August 2021

     From the time I was a toddler, my mom began teaching me about the faith and began helping me to know and love our God. Although I found Bible stories interesting, I was a lukewarm Catholic at best, and I did not make God a true priority in my life.

     During some years of family hardships, I turned to Jesus. The more time I spent in prayer with him, the more I felt his presence in my life. I became a stronger and more resilient person, and I was able to face the hardships in my life.

     Next thing I knew, it was time to apply for high school, and my obvious choice was the best school in the state: Jesuit High School. By the grace of God, I received my letter of acceptance and officially became a Jesuit Blue Jay. Jesuit provided me with countless opportunities to grow in my faith, and I tried to take advantage of as many of them as possible. Attending in-depth religion classes, joining the Sodality of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, joining the Pro-Life Club, and attending some of the daily masses enabled me to go from a lukewarm Catholic to a devout Catholic in a matter of months. Putting my faith into practice and making God a priority in all aspects of my life was crucial to my becoming a better Catholic. Jesuit helped me to change my religious mindset from passive to active, and I was able to see the Church in a whole new light.

     I began participating in my own Church parish, St. Catherine of Siena. Father Andrew’s and Father Tim’s homilies helped to strengthen the fire in my soul, and Father Andrew connected me to the great SCS CYO community. I finally felt the overwhelming peace of God’s presence in my life. By receiving the Eucharist actively and with intentions, I felt God’s strength fill my soul. By entering the confessional with true sorrow, I felt the overwhelming peace of God’s forgiveness. However, I have had many obstacles in my quest for unity with God, and I will continue to have them. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, the faithful communities at Jesuit and at St. Catherine, and my mom, I know that no obstacle is insurmountable. After all, we are a community centered on Christ and ablaze with love!