Those moments where you are on retreat in front of a
bunch of students sharing your personal witness are always moments full of God’s
grace. I know that if God isn’t strengthening me and supplying me with many
graces, I won’t be able to open my heart to these kids and share the joys and
the suffering of my past and what I am going through today. I desperately need
God’s grace in order to be vulnerable and open which is the foundation of this
ministry. The moments where my witness has personally affected a student are,
by far, some of the greatest gifts that I’ve received by God. One of these
instances has been ingrained in my head for many months. In one of our first retreats
of the year, we did a retreat where I shared a really personal witness that I
had not shared many times before. Later when we were praying one on one with
the students I felt drawn to pray with a certain girl from my small group. I
start talking to her and she told me that she went through the same thing I
went through. I was able to pray with her which led her to start crying and I
had to wipe away a few tears as well. It was at that moment that I was reminded
that the Holy Spirit works in such amazing ways! I also realized just how
important this ministry is. The fact that one student was impacted by my
witness makes all the suffering I went through completely worth it.
SPIRITUS Team 8
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Moment of Grace
SPIRITUS in itself has been a grace. From the community life, to the healing that comes from sharing past experiences, to the formation we receive, and from the people we get to serve through this organization.
SPIRITUS has really been the perfect organization to serve others, and has shown me that in giving we receive. Through this journey of being on the team for two years now, the greatest grace has been being involved in working towards the mission of bringing Christ to young people. I can’t think of a greater grace than bringing the love and mercy which Christ offers all of us, to other people.
Aaron Lang, Servant Leader
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
They Will Surprise You
One of the most rewarding things SPIRITUS has done this year has been to work more closely with St. Patrick's Catholic Community in Menasha for youth ministry. While just being more closely associated with a parish has been awesome in and of itself, the best part of youth ministry for us is that we get to know certain students much better than we ever would have before. And in the course of getting to know these students and walking with them as they grow in faith, they've surprised me many times.
With the middle school students, we planted bean seeds in Styrofoam cups and had them write reminders to themselves to pray on the outside of the cup. One of the eighth-graders didn't think that was enough; she had everyone write their own name on her cup so that she could pray for all of us. (We liked her idea so much that we used it with our high school leadership team later on.)
Speaking of the high school students, I remember talking to one of them about what she was going to do for Lent. She didn't have any ideas. I mentioned something about adding extra daily prayers instead of giving something up, but didn't really make any suggestions. A few days later, when I saw her again and found out that she had decided to pray the Rosary every day. I checked in with her throughout Lent, and she was still going strong every time I asked.
Even more impressive to me are the efforts some of our regular Teen Disciples Bible study attendees are going to in order to remain firm in the faith and radically committed to God. We had a Bible study on the urgency of the mission a last week, and as part of the evening's activities, we had them write their own personal mission statement. Several students decided to have their peers (and the SPIRITUS team) sign their mission statements to hold them accountable to their missions and the commitments they made. A group of our Teen Disciples and their friends are already in the process of taking this simple exercise to a much deeper level; in fact, they had already been working on it for quite some time, and even have a website set up so others can join them! Check out the amazing commitment they're making here.
In little ways, in big ways, and every possible way in between, the students we have gotten to know over these past eight months have surprised and encouraged us. Talk to the young people you know about their faith and how it shapes their lives. They will surprise you!
With the middle school students, we planted bean seeds in Styrofoam cups and had them write reminders to themselves to pray on the outside of the cup. One of the eighth-graders didn't think that was enough; she had everyone write their own name on her cup so that she could pray for all of us. (We liked her idea so much that we used it with our high school leadership team later on.)
Speaking of the high school students, I remember talking to one of them about what she was going to do for Lent. She didn't have any ideas. I mentioned something about adding extra daily prayers instead of giving something up, but didn't really make any suggestions. A few days later, when I saw her again and found out that she had decided to pray the Rosary every day. I checked in with her throughout Lent, and she was still going strong every time I asked.
Even more impressive to me are the efforts some of our regular Teen Disciples Bible study attendees are going to in order to remain firm in the faith and radically committed to God. We had a Bible study on the urgency of the mission a last week, and as part of the evening's activities, we had them write their own personal mission statement. Several students decided to have their peers (and the SPIRITUS team) sign their mission statements to hold them accountable to their missions and the commitments they made. A group of our Teen Disciples and their friends are already in the process of taking this simple exercise to a much deeper level; in fact, they had already been working on it for quite some time, and even have a website set up so others can join them! Check out the amazing commitment they're making here.
In little ways, in big ways, and every possible way in between, the students we have gotten to know over these past eight months have surprised and encouraged us. Talk to the young people you know about their faith and how it shapes their lives. They will surprise you!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Feed My Sheep
For the Gospel passage this Sunday, we will hear Jesus asking Peter three times, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Initially, we can recognize that this is Jesus reaffirming Peter's love for Him after Peter denied Him three times; but, additionally, we can see Peter's change of heart not only in his response, but also in his desire to jump into the water after Him which precedes his response. This is a big deal because early in the Gospel, it was Peter that got out of the boat, but sank into the water because he was afraid; it was also because of his fear that he denied Jesus. By swimming to shore, he disregarded any fear and proclaimed his faith and love for Christ, and Jesus responds, "Feed My Sheep", and "Follow Me.".
Throughout our lives, Christ will ask us if we love Him more than 'these'; 'these' being the things that keep us from living a full life, and 'these' meaning the fear that can cripple us from following Christ to the point of 'death'. As I reflect on the last 3 years of my time here with SPIRITUS, I am awed at how Christ keeps asking me if I love Him more than 'these' and if I will feed His sheep, and follow after Him. When I came to SPIRITUS, I definitely had a lot of things that were holding me back from jumping out of the boat, and professing my love for Christ. Each year, as those things diminish in stature, so increases my joy, my gifts that God wants me to share with people, and my purpose and Vocation in life. And as each year progressed, Christ has been in more control- like Peter, I feel Christ, "dressed me" and "tells me where to go" which will glorify Him the most-and it is more clear where He wants me to go. Being on the team, and being a leader for the team has given me an openness to where Christ wants me to go, and now, I am more apt to respond, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you."
Speaking of Feeding the Sheep, I want to invite any men to consider becoming 'fishers of men' for SPIRITUS. We are currently accepting applications for the next year SPIRITUS Teams (and yes, there are 2 teams now!). So if you are thinking about how to best serve the Lord, pray about joining the SPIRITUS Team, check out our website www.spiritusonline.org, or email me, Mark Rose, spiritusmdr@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Peace be with you all,
Mark Rose
SPIRITUS Coordinator
Throughout our lives, Christ will ask us if we love Him more than 'these'; 'these' being the things that keep us from living a full life, and 'these' meaning the fear that can cripple us from following Christ to the point of 'death'. As I reflect on the last 3 years of my time here with SPIRITUS, I am awed at how Christ keeps asking me if I love Him more than 'these' and if I will feed His sheep, and follow after Him. When I came to SPIRITUS, I definitely had a lot of things that were holding me back from jumping out of the boat, and professing my love for Christ. Each year, as those things diminish in stature, so increases my joy, my gifts that God wants me to share with people, and my purpose and Vocation in life. And as each year progressed, Christ has been in more control- like Peter, I feel Christ, "dressed me" and "tells me where to go" which will glorify Him the most-and it is more clear where He wants me to go. Being on the team, and being a leader for the team has given me an openness to where Christ wants me to go, and now, I am more apt to respond, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you."
Speaking of Feeding the Sheep, I want to invite any men to consider becoming 'fishers of men' for SPIRITUS. We are currently accepting applications for the next year SPIRITUS Teams (and yes, there are 2 teams now!). So if you are thinking about how to best serve the Lord, pray about joining the SPIRITUS Team, check out our website www.spiritusonline.org, or email me, Mark Rose, spiritusmdr@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Peace be with you all,
Mark Rose
SPIRITUS Coordinator
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