:00

Fr. Jim Martin, SJ is a wonderful author, speaker, blogger and former Charis presenter who has appeared on the Colbert Report and other mainstream media. He has a new book out, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life. The book uses Jesuit principles to help us lead simpler lives.

In this 6 minute interview on NPR Weekend Edition, he talks about poverty, chastity and suffering and introduces some of the ideas in his book. Check it out! If it's anything like his other books, it'll be a great read.

FYI: He is also getting some press through USA Today.

~Lauren G.

"Do as I have done"

2010-03-03T09:25:00.003-06:00

While Holy Thursday is a few weeks away, there is much that we can learn and implement during Lent from John's description of the Passover Meal where Jesus washed his disciples feet.

The story is one we have heard so many times. Jesus gathers his disciples at table. Jesus removes his outer garments and kneels to wash his disciples feet. After washing and drying their feet he says:

"You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."

Jesus gathered others. Jesus nourished others. Jesus served others.

Lent is a time to make a complete turn to God so that we can fully embrace God's love, presence, and call in our lives. God is hoping for our "yes" to God's invitation to love God, to be loved by God, and to serve as Jesus served.

Are we modeling what Jesus did for his disciples? Are we inviting people to our table to be nourished and fed? Are we engaging in service to others in a way that models what Jesus did?

~Becky E.

Hearing painful voices

2010-03-02T13:52:00.001-06:00

In my one of my classes this week, we’ve been reading the book of Lamentations, a few chapters of poetry in the Old Testament that gives a series of voices and perspectives to suffering. The book was written about the Babylonian Exile, but I felt like I could hear an expression of what life must be like in parts of Haiti and Chile. It is a difficult and heartbreaking work and got me thinking about how little time we spend just listening to these tragic voices amidst the clutter of blame and our efforts to assist. It is something that seems appropriate to reflect on during this season.

Last week, I also started checking out an interesting way to go approach the Lenten season. It is called “Fast, Pray, Give” and it offers a new suggestion for something to fast, something to pray for, and something to give for each day. I am finding it to be helpful in keeping myself from withdrawing from the season by having a fresh look at things each day.

-Jesse K.

Happy 18th (?!), Chris

2010-02-26T14:07:00.004-06:00

Today my nephew turns 18, which officially places him in the “young adult” category (and further pushes me out L). His older brother is already half a year away from 20 and, to my great joy, is coming to spend a few days of his Spring Break with his uncle in New York. It’s hard to believe that these two, whom I have known since their birth, now count themselves among those of us who know ourselves as “adults.” Yet, I look forward, as I long have, to seeing what kind of adults they become. And I hope they get the help that they need to become who God desires them to be.

Our Church does not always to a great job of welcoming and encouraging those just beginning adulthood. This is perhaps the most crucial time in one’s life of faith. Yet, whenever the budget gets tight, programs and ministries for those of the young adult age group always seem to be the first to be cut. And, unfortunately, many of the spiritual resources out there are written with older adults in mind.

[Beware, shameless plug ahead]

Some of us are trying to change that. My book written for a young adult Christian audience will be out this Fall (from St. Anthony Messenger Press). And there are already a few out there that I would recommend: Beth Knobbe’s Finding My Voice, Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz, James Martin’s In Good Company, Lauren Winner’s Girl Meets God, Matthew Lickona’s Swimming With Scapulars, Jeremy Langford’s God Moments, Mike Hayes’ Googling God and Jen Owens and Kate Dugan’s From the Pews in the Back are each worthwhile. These are titles that might offer some encouragement and guidance to you as a young adult Catholic, or to the new young adult Catholic in your life!

-- Fr. Mark

How would I answer?

2010-02-25T17:07:00.002-06:00

As part of my Lenten resolution, I'm using Loyola University Chicago's Sacred Space reflection booklet (click here for LUC's online reflections). The other day, the booklet challenged me with the "For the Least" reading from the Gospel of Matthew. The disciples ask Jesus, "'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'" The reflection booklet then asked me how I would respond to Christ in this situation.

I've heard this reading hundreds of times, and each time I struggle with how I would answer. This Lent, I aim to work harder on living an answer that would be more suitable than my answer has been in the past.

(Sidenote: Charis' For the Least' Social Justice retreat is coming up in May. Check it out!)

-Mary Ellen

Where does God speak to us?

2010-02-24T14:49:00.003-06:00

When we think of prayer, we must first realize that "God does and always speaks first". Prayer is how we enact our decision to say "yes" to God. We come to prayer because God has first talked to us.

Thomas Hart, author of The Art of Christian Listening, poses the question "Where does this speaking of God take place?"

He gives the following examples:

Nature: "Prayer arises spontaneously in the presence of creation...it arises from what I enjoy, what I marvel at, where I experience depth."

Events of my life: "The things that happen to me can be starting points for prayer...my experience of work, my relationships, the things I wonder at, the restlessness of my heart, etc. These things...are the very stuff of prayer."

Scripture: "Our God is a living God and the revelation he has made of himself in scripture is a revelation of who he is always."

We as followers of Christ must discern how God speaks to us. This in itself is part of the discernment process we go through as our relationship with God deepens. We become more and more aware of how God is alive and present in our lives and how God speaks to us as we continue to say "yes" to God and speak with and listen to God in prayer.

This Lent, as we continue to make a turn towards God, let's take the time to ask ourselves: How does God speak to me?
Where do I hear, feel, sense God's voice?

Becky E.

Praying at the computer

2010-02-23T09:50:00.005-06:00

As we are six days past Ash Wednesday, I find it easy to fall back into existing patterns and forget some of my Lenten resolutions. I find myself on the computer way more often than I find myself in prayer. Fortunately, there are resources that combine the two! This Lent, there are many parishes, dioceses and organizations that have blogs or online resources to help us in our Lenten journeys. If you find yourself struggling with prayer, check some of these out.

Reflections for Lent with Fr. Pat McGrath, SJ--weekly podcasts that you can download or listen to on your computer. Fr. Pat is a fantastic speaker and preacher and a member of Charis' Board.

Fast, Pray, Give--Bustedhalo provides a daily reflection and a suggestion for something to fast from, something to pray for, and something to give each day. They even have a "Slip Support Station" on Facebook to connect with others on the same journey.

Awaken--the blog of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Young Adult Ministry office. Read or listen to the Gospel reading of the day and read reflections from young adults and others around the country. There are also a few questions to help in your own prayer.

On a Lenten Journey--the first foray into the blogosphere for St. Andrew Church in Lakeview. It includes daily reflections, music, and even meatless recipes in case you're tired of fish and chips on Fridays.

Seven Weeks for the Soul: A Reflective Journey for Lent--an online Ignatian retreat through ignatianspirituality.com, a service of Loyola Press.

Believe, Celebrate, Live, Pray--the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have resources and suggestions for ways to grow in faith during Lent.

If you're looking for a community to share the Lenten journey, it's not too late to connect with a small faith sharing group.

~Lauren G

Fasting and Feasting

2010-02-17T13:27:00.002-06:00

Today, as many of you know, is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. This is a season of prayer, fasting, penance, and and almsgiving, which we do in order to center our lives on God. At the end of our Ash Wednesday Mass today at the University of Georgia, we received a poem from Fr. Tom titled Fasting and Feasting. I wanted to share it with you.

Fasting and Feasting

Lent should be more than a time of fasting.
It should also be a joyous season of feasting.
Lent is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others.

It is a season to turn to God:

Fast from judging others; feast on the goodness in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent: feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives: feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal Truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; feasts on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that supports.
~William Arthur Ward

What will you fast from this Lent in order to more fully turn to God?
What will you feast on this Lent in order to more fully turn to God?

~Becky E.

What's in a vocation?

2010-02-16T16:56:00.002-06:00

There has been much talk in recent years about a vocation crisis in the Catholic Church, particularly among young adults. Discussions of a vocation crisis usually focus on a lack of men and women entering the priesthood and religious life. Late last week, Jamie Manson, a blogger for the National Catholic Reporter, provided an interesting piece on this debate. Her article is in response to a statement made by Cardinal Franc Rode, which argues that modern secularization is to blame for a lack of young adults pursuing vocations in religious life. After detailing some ways she sees the church as losing touch with its young adults, she argues that young adults have been pursuing a wide variety of vocations outside the priesthood and religious life, including lay ministry, social work and work in social justice fields.

Just this past fall, on our Spirit @ Work Retreat, we talking about looking for our spiritual calling in the work and lives we have chosen. As you look upon your own professional and personal choices, do you feel a sense of vocation in what you have done? Where is the spirit calling you?

-Jesse

Constant Conversion

2010-02-12T14:38:00.004-06:00

A student in my class made a simple, but profound observation the other day. I showed the class the first 40 minutes of “Entertaining Angels,” a movie about the life of Catholic Worker founder, Dorothy Day. The movie makes it appear as if her interest in Catholicism came upon her suddenly, making her conversion appear quite dramatic (I guess that was the point!). But then we read the first part of her autobiography, The Long Loneliness, in which it becomes clear that Dorothy had sporadic experiences of other people’s Christian faith and practice throughout her childhood and young adult life, and that she was quite taken with it. My student said that she was glad we read the book, because this more gradual experience of conversion seemed to make much more sense.

Indeed, our conversions—even our “conversions” to the faith we have grown up in—are rarely so dramatic as the movies often portray them. It is usually a more gradual process, in which a series of experiences and insights gel and suddenly “make sense” in a way they didn’t before. For me, there was kind of a dramatic moment when God challenged me to make a decision about whether or not I was going to be a priest. But, what finally led to that decision was not a conviction based on that experience, but a realization that so many of the things I had done, believed, and was excited and passionate about in the years of young adulthood leading up to that decision had been and were now, as I saw them all as of a piece, pointing me in that direction.

When you look back at the important and poignant experiences of your young adult life up until now, what direction are they pointing?

--Fr. Mark

Increasing our awareness

2010-02-09T10:34:00.003-06:00

We are now more than a month into the New Year and most of us have probably seen our New Year's resolutions fade away as the reality of daily life draws on. We are a little over a week away from Ash Wednesday when we will again make resolutions of a type as we decide to give up something, or to do something extra for Lent. For me, it is much easier to stick with resolutions that last for 40 days, because I know they have an end point. But perhaps that's a problem. If I am resolving to spend more time each day in prayer during Lent, why do I feel ok about dropping that after Easter?

An article by Thomas Massaro in the latest edition of America invites us to take a different strategy on resolutions. Instead of choosing some sort of "direct behavior modification," as he calls it, he opts for a heightened awareness and appreciation for different groups. I like this a lot! For example, instead of saying that I would like to spend an extra 5 minutes in prayer each day and stopping at that, I can consciously look for opportunities for prayer throughout my day and become more aware of God's presence with me always. This is a practice that I can stick with long after Lent has passed, and that helps me to see God with me throughout the day.

Cheers to the Saints

2010-02-08T16:57:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints, who captured their first national title with their Super Bowl win yesterday. The formerly known ‘Aints, whose fans once regularly wore paper bags over their heads, are now at the top of the football world.

Much has been made of this accomplishment, both before and after the Super Bowl, as a huge morale boost for a city that has still never fully recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Certainly, while it does not do anything to change the lasting effects of the hurricane, it’s nice to see the images of New Orleans celebrating (and just in time for Mardi Gras). This is sure to become a “Where were you when…” moment for many people in that region.

A sports team is never more than a symbol in the real world, yet for so many places, that symbol can mean something real to the people that live there. Five years ago, New Orleans became a reminder of this nation’s many failures in protecting our most vulnerable people. That reminder is still there throughout the difficult rebuilding process and the city has a long way to go before we could truly say New Orleans is “back.” For now, cheers to a team and a city that gets to hold its head a little higher today.

-Jesse K.

Are we willing to profess our beliefs in front of millions?

2010-02-04T13:55:00.002-06:00

If you don't follow a lot of football, you may not have noticed the controversy around a planned ad during Sunday's Super Bowl. The ad is titled "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life" and is about Heisman trophy, National Championship winning quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother's decision not to choose an abortion while contracting a tropical ailment while pregnant with him.

While the ad apparently never mentions abortion, it has drawn criticism from pro-abortion groups. I certainly expect to hear a show of support from the pro-life folks that I know, but the ad and its message have gotten a show of support from an unlikely place--Sally Jenkins, a pro-choice sports columnist for the Washington Post. Check out her article. She has some great things to say, not only about this issue, but about sports figures as role models and what we should be celebrating in Tebow's life and choices. Tim Tebow is obviously not afraid to speak out for his beliefs, even if they are counter-cultural. How willing are we to speak out for our faith and what we believe?

~Lauren G

"Up in the Air" and the Value of Community

2010-02-04T13:19:00.003-06:00

While readying the posts that Lauren and Becky offered this week, I reflected on how life-giving my own relationships are, and how abundantly I am sustained by gathering together. My understanding of faith is fortified by the time I spend in community with others. This week I stumbled upon a review of "Up in the Air" in America magazine. I wholeheartedly loved this film, so I read on to gain some insight into the meaning that Catholic Digest correspondent John McCarthy drew from the flick. No spoilers, I assure you.

Once I got past the distraction of one Mr. Clooney's dashing good looks, I came to appreciate the truths that this dramedy points out about our lives. How easy it can be to be lured in by independence and not being tied down to the point where we find ourselves isolated and out of touch with that which breathes life into us: our relationships. McCarthy articulates nicely how Ryan Bingham's growth moves him to value relationships and community. Check it out.

-Mary Ellen M.

Gathering

2010-02-03T10:01:00.003-06:00

Gathering together is a key part of our Catholic Faith. It is one of the unique identifying characteristics of our faith- our sense of community. Jesus gathered people. He gathered his friends, the apostles and disciples. People also gathered around him as we see time and time again in the scriptures. We gather together every Sunday as the Body of Christ to receive the Body of Christ. These Eucharistic gatherings in our lives are so important to us. They feed us and nourish us on our faith journey.

Last night, I was reminded of the importance of gathering as our Charis Retreat team in Athens, GA gathered to plan our next Charis Retreat. Nine young adults gathered together last night. As I find often in these Eucharistic gatherings, we were fed and nourished by our time together as we shared our lives and planned the retreat. We left energized and hopeful. We gathered last night to plan an opportunity for others to gather with us--so that they may be nourished and fed and energized and hopeful.

So is the rhythm of our faith. We gather to be fed so we can help feed others.

What moments in your life are Eucharistic gatherings?

~Becky E.

Looking past the "Stuff"

2010-02-01T21:29:00.003-06:00

At a board meeting of the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association (NCYAMA) last week, our opening prayer invited us to reflect on the people in our lives who inspire us to be better Christians. For me, there have been, and continue to be, friends and family whose lives I want to emulate with my own. My parents model Christian patience and love. My husband embodies Jesus' generosity toward others. Recently, though, it is my 7 month old son who inspires me to live a more Christian life.

When he's ready to play, I get out some of his toys and set them up around him so he can decide what he wants to play with. I assume that he will go for the toys that light up or play music or do some other "cool" trick. A lot of times, though, I am surprised when he turns around and grabs my hand to chew on, or climbs over my legs. He has all sorts of "things" to play with, but he just wants to hang out with me. This made me stop and think about how often I get distracted by the stuff around me instead of what truly matters--my relationships with others and my relationship with God.

What are the things that are distracting us from seeing and deepening our relationship with God?

~Lauren G

God, Present and Active in Our Gifts

2010-01-29T14:22:00.004-06:00

Since this is my first post, let me introduce myself. My name is Fr. Mark Mossa, and I’m a Jesuit priest. I have worked on 3 Charis retreats (and will, again, this summer). Heather, who wrote a post a few days ago, was on at least one of these. I have been involved in ministry to young adults for nearly twenty years (though I’ve only been a priest for less than two).

One of the things that I often tell others about Saint Ignatius is that Jesuit spirituality, and his idea for the Jesuit order itself, rose out of his young adult experience of God. This is why I think The Spiritual Exercises, on which the Charis retreats are based, are especially effective in helping young adults to discover what God is doing in their lives.

If The Exercises revealed nothing else, they would be important merely for the reason that they help us to see that God is present and active in our lives. God wants to invite us to the type of life which can best amplify the gifts and talents given to us for God’s glory, and the good of those whom we are privileged to encounter, and serve.

Look for the illustration of this in the readings for this Sunday’s mass. God says to us: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you.” And Saint Paul reminds us, “If I have all faith so as to move mountains,  but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Peace,

Fr. Mark

Heart-Head-Hands

2010-01-27T09:56:00.007-06:00

One of my favorite writers on Ignatian Spirituality is Margaret Silf. For Christmas, my husband gave me her new book Compass Points: Meeting God Every Day at Every Turn. This book is composed of several short reflections from Margaret's journal. I find the short vignettes to be thought provoking and a great tool for prayer.

Here is a piece from one titled "Apostolic Sucession":

"Royal Lineages, apostolic successions....are characterized by the laying-on of hands upon heads. But God's touch on our lives...is laid upon our hearts." (p. 95).

Reading this has reminded me of the passage from Jeremiah that speaks about the new covenant God will make with his people,

"I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jer 31: 33).

Both Margaret Silf's piece and the verse from Jeremiah challenge us to look at how God takes hold of our hearts, how the conversion of our hearts leads to our heads, and finally how the conversion of our minds leads us to do God's work with our hands.

What is our heart, the place where God speaks, calling us to today?

~Becky E.

"What Next?" A Retreatant Shares Her Experience of a Charis Retreat in Atlanta

2010-01-22T11:56:00.002-06:00

I have attended two Charis Young Adult Retreats. The retreats were titled “What’s Next” and the main focus was on transitions.

My whole life has been planning for the next step: half day kindergarten to full day 1st grade, learner’s permit to driver’s license, college to full time job.

I had now reached the definition of adulthood “college graduate with a full time job” but I didn’t feel like an adult and I didn’t feel satisfied. For the first time in my life I did not know what my next step was. I did not have children, a husband, a house, or even a job I liked- I was feeling lost and unsure about what I was supposed to do with my life.

A girl from my prayer group saw a flyer for the Charis Retreat and suggested that we go. The weekend gave me new perspective and enlightenment. I realized that I was not the only person that was questioning their newfound adulthood and did not know what direction their life was going.

The weekend was broken down into sections: Group leaders would share their personal transition stories, small group discussions, silent time, and prayer. I enjoyed the silent time that allowed me to reflect upon what was important in life and what I wanted to make a priority. The small group discussions were helpful in providing me with courage to speak to others about my uncertainties.

I did not come away with all of the answers or my “next step” but I did strengthen my trust in God and realize that many other young adults are unsure of their future.

-Heather S.

Reflections from a Charis Leader's Time in Haiti

2010-01-21T09:40:00.009-06:00

The last week has presented us with some pretty bad news in Haiti. And its true, its pretty bad.

However, If I didn't know much about Haiti before the Earthquake and were just now learning about it on the news, I might not have the most positive view of the country and its people. If that's the case, or if you are simply looking for some positive news in the midst of this tragedy I invite you all to look at The Haitian Project. They are chronicling their experience on the website.

I once lived there and taught computer and religion at Louverture Cleary School, a Catholic secondary school for academically gifted but economically impoverished kids from the poorest regions of Port Au Prince. They are given a free education and taught to give back to their communities.

In this crisis, we are starting to see an incredible return on this investment.

Former students are now doctors treating the injured.
They are fluent in four languages, making invaluable translators for all of the aid workers.
They are working with Catholic Relief Services (as they did before the quake) to distribute aid.
They are working with the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order founded by Mother Theresa (again as they did before the quake) to set up a clinic.
The investments in Solar power and deep wells allow the project to distribute water to the neighborhood, despite the scarcity and expense of diesel.

As you look to where to donate money to help Haiti, there are many good big charities that are helping right now: Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services and others. But for the future of the Country, it needs more students like those from Louverture Cleary School. Students that have a first class education and are dedicated to rebuilding their country. Please consider becoming a long term donor and partner in Haiti's birth.

Donations can be made online at: www.haitianproject.org/donate.htm

or by check, mailed to:

The Haitian Project
PO Box 6891
Providence, RI 02940

-Bill

Everything Belongs

2010-01-20T11:01:00.005-06:00

I am currently reading a book by Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M. called Everything Belongs. This passage struck me:

"I believe that we have no real access to who we really are except in God. Only when we rest in God can we find the safety, the spaciousness, and the scary freedom to be

who we are,

all that we are,

more than we are,

and less than we are.

Only when we live and see through God can 'everything belong.'"

As I read this, I am reminded of the gospel reading a couple of weeks ago about Jesus' baptism. The passage from Matthew ended with, "And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Fr. Richard Rohr challenges us to put our identity in Christ. He challenges us each to accept that we are God's beloved children.

What does this say to us as individuals? If we accept that all are God's beloved children and everything belongs, how does this call us to live our life? What must we change in order to truly live a life where "everything and everyone belongs"?

~Becky E.

Let this be their Good Friday

2010-01-19T10:34:00.000-06:00

A good friend of mine went on a mission trip to Haiti a few years ago and is gradually hearing news from the people and places that she visited. Some of it is good—most of the seminarians they met are alive, even though their seminary was destroyed. Some of it is bad—a group of nuns who ran a school were killed when the building collapsed on them. As we talked more about it, she summed it all up by saying: “I hope that the next generation there tells the stories of the earthquake that was like their Good Friday, which was followed by a lengthy Holy Saturday and the new life of Easter.” I pray that too.

The First Community of Believers

2010-01-14T10:47:00.002-06:00

Becky's reflection yesterday got me thinking. The first community of disciples knew so intimately what Christ was calling them to, and that was reflected so deeply in their actions. In Acts, we read, "The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had...There was no one in the group who was in need."

Haiti is the poorest and most exploited country in the Western Hemisphere. Per usual, we 'developed' countries often forget the abject poverty of those so geographically removed from us. That is, until, such a disaster hits. Yes, this serves as a wake up call, and, as Becky points out, reminds us of what we are eternally called to, not just in times of catastrophe. We are perpetually called to share everything we have so people everywhere are never in need. The good folks at Catholic Relief Services and Jesuit Refugee Services need our help as they strive to fulfill that which each of us are called to.

-Mary Ellen

Contemplatives in Action

2010-01-13T13:50:00.002-06:00

It is on days like today, when our news is full of a natural disaster like the earthquake in Haiti, that I find myself pondering what it truly means to be a contemplative in action. A contemplative in action requires two things: First, we are called to be mindful and aware of God's presence and work in our lives. Second, as we become rooted in God, we are called to ask the question: "How can we respond to God's call?"

As we continue to pray for all the people in Haiti, let us pause for a minute and ask ourselves: "How are we called to respond to this present situation that our brothers and sisters in Haiti are dealing with?"

Becky E.

Give yourself a space to step back

2010-01-12T07:21:00.001-06:00

On Thursday, young adults who work in ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet are coming together for a day of prayer, reflection and community building that they don’t have to plan or set-up. Charis is working with the Paul Jarzembowski from the Diocese of Joliet and Keara Coughlin at Old St. Pat’s to provide a space for these ministers to rejuvenate and remind themselves of the blessings that their ministries are to them and to others. Sometimes, one of the hardest things for any of us to do is to take a bit of time away to refocus our energies so that we can return to our daily lives with a renewed sense of purpose. This is as true for people working at churches as it is for people working in corporate boardrooms. Each of us needs to find our own way to step back and spend time focusing on our relationship with God. As these young adults who work in ministry are gathering in prayer, ask yourself what you can do this week to step back and reflect on your priorities and the place God has in your life.

~Lauren G

The Power of Questions

2010-01-07T14:30:00.002-06:00

The tumultuous economy is forcing many to make tough decisions and to re-evaluate their priorities as they face unemployment, eviction, and other devastating situations. But are all of us, even if we are not as directly affected, taking the opportunity to ask what these times mean for our values as individuals and society? Brian McLaren reflects about these important questions today on the Sojourners' blog "God's Politics". Brian highlights some of the questions and reflections that Jim Wallis offers in his new book, "Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street—A Moral Compass for the New Economy". Brian's reflections remind us of the often-challenging Gospel ideal that our values must inform each choice we make as individuals and society. You should definitely check it out.

Sojourners is a Christian magazine (online and print) that focuses on the relationships among faith, politics, and culture.

-Mary Ellen M.

The 12 Days of Christmas

2010-01-04T20:48:00.002-06:00

As the holidays wind down, and most of us return to work and our routines after some time off, it is easy for Christmas to fade into the background. It hasn't even been two weeks since Christmas Day, and already most of the signs of Christmas are gone--people have taken their trees and lights down, WLIT stopped its 24 hour a day Christmas music. But for our Church, the Christmas season lasts until the Baptism of Jesus (on January 10th this year). What a wonderful way to extend our celebration of Christ's birth!

This article in U.S. Catholic talks about different ways to celebrate the whole liturgical season of Christmas and giving us reminders of ways to live out that joy for a bit longer. At the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge says: "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." How will you continue to honor Christmas and the coming of our Savior throughout the year?

~Lauren G

"A Simple Contemplation" on the Nativity

2009-12-11T16:27:00.002-06:00

This is a nice reflection in America Magazine about the experience of Mary and Joseph bringing Christ into the world and relating to our lives, faith, and preparation for Christmas. It's a nice thing to check out and reflect on during the Advent journey.

-Mary Ellen

Remembering the Jesuit Martyrs & their Companions

2009-11-17T14:51:00.003-06:00

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the assassination of 6 Jesuits, their cook, and her daughter at the University of Central America in San Salvador. They were targeted because of the Jesuits work to liberate the oppressed and impoverished in the country. Click the link above for a great reflection by John Dear, SJ, who worked with the Jesuits in El Salvador during the time of the civil war.

-Mary Ellen

The Nexxt Generation of Catholic Leaders

2009-11-04T08:50:00.003-06:00

John Allen, from the National Catholic Reporter, writes about his thoughts on the "classifications" placed on young adult Catholics today. In a nutshell, he says that many young adults today shun the traditional "liberal" or "conservative" labels created and perpetuated by an older generation of Catholics. He says that we, as the next generation, seem "well-equipped to steer a middle course, embracing a robust sense of Catholic identity without carrying a chip on their shoulder." Check out the article and let us know what you think.

Jesuit that Served in Slums of Nairobi - Next Living Ignatian Speaker

2009-10-22T12:01:00.002-05:00

Click the link above to find out more about Fr. Jim Collins' service as chaplain for St. Aloysius Gonzaga High School in Nairobi, Kenya. St. Aloysius is the world's first high school for AIDS orphans. Fr. Jim will will reflect on his experiences and offer his thoughts on how young adults can take steps toward transforming our world. Wednesday, November 4, 7:30pm, Holy Name Cathedral. Hope to see you there!

-Mary Ellen M.

St. Ignatius and Relationships--now on YouTube

2009-10-09T16:57:00.003-05:00

Charis' Living Ignatian speaker series kicked off on Wednesday night. Terry Nelson-Johnson gave a wonderful reflection entitled "St. Ignatius and Relationships--A Nice, or Perhaps Holy, Combination." He is a gifted story-teller who captured our attention for the evening. If you missed his talk, it's posted in its entirity on the Charis Ministries podcast on iTunes or in pieces on YouTube.

Next speaker: Wednesday, November 4 at Holy Name Cathedral.

-Lauren G

Discovering Spiritual Gifts

2009-10-01T11:10:00.002-05:00

For those interested in their own vocational discernment, it might be worthwhile to check out this website looking into your spiritual gifts. We found it during some of our early preparation for our Spirit @ Work Retreat Day Retreat Day, coming up on November 14 this year. It helps to take an inventory of our spiritual gifts for ministries and other work. It might be something to check out and check out our website to learn more about our upcoming retreat!

-Jesse K.

A new take on an old Gospel

2009-09-24T22:37:00.003-05:00

Last night at the Living Ignatian Evening Mass, Fr. Ken Simpson (pastor of St. Clement Church) gave a wonderful homily focusing on Luke's Gospel. In this Gospel, Jesus sends the Twelve out to proclaim the good news. He tells them to take nothing for the journey and to stay with those who welcome them and shake the dust off their feet as they leave the towns that reject them.

For many of us, this is a familiar story, one in which we take comfort in knowing that God will provide for whatever we need. But Fr. Ken gave us a different message to think about. When Jesus sent the Apostles out, he told them to "take nothing" with them. He then elaborates: "neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic." He is sending them out with absolutely nothing so that they must become beggars. These men who care for the needy must first become needy themselves and allow others to take care of them.

Most of us are willing to care for those in need, but how often are we willing to humble ourselves and let others take care of us?

-Lauren G

"Close Encounters: A skeptic discovers the spirit of community"

2009-09-24T14:28:00.005-05:00

When Matt Stevens began a year of service as a Jesuit Volunteer, he dove in expecting to impact the lives of those he was serving. As the year progressed, he found himself transformed and humbled by the Holy Spirit working in the communities where he lived and worked. Click the link above to read about his experience in his article in America.

Matt Stevens is currently a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago.

-Mary Ellen M.

What do the Jesuits and Oprah have in common?

2009-09-22T09:41:00.003-05:00

Whether you're an Oprah fan or not, you have to admit that it's pretty cool that she picked a Jesuit author for her latest Book Club book. Fr. Uwem Akpan, SJ wrote this series of 5 short stories each set in a different African country and tackling some of the most difficult topics from poverty to child slavery to genocide. Each story is written from a child's perspective.

Fr. Akpan is a Jesuit from the East Africa Province who also studied at Creighton University and Gonzaga University before returning to his home.

-Lauren G

Cleaning the shelter

2009-09-21T14:20:00.004-05:00

On Saturday, a group of young adults from Charis and Old St. Pat's went to the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph to help clean up the shelter. I've been there for a Service Day in the past, but the thing that always strikes me when I first walk in is the sheer number of beds that they have in a single room. Every night, nearly 170 men sleep in the transitional dorm and another 40 or so sleep in the room for the regulars. The women's dorm houses 37 each night.

During our time there, we swept and mopped each of the dorms, moving beds out of the way to give a thorough cleaning. The dorm that houses the regulars is for those who have a job or who are working with a case worker to improve their situation and eventually move into their own apartments. Everything that these people have is neatly on or under their beds. You can really tell what the guests value by what they choose to keep in this limited space.

One of the things that I learned on Saturday was that the Franciscan House turns more people away each night during the summer than in the winter. I assumed that the opposite would be the case, but the Franciscan House is one of the few year round shelters in the city. Most shelters are just open for the winter.

The Franciscan Outreach Association who runs the shelter is a wonderful ministry that provides many services for the homeless in our community. If you're looking for a way to get involved and serve Jesus through the least of our brothers and sisters, check out what they provide.

-Lauren G

Continuing the dialogue

2009-09-17T15:23:00.003-05:00

For those who were interested in the debate on whether President Obama should have been invited to speak and receive an honorary degree at Notre Dame, here is some follow-up from Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins, CSC.

His letter references the welcome speech he gave before Obama spoke. Check his speech out on YouTube.

It's great to continue the discussion and look for ways that we can promote the dignity of life at all phases.
-Lauren G

Catholic Open House: Success!

2009-09-15T16:18:00.007-05:00

This Sunday, Charis joined with a number of young adult Catholic organizations in Chicago for our second annual Catholic Open House at the Ark Café. At the event, we teamed up with representatives from parishes, regional young adult ministries, university program and other social and volunteer organizations to discuss our programs with some of the many young adults that decided to stop by.

Coming back from a long hiatus, the Ark Café greeted a packed house of ministers, representatives and young adult Catholics looking to connect with different groups in Chicago and try the hors d’oeuvres. We had a great time meeting a ton of new people and hearing the enthusiasm so many people have for ours and other ministries.

We really want to thank all our sponsoring partners for the support they gave in putting on the event and for everyone who took the time to come and support our different ministries.

-Jesse K.

"Reach out and touch faith..."

2009-09-08T11:01:00.011-05:00

The Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House was the scene of The Jesus Retreat, a very deep and profound retreat experience led by Charis. Through witness talks, personal reflection and group reflection, a group of fifty four retreatants walked down the road of truth toward a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

When I reflect on my favorite moments throughout the weekend, I think of all the “ah-ha” moments in my mind. I journeyed through the weekend hearing women and men reveal their very personal and deep relationship with God through struggle and triumph; receiving the sacrament of reconciliation with Eucharistic adoration; participating in Lexio Devina; personal spiritual reading; walking the stations of the Cross; and the many great conversations. I walked away Sunday a more grounded person in the Lord.

As the band Depeche Mode had so eloquently bantered, “Your own Personal Jesus. Someone to hear your prayers, someone who cares. Someone who’s there…Reach out and touch Faith.” A very Personal Jesus was present and alive throughout this deeply spiritual weekend!

-Brian M.

I Saw Jesus Everywhere I Turned

2009-06-24T10:19:00.004-05:00

The Lord was everywhere on Charis Ministries' Habitat for Humanity Service Trip to Pontotoc, Mississippi last week. I saw Jesus' face in the smiles of the people who greeted us like family instead of strangers. They are people who don't have much in material or personal wealth, but are rich in Christian kindness. I saw Jesus' heart in the 12 amazing Charis volunteers I worked alongside in the blazing Mississippi sun. I saw Jesus' soul in Habitat Pontotoc's Barbara and Wayne Carter and Keith and Linda Thomas. They are people who live their lives by God's simple creed: Love Thy Neighbor.

In an imperfect world gripped by a crippling recession where so many people today are struggling to provide for their families, battling illness, depression, hopelessness and are just summoning up the strength to make it through each day, I saw what a perfect Christian community is. I felt the power of God's love in so many ways. I saw Heaven in the real world in Pontotoc. And I was reminded how we each can be a symbol of Jesus' love to every one we know and everyone we meet. His love is inside us all.

-Clete C.

The Longview

2009-06-18T15:44:00.007-05:00

We are finding ourselves right at home here in Pontotoc. Our days have been filled with everything from building stairs to laying sod and landscaping. Keith, Habitat's Project Manager, has been very patient in teaching us the many skills it takes to build a home. After a hard day's work, the gracious community fills our evenings with good company and mouth-watering meals. We've enjoyed some of the best biscuits, chicken, and deserts we've ever tasted. We're all jotting down several new recipes, but we'll be hard pressed to recreate that Southern hospitality that makes these meals so special.

Last night, Liz guided us through a reflection on "The Longview" by Archbishop Oscar Romero. In it, Romero challenges us to see our service as part of something greater, as we may never see the results of our labor. That message has peppered my thoughts today, as the house we are working on is beginning to take the shape of a home. While we may never witness first-hand how this house will enrich the family living in it, we know that our collective effort is part of something far greater than ourselves, something that will last far beyond one week in Mississippi.

-Mary Ellen M.

What Do You Have in Your House?

2009-06-15T16:16:00.005-05:00

What do you have in your house? This is a question that I didn’t think about much before I came to Pontotoc, Mississippi. It did not even cross my mind when I signed up to go on the trip with Charis. I thought I was going to be volunteering to help build houses.

Well, in just three days my life has been transformed, and my spirit has come alive in so many ways. I am now getting in touch with the very gifts I already have inside of me and learning how to use them for good. I am learning that it does not take a whole lot to be a servant for God.

Living in Chicago, I am used to being surrounded by noise, staying connected to Internet, cell phones, and, of course, finding ways to keep busy. I didn’t remember how important it is to receive the gifts of warmth and comfort. I am in the country now where life is quiet and simple. This is the life. I am sure the 13 participants of this group can all agree that this is the way life should be.

This morning was the first day of work. We watched a video to introduce us to the mission of Habitat for Humanity. In the video, the speaker talked about the story in the Bible from 2 Kings: 4. A woman who had lost her husband was about to lose everything, and her two sons were about to become slaves in order to pay off her husband’s debt. She thought she had nothing to offer, but The prophet Elisha showed her how she could use what she already had in her home to pay the debt and supply her families needs for years to come.

The passage stayed with me throughout the day. I am learning how to use the fruits of the Spirit. I am soul searching, but I was looking for the gifts somewhere out there. We are in the South to help build a home for someone in need, but I am finding that many of my own needs are being met on this trip. The new friends I have met on this trip and here in this town have melted my heart. They have helped me find what service really means.

I think I am seeing how God can be found just in a simple smile, a wonderful home cooked meal prepared by the town’s people, or His love could be found just in an honest and encouraging conversation that uplifts someone in a time of a tough life decision. These are gifts we already have. This week we are tapping into them. I am looking forward to the rest of the week. After all, this is only the beginning of our mission.

I believe we are all learning what it means to be a Christian who walks in the spirit. Being around other young people who love God and want to do his work is a beautiful thing. I am witnessing what it means to be blessed and how I can be a blessing to others just by being myself. I am learning what it means to feel God’s love and give love.

-Anita B

A huge thank you for everything you do!

2009-06-08T15:44:00.007-05:00

Last night, the Charis Ministries staff was honored to be joined by some of the many volunteers, retreat team members, benefactors and other leaders who have helped make Charis programs possible in the last year at the annual Recognition Dinner.

We are so grateful to have such a wonderful group of young adults involved in the ministry and who give of their time and energy to serve their peers. Some have been musicians on retreats or at Masses or served on a team for one of our retreats. Others have helped with logistics and hospitality for one of our evening speakers or Masses.

After dinner, we were honored to have Patrick Curran tell us a bit about his experiences with Charis over the last several years and what that has meant in his life. Then Jenene Francis shared some of the fruits of Charis both in Chicago and around the country at national retreats. If you'd like to hear what Patrick and Jenene had to say, check out the Charis Ministries podcast on iTunes.

To all who have been involved in the various programs of Charis Ministries, we want to say a big THANK YOU! We couldn't do any of this without you!

~Lauren G

Where is God in my prayer?

2009-05-22T15:51:00.003-05:00

Last night at Holy Name Cathedral, Charis concluded the speaker series within the Living Ignatian series. Beth Knobbe spoke about different types of Ignatian prayer and ways we can incorporate them into our own lives. She also lead us through a prayer of our imaginations.

If you missed the talk, check it out on YouTube, or download the podcast on iTunes.

~Lauren G

Charis podcasts on iTunes-check them out!

2009-05-21T10:58:00.004-05:00

Want to find out what you missed at recent Charis Ministries events? Podcasts of some of our speakers and retreat talks are now available on iTunes. Just search "Charis Ministries" in the podcast section and then subscribe to the podcasts.

Right now, check out some of our recent Living Ignatian speakers and talks from the For the Least retreat.

Don't want to use iTunes? No problem. You can subscribe directly to the RSS feed and listen online by clicking here.

Happy podcasting!
Lauren G.

For the Least: We Mean Business

2009-05-06T14:08:00.004-05:00

If you are like me, you fear retreats. It's not a deep fear. Just a little part of you scared stiff that your weekend might entail sitting around the campfire singing "Kumbaya."

Fear not. The social justice...err, I mean For the Least retreat just might be for you.

Like any retreat, the weekend revolved around a number of talks. These aren't Catholics speculating about the meaning of their faith; they are living it. A professor of Ecology building green spaces on the tops of roofs and making diesel fuel out of french fry grease(!); A woman working to overturn destructive laws that target refugees and immigrants; Catholics lending a helping hand overseas (or in their own country) who are victims of war, genocide or grueling working conditions.

This retreat could have just as easily been called For the Least: We Mean Business. I found myself challenged to think about my own actions on the grandest scale: how my tiny behaviors, when multiplied, contributed to the burden of social injustice in the world. If your idea of focusing on your faith means "thinking about your faith in action," then you've found your place.

I wasn't sure what to expect over this past weekend, but what I got were: 1) A lot of questions and 2) A lot of inspiration. The issues of social justice will always be difficult. The gray areas are many, and the solutions are never easy to come by. But there is empowerment in education and the hope that one small difference, when multiplied, fulfills the will of God.

- Vincent L.

So how do we make the tough decisions in life?

2009-04-27T11:19:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday, a group of 30 young adults gathered at Holy Name to hear Fr. Pat McGrath, SJ speak at the Living Ignatian evening titled "Finding God in the Hard Questions."

He gave a fantastic overview of how we should be making our decisions based on what we would do if Jesus was standing next to us.

Check out his talk on YouTube.
Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

-Lauren G

The Paschal Mystery Alive Today

2009-04-06T09:02:00.005-05:00

Lord, as this bread was formed
From many different stalks of wheat
Which were picked, crushed, ground and baked
That it might be one loaf,

As this wine was fashioned from many grapes
Picked in different parts of the field,
Crushed, fermented in darkness and aged
That it might be one sweet drink,

So we pray that we who are many and different
By the joy we share and the sorrow we endure
Might be formed into a people of praise
For the glory of Your name.

Our Lenten and Easter observances are meant to remind us of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work in Jesus’ life. And they are meant to stir our faith in the great hope that the same will be true for us. St. Paul wrote in Galatians 2, “I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.”

These words sound so beautiful, don’t they? Yet the process of this truth is no less than the dying and rising of Christ within us. God is at work fashioning and forming us, like the bread and wine at Mass, into a more perfect representation of the Body of Christ. It is one thing to affirm this in the abstract. It is quite another to live this through the suffering of our lives.

Nowhere have I seen this Paschal Mystery more perfectly realized than in the death of my dear brother priest, Fr. Jim Willig. Fr. Jim and I were best friends, and for years we led pilgrimages around the world to holy sites. Ten years ago this summer, we returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to discover that Jim had developed renal cell cancer, a particularly deadly strain because it usually shows no symptoms until it is too late. In the operation, they discovered a football size tumor that had metastasized and traveled to his lungs.

Jim wanted to live. He didn’t want “early retirement” as he put it. But as Fr. Jim’s body grew weaker and weaker, his faith grew stronger and stronger. His voice became more and more frail, but his parish became larger and larger. Daily Fr. Jim would pray St. Ignatius’ famous prayer: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my will, my entire self. All I have you have given to me. Now I return it to be used only according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace. With these I am rich enough and desire nothing more.”

For the first year of the cancer journey, Fr. Jim could only pray these words and half mean them. He wanted a physical healing, and he continued to beg God for this grace. But a year and a half into his sickness, Fr. Jim’s heart surrendered more completely to the transformation that God was working in him. He started to pray: "I don’t know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future."

With this change in attitude came a profound change in Fr. Jim’s spirit. He went from being a good priest to an extraordinarily holy priest. He went from being a very good preacher to an extraordinarily powerful man of God. We began to see so clearly Christ at work in Fr. Jim’s life.

When he died, just about two years after his diagnosis, there was no one who knew him who doubted that Fr. Jim was taking his place among God’s saints. Fr. Jim had chronicled this remarked transformation in a book entitled Lessons from the School of Suffering.

All of us want to grow into the image and likeness of Christ. That is the goal of our faith. We are called to this transformation not just as individuals but also as Church, as the people of God. And the surest way to allow this transformation to occur is to walk the path of suffering in faith as Jesus did. This Paschal Mystery is not just about what occurred to Jesus two thousand years ago. It is the pattern of every Christian who embraces Jesus call to “Pick up your cross and follow.” (Mt 16:24)

During this Holy Week and into the Easter season, with every Mass we attend and every communion we receive, let us pray for a deeper surrender to God’s will in our lives that “in the joy we share and the sorrow we endure, we might be formed into a people of praise for the glory of your name.”

-Fr J. Michael Sparough, SJ

Lessons from the School of Suffering is available through Heart to Heart.

Sunday Nights

2009-04-01T11:37:00.004-05:00

Most people dread Sunday night because it means the weekend is ending. I however have been looking forward to my Sunday nights for the last several weeks. No, it is not the new episodes of Desperate House Wives or the break in the Lenten fast that Sundays provide; I look forward to Sunday nights because I am part of a small faith-sharing group through Charis Ministries held at St. Andrew’s Parish.

Each week I attend the 5:30 Mass at St. Andrew’s, my home parish, and then have a few minutes to reflect on the Mass before joining my group. Our group structure is based on a format provided by Charis Ministries but led by the Holy Sprit. People come to share their struggles, bring new perspective to the group and discuss where they are at on their journey of Faith. When a member shares their struggles it allows the others a chance to pray for that individual and offers insight to one’s own life. While we may not know each other outside the group and are all coming from different backgrounds, it is amazing how closely connected you can feel to others when you have come together in Christ.

I leave the prayer groups pumped up for my coming week and have new thoughts and prayers floating in my head, I love hearing how other people are doing on their journey of faith and having the opportunity to share my own journey.

- Tina F.

Living Ignatian Series Lives Online!

2009-03-26T11:39:00.004-05:00

Many of you are already familiar with our Living Ignation Series. To follow St. Ignatius' instruction to "find God in all things" we've offered service events, speaker presenations and worship opportunities.

Did you happen to miss Claire Noonan in October or Mike Hayes in February? Well, now you can catch up by enjoying these podcasts.

Finding God in the Every Day: Claire Noonan
Click to listen >>> Part I & Part II
Claire Noonan of the Siena Center of Dominican University talks about finding God in our every day experiences, and leads us through an Examen. Her talk is posted on mycatholicvoice.com, a new online resource for spiritual media, in two parts. We're excited to be a part of this new online Catholic community!

Finding God in the Crossroads: Mike Hayes
Click to listen >>> Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9
Ok, so Mike Hayes of BustedHalo.com split up his talk into MANY different parts. But it's video! The talk is posted on good ol' fashioned YouTube.

Let us know what you think! Email us with your opinions of the talks themselves and the podcasts.

Don't miss our next speaker, Fr. Pat McGrath, SJ, as he talks about Finding God in the Hard Questions on April 23.

-Lauren B.

Part of a Larger Piece

2009-03-17T16:19:00.005-05:00

I had a chance to catch up with our friends in Pontotoc, Mississippi the other day. Quite a lot has been going on since we left in July! Despite the hard times, Habitat for Humanity has stopped work at all.

When our group departed in last July, we were pretty proud of the fact that we framed the whole house, put up walls and put together the roof. But our work was only one piece of the puzzle. Thanks to the staff and many other volunteers, the skeleton of a house was completed in just last month. The new home is complete with cabinets, painted walls, windows, the whole nine yards - all sorts of things that many people worked hard to finish.

We were lucky enough to meet the Chaperno family before we left Pontotoc, and we're delighted to see and hear about the house dedication ceremony. So much work, so many people, so much time - and Habitat for Humanity keeps on doing it.

If you'd like to have this kind of experience this summer, find out how to sign up for the 2009 Pontotoc Service Trip.

I think you'll find that it's wonderfully overwhelming to be part of something larger than yourself.

-Lauren B.

A morning in Humboldt Park

2009-03-10T10:25:00.004-05:00

On Saturday morning, a group of young adults from Charis Ministries and Old St. Pat's braved the rain to help out at the mobile food pantry at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. We started by serving breakfast to the neighbors and chatting with them while they ate. Then the truck arrived from the Greater Chicago Food Depository and we were able to sort through the food and then help the neighbors select their produce and pack it up to take home.

There were so many volunteers from different organizations that over 200 people had breakfast and picked up their food in less than two hours. After we were done, Fr. Bob Lombardo, CFR, the founder of the Mission, gave us a tour of Kelly Hall and described all the programs they offer to the neighbors. They provide everything from basketball programs to after school tutoring to a workout facility for the elderly. As one 27 year resident of the neighborhood put it, "the Mission is restoring hope to a neighborhood that has been through a lot."

It is truly amazing to see what has been done in just a few short years through the partnerships between the Mission, different organizations, and the neighbors. Go to the website to check out the programs and volunteer opportunities they have available and join us for our next Service Day!

-Lauren G

Were You There ... ?

2009-03-09T10:48:00.003-05:00

Many of us commenced our Lenten journey on Saturday at the Catholic Theological Union during Charis Ministries’ annual Lenten Day of Reflection. Fr. Joseph Brown, SJ, expert theologian specializing in African-American spirituality, history, and culture, guided us through a day of challenging and consoling grace. Paralleling the suffering of Christ to that of slavery in this country, Fr. Brown’s spirited and animated presentations challenged us to answer the Gospel’s call to work for justice in a country and world riddled with discrimination, inequality, and suffering.

The day was centered around powerful live-performances of African American spirituals, ranging from a moving solo of “Motherless Child” to an upbeat version “This Little Light of Mine." Fr. Brown reflected that these spirituals characterize the dignity and faith upheld by the slaves, despite the cruel oppression and abuse to which they were subjected. The music and reflections encouraged us to be moved and humbled by this dignity as we are by the dignity of Christ’s life, suffering, and death.

As Fr. Brown reminded us, Jesus’ persecution and sacrifice resulted from his commitment to overturning the social order and liberating the oppressed. Lent calls us to bear witness to the love and commitment to social justice personified in Jesus’ life, suffering, and death. May this witness move us to recognize our responsibility to follow Christ’s example of liberating the oppressed and marginalized in our world today in the hope of creating the Kingdom of God here on Earth.

Many thanks to Fr. Brown, the awe-inspiring musicians, and our co-hosts Catholics on Call and The Tolton Scholars Program, without whom the day would not have been possible!

-Mary Ellen M.

Charis Ministries Cross-Listed

2009-03-06T09:23:00.003-06:00

Isn't technology wonderful?

On February 19th our friend and buddy Mike Hayes from BustedHalo.com joined us as the next speaker in our Living Ignatian Series. In fact, Mike is so talented that he posted a portion of his talk on his blog, Googling God. Take a peek.

"Finding God in the Crossroads" is how we titled Mike's talk. Where is God when we face decisions? How can we hear where God is leading us? Can we be honest with ourselves about what drives us, what we're capable of, and where we're willing to go? Mike walked us through the path he ended up on that led to BustedHalo, along with all the successes and pitfalls. We hope to get all of Mike's presentation available to you, and we'll let you know how that goes. (This presentation one again confirmed that my personal calling does NOT involve being good with technology.)

That may be trite, but little bits of knowledge about ourselves can lead to great things - and as the Jesuits will tell you, for the greater glory of God!

- Lauren B.

Keeping Holy in 2009

2009-01-21T15:35:00.004-06:00

What better way to kick off a new year than with Mass at St. Teresa of Avila? This popular Charis Ministries event occurs three times each year. On January 8, nearly 20 young adults gathered to celebrate the Eucharist and share in the post-holiday joy with friends new and old!

The readings revolved around the Spirit of the Lord being upon us, and Fr. Michael's homily spoke to nurturing that spirit through the development of "7 Holy Habits for a Happier New Year." Below are the habits and some reflections shared during the homily and afterwards with other young adults:

1. Practice writing Thanksgiving: Tell people you're thankful for their presence in your life or the work they do. Make a mental list of the things you're grateful for in a given day or week. Develop an attitude of gratitude!

2. Practice holy nostalgia: Look at your life without feelings of guilt or regret. Focus on times when you felt loved and genuine happiness.

3. Practice forgiveness: Having an attitude of gratitude helps us to recognize the need for healing and compels us to share love.

4. Practice virtue: Invest in the goodness in ourselves, others, and the world.

5. Practice health: Take care of yourself and have respect for the gift of your body.

6. Picture your 100th Birthday: What will your be proud of when you look back on your life?

7. Picture God smiling at you: Behold God delighting in you - he likes and loves you and wants to be your friend. Embrace that acceptance and friendship.

May you all have a blessed 2009!
-Briana

Advent Day 2008: A Gift, and Opportunity

2008-12-18T13:04:00.001-06:00

Advent Day with Sarah and Paul Jarzembowski was truly a (pre-Christmas) gift. While I don’t claim to know much about movies (and as anyone who knows me will attest – my list of ‘movies to see’ far surpasses my list of movies ‘seen’), I do know that I LIKE movies – and Sarah and Paul’s words and insight reminded me why. Movies – like the beloved Christmas movies that the Jarzembowski’s highlighted – really help us to take a step back and get a look at the beauty, the messy-ness, and the complexities of life … as well as the simple truths that still resound in humanity.

Sarah and Paul did such a great job drawing out the themes, ideas, and invitations that these movies had to offer, all while their natural charm and humor helped us all enter into a day of ‘retreat’ from the stresses we put on ourselves this time of year. My favorite part of the day, though, had to have been the final prayer service as the words, themes and images of movies like “A Christmas Carol” and “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” were woven together with words from Scripture which invited us all into an experience of transformation … in the midst of the counter-cultural “waiting in joyful hope” we undertake during Advent and throughout our spiritual lives.

- Keara C.