Catholic 20 Somethings Survey 2012 Interim Results
If you are interested, interim results (as of 1/21/2012) are available below. There are multiple tabs in this Excel document, each open-ended question received its own tab, while all of the statistical responses are on the first tab.
In the first tab, the highlighted cells are the modes (the option that was picked the most) for each row. “n” refers to the number of people who answered that question.
If you have any questions on how to read this document and understand the numbers, please contact Matthew (matthew@catholic20somethings.com).
If you would like to discuss any of these results, you may contact any of the Leadership Team members, Sabrina, Kevin, Travis, or Matthew. (leadership@catholic20somethings.com)
Remember, the survey will stay open until the end of the month and final results will be published in early Feb 2012.
Thanks!
Click to Download : Catholic 20-Somethings 2012 Survey - Interim Results
Angels Among Us
In the Austin area, there are many ways to participate in building a culture of life and love. Some of us do so through volunteering with 40 Days for Life, promoting the good works of organizations such as the Vitae Clinic, Catholic Charities, Heroic Media, Texas Alliance for Life, volunteering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes and so much more. When people ask me about how they are called to build a culture of life and civilization of love, I always say that that is a conversation that they need to have with God in prayer but that as Catholics we are all to promote the dignity of the human person, and it looks different for all of us!
Lauren Anderson, a chemistry doctoral student at UT, a newlywed, and parishioner of St. Louis Catholic Church, volunteers for the St. Louis Gabriel Project as a Gabriel Angel.
Lauren first heard about this ministry through announcements in the parish bulletin, weekend campaigning and at a stewardship fair. The fear of not knowing what being an Angel would be like, initially kept her from volunteering; however, she was also experiencing a tug in her heart to do more.
After some self-reflection, she realized when it came down to her faith all she “had was an opinion and an understanding” but felt shewas not physically doing anything to make the world a better place. When asked what inspired her to volunteer, she said, “We can talk about being pro-life and respecting life at the beginning of conception but what about those women who are scared and in need of some help, whether emotional or financial, when it comes to keeping a baby? If we don’t help those women then we are just using words.” Lauren felt someday she wanted to be able to say she was doing more than just talking about respecting life - - she was doing something about it. “There are women out there who are thinking about having abortions and do not believe that people will help them if they decide to keep the baby. If every parish and every church (regardless of denomination) had a Gabriel Project then these women would know they have resources and people to turn to. I can find a crib and car seat for them. I can bring them diapers, bottles and baby clothes and it is one thing they can be less anxious about.”
When asked how she finally overcame her reservations, Lauren said she realized all she needed to do was ask God to give her the courage to go out and serve mothers in need and He did. She encourages those who are hesitant to join this ministry “to just pray to the Lord for guidance and He will give you the strength you need.” She went on to suggest, “The easiest way to listen to God? Go to adoration! It is a beautiful thing to be in the Lord’s presence.”
In Lauren’s 18 months as a trained Angel, she has had an opportunity to serve three Gabriel moms. She is currently meeting with two women that just had their babies – one had a boy and the other had a girl. She is humbled that during their pregnancies these moms opened up their homes and their lives to her. She loves that she was able to bring them some baby items during their pregnancies. “And now, I’ve been there to say hello to their babies and hold them and tell these two moms that their babies are beautiful. It fills my heart with joy,” she said.
Lauren said the training provided by the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living helped her by allowing her to play out some scenarios she may encounter as an Angel and this really helped put her mind at ease. During this training she also enjoyed getting to meet others who were actively seeking to serve women in crisis pregnancies.
When asked what blessing she has received as a result of taking on this mission work, Lauren replied, “What more can we ask for than to know that we have listened to God’s call and answered him, ‘Yes, Lord, your servant is listening?’ My faith has gotten stronger and that has a big impact on my health, my day-to-day activities, and how I feel about my future, not to mention the people I have met. Also, the gift of being around so many pregnant women and being there to see their babies - - the gift of life is a mystery and now I am able to experience its joy in abundance.”
Lauren and her husband Mathew have been married 14 months and they hope to expand their family once Lauren graduates. In the meantime, she is dedicated to using her I time and energy in this ministry as she is sure her experiences “can only make [her] a better mother and wife.”
–Rebecca Niemerg
If you are interested in learning more about the Gabriel Project and how to be a Gabriel Angel, please join us for a Gabriel Project Training on Saturday, November 12th from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at San Jose Parish in Austin. You can register by contacting Rebecca Niemerg at the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living at rebecca-niemerg@austindiocese.org
Christ of the Breadlines
I don’t like service projects. Not typically. I’ve never done well when face to face with human suffering. Whether trying to help at a hospice or a homeless shelter, I’ve never known what to say to a person in need. What do you say? How do you relate? I can’t even make eye-contact with beggars on the side of the road, so a visit to Mary House this past Saturday was well beyond my normal comfort zone. Yet, encouraged by our service chair, to Mary House I went.
Mary House is a shelter for those in need. For the sick, Mary House offers a place to rest and rejuvenate. For the dying, it is a place to say goodbye to this earth with dignity. Established in 1991 by Lynn Goodman-Strauss, it is part of the Catholic Worker movement, and answers our baptismal call to perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The last time I visited Mary House, it was crowded with residents and volunteers. We brought dinner on a Friday night, but, intimidated by the faces of sick strangers, I did little more than offer potato salad and chit chat with the volunteers I knew. This time, however, our crowd was smaller, the residents of Mary House fewer.
We didn’t have much to do that Saturday afternoon. Watering plants, pulling weeds, and building a ramp were all that was on the agenda. Other than Lewis, the gentleman who helped us build the ramp, none of the other residents of Mary House were really present. So after the work was done, Lynn gathered us around her table to talk. And speaking with Lynn was like a revelation.
She told us about what motivated her to start a Catholic Worker House here in Austin—her brother, who was sent to a mental institution when they were children because their parents lacked the resources to take care of him. She told us his story, and the stories of others who had come and gone out of the house. Lynn was not reaching for holiness when she decided to take strangers into her home; she was reaching out to help those, like her brother, whose humanity had been forgotten. Nameless, faceless on the street, here they could share their stories, and become part of hers. I was struck. Here was a woman more love in her heart than I could fathom. Perhaps I could never open my home as she had, but maybe I could learn to give a little more than I had before.
Stories make us real. Stories make us human. By sharing the stories of numberless strangers in need, Lynn has come face to face with humanity. Lynn has come face to face with Christ. He is in the breadlines and in each person who comes to Mary House looking for shelter. Lynn’s stories served as a powerful reminder that the men and women we serve are Christ. And serving is our Salvation.
–Letti Lopez
Trey’s witness to faith
I just wanted to share with my community a witness to faith that I’ve experienced while here in Austin. I’ve left to go back home to the Diocese of Lake Charles, LA and will enter the seminary in August.
Trey
I don’t know if my vocation is the priesthood. But there’s only one true way find out for sure. I do know that I am being called to take this step of faith, so that God can lead me to the next step. I certainly hope that I will be called to the priesthood, and I am taking every step as if that were my vocation. However, if I am not called to the priesthood, I know that my time at the seminary can ultimately help form me to become a better husband and father.
For most of my life, I have actually felt called to the married life – at some points where I was 98% sure that I was definitely called to be married to a woman! But I never stopped to think that I might possibly be wrong in discerning that. I have learned not to limit God, but to be open to all of His possibilities.
I might still be called to marriage. But I am very passionate about my faith. I love the Church. I love the Church so much! (Well Trey, if you love the Church so much, why don’t you marry it?) I think I will! If, after my time in seminary, I discover that it’s God’s Will. This is how I can take one baby step at a time as someone who really wants to consider my true vocation, and I have an excellent opportunity to do it now. If I don’t, I may regret it for the rest of my life.
Many of the faithful believe it is an obligation and a duty as Catholics to seriously consider a vocation to the consecrated/religious life. Where would the Church be if we did not?
If there’s one thing I do know, it’s that I’ve never been more at peace. I feel that I’m headed in the right direction. How did I know that God was calling me? You just know – because it’s totally not you, but there’s a feeling that you just have to do it anyway. And when you do, it feels so right.
I challenge you to seriously consider your vocation. Check out a vocations retreat, or a discernment dinner. Get a spiritual director and talk to them about the best ways you can discern your vocation to married, single, or consecrated life. Following God’s Will for your life will bring you the most peace, satisfaction, and happiness!
I will be constantly praying with much love for all of you, so please let me know of any special intentions you may have. I’ll also be keeping up with the Prayer Team. And I ask for your prayers for guidance as I continue this journey… that I am able to discern God’s Will for my life, so I can become a better person. Thank you for all of your support and prayers. We’ll see yall!
Trey Ange!
Our general tendency is to go the easy way. We surround ourselves with people who always agree with us; who never challenge us to higher standards and call them friends. True friends are those who watch out for us and never want to see us derail because they love us to death. If you have people you can truly call your friends, tell them the truth about themselves and help them to be the best they can become. - Fr. Justin Udomah
Bringing something to the table
About every other month, the 20-Somethings gather for a social and fellowship event called Dinners for Five. By signing up, you agree to have your Friday night dinner plans with a random selection of people from the ministry and have the chance to get to know them. Here are some comments from your brothers and sisters on their experiences at Dinners for Five. Enjoy!
Sabrina Vega
Victor Selvaraj:
I have been a part of the 20-Somethings for the past two years. In those years, I have been involved with its various spiritual, service and social ministries. One of the social events is Dinner for 5. This is a really cool way to get people together in a comfortable setting, get to know new people in the group and form great friendships. The best part is the random aspect of the D5.
So this is how it works. Once every few months, Sabrina sends out an email and posts an event on the calendar, announcing that D5 is being scheduled. Then you send her an email, letting her know that you would like to participate, and may or may not volunteer to host. Then on the week of the D5, an e-mail is sent with the 5 people picked to have the D5 and one of them is the host.
I don’t know how it works out, but I have always found myself with my closest friends, and one or two new members in the dinner group. I am pretty sure that it is not fully random! But the surprise factor is pretty exciting; it feels like you got chosen to play a cool TV game show with your best friend! This works because you don’t end up in a group of complete strangers — that would be awkward. If you are a new member, you enjoy being with a new group of friends.
In a recent twist to this awesome idea, was adding a priest to the dinner group. It was called D5+1. Last time, we got to meet Fr. John Kim. Oh, my gosh! That was the first time I got to talk to Fr. Kim personally. I cannot express enough in words how awesome he is. You can literally feel the zeal in his voice when he talks about his love for God. The man is on fire with love for God. When you see such passion in someone, it changes you. I will never be able to forget that night.
And then comes the awesome after parties. Usually this is not officially planned. People can choose to go home after dinner. Some of us go out with other D5 groups, and have a blast on a cool Friday Austin night! We have done everything from going downtown, dancing, or out for ice cream!
I hope D5+1 continues to bring people together, closer to God and their faith and form great bonds of friendship.
Kelly Dupen:
I have participated in Dinners for Five five times, and I am always so glad to be part of such a fun night of fellowship and good food! My favorite part about Dinners for Five is the fact that it gives me an opportunity to spend quality time with people who I want to get to know better, but have never been given the chance. Oftentimes we know people on a superficial level when we only see them at large 20-Somethings gatherings, and D5 really helps everybody to develop a closer bond with others through meaningful conversations in an intimate setting. I also love that we have recently started inviting priests to our Dinners for Five experiences. They make a wonderful addition to any D5 group!
Shannon Essler:
Attending Dinners for Five + 1 was a great opportunity to really get to know our fellow members of the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry. The event was highly enjoyable: good food, good fellowship and good fun! I’d definitely recommend it to one and all.
Anonymous:
I love D5 because in my personal experience with it, it has helped me get to know the most incredible new C20s members! Two new members, in particular, come to mind that came to D5 as their first event. It’s a low key, fun, and non-intimidating way to get to know people.
Travis Rinn:
My favorite thing about D5 is that I learn something new about everyone there every time. Whether I saw them every day over the past week or just met them during dinner, I always feel a deeper connection to everyone at the end of the night. It’s also a great way to find out who the good cooks are in the 20-Somethings. The metaphor is perfect: everyone has something to bring to the table.
Look forward to another Dinners for Five this month! You can always sign up by e-mailing me at sabrina@catholic20somethings.com.
What are some of your favorite Dinners for Five stories?
Sabrina Vega
The pro-life connection
In the spring of 2009, I broke off a dating relationship and was laid off from my graphic design job. While some might find sadness in the timing and severity of these events, I was honestly excited about the freedom that I had been given. Newly single and between jobs, I sought an area where I could be involved. I knew that my journey was going to take me deeper into my Catholic faith and allow me to rediscover my passion of dancing in a studio and on stage.
Sabrina Vega
At this time, I was heavily involved with a swing dancing organization and had made friends from meetings and social dances. One friend in particular heard I was Catholic and invited me to Theology on Tap. (At this time I was just attending mass at St. Albert.)
My first Theology on Tap was March 2009, where I met a few new people. Another new friend told me about 40 Days for Life and the Catholic 20-Somethings, and how incredible both activities were. Since I had time to spare, I started praying at the abortion clinics on Fridays, relearned the rosary, and learned more about the pro-life movement in Austin.
As a cradle Catholic, I always loved my faith and detested abortion — it was the only thing that I would vote against. But I didn’t know that I could actually do something about it. As my faith grew over the 40 days, my friendships grew too. I joined the 20-Somethings that month and met some of the best people I have ever known, who have taught me so much.
After making additional connections in Catholic circles, a third player in God’s plan told me that I should consider meeting people at Majella Society to see if I could get some graphic design freelance opportunities. After meeting a few ladies there, I had a small contract project and began to volunteer there. Within a month or so, they decided to offer me a temporary job as a development assistant.
It was difficult to take at first since it wasn’t a graphic design job, but I figured for four months, it wouldn’t be a problem. While working there, I dove deep into the movement when I researched history, statistics and true stories of the horrors of abortion. Thanks to the grace of God, Majella hired me permanently as the Executive Assistant to the CEO, where I have been for over a year.
Every day I go to work knowing that I am helping women connect to life-affirming resource centers through the media we place nationwide. We hope that our media will not only help those women in need, but change our society to be a culture of life.
I am thankful that God lead me by the hand through that year to what now defines my life. Finding a great group of people to hold me accountable and love me was one of the best things God could give me. Finding a way to be actively pro-life was a bonus, and even more special since it is my profession. While not everyone will have the opportunity to work in the pro-life profession, it doesn’t mean that they can’t do their part in the overall movement. Through education, prayers, volunteering and monetary support, you can help make a difference. I hope that you can be inspired to call onto God for guidance and see how the Holy Spirit might lead you.
2010 Texas Rally for Life
If you’re looking for an opportunity to get started, try some of these awesome activities, happening this weekend. Find some time to surround yourself with other pro-life people and build those connections! But most of all, pray for each of the events below and for the pro-life movement in general.
- Thursday, January 20
MercyMe and Rebecca St. James Concert — Doors at 6:00 PM
Tickets available at www.heroicmedia.org/mercyOur pro-life weekend starts off with a show! Grammy and AMA-winning artists are coming into town to help raise money for Austin-based prolife company. Heroic Media is a faith-based non-profit that places television, Internet and billboard advertisements to help women facing unexpected pregnancies. Their advertisements provide help line numbers that connect women with pregnancy resource centers. You can see their ads on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/HeroicMedia). Tickets for the concert range from $22.50-28.50 plus the ticketing charge. A group of 20somethings is already going, so it would be great for more to join us listen to great Christian musicians, and help raise money to run more culture changing media in Austin, TX. - Friday, January 21
Pro-life Talk on Abortion, Culture and the Media — 6:30 PM
RSVP limited to 25 people.
Want to know more about the pro-life movement? Join us for a small talk on Life, the history of the pro-choice agenda, and how you can be more actively pro-life. As Catholic Young Adults, we are called to defend our Church and spead the good news and help create a culture of Life! Our guest speaker is Kim Speirs, Director of Coummunications at Heroic Media. There will be a short presentation, and discussion. Please RSVP soon! The limit is 25 people because Kim is gracious enough to host this at her home. Please bring a snack or drinks to share! We will go out for ice cream after the talk. Carpooling encouraged.
- Saturday, January 22
Texas Rally for Life (and other diocesan activities) — 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Click here for a list of events.
The Texas Rally for Life commemorates the 38th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, which made abortion legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
Sabrina Vega
Stewardship saves
This sounds extreme until you consider that financial stewardship shares in the very life of the Body of Christ. In fact, at the end I have a story of my sister who literally gave her way back to Christ. Whether it is food and workers for childrens’ homes, crisis pregnancy centers, and homeless shelters or the car and gas for a lone priest serving multiple parishes in rural Texas, the seeds of our gifts blossom to become physical and spiritual life for all.
Sam
The link between our money and our love of God and others should be clear from Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” This can lead to cliches like “Should you really have cable?” or “Today, I’ll give the guy at the corner $5 instead of Starbucks.” I feel these do not hit the mark. While cable and Starbucks are luxuries, it is good for a portion of one’s income to be for oneself.
Saint Aquinas said, “Well-ordered self-love is right and natural.” However, giving to our parish and to Christian charities should be even more consistent and prayerful. That means not thinking “What’s in my wallet to give?” or “I’ll give when I’m financially stable.” It means to give away a percentage of your income regularly and also whenever God calls.
This is easy now, since you can set up direct withdrawals for most parishes and charities. The tithe (10% of your income) is a great place to start. It is referenced in scripture and is commonly practiced. The biggest obstacle for many is trust in God that they too will be provided for. Matthew 6 and many other scriptures speak to this.
I know of cases where people received a check equal to their bills down to the penny or got jobs just in time. However, for my sister it was truly “more blessed to give than to receive.” Growing up, our parents taught us tithing well. If we got a $3 allowance, we would take two dollar bills and get $1 in change so that we could drop God’s 30 cents in the basket, a practice which soon became ingrained. Fast forward to my sister in college where she stopped going to church and yielded to common worldly traps. She got a job after graduating and had a coworker who faithfully wrote a check for her church every payday. That training from youth kicked in, and after her coworker shared some teaching tapes with her, my sister decided to give a tithe check to her coworker to take to church for her. Only a couple of months of this got my sister to thinking she might as well see where her money was going, and of course led her back to church and a life of faith in Christ. So give to God, and watch our Savior work!
Sam Higgins
