Simplicity

Lately, a big question that I have been asking myself is, “How do I go deeper in my relationship with God?” While I’ve been pondering this question, God sent me an answer through one of our formators, Fr. Luke Ferris who came and shared with us some ways to go deeper with our prayer and confessions.

So how does one work on deepening their prayer and confessions? Fr. Luke shared with us that it involves simplifying our prayer life. He made a point of reminding us that when we will fall, it is essential for us to not just stay down, but to get back up and continue our journey of faith. St. Thérèse of Lisieux talks about being small children who fall and then run back to their Father’s loving arms, not afraid of failure, but embracing it and the Father’s love through it all. This leads to a deeper question, am I willing to let Him help me out of my mistakes and failures? Am I willing to let Him see all my failings and faults and trust that He will still love me? As for me, I want to say I answer yes, but I know my heart has not reached that point yet. Only time and God’s grace will tell when I will be able to say yes with my whole heart. However, this leaves the question for you, the reader, how will you respond to His love?

-Mikayla Uchytil

A Soft Heart and Hard Feet

Oftentimes when I have a free moment in the evenings I find myself on a treadmill at one of the YMCAs in the Fox Valley, but my typical routine is more than just running until I can no longer pull air into my chest or pick up my feet from the belt. Usually if I am alone at the Y I’m praying and meditating on the rosary. For me, this is the most fruitful prayer time that I have and the mysteries seem to fly by with the miles, but the simple action of running and praying adds a depth to my prayer that just doesn’t exist elsewhere. In short, the amount of time I can spend running sets the pace for my life of faith, and I love it.

There was one night when I was frustratedly panting and pondering over the events of the last week and I asked the Lord to remind me of why I had come all the way to Wisconsin to serve Him. Almost immediately there was an ache in my heart and a feeling of having the wind knocked out of my chest. Despite just having posed this question to the Lord, it took me a while to put two and two together and understand what He was trying to show me: heartbreak.

Over the course of the next few weeks and many more dates with my treadmill, the Lord made it clear that all of this has been an answer to so many prayers of mine, because He does not ever place a desire on our hearts that He does not also intend to fulfill. What broke my heart was the number of young people I never saw in Mass besides Lifeteen Night or their Confirmation, that clearly didn’t know the Lord, and who did not know Love. It was a problem that I could see in the Church, and it was also a problem that I could do something about.

Something that I am learning at SPIRITUS is that on occasion the Lord allows our hearts to hurt in a certain way and that that isn’t always a bad thing. The heartbreak of seeing so many young people hurting and hopeless was what drove me (literally) to Wisconsin and SPIRITUS, and it also inspired a bit of soul searching. In my conversations with the Lord for the weeks before I knew I’d be working with this ministry I found my most effective prayer to be a simple, “Lord, give me a soft heart and hard feet. Give me the grace to love whomever you place in my life and to go wherever you are leading.” When I really gave it over to God, He moved mountains I didn’t know existed.

Peace of Christ,

Annastasia

God wants to hear from you too!

Hello readers, hope you are doing well, thank you for reading our blogs! It is great to know that you follow and pray for each one of us. We need your prayers; the Bible invites us to pray for one another (James 5, 16). This is what we do every day in our ministry, we pray for each one of the intentions written in our binders by many people who come to say hi to us while visiting their parishes. Also, we pray for the peace in the world, the conversion of humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. Each day, during Angelus and Liturgy of the Hours we bring these prayers to the Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  What a great way to help one another, praying in community, sharing the love of God with many people through prayers.  My invitation to each one of you in this blogs is to continue praying. This time of lent is a good moment in our lives to think about our relationship with God, my commitment to His Word and the abandonment to His eternal love! Keep praying, God wants to hear from you too!

René Martínez

Christopher West hit me to the Cor

This is a prime example of God’s will and how everything falls into place when we keep our hearts pliable. SPIRITUS attends formation every Thursday, the different speakers (priests, religious, etc.) are typically scheduled months in advance.

At a retreat the other week, a fellow teammate noticed publicity for an upcoming speaker, Theology of the Body guy, Christopher West. Thursday evening was the date and there was nothing on the schedule for formation. That never happens. After getting approval by prostaff, we made the trek to hear Christopher West present on God, Sex, and the Meaning of Life. His message is based off of St. John Paul II’s writings on God’s plan for creation. Theology of the body is meant to help us better understand what we’re made for and who God is calling us to be. The presentation brought new perspective to my understanding of the body and its biological and theological meaning.

After the talk, a few members of the team and I got in line to have our books/memorabilia signed. Mentioning a few things that struck me, and asking a question or two from his presentation- lead to an all-out pep talk about not settling and how Mary’s yes changed the whole world and our’s can too.

The following Saturday, he had a day-long retreat in Fond du Lac and invited us. I figured it was a distant dream because our mission is primarily scheduled on the weekends. Fortunate (Holy Spirit) circumstances were already in progress though, as Anna Haiar (a fellow teammate and friend) and I were not scheduled for retreats that weekend. That never happens. We got permission to attend, bought our tickets, and went to spend a day diving into the Cor Seminar, an extended version of the session we attended just days earlier. I’m so thankful we received the opportunity to go and accepted!

The stars aligned and we didn’t even have to try, thank you God. I like to think that’s how he works sometimes. He just showers you in gifts, that couldn’t have worked out better. I realize that most of the time he puts desires in your heart and you have to work your butt off trying to accomplish them, but this time was different. It was effortless in that all we had to do was keep our hearts open, and drive to our destination (notebook and pen in hand).

It truly was a beautiful grace.

-Elizabeth Senkyr

Note: Less than a week after these events, I got his latest book, Fill These Hearts, from my spiritual director. God wink. ;)

Wisconsin Dells!

This past month the SPIRITUS Team was blessed with the opportunity to grow closer in community and have a wave pool full of fun by taking a vacation to the Wisconsin Dells. The Wisconsin Dells is a must-stop town for tourists, bringing in thousands of tourists each year, as it is the home of hundreds of indoor and outdoor waterslides and rightly earns its name as, “Waterpark Capital of the World.” The team and I were able to embark on the epic adventure that the Wisconsin Dells held in store for us by not only riding on some of the fastest slides that the Dells has to offer, but also by growing closer together in community as we laughed and screamed down our way down all the slides. A team favorite that had us all full of emotion was called the “Dueling Mammoth” at the Wilderness Resort; this raft ride allowed for six of us to ride down together through the dark twists and turns of the slide. Another ride, and my personal favorite was called “The Hurricane”, a ride that drops you down into a funnel which then shoots you back-and-forth until you reach the bottom. Overall, between the slides and the company, I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend time in community with the people of the community. Not only was I able to learn more about each one of my fellow team members, but I also was able to find out who has the loudest scream!

     -Anna Haiar

Enjoying some smoothies together!

Lent and the Transforming Power of Suffering

Far too often in our ministry we come across young people that are deeply and profoundly suffering. They come into retreat with very appropriate and reasonable questions of: “Why do good people have to suffer?” and “You seem so joyful. Why?”

Suffering is such a mystery. I always make sure when these questions arise to remind them that God does not desire us to remain in suffering. He does not want us to be in pain. He is LOVE! There is so much to say, but I want to leave it simply as that. He is love.

Remember to ask Him, most especially in those moments of darkness and despair, “What are you trying to show me?” He is always speaking to us, most intimately in those moments when we are given the grace to share in the cross with Him. Saint Therese quotes “Everything is grace!” Indeed, all of our suffering has the capability of being transformed into a beautiful resurrection.

Abandon all to Him, even the sufferings...most ESPECIALLY the sufferings! He loves you. You are loved. If you are struggling with your Lenten resolutions or maybe haven’t made one yet, let it be this: surrender your miseries, longings, fears, brokenness to Him. Place it at the foot of His cross and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you.

“Although temptations are strong, a whole wave of doubts beats against my soul, and discouragement stands by, ready to act. The Lord, however, strengthens my will, against which all attempts of the enemy are shattered as if against a rock. I see how many actual graces God grants me; these support me ceaselessly. I am very weak, and I attribute everything to the grace of God.” (1086, page 406) -St. Faustina

-Alexa Harbor

Listening in Prayer

Sometimes on our retreats we do a thing we call one on one prayer. By that we mean that we create a safe space to speak with individual youth and ask them about what’s on their heart, and then do our best to bring that to God in prayer and listen for how he might guide us. Sometimes this is a powerful moment. Sometimes it’s not.

I remember once recently when one on one prayer was powerful. For context I had been thinking about how it would helpful for me to try to listen more in prayer. So this particular day I decided to listen more deliberately in our one on one prayer.

One of the youth came for prayer; let’s call her Lucy. I asked what she would like to pray about, we talked a little, and then we opened up to prayer. We put ourselves in God’s presence, brought up a couple things that Lucy wanted to pray about, and asked for God’s help. And then I said to Lucy, “Why don’t we take thirty seconds and just listen.”

I didn’t hear much. Or really anything. The image of a present wrapped in wrapping paper came to mind, but that was it. I was going to offer that to Lucy and say, “Hey here’s this image that came to mind; if it helps it helps, if it doesn’t it doesn’t.” But then I thought, maybe I should ask Lucy first if she heard anything. So I asked her.

She said, “Yeah, it kinda felt like God was telling me that it’s going to be ok.”

That struck me deeply, especially since the phrase “It’s going to be ok” has come back to me many times this year in my own prayer. Suddenly telling her about the image of the present seemed much less important. It seemed like I really didn’t need to tell her about it. So I didn’t. Instead we thanked God, put ourselves again in his hands, and closed the prayer.

What’s my takeaway? I personally have been reflecting on how God uses me as an instrument, and how he’s working on deeper levels than I expect.

-Peter Schmidt

Esto Vir!

     Be a man! (or for those who prefer the Latin, “Esto Vir!”) is a phrase that many males hear throughout their lifetime, many times before performing some activity deemed to be masculine such as shooting a deer or participating in belching contest. Not every instance in which this phrase is uttered is contributing to the building up of a truly masculine culture, but in many cases causing the masculine culture to be viewed in a superficial way; for example a MAN is a big, strong man who wears flannel, sporting a big beard, who watches sports, works on cars, and is fluent in the language of grunting. In order to combat the American culture's view of what it means to be a man, the Catholic Church has been putting on men’s conferences to communicate to Catholic men what it really means to be a man. In the Diocese of Green Bay this conference is called Esto Vir or the Man for All Seasons Conference. It takes place yearly and brings many big name speakers to come in and speak about what it means to be a man in the Catholic sense; recently the conference brought in Fr. Larry Richards, Matt Fradd, and Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy just to name a few. This event draws around 1,000 men from across the Diocese of Green Bay to come and join together to learn how to be a man of faith.

The Eucharistic Procession

     This year a few of the SPIRITUS men were blessed with the opportunity to attend the Esto Vir Conference and provide a breakout session for the middle school guys that were in attendance and run activities, give talks and pray with the students. It did not stop there, right after the middle school portion of the conference all the men participated in a Eucharistic procession with Bishop Ricken leading the way with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I had the opportunity to hold the canopy during the procession and even though we had to fight some strong winds trying to take the canopy away and some cold, cold, hands it was a beautiful experience to have 1,000 men following the Blessed Sacrament in prayer around downtown Green Bay. Another memorable moment that occurred during the conference was the “leadoff” speaker, Fr. Larry Richards. Fr. Larry did not pull any punches during his talk, but called the men in the room to pray and to love, stating that the only way we can know how to be a man is to look to Jesus in the scriptures, and to be in relationship with Him through prayer and love of those around us.

     At the end of the day, we left very inspired and it was a good reminder of our goal in life as men, and that is to follow Christ and to lead others to Him. Now we have the challenge of going into our ministry and letting everyone we encounter know of the Lord’s great love for them and most importantly to never stop praying because if we do then we run the risk of allowing our ministry to be fruitless. This conference was a great “pick-me-up” in the midst of a hectic ministry of putting on retreats and doing youth ministry. I go forward with great hope and love for our Church and all I can do is hope that I do not get in the way of Christ carrying out His mission through SPIRITUS.

Pax,

Mike

Adoration at the Conference

Taking a Break for SPIRITUS

As I enter deeper into my year of service with SPIRITUS, I can’t help but reflect on how my life has changed. A year ago if you asked me what my year to come would look like, I would have said taking classes. Instead I am in Wisconsin giving a year to the Lord to learn, grow, and bring others closer to him. When I told people I was taking a year off of school many assumed school got overwhelming and I needed a break. To be honest, I did need a break but not because my grades were regressing or school was becoming overwhelming. I needed a break to recenter myself in Christ. I was getting so caught up in making my school’s requirements that I was losing sight of why I was in school.

SPIRITUS has brought things back into perspective for me. Everything we do here revolves around faith and our relationship with God. It is a much needed reminder that everything we do at all times should be directed towards him.The lessons I have learned here will not transfer to my transcript but they will transfer to my life. No matter what career we have we are called to bring others closer to Christ. This year has given me the opportunity to do just that. How to relay God’s love is a lesson I will never tire of using.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” -Philippians 4:13

-Gemma Cowan

Putting On God’s Armor

I have come to appreciate much more our uniform here at SPIRITUS.  At first I saw it more as simply our professional attire that makes the team easily visible while on retreat.  I saw our black t-shirts and khaki pants or blue polos as sort of home and away jerseys.  I remember great excitement in suiting up, similar to that of taking the field for the first time but this excitement can easily wear thin, and I began to overlook the great privilege of wearing the bird on the blue (I allude to the birds on the bat if you are a St. Louis Cardinals fan like myself).  

Recently though I took a good look again at that bird, the dove, representing the Holy Spirit and I am reminded that it is God who has clothed me in this uniform.  Every time my SPIRITUS teammates and I put on those black shirts we are claiming that we are willing to fight and die for Christ Jesus.  We are putting on the armor God has fashioned for us.  I am reminded of the following words of the apostle.

“Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 10-17

Most importantly, I am reminded to pray to the Holy Spirit for His guidance and direction, to let Him form our strategy and call the plays, so that I may bring the abundant love of Jesus to all I meet that day.

“With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones” Ephesians 6:18

May we always remain in the Love of Christ,

Zachery Feldker