the passionists of holy cross...

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

Fall 2016

When is mercy the bond between myself and others?

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I love being a Passionist because …

I love being a Passionist because it brings the teachings of Jesus to life.

Patrick BrueggenFlorissant, Mo.

I love being a Passionist because there is great value in being present to people wherever they may be in life. Witnessing Christ in them helps us do this well.

Christie YoungCitrus Heights, Calif.

There is tremendous depth in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which continues to be lived out in our world today.

Father David Colhour, C.P.Louisville, Ky.

I love living the Passionist charism that is present in encountering the holiness of the Passion of Christ; where the cross and its meaning give us the possibility to understand that we must die to become transformed.

Cesar Prada, Houston, Texas

With Gratitude, we welcome the beauty of each day, illuminated by the gift of your love.

Daily, we give thanks to you for your loving support of the Passionists. Your commitment to share God’s love expressed in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus ensures a strong future of our shared mission.

Our ministries have always been to share God’s love revealed in the Passion of Jesus Christ. We’ve always counted on so many, like you, to help us in our work. We appreciate you for participating in the lives and ministry of Holy Cross Province. For together, we are strong!

Reflection

Contents

Christie YoungAnswering God’s Call: Christie Young’s Ministry of Presence6

Pat BrueggenAt the Service of Others: Pat Brueggen Receives Far More than He Gives10

From the Provincial2

News and Notes3

Front cover: Father David Colhour, C.P., guides student, Ben Hall, during his 3D printing class at St. Agnes School in Louisville, Ky.

Publisher: Very Rev. Joe Moons, C.P.Executive Editor: Mr. Keith ZekindManaging Editor: Ms. Cami BeecroftDirector of Communications: Ms. Claire Smith

Life Stories — the Best Way to Experience God’s Mercy: Cesar Prada witnesses God’s mercy on a daily basis

According to Cesar Prada, life stories are the best way to find out how God has worked with and been merciful to each of us. 4

In This Issue

Father David Colhour, C.P.Without Cost You Have Received; Without Cost You Are to Give8

Katie BoydA Stable Foundation Secures the Future12

Send correspondence to: Ms. Claire Smith Passionist Development Office, 660 Busse Hwy., Park Ridge, IL 60068 | email: [email protected]

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shares a heartwarming story about working with students.

Katie Boyd is a graduate of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, Ala. She attributes her career success to the foundation and skills she acquired at Holy Family Cristo Rey High School. It is a delight to hear the story of her success. She offers her experience of that program and how it helped her.

This Year of Mercy is being lived out in various ways across our province. Please share this issue of The Passionists with any young adult with whom you may be in contact. We hope it could be another assurance that God has plans for them.

We ask your prayers for young people through-out our country and the world, and that they may be open to the vocation to which God is call-ing them. Be assured of our prayers for you as we continue to journey together through this Year of Mercy.

In Christ Crucified,

V. Rev. Joe Moons, C.P.Provincial Superior

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V. Rev. Joe Moons, C.P.

Letter from the Provincial

V. Rev. Joe Moons, C.P.

Dear Friend of the Passionists,In this issue of The Passionists, we continue

our reflection on the Year of Mercy. We focus on mercy with respect to the younger members of the Passionist Family and the ministry they have with youths and young adults.

The articles are accounts of people walking with youth and young adults today. Not only are young people receiving hope and mercy through the ministry of the Passionist Family, but they themselves are signs of hope and mercy to the rest of us. They are signs of hope because they point to the future and prod the rest of us to consider what is possible now!

In this issue, you will hear from Cesar Prada, the Director of Spanish Ministry at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas. There is also an article about Christie Young, the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, Calif., and her ministry with young adults.

From St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Ky., we learn about the experiences of the pastor there, Father David Colhour, C.P., who teaches a 3D printing class at St. Agnes School. Pat Brueggen, a Passionist alumnus, was a special education teacher for many years. He is now retired, but is still active in the special education community. He

Be assured of our prayers for you as we continue to journey together

through this Year of Mercy.

action — to put into practice the invita-tion to Mercy. Many returned to the re-treat center that af-ternoon wanting to go back to the food bank. “We should help at the food bank or [do]some-thing similar every year,” said one young adult. “More charitable activities together,” suggested another.

What does Mercy look like for the young adults on the retreat? It was reflection, volunteer service, ad-oration, praise and worship — and karaoke!

Visit us at www.passionist.org 3

On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, our Passionist Family gathered to gratefully witness the First Profession of Passionist Vows by our newest brother, Nicholas Divine.

The celebration was held at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, Calif. Nicholas spent the last year as a novice under the guidance of Novice Master, Father Jim Strommer, C.P., and the other members of the local Passionist community. Nicholas has now journeyed to our St. Vincent Strambi community in Chicago to continue his seminary studies at Catholic Theological Union.

Please visit our website to view a video of Nicholas’ First Profession: https://passionist.org/vocations/profession/.

News and Notes

Nicholas Divine, C.P.

Nicholas Divine, C.P., professes his First Vows before Father Joe Moons, C.P., Provincial Superior.

Mercy: The Beating Heart of the Gospel — A Young Adult Retreat

Sixty-eight young adults gathered on the weekend of June 17-19, 2016 at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, Calif., for their an-nual retreat reflecting on the theme of Mercy. The theme of the retreat, “Mercy: The Beating Heart of the Gospel,” was inspired from the Bull of Indiction, Misericordiae Vultus, by Pope Francis for the Extraordinary Year of Mercy.

The weekend was designed to help the young adults understand, pray, reflect and act Mercy. The highlight for many young adults on the retreat was the volunteer service component on Saturday morning at the Los Angeles Food Bank. It gave the young adults an opportunity to bridge the gap between words and

Young adults help pack food at the Los Angeles Food Bank.

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Life Stories — the Best Way to Experience God’s Mercy Cesar Prada witnesses God’s mercy on a daily basisCesar Prada

According to Cesar Prada, life stories are the best way to find out how God has worked with and been merci-ful to each of us.

As a pastoral associate and director of Hispanic Ministry at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Tx., Cesar accompanies many people as they share their life stories and open their hearts to God’s love and mercy.

“Many who come to the program for spiritual guides come with countless expectations. But they agree on one: they come to find God in the service of accompanying others on their path to holiness,” shares Cesar.

The “Program for Spiritual Guides,” a three year formation program, is one of several programs at the re-treat center that Cesar serves in leadership. Some of his duties include: coordinating the School of Spirituality for young adults; leading silent retreats in the style of St. Paul of the Cross; Emmaus Reflection Days, these

vary in topic, but are always geared toward the spiri-tual growth and formation of Hispanic people; Qados (Hebrew word meaning holiness) Days of Reflection, that focus on learning about and growing deeper in the different spiritualties that give life to the Church. He also leads silent retreats for young people who are in the process of discerning their vocation. All of Cesar’s work and programs have both the support and col-laboration of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. In other words, Cesar is responsible for organizing and planning in all areas of the Hispanic spiritual formation that the center promotes.

“Five years ago I became involved at the retreat center as an instructor in the formation of our Hispanic people throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. During that time, I was able to learn much more about the reality of our Hispanic church and found that spiritual growth, based on good formation, was lacking.

“Chance, which has always marked my life, intro-duced me to an experience of formation for spiritual guides offered by Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center, headed by Joe Castro. I came to learn more about this experience and in my interview with Joe, the doors to Passionist spirituality were opened,” explains Cesar.

At the encouragement of Joe, Cesar succeeded him as director in January 2016.

“We recently completed the first school of

Cesar Prada during a presentation to the class for the Escuela de Espiritualidad Jóvenes Adultos - School of Spirituality for Young Adults.

“Our young people cause us to feel an

energy that propels us on our path of

knowledge of God and shows us the

cheerful face of the Father.”


spirituality for young adults from the archdiocese and in the evaluation done by our young people, 25 in total, I discovered that the need for God persists; a need that expresses itself in the desire to know more about him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which balances faith and rea-son in each experience of life and of God,” shares Cesar.

Cesar acknowledges the gift that young people bring to the center. “Our young people cause us to feel an energy that propels us on our path of knowledge of God and shows us the cheerful face of the Father. Seeing this group of young people arrive at our center is a boost of hope. It is to see Jesus, who as a young man showed us his dynamism while teaching, praying, and serving.

“Witness and fidelity have been the two words that have touched me during my work with the Passionist community. These are reflected in the lives of conse-crated persons, who accompany me in the ministry. And these words are a blessing, because they invite me to forge myself as a person for the benefit of the com-munity that I serve,” says Cesar.

As Cesar attends to the responsibilities for Hispanic formation at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center, he is privileged to hear the life stories of those with whom he ministers. He is gifted through their challenges and joys as they grow in deepening their re-lationship with God through the prayerful and forma-tive programs offered at the retreat center.

“Retreat houses are places of silence, prayer and formation, much needed in order to help set aside the bustle and constant activity of our society. I think the Passionist charism is important for our Church in pro-viding these spaces. God reveals himself in silence and prayer, and shows his mercy through personal encoun-ter,” explains Cesar.

Cesar recalls one such encounter, “Some have clear expectation that the first service of their formation

Life Stories — the Best Way to Experience God’s Mercy Cesar Prada witnesses God’s mercy on a daily basisCesar Prada

should be centered on their family. They begin a pro-cess of personal transformation by listening to God and to discovering his active presence in their lives. Those around them admire what is happening in them, but do not realize what is going on.

“Sometimes children, wives and relatives are wor-ried about what they see their family member going through. One [spiritual] guide shared in his testimony that his son was so worried about what his father was doing that he also sought formation in one of our other programs, the School of Spirituality. There, this young man was also touched by God and discovered what had happened to his father. Harmony returned to this house, and dialogue, once broken with his father, was restored — a miracle of God’s mercy.”

“Witness and fidelity have been the two

words that have touched me during my

work with the Passionist community.”

Students work during class in the School of Spirituality at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center.

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Answering God’s Call: Christie Young’s Ministry of Presence

Christie Young

God’s call of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 1:7-8, NABRE) demonstrates that God has designs for us, regardless of our age. Jeremiah was called to be an oracle of the Lord as a young adult. He voiced his trepidation in being asked to do so. However, God assured him that He would be with Jeremiah at all times.

Thousands of years later, God continues to call young adults into service. He still calls forth youthful voices to be prophetic witnesses of hope and mercy in building the kingdom of God today.

Christie Young, Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, Calif., is one such young adult. She continues to respond to this call with joy-filled anticipation and excitement.

In 2015, after returning home from discerning a vo-cation with a religious order in Chicago, Christie was un-clear as how her vocation was to be lived out.

“I knew God was calling me to something more;

more than just return-ing to my life as usual. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I knew God would show me.

“My first week home, I looked on the diocesan [Diocese of Sacramento] website for a job while discerning where God was calling me. I saw the job posting for the position at the Passionist retreat center. Four interviews later, I had the job,” shares Christie.

As the Associate Director of Ministry, one

of Christie’s responsibilities is developing new pro-grams. Christie realized that at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, she had an opportunity to seek out her peers in offering young adult retreats and other ongoing ministry opportunities.

“The Passionist charism is a ministry of presence. It recognizes the dignity of each person. St. Paul of the Cross went out to where people weren’t being evange-lized, and he worked with them. I saw in the young adult

community one-way communication happening. There was a lot of talking “at” young adults. I felt there was a need for a peer-to-peer community; helping to spread the charism; to have open and honest conversation;

“I knew God was calling me

to something more …”

Father Jim Strommer, C.P., Christie Young and Father Giltus Mathias, C.P., at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center.


to listen and hear one another respectfully,” explains Christie.

As a result, Christie, with assistance and guidance from mentors Father Jim Strommer, C.P., and Father E. John Hilgert, C.P., designed two programs to meet the need. One is called Master Class; the other is called Young and Married Ministry.

Master Class is session-based ministry to help form informed young adults who are solution-orient-

ed. “Young adults have a yearning to really find a way to fully live their faith in everyday life, their workplace and their families,” shares Christie. Participants gather to discuss timely issues in the areas of spirituality, politics, social concerns and cultural trends. Each session ends with asking how each participant can make a difference — now. Sessions are topic driven. A speaker opens the session with a 15-minute presentation, which is then fol-lowed by 90 minutes of discussion.

Young and Married Ministry is a ministry of sup-port to those who are married and those discerning the

Answering God’s Call: Christie Young’s Ministry of Presence

Christie Young

vocation to marriage. Free babysitting is provided to help couples with young children so they have the opportu-nity to find support and spiritual depth in their marriage.

As with any group discussion, a wide variety of personalities can lead to a wide variety of opin-ions. God’s mercy and grace are critical in helping the group foster an open and accepting environment — a vital element in a ministry of presence.

“There are all kinds of characters in the discussion. With different personalities, people can get frustrated and want to argue, but, with respect for the dignity of each other and a little humility, we are open to hearing each other. There is a longing in the group for that con-nection,” shares Christie.

Compassion, generosity, humility and mercy play a key role in fostering an atmosphere of openness in which conversation and self-expression can take place. Participants can experience vulnerability in such an en-vironment. The participants extend mercy to those with whom they have different opinions and receive mercy by being accepted for who they are.

“God is merciful in the way he allows us to practice humility and charity in difficult situations. The times where you fall down, God’s mercy and grace help you get up and move forward. God’s mercy takes these little things in our lives — maybe we like them, maybe we don’t — and uses them. It takes those negative experi-ences and makes them new and wonderful. It makes us new and wonderful through them,” explains Christie.

God continues to call young adults into service. Through the young adult ministries at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, young adults are able to answer that call by growing in their faith and deepening their ca-pacity to extend mercy through the simple expressions of being courteous in the way they speak and listen to each other, whether in a Master Class discussion group, or as husband and wife.

“The Passionist charism is a ministry

of presence. It recognizes the dignity

of each person.”

Young adults gather for the Master Class at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center.

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Catholic Community in Louisville, Ky., has the joyful privilege of passing on gifts he received from teach-ers to those students he now teaches. Father David teaches 3D printing to eighth-grade students at St. Agnes Catholic School. He sees this, in part, as an act of mercy; one called for in the Gospel of Matthew, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt 10:8, NABRE)

“On the first day of class [each trimester], I pull out some of the things I’ve created in my past. One is a picture I drew in my junior year during computer class. Next, I show them a picture of a logo I made during college. I then show them a whole drafting project I did at Purdue. I tell them I could do it because I had done it before, in high school and then in college.

“I tell them, ‘Now I am introducing you to 3D printing so down the road you will be farther ahead. It is my desire to give you the confidence and comfort to be ahead of everyone else in high school.

“I recognized teachers who gave me confidence and now I pass it on to students. I will never know where the gift goes; that’s the joy of teaching,” shares Father David.

Father David’s degree is in mechanical engineering, so he seems the perfect choice to teach a class using the 3D printer on hand at St. Agnes. The class is designed

On April 23, 2016, Pope Francis celebrated a Jubilee day with a rather unlikely group: young boys and girls. In his Message for the Jubilee of Mercy for Young Boys and Girls, the pope said, “Merciful like the Father. This is the theme of the Jubilee, but it is also the prayer we make for all of you as we welcome you in the name of Jesus. To be merciful means to grow in a love which is courageous, generous and real. It means to grow physically and spiritually. You are pre-paring to be Christians capable of making courageous choices and decisions, in order to build daily, even through little things, a world of peace.”

As children grow in their calling “to be Christians capable of making courageous choices and decisions,” their preparation and growth requires assistance from those who can guide children in the direction of forti-tude, prudence, temperance and justice. The prepara-tion for Christian discipleship is cyclical; often those who attend to the growth of children do so because they received attention and guidance from adults in their youth.

Father David Colhour, C.P., pastor of St. Agnes

Father David Colhour, C.P.

Without Cost You Have Received; Without Cost You Are to Give

“I recognized teachers who gave me

confidence and now I pass it on to

students. I will never know where the

gift goes; that’s the joy of teaching.”

Zachary Yochum shows off his printed object — a chess pawn.


Father David Colhour, C.P.

Without Cost You Have Received; Without Cost You Are to Give

as a 10-week art elective in which students plan and design models that are then created by the 3D printer.

“About 98 percent of the class time is spent designing and drawing on the computer. Printing does not take place in class. A small print job can take up to one and a half hours. One student designed a home with two floors and all the furnishings. It took 24.5 hours to print the first floor alone,” explains Father David.

According to Father David, a 3D printer can “make anything out of plastic your brain can think up.” It creates an item by feeding a spool of thin plas-tic material through the printer. As the plastic is fed into the printer, it creates the item layer by layer until a 3D model is produced. Students have creat-ed items such as keychains, luggage tags, chess sets, churches and homes.

Father David sees his time in the classroom not only as a time to teach 3D printing, but an opportunity to teach life lessons as well.

“Elementary and junior high school kids are still in developmental stages. They have a lot of life to live between now and when they give back as young adults; when they start to find a place in the world.

“As the students are working in the class, I will often ask them, ‘How many layers do you see? How many days do you live? Isn’t every day layered upon the day before?’

“Young people need some direction and vi-sion from those who are older and more tempered. Older people need the young and the young need the old,” shares Father David. And the formation of new Christian disciples continues on, byte by byte, layer by layer.

Father David sees his time in the

classroom not only as a time to teach

3D printing, but an opportunity to

teach life lessons as well.

Father David Colhour, C.P., helps students plan their 3D projects.

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At the Service of Others: Pat Brueggen Receives Far More than He Gives

Pat Brueggen

Pat Brueggen first crossed paths with the Passionist Congregation years ago when Father Joe Connolly, C.P., visited his eighth-grade classroom to discuss the Passionists’ minor seminary. Pat was hooked and left for the minor seminary the following year. According to Pat, his time at the minor seminary was the “most formative years of my life.” By his junior year, he re-alized that he was not being called into religious life. However, he loved the community and wanted to complete high school at the seminary. Unfortunately for Pat and his classmates, the seminary closed after his junior year in 1969.

As life progressed, Pat lost touch with the Passionists, but the formation he received would im-pact his outlook on life. Much to his delight, Pat has since reconnected with the Passionist Family of his seminary days. For the last 15 years, he and some of his fellow seminary classmates have been meeting monthly for dinner.

“My time with the Passionists showed me that we are here for a purpose. We are to be at the service of other people. My aim and out-look help me realize life is not all about me. It’s about others around us and the value of people,” shares Pat.

Over the past 30 years, Pat has been put-ting himself at the ser-vice of others by teaching high school-aged young

people with disabilities. Pat will be the first to tell you

that he has received far more from the young men and women he has taught than he has ever given.

“I remember one young girl in particular. She could barely pronounce her name or really remem-ber her own name. She referred to her little brother

as ‘man,’ but she was so radiant with joy. Every day, she came in with this big smile and bright eyes. She just embodied love and acceptance. Every day, that girl made at least 25 to 30 people smile. I doubt I have ever done anything that good. She got more accomplished every day than I did by making that many people smile. That is the value people with

Where society sees weakness,

Pat sees God’s gift of mercy.

Passionist Prep Seminary High School Class of 1970.


disabilities can bring. She would just bring joy to oth-er people,” shares Pat.

Culturally defined attributes decide who has worth and value in society. As Pope Francis says in his homily for the Jubilee for Those Who Are Sick and Disabled, “It is thought that sick or disabled persons cannot be happy, since they cannot live the lifestyle held up by the culture of pleasure and entertainment. In an age when care for one’s body has become an ob-session and a big business, anything imperfect has to be hidden away, since it threatens the happiness and serenity of the privileged few and endangers the dom-inant model.”

Pat’s work over the last 30 years demonstrates otherwise. Where society sees weakness, Pat sees God’s gift of mercy.

“The Passion is a demonstration of God’s love for every single one of us. The value he places on every one of us, no matter the circumstances, no matter how unworthy each of us might appear to be, in God’s eyes we are worth dying for. I become more aware of that in the people I am around, in the people I see. I am seeing more and more examples of that all the time.

“People with disabilities are marginalized in so-ciety and yet they have a lot to offer. In many ways, they have shown me the Gospel virtues of generos-ity, kindness and non-judgmental acceptance of other people. I have learned a lot from them.

“God shows mercy through them in a lot of ways. We have the chance to practice mercy by serving them, but we get a lot more mercy back. I have been so enriched by what service I have given.”

Pat continues to let God reveal his mercy to him by being attentive to others around him. A significant moment for Pat of witnessing God’s mercy came sev-eral years ago when the school building in which he taught, which housed students with developmental

At the Service of Others: Pat Brueggen Receives Far More than He Gives

Pat Brueggen

disabilities, began to receive students with emotional disturbances and behavioral disorders.

“We get a lot of credit for being patient and kind in teaching students with developmental disabilities. It didn’t take that much to love them and have patience. It didn’t take much to see the value in those kids.

“Those who taught the students with behavioral disorders really showed a lot of love and patience. They were able to be with these kids who had covered them-selves with this hard-shell cover over their personali-ties. The shell was probably a way of protecting them-selves. Those teachers were able to scrape away at the shell and find the good person that may be deep un-derneath. They were really showing mercy; looking be-

yond or deep underneath the bitterness and hard-ness of some of those kids. I was just awed.

“I should be a little more like them. It’s a constant journey of being a little more like them.”

Teaching and be-ing taught; giving and receiving. God’s love in Jesus’ Passion — a les-son for Pat that he con-tinues to share.

“In many ways, [the students] have shown

me the Gospel virtues of generosity,

kindness and non-judgmental

acceptance of other people.”

Pat Brueggen

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A Stable Foundation Secures the FutureKatie Boyd

Katie Boyd is a very impressive young woman. This October, she will be celebrating six years of employ-ment with Vulcan Materials, a company she began an internship with immediately upon her graduation in 2010 from Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (HFCRCHS) in Birmingham, Ala.

In addition to her academic achievements, including serving as the president of the National Honor Society, she has been featured on FOX 6 News, Cox Radio, the Birmingham News and AL Magazine, and served as the keynote speaker at one of Birmingham’s most estab-lished venues, “The Club,” to discuss her success story as a Holy Family Cristo Rey alumna.

In 2007, Katie became a member of the sophomore class as Holy Family High School transitioned into Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School. It was the

first high school in the south to join the Cristo Rey nationwide network of high schools that pro-vide a quality, college preparatory education to underrepresented urban youth. Through rigorous academics, coupled with real-world work experi-ence, Cristo Rey students graduate high school pre-pared for success in col-lege and in life.

While Katie certainly attributes academics and real-world work experi-ence to her success, she considers the foundation of faith and prayer she received at HFCRCHS to

be a critical piece that enables her to continue to secure a future for herself.

“At a young age, it is hard to place life challenges into perspective; as a child you really don’t understand life. You can’t really put it in perspective. In addition to my family values, HFCRCHS reiterated the importance of prayer. While in college, it finally resonated that faith is what kept me grounded.”

One of the most influential experiences Katie had at HFCRCHS was during her time in the Government class taught by Father Bob Crossmyer, C.P.

“Every morning we would pray, and it wasn’t until I heard my peers pray for healing and peace that I learned how important it was to allocate time to honor God.

“It became a moment where we became a commu-nity dependent upon each other. I remember moments

Katie Boyd (right), with two friends at graduation from Berea College. Katie was a TRIOTA National Honor Society graduate with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Women and Gender Studies.


A Stable Foundation Secures the FutureKatie Boyd

“In addition to my family values, HFCRCHS

reiterated the importance of prayer.

While in college, it finally resonated that

faith is what kept me grounded.”

where I needed extra prayer, and I would rely on that time in my Government class for emotional support.

“Prayer was his [Father Bob’s] way of seeing us. It was his way of seeing that we wanted to do well in class, but at times, as students, we had obstacles out-side of our control that weighed heavy on us. He was great with ensuring that we had a safe environment that allowed us to perform better on our assignments,” shares Katie.

The family atmosphere created at HFCRCHS con-tributed to Katie’s ability to strive in her academics.

“One of my mentors, Mr. Moore, always reminded me to believe in myself. When faced with financial problems, it is easy to lose focus, but with his constant encouragement, it made easier for me to focus on my dreams.

“He would say things like, ‘Katie, you’re going to be something someday. You’re going to be the CEO of a company someday.’ The fact that he saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself is what kept me go-ing. Challenges are part of a process, not the end of the story,” shares Katie.

Katie was able to see her hard work come to frui-tion as she was preparing to graduate.

“One of my happiest moments was at my intern-ship with the Stewart Organization (an internship she began her sophomore year). My company treated me as if I was more than an intern. They bought me a cake

Katie worked at Vulcan Materials throughout college. She is now employed full-time at Vulcan as a payment specialist.

with the Berea College logo on it and a stuffed dog that everyone wrote on. For them to say how much they ap-preciated my hard work was, for me, my happiest mo-ment, because these were people I thought I could nev-er associate myself with. These were people who had MBAs or were VP of Sales. To be in the room and feel like I belonged, like I had a future — that was a good moment for me,” says Katie.

Katie, grounded in a firm foundation, continues to secure a bright future.

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PRESORT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLEBANON JUNCTION KY

PERMIT NO. 865

Live a Steward’s Life

The last quarter of the year, known as the “giving season,” is a time when most of us turn our thoughts to giving. We give of our time, our talents and our treasure. Such giving touches our hearts and makes us aware that all we have comes as a gift from our loving God.

God calls all of us to be his collaborators — to care for others, to share what we have and to return a portion of our gifts to him year-round. To truly live a steward’s life, we need to embrace giving as a way of life, not as a season that has a beginning and an end.

With grateful hearts, we Passionists share the gifts we receive from you as an act of faith and thanksgiving. Your gifts support our retreat centers and our communities where our men, in the spirit of compassion, work with those burdened by human suffering and through prayer.

Through life-income gifts, bequests or gifts of special assets, you help ensure our future today and for generations. For more information on how you can best steward the gifts God has bestowed on you, call Angela Kwasinski, our Director of Donor Relations, at 800.295.9048, ext. 206, or email her at [email protected].

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