“It all leads to the Resurrection.” A missionary friend reminded me of this as we led students on a pilgrimage through the streets of Rome. I had always known of the Resurrection but had never taken it to heart. All of salvation history leads to the Resurrection. Hearing the joy beneath his words made me realize the weight of the Truth. It’s the same joy the apostles proclaim after Pentecost, that they are witnesses of the Resurrection. I had been so focused on enduring the suffering and hardship of the crosses in life, I had almost forgotten about the joy awaiting me.  Reminders of the Resurrection have resurfaced over the…

“To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 1:7 I smiled at our group of students and missionaries, laughing and sharing their hearts on our last day in the Eternal City. It’s an indescribable joy only the Lord can cultivate within us. We were face-to-face with His Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. How easy it is for us to forget that we were made to encounter Him? We were made for life and a relationship with Him.   In Rome, Jesus reminded me why I said “yes” to mission. It begins…

One of my favorite questions to ask missionaries is how they said yes to mission. No testimony is quite like another. The same goes for Jesus in the gospels, when He called the first missionaries, His disciples.  Recently, my Holy Hour has included praying with the gospel of Luke and witnessing the ways Jesus called, taught, and lived with the first missionaries.  This is what Jesus brought up in my prayer with this passage. I invite you to pray with it as well. Read Luke 5:1-11 At the very beginning, Jesus steps into Simon’s boat. It’s an intentional decision. I can picture the confusion on Simon’s face and I wonder…

Part of me was disappointed to know I wouldn’t get to see St. Louis, Missouri this year. We’d miss out on the plane rides, hotel rooms, running around a conference center, and watching thousands of priests process down the aisle to celebrate mass with thousands of college students and missionaries.  My hope is that we will be able to gather by the masses to celebrate Christ and His Church again soon. But there was a new joy that rose whenever I imagined SEEK21 on campus. The barrier to entry had never been lower. I realized my desire for others to experience Christ through this conference was stronger than my own…

Through a study of Holy Week and daily rosary with our FOCUS missionaries, I was drawn deeper into the Lord’s ultimate goodness and love through His human emotion, His power, unbelievable sacrifice, and glorious resurrection. Through Holy Week, we are able to see how deeply Jesus cares for the world and in a way witness His vow to save it.  Monday: After reading parts of the Gospel of Luke and recapping Palm Sunday, Jesus rides in on a donkey to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies, proving He is the Messiah. Jerusalem, which is said to resemble the busyness of Wall Street, the Vatican, and New York City, is waiting for…

“Welcome to Zuni” was not only a greeting, but an invitation to virtuous friendship, a desire for a deeper relationship with our Father, and sharing the Gospel with students. New Mexico reminded me of my littleness compared to our all powerful God in the night’s endless stars, gave me people who showed me Christ’s joy, and opened my heart to growing closer to Him through the Sacraments and service. The rental car’s tires hit the gravel around midnight, after we had driven for miles on empty roads underneath the stars, immersed in conversation. But the night and unknown was intimidating. We were eager to figure out the next step and…

Hundreds of runners pumped their fists, half smiling as worn rubber soles carried them over the last steps through the finish line. They had made it. Their dedication to every mile, every physical therapy exercise, or sore legs had led them to this moment. If not for their commitment to the race, to the sport, and feeling of the breathes that followed when the legs slowed down, the finish line would not have come.  As the laughter subsided and the plates were cleared, one of the Young Life leaders started our devotional before club. She mentioned how we were all tired and stressed. I thought about how my days had…

Writing this, it’s a little over an hour until I turn 21 years old. Over two decades on earth, living these years. This is my beautiful, messy, amazing life. I’ve met so many beautiful people, heard unbelievable stories, witnessed the innumerable ways God works daily, taken breathtaking adventures, learned new (and sometimes hard) lessons, and put in my best efforts one day at a time.  Here’s 21 things I’ve learned in 21 years:  1. God loves you. Yes. Our Savior made you and knows you. He loves you more than you know. Jesus is the greatest love story.  2. Community is everything. Thinking about all the people who have cared deeply…

It started with a drive back from a hockey game. The FOCUS missionary filled the car with chatter. She started talking about the conference I said I didn’t want to go to. She spoke truth into my worries. When I returned to my apartment, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head.  I’m always asking for permission from people. I double check. I clarify for the (sometimes) third time. I take forever to make decisions. When I told my mom about Arizona, her response was immediate. Go. It’s all I needed. This experience at FOCUS’s Student Leadership Summit was different than what I had experienced at SEEK. During the…

I first felt the call to be a Young Life leader one Sunday at mass, when our priest said kids long to be known, loved, and belong. I remember those feelings, passing by the Washboard at Timber Wolf Lake and remembering the long nights we’d spent jamming while folding for campers, weeknights tucked away in the comfort of the our leader’s living room talking about Christ, experiencing Work Crew with my friend Luke, deciding to go to camp for the first time, and knowing my leaders and anyone else I’ve met through this ministry are there for me. But my love for this ministry didn’t start out that way. Here…