The Hopeful Millennial

I grew up watching classic 90’s television, which included one of my all time favorite shows, Boy Meets World. There were some incredibly powerful episodes on the show as we watched our favorite trio grow up under the always caring eye of the teacher Mr. Feeny. In the finale of the series, Mr. Feeny left his students (and all of us) with some final words of wisdom, “Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good.” Over the last several weeks I have watched the world start to pull itself back together and we all have an opinion on when and how things should happen. We’re struggling with wanting our lives back. Yet, I have also seen more people come together to do good and protect the most vulnerable among us. We’ve had people step up and make masks and PPE for those who can’t or those who need it in the healthcare field. We’ve had donations come in for the Team Kentucky Fund and other organizations to help provide for the people in our state. We’ve had volunteers to pick up groceries ...

Stop. Right this second, just stop. Take a breath. Maybe close your eyes for a moment and breathe. This time of trial can very easily overwhelm us; often we forget to stop and breathe. We get caught up with everything that we have to do for work, for school, or for our families, even in the midst of this pandemic. Our minds race because we are so worried about what is going to happen in the next weeks, or months. Our hearts ache for all the things we are losing this year and all the end of school year traditions our young people won’t get to experience. Our souls are longing for peace and so we are restless. Almost a month ago, I wrote my first reflection and I quoted St. Augustine. I think today that quote still holds true, maybe even more so. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." I am the first to admit the struggles of balancing working from home full time with my three year old son. I miss seeing our young people, c...

Resurrexit, Sicut Dixit, Alleluia!  He has risen, as He said, Alleluia! Greetings to all those who read this blog. I hope your Easter was filled with love, laughter, and the remembrance of Christ’s fulfillment of His promise! However you celebrated, dressed up or in pjs, delivery or home cooked food, big traditions or little ones, I hope it was a joyous day. This week of the Octave of Easter is a wonderful reminder that Christ’s resurrection was simply the beginning of the next chapter in the story. Death was not the end. Suffering was not the end. The darkest times the Disciples had ever lived through in their lives may have seemed like the end, but God was just getting started. The death of Christ is not the end of the story,  rather it is the start of a new beginning. I know it is easy to question our suffering in the midst of everything going on. When we reflect back on the Gospels from Holy Week, we see how God allowed His Son to suffer in the most horrendous ways ...

Tomorrow starts the beginning of the Easter Triduum. A sacred celebration of the summit of our Liturgical Year and the time for us to journey together in Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Holy Thursday or the Mass of the Lord’s Supper reminds of us of our call to be servant leaders. In John 13:14-15, Jesus tells his disciples, “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you out to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Reflecting on Christ’s words, we should ask ourselves how we can serve the vulnerable and the least of these during this time. Our usual ways to serve others have been dramatically changed; however, we can still answer the call to serve those around us. Write letters, sew masks, decorate the sidewalk with positive chalk art, stay healthy at home, video chat, pick up groceries for your neighbors who can’t get out, leave a surprise package on someone’s doorstep, or flood social media ...

Back in November, I had the privilege of taking a group of youth from my parish to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, IN. If you’re unfamiliar with NCYC, it’s a three day conference that gathers thousands of teenagers from across the country to one place to celebrate our faith, connect with others who are dealing with the same struggles of being a Catholic high school youth, as well as get the opportunity to dive deeper into their faith.  NCYC has always been one of my favorite experiences as a youth minister. To see thousands of teenagers celebrating the Mass or receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, coming back on fire in their relationship with Christ. Getting to take my first group of youth from my new parish family was nothing short of amazing. I got to know my young people, both in who they are and their faith, as well as shower them with God’s love and mercy. There is one specific story from NCYC this year that in these days of darkness I w...