Give to the poor, give to yourself

“If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?”
 – James 2:15-16

“Extend mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His mercy from us?” – St. Vincent de Paul

Between now and November 13, join the Catholic 20-Somethings to take the time to go through your closet and make a donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Stores of Austin.

St. Vincent de Paul

There are two reasons to do this: one, to give to the poor; and two, to give to yourself.

First, participate in this project in order to give back to the poor. 2009 was one of the worst years for American poverty in half a century. Thanks to the current recession, about one in seven Americans is living in poverty. As members of the Mystical Body of Christ, taking care of the poor in our community will ultimately uplift the community as a whole.

The donation you make will help local families. Did you know that Texas is actually the ninth poorest state in the nation? The SVdP Stores of Austin are owned and operated by the Ladies of Charity of Austin, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Diocesan Council of Austin.  Together, these organizations offer basic needs assistance to those in our community. The store provides goods and services, along with funding for other outreach programs sponsored by these two groups. The stores also work in conjunction with other agencies in the area to provide free clothing and affordable household items to those in need through a voucher program. SVdP relies on the generosity of donors to provide goods and services to those less fortunate in our area.

Secondly, this project will help you give back to yourself. I don’t know about you, but my closet it overflowing with clothing that I don’t wear. Maybe it doesn’t fit quite right. Maybe it’s out of season. Maybe I bought it in a “therapy shopping” session, and so at the time I couldn’t see or think straight and I just needed to buy something to fill a hole in my heart.

But no therapy shopping session will prevent me from going back to God and seeking His ways to make my heart whole. That’s why, sometime over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be cleaning out my closet and getting rid of the clutter. I know that in the past, getting rid of that excess stuff has helped clear my head and allowed me to focus on God. So in a way, participating in this project will benefit my own well-being.

So here’s how you can help.

1. Choose a date to clean out your closet between now and November 13.
2. Clean out your closet. SVdP is looking for good useable clothing for all seasons; coats; new socks/underwear in all sizes; clean, useable furniture; shoes; jewelry and accessories; linens; household items (dishes, pictures, decorative items); books; small working electronics (toasters/blenders/radios); and lamps.
3. Do not donate items such as large household appliances (dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers); exercise equipment; or furniture that needs repair or cleaning.
4. Take a picture of your donation in a big pile. If you want, grab a buddy with a big car or truck and donate together, then take pictures on your donation trip.
5. Donate the items to one of two SVdP store locations—one in Round Rock and one in South Austin. Visit svdpstoreaustin.org for details.
6. Send the photo(s) to amy@catholic20somethings.com. Submit anonymously if you wish.
7. Watch for a future Catholic 20-Somethings Voice post documenting the big difference everyone made!

Do not hesitate to e-mail me with any questions. I can’t wait to see what we can all do!

Amy Lavergne

An angel for us all

I would like to introduce you to the Archangel Raphael, one of the Seven Spirits who continually sing the great chant of praise before the throne of the Most High. He is the Angel of Joy, a patron of health, travelers, happy meetings, youth, love, and home life.

If you need a friend, an advisor, a companion — if you want clearness of vision in the midst of the world, peace in its turmoil and security in its uncertainty, walk with Raphael in this journey of life on which a loving Father has sent you. This great Archangel will help you live in joy — though you bear heavy crosses — prepare well for future living in your Father’s Home, and reach your journey’s end, good, happy and ready!

The above quote is a great introduction of St. Raphael the Archangel by Father Lawrence G. Lovasik, who wrote a number of little prayer books.

St. Raphael and young Tobias

One of my favorite stories about the great archangel is the very first: how I was introduced to him.

I work for Heroic Media (formerly Majella) and serve God at my job as an executive assistant for the CEO. One of the many tasks that I do for him is to take calls and follow up with people he’s met. One day I got a call from a sweet old man named Jon LoVasco who had met with my boss at a Catholic business leaders conference and wanted to offer our office a consecration. We were having a very nice conversation when he asked me if I was married or single. This struck me as odd (as you can imagine) and after I told him that I was single he asked if I knew St. Raphael and told me all about him. He sent me a box full of prayer books, prayer cards for the saint and a sweet letter. He told me how St. Raphael is a great saint and friend — especially for young people, travelers, for healing of the body and the mind and for matchmaking. St. Raphael helped Mr. LoVasco find his bride, and did the same for their daughter. He told me that St. Raphael’s intercession with Our Lord has helped many people in his life — he’s even attended many weddings as a direct result of introducing St. Raphael to others! He could write many pages of everything the great saint has led him to (and away from) over the course of his life. What an amazing way for me to find out about this angel!

As for me, I’ve been consulting St. Raphael for almost a year now. (Funny fact: My father’s name is Rafael!) He helps me so much with getting a clear vision on this crazy path we call life. Most of us feel called to a vocation of marriage, so St. Raphael is great to help us figure out who and who not we should get closer to. He also helps with purity, for health issues and for travelers. I am an avid traveler and I know I am at peace when I invite St. Raphael to travel with me. I have shared prayers and my devotion with many of my close friends and I know that he has been there for them. He has lead me to and away from situations that make me a better daughter of God.

I invite you to learn more about him and to ask for his help, prayers and guidance. To celebrate his feast day, I will be praying a novena to him starting Monday, Sept. 20. E-mail me if you would like to be added to the list (I will be mailing daily quotes and the novena to remind you) or save the Novena below and pray it every day for 9 days, ending of his feast day. (September 29 is also the feast day for other favorites, St. Michael and St. Gabriel.) Thank the Lord for sending these angels to guide us and intercede for us.

Angel of God, my guardian dear
To who His love commits me here;
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen

God bless!

Sabrina Vega

NOVENA TO SAINT RAPHAEL - GENERAL

(The Novena Prayer to Saint Raphael must be said for nine consecutive days.)

Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael,
great prince of the heavenly court,
you are illustrious
for your gifts of wisdom and grace.
You are a guide of those who journey
by land or sea or air,
consoler of the afflicted,
and refuge of sinners.
I beg you,
assist me in all my needs
and in all the sufferings of this life,
as once you helped
the young Tobias on his travels.
Because you are the medicine of God,
I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities
of my soul and the ills that afflict my body.
I especially ask of you the favour
(Make your request here…)
and the great grace of purity
to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

St. Raphael,
of the glorious seven
who stand before the throne of Him
who lives and reigns,
Angel of health,
the Lord has filled your hand
with balm from heaven
to soothe or cure our pains.
Heal or cure the victim of disease.
And guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST RAPHAEL - FOR WISE CHOICE OF MARRIAGE PARTNER

O Glorious St. Raphael, Patron and Lover of the Young, I call upon thee and plead with thee for thy help.In all confidence I open my heart to thee, to beg thy guidance and assistance in the important task of planning my future. Obtain for me through thy intercession the light of God’s grace, so that I may decide wisely concerning the person who is to be my partner through life. O Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand to find each other. May all our movements be guided by thy light and transfigured by thy joy. As thou didst lead the young Tobias to Sara and opened up for him a new life of happiness with her in holy marriage, lead me to such a one whom in thine angelic wisdom thou dost judge best suited to be united with me in marriage.

St. Raphael, loving Patron of those seeking a marriage partner, help me in this supreme decision of my life. Find for me as a helpmate in life that person whose character will reflect the traits of Jesus and Mary. May he (she) be upright, loyal, pure, sincere and noble, so that with united efforts and with chaste and unselfish love, we both may strive to perfect ourselves in soul and body, as well as the children it may please God to entrust to our care.

St. Raphael, Angel of chaste courtship, bless our friendship and our love, that sin may have no part in it. May our mutual love bind us so closely that our future home may ever be most like the home of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Offer thy prayers to God for both of us and obtain the blessing of God upon our marriage, as thou wert the herald of blessing for the marriage of Tobias and Sara.

St. Raphael, Friend of the Young, be thou my friend, for I shall always be thine. I desire ever to invoke thee in my needs. To thy special care I entrust the decision I am to make as to my future wife (husband). Direct me to the person with whom I can best cooperate in doing God’s Holy Will, with whom I can live in peace, love, and harmony in this life and attain to eternal joy in the next. Amen.

In honor of St. Raphael recite one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.

The center of our attention

Recently a group of about a dozen Catholic 20-Somethings volunteers visited Mary House, a place where local homeless people can go for shelter, food, and fellowship while they find their next step in life. Volunteers brought dinner and open hearts in order to share a meal among great company.

Two figures were the center of our attention that night.

The first was Dorothy Day, or “DeeDee,” the ornery house parrot with a brave, independent spirit (she’s named after the American social activist and Catholic convert who founded the Catholic Worker movement). Her cage is perched on a curtain rod outside the library, and the door is always left open. When people walk by, they duck their heads to avoid getting snatched. She lovingly plays with the residents of Mary House but doesn’t take well to too many visitors.

At one point, after everyone had gotten their food and was comfortably seated to eat, DeeDee was no longer happy in her cage. She climbed up out of the door, on to the curtain rod, and moved down the rod…

And further, turning around so she could climb down the curtain…

And mingled among the guests.

The 20-Somethings were getting a dinner and a show that night.

(We’re squawking at her beacuse sometimes, she’ll squawk back at you. Trying to get a parrot to talk is really hilarious.)

Despite the distraction from DeeDee, a second figure managed to steal some of our attention that night: Jesus Christ. And in the same way that DeeDee left her cage and mingled among us, Jesus himself was also in our company.

Jesus taught us that serving the “least” among us – the poor, hungry, homeless – brings us closer to Him. Mary House makes that a reality. Luke 14:13-14 says: “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”

Personally, I struggle with this a lot; I have so many places I want to go in life, but feel God has been calling me to service. Sometimes, God just slaps you in the face and tells you “This is what you need to work on before I can give you that thing you want.” I find encouragement in those Catholic 20-Somethings which have that deep desire to sit next to those in need and be an open ear and an open heart. I see God in those people.

If you want to join in on our next service project, it’s this Saturday. We’ll be going to the Micah 6 food pantry; find more information here.

Amy

State of the Ministry

At the 5th Annual 20-somethings Retreat, August 15th 2010, I gave a State of the Ministry address to summarize the ministry, its purpose, and where we are now. The following touches up on some of the points made.

Trey Ange, 20-Somethings Coordinator

The 20-Somethings Ministry is a community where we build each other up with support, walk with each other in faith, challenge each other, and hold one another accountable. We do all of this in love and in friendship, not in judgment or over-criticism of one another. It is a place where you can be yourself and not fear being judged; a faith living ministry to grow closer to Christ. It’s also a ministry for single and married people.

The 20-Somethings Ministry is not a little black book dating service. It is not a hook-up group to find someone to date. God can, however, use (and has used) this ministry to bring people together in marriage, but this should not be the purpose or end goal of any member. It is also not a club trying to collect as many members as possible. Young adults can make their own decisions, come and go to many events in this ministry and others.

As Catholic young adults, we are all at a disadvantage. The world targets us, our age group and our religious affiliation. More than ever before, young Catholics are falling away from The Church. The Catholic faith in our nation is under attack by the culture of death, a culture that celebrates greed, money and sex. Yet, at the same time, as Catholics we are held to higher standards and expected to “behave” because we call ourselves Catholic.

We should not just behave; we should be examples and shining lights. We need community and each other to do this. Catholic young adults have to challenge each other side by side because the world around us will be much more cruel and unforgiving.

We are the present and the future of The Church, and we basically have two choices. We can speak truth and live the Gospel. Doing this will go against the grain and it will be difficult. But we must choose to do this and stand up for truth and defend our faith. Or we can choose the easy way and go with the flow of our world and fall into mediocrity, lukewarmness and following the culture of death. So, I challenge you - to challenge me. To challenge your friends. Help support each other and build a culture of life and a culture of love.

One person who has helped take the 20-Somethings and implement this culture of life is Justin Golbabai. As coordinator, it was very important to Justin that we continue to live this culture and aim for greatness. Justin has served many years in leadership for the 20-Somethings, as small group leader, New Member Chair, Coordinator, Spirituality Chair and now Justin will be stepping down from the Leadership Team. Please help me thank Justin for his many years of service to leading the 20-Somethings!

Also stepping down from the Leadership Team is Hailey Allen, who has served as small group leader, Service Chair, Retreat Coordinator and has attended all five 20-somethings retreats! Please thank Hailey for all she has done over her many years of service to this ministry!

Our current Leadership Team consists of Kelly Dupen, New Member Chair; Sabrina Vega, Social Chair; Amy Lavergne, Service Chair; and Anna Meier, Spirituality Chair.  As Coordinator, I help to work together with the chairs and encourage you to please come to any of us with questions, problems and concerns. This is your ministry! Please help by giving input, especially at our next 20-Somethings Meeting: Sept. 12 – HiggAnge Home 2:30pm. I would also like to thank the Prayer Team for asking God’s guidance for this ministry every day, and also thank you to the Retreat Team for all of their hard work that made the retreat such an amazing success! God bless and we’ll see y’all!

Trey!

Top 10 reasons to attend the Catholic 20-Somethings retreat

The 5th Annual Catholic 20-Somethings retreat, All of the Above, will be August 14 - 15 and will center around what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:12: “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe in speech, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity.” In case you’re still deciding whether or not to attend, here are 10 reasons why you should attend All of the Above:

Sabrina Vega

10. You’ll get a chance to appreciate Texas scenery (it will be at Eagle’s Wings in Burnet) and some much needed quiet time. After all, a “retreat” is called so because it’s a chance to get away from the hustle of life.

9. Saturday night will be one big sleepover. Think games, stargazing, sleeping bags, junk food… the whole deal.

8. You won’t have to worry about making plans for the weekend.

7. You’ll hear 5 fantastic talks (from both experts and witnesses, including a married couple) that pertain to your life now.

6. You’ll meet a great group of young adults who are are there for the same reason… and for different reasons.

5. You’ll get to talk about God in your life, and everyone will want to listen. Go ahead, let it out!

4. Where else can you get food, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconcilliation, Mass, and new friends and for only $50? Many of us would spend more than that just eating out or seeing movies for the weekend, and that’s not including lodging.

3. There have been people praying for you and for this retreat for months.

2. Five “celebrity” priests will be attending: Fr. Bill Wack, Fr. Daniel Liu, Fr. Charlie Garza, Fr. Jonathan Raia and Fr. Brian McMaster! What a great chance to get to know your spiritual fathers!

1. Jesus will be there. ‘Nuff said.

Now that you’re ready to go, click here to sign up, download the registration form, fill it out and deliever it to myself or Trey Ange. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesistate to contact us! Click here for more info!

We’ll see you there!

Sabrina Vega

Who is in control?

Developmental psychologists often characterize young adulthood as is the time when people set out to begin their careers and start new families. Sometimes they will refer to this dramatically as trying to “master the world”. Most Young Catholics are trying to master a world of our own, but they use the words “vocation” and “discernment” instead of “career” and “new family”. At the onset this sounds like an exciting undertaking. In practice most young adults come to find the world is much larger and more chaotic than they had believed in their youth, and “mastering” it is a much longer struggle than they expected it to be.

Trenton

You can feel this sense of struggle in nearly every member of the Catholic 20-somethings. We all seem to wrestling with “vocation” or “discernment” in one way or another. But I believe this feeling was expressed in its purest, in the words of one wise young man during an extended period of unemployment. He had searched through postings, mailed resumes, and undergone several promising interviews, but all prospects left him waiting to hear more. Exasperated he confessed to some his fellow 20-Somethings: “I just feel like I‘m not in control of my life!” Wow, what faith that man had!

He may have not sounded very faithful on the surface. His search had become long and difficult. He felt weak and humble. To put it bluntly his spirits were low. But these are precisely the circumstances when faith shines through. Paul teaches us to boast when we know things are out of our control, because it is during times of weakness and hardship that we can truly be examples of God’s grace.

2 Cor 12.9-10 God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

When we have the humility to admit that we can not (and should not) control our own destiny, we are able to receive the honor that comes from the destiny the Lord constructed us for.

1 Pet 5.6-7: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Yes, with hardship and humility often our spirits become low. We may wish to be filled with the Joy of the spirit all of our lives but we must have seasons of uncertainty and struggle. More often than not young adulthood is a season of uncertainty. But in his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised that in the times when we feel low, we are closest to heaven.

Mathew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

These seasons of uncertainty do not last forever. While he still seeks better opportunities, the wise young man has found employment. But the wisdom and the strength we gain during these periods can serve us the rest of our lives. Paul teaches that it is important for us to know what it feels like to need and to want. When we know that feeling, and know to depend on Christ for our contentment, the apostle claims we can do… everything.

Philippians 4.12-13: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

And that is why men of faith never forget that life is not in their control.

Trenton Henrichson

A call to duality

Any bond formed in the Catholic 20-Somethings comes with a stated intent to share and strengthen each others’ faith. It’s as if whenever you form a bond in the 20-Somethings, you‘ve in essence signed and intangible contract that you will uplift and challenge that person to be a better Christian.

This is how he strengthened the faith of the adulteress, in John 8:
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus made the adulteress a better Christian by being soft-hearted and forgiving. In the presence of this true sinner he shows great forgiveness, understanding and love. He does not label her. He makes no judgments about what brought her to his presence and he *assumes* in the future they will earn his forgiveness.

But this is how he strengthens one of his most beloved disciples, in Matthew 16:
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jesus strengthens Peter with a harsh and pointed rebuke. Jesus goes beyond damming of Peter, he likens him to the ruler of hell itself. I’m not sure I could invent a harsher rebuke. The contradiction is not constrained to these two verses alone. This same duplicity is seen throughout the gospels.

No one deserved understanding and forgiveness more than Peter. He had left his boat, his family and his world behind and traveled many miles to follow his Lord. He would have deserved understanding more than most, but Jesus gave him a greater reward. Peter received a call to not only deeper faith, but to become the bedrock apostle of the Christian church.

So what does all of this have to do with us as 20-Somethings? I maintain that Jesus calls us to be dualist. Everyone should feel loved and accepted in 20-Somethings gatherings. And any who stay more than a brief while will probably need to be challenged at least once. But these challenges should also make them feel loved and accepted.

The challenged come with an understanding that they are loved and respected members of our community, and therefore we place in them both the burden and trust to uphold the standards of that community. Even more, it is in them we place the burden and trust to be the face of Christ in our world. Any new burdens they receive come with the honor of our faith that they are strong enough to lift them. Through this duality; by being both welcoming and challenging we can strengthen the faith of our many sisters and brothers in the 20-Somethings.

Trenton Henrichson

Editor’s note: “Duplicity” changed to “duality” to better reflect the author’s intent.