A couple days ago, I officially retired from SPIRITUS. But before I go, I wanted to share what an awesome three years my time in Wisconsin was.
I arrived at the Appleton airport with no idea what I had signed up for. I really wasn't even sure that there was actually going to be someone to come pick me up when I landed. Fortunately, I did get picked up and was soon introduced to Mt. Tabor Center and all of my awesome teammates from Team 3.
In that year, we did 160 retreats and evangelized about 6,000 young people. I met some incredible high school students through our Teen Disciples Bible study at Mt. Tabor. (This year, I was confirmation sponsor for one of those students.) It was an awesome year, and I probably grew more in those nine months than I did in my first six years of being Catholic. (I entered the Church when I was a sophomore in high school.)
My second year was the beginning of some big changes for SPIRITUS. We started a youth ministry program at St. Patrick's in Menasha. I don't think I've ever been as busy as I was that year, but it was amazing. Kate, Rachel, and I were able to build some great relationships with young people, especially middle school students, right in our own neighborhood. Some of them started high school this year, and they are just on fire for Jesus!
This past year was another year of big changes for me. I lived with Noah and Fr. Schuster in De Pere, which I enjoyed immensely. I got way more experience with parish life, as we threw ourselves full-time into youth ministry. I got to teach some religious education classes in addition to running retreats and fun events. I also got to experience the administrative side of things, which I didn't enjoy as much as the ministry, but it was still a great foundation for me. And finally, I started working on a master's degree in theology.
I can't possibly describe all of the things I have done through SPIRITUS in the past three years (or more accurately, all of the things Jesus has done through me while I've been part of SPIRITUS), nor can I express how grateful I am for the time I've had with this ministry. I pray that all of our benefactors, supporters, future and former team members, Mt. Tabor staff, and, most importantly, the youth we serve continue to be tremendously blessed as SPIRITUS carries the mission into yet another fantastic year!
