The United States has reasons to be proud after the Beijing Olympics. The 2008 Summer Games treated us to many amazing stories and showcased the finest qualities of our country. In this lesson we will look at one of our Olympic athletes, Lopez Lomong. He and his family have shown that faith and love can triumph over tragedy.

Option of faith

Robert and Barbara Rogers live in Ostico Lake, a town near Syracuse, New York. About fifteen years ago this family began a faith journey that would lead them to touch the heart of the whole world.

A business investment had turned sour. The Rogers were bankrupt. In the midst of this difficult situation the Rogers began to ask themselves how deeply they trusted God. They began to pray more and to act on their faith more boldly.

As part of this faith journey, Robert and his wife Barbara made an option to be more generous with God. They started by being more generous their money, even though they had very little at the time. They began giving 10% of their money to their parish and to charitable causes.

Generosity opens doors

Amazingly, after a year their economic situation began to improve dramatically. They decided to become more generous with their time and their lives. This eventually led them to open their home to others.

In the last eight years the Rogers family has welcomed six teenage refugee boys from Sudan into their home as foster children. They heard about the need of these boys when the “Lost Boys of Sudan” program of Catholic Charities was highlighted at their parish.

Love pays off

Lopez Lomong was the first boy who arrived to their home. This summer he not only qualified for the USA Olympic team this summer, but was chosen by his teammates to carry America’s flag. Let’s look at Lopez’s story.

Lopez’ Loss

Lopez comes from southern Sudan, a region of Africa. One day in 1991, when he was only six years old, he was attending Mass with his parents. Suddenly, armed soldiers entered the church. Lopez and all the other children in his church were kidnapped at gunpoint and taken away.

War on southern Sudan

From 1983 to 2005 the government of Sudan (based in the northern city of Khartoum) waged a merciless war on the Christians and animists of southern Sudan where Lopez lived with his parents.

The war was partly due to religious hatred: the government of Sudan is controlled by Muslims. The Muslims of Sudan are often very cruel to non-Muslims.

Another motive of the war was economical. Large quantities of oil had been discovered in southern Sudan, and the Sudanese government wanted total control of that oil.

Lopez and his friends were victims of that war.

New war: genocide in Darfur

Later, in 2003, the government of Sudan also turned on the Muslims of Darfur, a western region of Sudan. Many experts believe that once the Khartoum regime completes its genocide in Darfur it will turn again on the Christians and animists of southern Sudan, becoming even crueler.

Death sandwiches

That day in 1991 Lopez and the other boys in his group were taken in a truck to an unknown place and then thrown into a one-room prison.

Apparently the plan was to kill them slowly. As food they were given sandwiches which were laced with sand. The sand made the food impossible to digest. One by one, the boys started to die.

A few of the older boys from his town figured out what was happening and told Lopez to eat very little of the sandwiches. Then they waited for an opportunity to escape.

Escape

After three weeks the boys discovered a hole in the fence. They waited until midnight, then, bringing Lopez with them, they crawled silently towards the hole. Once they made it through the hole, they ran, hardly ever stopping for three days and nights.

Because Lopez was so young, the older boys took turns holding Lopez’s hands as they ran, in order to help him keep up with them.

Somehow, the boys made it out of Sudan. As they entered Kenya, they were detained and questioned. Then they were put in a refugee camp. The camp was run by Catholic Charities.

Life in camp

Lopez lived at the camp from when he was 6 years old until he was 16. The camp was poor, and there was little food: only one small meal a day. But he was alive, and the people who ran the camp were nice to him and the other boys.

Strength in faith

Experts estimate that about 40,000 boys tried to escape the soldiers. Only 20,000 made it out of Sudan alive: some were killed by wild animals, others drowned in rivers, and others were killed by the soldiers. The girls who had been kidnapped also suffered a terrible fate: many were raped and killed or sold as slaves.

In spite of the tragedy, Lopez was convinced that God had a plan for his life. As he said, “That faith was never far away from me. You just have to look high and say thank you for the day… I thought my family was dead, but in the camp I became happy again.”

Discovering a dream

In the relative safety of the camp, Lopez loved to run and play soccer with his friends. One day (when he was 15 years old) he had a rare chance to see television. He saw a race in which American track star Michael Johnson won a gold medal during the 2000 Summer Olympics. Lopez saw Johnson cry on the award platform as the American anthem was played.

Lopez, like any young man, began to dream: “One day I will compete in the Olympics, and I will wear that uniform.”

And like any person of faith, he began to talk to God about his dream.

Opportunity

A year later, Catholic Charities, the organization running the refugee camp, received the OK from the U.S. government to send 3,50“Lost Boys of Sudan” to be placed with foster families in the United States. Lopez was one of the boys chosen.

Surprised by love

When he first arrived to live with the Rogers family, Lopez could not believe it. It was too good to be true. Robert and Barbara were only kind and helpful to him. He couldn’t believe this was going to last. He thought a mistake had been made. He thought he was going to be sent away or be treated as a servant.

Home for the heart

As the permanence of the charity and concern of his new family began to sink in, Lopez cautiously started to think, “Maybe this is a house. Maybe this is home. This is somebody who will take care of me.”

“One night I decided to tell them my story, how I was separated from my family and things like that. That was the day I was able to open my heart and say, ‘These are the people I trust. This is my parents, the people who will take care of me here.’”

Drive to show thankfulness

Lopez was enrolled at the local high school. He immediately loved it there. It seemed as if everyone wanted to help him. He resolved to show his thankfulness for all he was receiving.

Lopez joined the track team at his new high school. He was so dedicated that he was quickly made team captain. During the next three years he led Tully High School to state titles in several individual events and in team competition.

Coach Jim Paccia saw how Lomong’s drive inspired his teammates. “Lopez’s drive was internal. All the other guys on the team realized that and they stepped it up…”

In fact, his high school friends nicknamed him “Booker”, because his intensity reminded them of WWE wrestler Booker T.

On the Olympic chase

In college Lopez continued training hard, impressing his college coach as well. In 2007, Lomong became division I NCAA indoor champion at 3000 meters and the outdoor champion at 1500 meters.

This summer his times improved even more, and he was able to qualify for the Olympics.

He immediately called his foster parents, Robert and Barbara Rogers, to celebrate and to thank them. He especially wanted to thank them for their prayers and their witness of faith. He told them, “When you put God first in your life, anything is possible.”

The flag

In the months leading to his qualifying, Lopez had also become a member of Team Darfur, a coalition of athletes who want to raise awareness about the genocide being committed by the government of Sudan.

The U.S athletes had been advised not to make political statements in Bejiing, but a few days before the start of the Olympics they found out that China had revoked the visa of Joey Cheek, the head of Team Darfur. When word got out that Lopez Lomong was interested in carrying the flag, the other athletes voted for him unanimously.

Celebrating faith, family, and freedom

As Lopez’s story became known throughout the world, it became obvious that the U.S. athletes had chosen a true hero. Here was someone who had been deprived of everything, and yet had triumphed through faith, family, and freedom.

Lopez Lomong did not win a medal in the Olympics, but he did symbolize the greatest values of our country and our faith. These are values that can help our world. We have every reason to celebrate them.

Bible Blurbs

“For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth.”

(Psalm 71:5)

“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.”

(Genesis 50:20)

“Hide me in the shadow of your wings”

(Psalm 17:8)

Pope Quotes

“The source of Christian joy is the certainty of being loved by God, loved personally by our Creator.”

(June 5, 2006)

“Christian faith deserves the historical merit of having inspired in men and women, in a new way and with new depth, the capacity for sharing also inwardly the suffering of others.”

(June 9, 2008)

“The prayerful person is never totally alone for God is the One who in every situation and in any trial is always able to listen to and help him or her.”

(June 9, 2008)

Catechism Clips

309: There is not a single aspect of the Christian message that is not in part an answer to the question of evil.

312: In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of an evil, even a moral evil, caused by his creatures.

2204: The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church. It is a community of faith, hope, and charity.

1818: The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; …it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment.

Saints and Heroes

St. Josephine Bakhita

(Entered heaven in 1947)

Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur, Sudan in 1867, during another time of strife and violence. When she was only nine years old, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. She was beaten and whipped many times during those years. Then an Italian businessman took her in, intending to free her eventually. He was a good man, and she began to experience a peaceful life working for the family. When they returned to Italy, they took her with them. During a time when the family was out of Italy, Bakhita and the man’s young daughter went to live as boarders at the Canossian Sister’s Institute in Venice.

There they were taught the Catechism, and Bakhita learned it well. She was amazed to have finally met the God she had long believed in, the one she “had experienced in my heart without knowing who He was” ever since she was a child. “Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the Master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage…” She was received for baptism, the happiest day of her life. Afterwards she could often be seen kissing the baptismal fount and saying, “Here I became a daughter of God.” Her love grew so much that she decided to stay with the Canossian Sisters and dedicate her life to serving the God whom she had come to love.

She spent the remaining fifty years of her life as a religious sister. There she edified and encouraged everyone by her inextinguishable joy and her eagerness to serve always and everywhere. She also loved to promote the missions to Africa, desiring that many of her countrymen come to know the goodness of God’s love. (Source: CollegeCompass.org)

St Charles Lwanga and Companions, The Martyrs of Uganda

(Entered heaven in 1886)

Charles and his friends died for their fidelity to Christ. Most of them were members of King Mwanga’s royal court in what is now part of Uganda, in East-Cantral Africa. Charles and his friends had become Christians under the influence of missionaries to sub-Saharan Africa. Even when the missionaries had to leave the area, the Christians continued living and spreading their faith. But King Mwanga noticed that, although the Christians were faithful subjects and servants, they didn’t fear him as much as the non-Christians did, and they refused to be victims of his lewd parties. He and his henchmen tried to entice some of the Christians to abandon their faith, but they wouldn’t. That’s when the executions started. And they snowballed until twenty-two of them were arrested, tortured, and hideously executed.

These Ugandan martyrs were so dedicated to prayer that they were known not as “Christians” but as “Those-who-pray.” And such was the title by which King Mwanga condemned them. Today the Catholic faith is flourishing in Uganda and many other parts of Africa, thanks in part to the power of these martyrs. (Source: CollegeCompass.org)

Virtue Verification

Animism - A non-Christian belief system that attributes souls or spirits not only to human beings but also to animals, plants and other things (from the Latin word “anima” which means soul or life).

Charity – 1) A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; kindness, respect, and generosity towards others. 2) God’s tender regard and concern for all human beings. 3) Devotion to and desire for God as our supreme good.

Foster child – Child having the standing of a specified member of the family, though not by birth or adoption, and receiving the care appropriate to that standing.

Freedom – 1) Being able to act, move, use, etc. without hindrance or restraint, confinement, or repression. 2) Spiritual capacity to choose the most noble option.

Generosity – 1) Willingness to give or share; unselfishness. 2) Generosity is also one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is sharing God’s goodness with others and responding to God’s love with the gift of self.

Genocide - The systematic killing of, or a program of action intended to destroy, a whole national or ethnic group.

Hope – Trust in God; confidence in God’s goodness; confidence in the future.

Love – 1) Kindness, respect, and generosity towards others. 2) God’s tender regard and concern for all human beings. 3) Devotion to and desire for God as our supreme good.

Trust – 1) Confidence in the goodness of God and in the goodness of his plans for us; faith. 2) Reliance; confident expectation, anticipation, or hope.

Discussion questions

1. What problem started the Rogers on their faith journey? Can difficulties always lead to a closer relationship with God? What is necessary for a difficulty to lead us to God?
2. Is it easy to trust God when there are difficulties and suffering? What do difficulties teach us about our lives?
3. Both the Rogers and Lopez Lomong showed trust in God in the midst of suffering. Is trust in God, Christian hope, just a mind game or is it based on something real? What do you think it is based on?
4. In what ways does Christian hope help us to deal with suffering? In what ways does Christian charity help us to deal with suffering?
5. After his first couple of months in the United States, one of the boys whom the Rogers took into their home was asked what he found the most amazing in the United States (He had already visited Disney World and several important cities). He answered, “Parents.” Do you agree with this statement? Why do you think it might be true? What other things do you think are amazing about our country?  Do you think parents get enough credit in our country for the good that they do?
6. Can you think of any other examples of the power of family that was highlighted in the Olympics? How can having a strong family help someone be a better athlete and a better person?
7. Can you think of any other examples of faith shown by Olympic athletes?
8. What do you think of the decision by the U.S. athletes to choose Lopez Lomong as the flag bearer? What virtues does this decision show? Does it highlight some of the Olympic values? Which ones?
9. Is there anything you can do to help draw attention to the plight of the people of Darfur and of southern Sudan? What might you like to do?

Debate (Choose a theme.)

• Should teenagers give 10% of their money to Catholic and charitable causes?
• Why does God allow evil in the world, such as the genocide in Darfur?
• Are Christians whimps? Why does Christ ask us to turn the other cheek? Is it right for a Christian to fight a war against evil?

Activities

1. Investigate about some of the charitable initiatives created by former “Lost Boys of Sudan”. Choose one and hold a fundraiser for that charity.
2. Organize a “Fast for Sudan” overnight with your friends (just guys or just girls!). Get sponsors for every hour you will fast. Fast for 24 hours. Have games, competitions, and activities during the fast to make it fun for everyone. Give the money raised to one of the above charities.
3. Email or write to your congressional representatives. Encourage them to do all they can to bring pressure on Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur.
4. Find out about the refugee camp that Lopez lived in. See if you can sponsor a child or adult there.

Resources used for this lesson

Lopez Lomong website

Lost Boys websites:

• Website of Jok Kuol, former Lost Boy of Sudan.
• Website of John Dau, former Lost Boy.
• Alliance for the Lost Boys.
• Documentary film.

Caritas Internationalis web site (Official charitable organization overseen by the Vatican).

Stories about Lopez Lomong

• “Family and Faith Helped Lomong Endure,” USA Today, August 19, 2008
• “Out of the War and Into Their Hearts,” Syracuse Post-Standard, July 28, 2008
• “Where Once He Was Lost, Now He is Found” Washington Post, August 8, 2008
• “Meet Lopez Lomong’s Foster Parents” July 28, 2008

Rebecca Dussault is going for the gold, and yet she feels that she has already won. Few would suspect that one person could excel as a young wife, mother and world champion cross-country ski racer.

At age 15 Rebecca started cross-country ski racing, and found herself climbing quickly to the top. She seemed to have the winning combination that U.S. Nordic Ski Coach Peter Vordenberg later described: “Rebecca is a talented an athlete as we have ever had. She has the physical talent, the mental drive, and the emotional support of her family and her strong Catholic faith.” She loved the sport because it brought her into the beauty of God’s creation. She skied with others who shared both her love for the outdoors and for God.

“We used to go skiing in the middle of the night with a group from our church and our priest, who was an avid outdoorsman,” she recalled. “He would celebrate Mass for us in the moonlight.”

A DIFFICULT CHOICE

When Rebecca married her childhood sweetheart, Sharbel, at age 19, she thought her skiing days were over. “My main reason for hanging my skies up at such a young age was to re-prioritize and break away from the spotlight. My skiing had become all-consuming and I realized that I was not going to be able to keep up the demanding schedule and raise a family.” For her, the first priority became and still is her vocation to marriage.

She and Sharbel had been friends since age 11, when his mother home schooled both of them. “We felt a strong bond of friendship we knew would last into marriage and until death,” she said, “We knew we were made for each other unto our eternal betterment.” They are both fervent Catholics.

A year after her wedding, with a spirit of docility in asking God through prayer what He was asking of her, she decided to give up skiing to show what was really important in her life. “I was convicted by the Lord that He wanted more of me than I was giving to Him,” she explained, “and that ultimately I would have to leave skiing to attain this gift of self.” This decision required true courage in taking the risk of giving up a proven and successful life in competitive racing to answer God’s call to focus on her new family.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t share with all of you my truest love of all,” she said, “the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Catholic Church. My faith is the most important thing in my life.” “Having the same faith formation as my spouse has had unbelievable advantages,” she said, “It was never a question as to whether or not we would fully embrace the Church’s teachings.”

On November 29th, 2001, Rebecca gave birth to a son, Tabor, her “pride and joy.” When she went to the Olympics in Salt Lake City to watch her teammates compete, she hugged her son close and told herself that he was her gold medal.

THE PIVOTAL RACE

After a three-year break, the Dussaults began to discuss the possibility of Rebecca racing again. In February of 2003 she entered a local race where she found herself competing against the two-time Olympian, Katrin Smigun, who was undefeated in all her college races.

The gun fired, and the racers took off. Soon, however, Rebecca and Katrin had left the others behind. The crowd was astounded as the two women raced neck to neck for 25 minutes. They crossed the line in a photo finish, but no one had a camera to prove who actually won.

The next weekend, Rebecca challenged Katrin in another race, and this time won. Together with her husband, she decided to begin the process of discerning whether God wanted her to get back into the world of racing.

BACK TO THE SKIS

The Dussaults again lived out the virtue of docility in their willingness to open their hearts and minds to God’s will. In humility they turned to prayer to discern God’s will, knowing that they needed God’s help and guidance. “After a lot of prayer and the determination to keep our family together no matter the cost, we came to the conclusion that now was the time. God had given me a talent and now he had given me another chance.”

Following God’s will would again require courage in taking on the rigors of Olympic training, and now with the added responsibilities of a family: “So here I am back on my skis training hard year round and proving to myself and to others that it is possible to live life to its fullest, be a mom, help run a business and persevere through all the ups and downs. It is all a matter of God’s graces helping me prioritize and schedule my life so that I can accomplish all of my goals.”

RACE SO AS TO WIN

Right now Rebecca has set her goals high: to ski well at the Torino Winter Olympics, to live heroic virtue, to become a saint, and eventually to have more children and educate them at home. With a humble resolution not to do it alone, she brings her family with her everywhere she races, and invokes the help of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati of Turin as her patron.

“I share all that I am trying to attain with those who are helping me to attain it. Traveling together is three times as full with a family but I would not sacrifice any of it because life is not just about crossing the finish line first. Throughout this journey the Lord has blessed us with family unity and taught us many lessons. I am blessed in every day to be able to share this with them.”

THE WITNESS OF A FAMILY

Sharbel has not just been with his wife every step of the way, but has shared in her struggles and triumphs as well. He has acted as Rebecca’s agent and photographer, taken care of Tabor in all of the hours of training, and has kept the business going so as to support the family. He knows that the greatest victory is not the gold medal, but the testimony of embracing the Catholic vision of marriage and the family.

“Our family has been a silent witness to the vocation of marriage among team members, staff, and perfect strangers,” said Sharbel, “It is very rare for a family to be seen traveling on the race circuit. We have been confronted and challenged to share our faith and our reasons for doing this as a family. We are committed to our marriage and family life. Nothing is more important than keeping our marriage strong and healthy.”

THE SECRET FORMULA

Rebecca has spent the last months in a rigorous training cycle. Her training goal was to have a fit body, to ski technically well and to have a constructive mindset which will enable her to tap into the tools and fitness she worked so hard to put into place in her training. She wants to be able to access all her physical, emotional and spiritual fitness so as to take on the world’s best at the Olympics.

She also has a wealth of motivations to spur her on: “I am motivated by my passion for competition, hard work, success, meeting goals, making friends, seeing the world, sharing my faith within sport, passing tron saint, Blessed Frassati said, “Ever Upward!”

Bible Blurbs

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17)

I urge you therefore… to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, … Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12: 1-2)

The LORD God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.”….That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. (Genesis 2: 18, 24)

Pope Quotes

“Love is indeed “ecstasy”, not in the sense of a moment of intoxication, but rather as a journey, an ongoing exodus out of the closed inwardlooking self towards its liberation through selfgiving, …and indeed the discovery of God” (Pope Benedict XVI, God Is Love)

“It is part of love’s growth towards higher levels and inward purification that it now seeks to become definitive, and it does so in a twofold sense: both in the sense of exclusivity (this particular person alone) and in the sense of being “for ever”” (Pope Benedict XVI God Is Love)

“It is also your task to proclaim and to witness to the humanizing power of the Gospel with regard to the practice of sport, which if lived in accordance with the Christian outlook, becomes a “generative principle” of profound human relations and encourages the building of a more serene and supportive world.” (Pope John Paul II, June 26, 2004)

Pope John Paul II when he spoke of the value of sports with a supernatural perspective: “Precisely because your competing does not take place for the sake of mere and superficial amusement, but to give proof of your ability and of what fruits a long and arduous preparation may yield, sporting effort is a real school of human virtue, of which the ancient biblical book of wisdom writes: ‘When it is present, men imitate it, and they long for it when it has gone; and throughout all time it marches crowned in triumph, victor in the contest for prizes that are undefiled.’”

CATECHISM CLIPS

2826: By prayer we can discern “what is the will of God” and obtain the endurance to do it.

1604: Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes.

1656: In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith. For this reason the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the domestic church.

SAINTS AND HEROES

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI (1901-1925)

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in 1901 in Turin, Italy. His sister Luciana described him as representing “the finest of Christian youth: pure, happy, enthusiastic about everything that is good and beautiful.” He was an athlete and outdoorsman, enjoying all types of activities such as hiking, riding horses, skiing and mountain climbing. He also had a good sense of humor, with a love for laughter and practical jokes. Pier was from a wealthy family, but he lived simply so as to give to the poorest of Turin. He often served them in a hidden and humble manner. He contracted polio and died on July 4, 1925.

SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY (1207-1231)

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary was born in 1207 and died before her 24th birthday. At the age of 4 she was betrothed to 11-year-old Count Ludwig IV and was sent to Germany to be educated at his castle. The two children grew and were schooled together, forming a solid friendship. Elizabeth would often help the sick and the poor, and although she was criticized for this at court she refused to defend herself. Ten years later, the two were married, and they enjoyed several happy years together. They understood each other, and shared the task of raising four children.

Elizabeth was devastated when her husband died, only six years after the wedding, but she gave herself over to a life of poverty and working with the poor until the day of her own death. One of her daughters, Gertrude, also became a saint.

Virtue Vocabulary Verification

Courage- The capacity to meet danger without giving way to fear; to have the courage of one’s convictions; to be willing to put one’s opinions and beliefs into practice

Discern- To perceive, comprehend or recognize God’s will in a situation

Docility- Part of the virtue of prudence that allows us to learn from or be led by another

Humility- Virtue that reminds us we do not know everything and that God can be trusted to guide us as a good Father.

Vocation- An inclination, in response to a call, to undertake a certain kind of work; a calling

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of the qualities of the type of friendship Rebecca and Sharbel shared? How did this contribute to the success of their marriage?
2. Why is it important to discern God’s will for our lives? What advantages or benefits does it give to us?
3. How have Rebecca and Sharbel attempted to discern God’s will for them? How can we do this in our own lives? What other ways, besides prayer, do we hear God speaking to us?
4. What things do the Dussaults do to keep marriage and family life as a priority? In what ways do they give witness to the vocation of marriage?
5. How can a good spiritual life contribute to making a person a good athlete? How can a good athletic life help one’s spiritual life?
6. What kind of message are the Dussaults giving to the world? Imagine that you are designing a poster for Rebecca’s promotion. What slogan could you put on it?

JOURNAL WRITING OPTIONS:

1. Make a list of Rebecca’s priorities, and number them from the most important to the least important. Then, do the same for your own priorities and goals. What is most important to you? What is the least important to you?
2. Have you ever given up something and then found it returned to you again? Write the story of how you decided to give it up, what your motivations and difficulties were, and how you felt when you got it back.
3. Make a personal training program for your spiritual life. Pick one virtue that you want to excel in, and make of list of 5-7 concrete exercises that can help you practice that virtue. Make sure your training is rigorous, and will challenge you to grow. How can you practice this virtue at home? With your family? With friends? In your prayer?

ACTIVITIES:

• Sports Scripture Contest: Hold a timed contest in which students look through their Bibles to find passages related to sports (Run, Race, Strength, etc.). Students write the verse and reference on a sheet of paper to be submitted to the judges. The one with the most quotes is the winner.
• Rebecca Dussault says on her website: “Work out with people who need inspiration. Don’t be afraid to do an easy workout with someone who you may impact greatly.” Ask students to “adopt” a friend, younger sibling or neighbor whom they can do athletic activities with. Make a special effort to motivate and inspire them.
• Invite a speaker to the classroom on the theme of spiritual exercise/physical exercise, to speak about our need for both and some ways to practice health in both areas.
• Ask students to research on the Internet the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and to then write a summary of his recommendations for how to train for a life of holiness.

WEB RESOURCES:

• Rebecca’s personal website: http://www.dussaultskis.com/
• Winter Olympics 2006 coverage: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9134568/
• National Catholic Register article by Gina Giambrone, published in Volume 82, No.6, February 5-11, 2006 issue http://www.ncregister.com

Sometimes it’s hard to see education as a gift, until we get a chance to give that gift to others. Last month, 20 college students were chosen by USA Today for the All-USA College Academic team, to honor not only their academic excellence, but also their generosity in using their knowledge and talents to improve the lives of others. In this lesson we will take a closer look as at the work of two of our nation’s college all stars, and examine how their relationship with Christ helped them choose to serve others.

The 16^th Annual All-USA team

Qualifying for the team is no easy task. Ten men and ten women were chosen from 602 students across the nation. Their ages range from 19 to 26, and their majors range from music to engineering, yet their stories share some similarities. An average GPA of 3.86 is proof of  rigorous academic discipline. And these grades weren’t won by months of shutting themselves away with their books. All of the all-star students are involved in other activities such as sports, student clubs, and volunteer organizations.

Each all-star received trophies and an award of $2,500.  Many of them are just beginning to dream of what the future will hold as they graduate from college and move on to change the world. What moves them to put laziness aside and put their talents at the service of others? For two students in particular, it is imitation of Christ that inspires them to give themselves.

Part I: Meeting material needs

Rachel Husfeld of Valparaiso University is an “Engineer without Borders”. As chapter president of this organization, she embodies the ideal of taking her education outside of the borders of the classroom, and using it to improve the lives of others. She led a group of 18 students to work in an orphanage in Mexico, learning from day laborers how to do the stucco work and installing toilets for the children.

She understands that because of her Christian faith she is called to a life of service to others. “You follow the lifestyle of Christ,” says Rachel, “and that was how he lived, a life of service, humbly washing the feet of others. This is how we know what love is.”

When Rachel went with her church on her first trip to Mexico, it moved her deeply to see so many people in desperate need and made her think of more ways to help them. “I feel like I’ve been blessed with so much,” she observed, “I have the resources and the passion to be able to help.”

Rachel noticed that it is easy to be an engineering student who does nothing but engineering, but from early on she took steps to make sure her mind was not confined within the classroom. She learned Spanish, reflected on what life is really about, and actively thought of ways to serve with the gifts she has. She found support in her church and family, both financially and emotionally.

Her parents had always set a good example for her, and encouraged her to get involved in a local youth group. Dad showed her the value of hard work, and Mom showed her compassion in caring for other people. Even though many around her were only concerned in looking out for themselves, the Christian charity she found in her family and church pointed her towards Christ. “God is the one who ultimately inspired me to service,” Rachel says.

The opportunities began to come to her, and she chose to take them. Once you take hold of an opportunity, she explained, it requires hard work to see it through, to practice teamwork with the others, and to persevere beyond the frustrations. Her group is currently working on a three-year project to design and install a windmill-powered well and drip irrigation system in Kenya. For Rachel, service for others is not something extra, rather it is an integral part of who she is as a Christian.  She realizes that love for Christ and the knowledge of His love is what inspires her service. In her own words, “I have a heart for the people.”

Part II: Meeting spiritual needs

Caesar Garcia represented his country as a diver in the Athens Olympics, managed to keep his grades above average, and still found time for God. His sports career increased his faith and his service to the community. As an athlete, he noticed that many times sports players were painted in a bad light, from media stories that focused on the negative incidents, or just from the fact that athletes often don’t have the time for community service.

As the oldest of seven children, leadership came naturally to Caesar, and he used this to recruit the help of other athletes for a project he had in mind which would promote charity and other character strengths. At a local elementary school, he started a character education program based on NCAA “Life Skills”, forming his own lesson plans to teach virtues to the students while improving the reputation of fellow athletes.

Caesar’s parents have always given him an example of strong faith. Growing up, sometimes had to be pushed by his family to do a bit more for Christ. For example, he did not enjoy getting up early for Lenten Mass before school, but through this the whole family grew closer together. They would also attend weekly prayer meetings where other families would join them for evening Mass, and, after the prayer time together, all the kids would go outside to do sports and games. Looking back, he sees the value of what he received in having friends with the same values and a family that supported his faith.

His father, a gymnastics coach in Baton Rouge, had taught by example that forming children well is more important than making money. “If you can teach a child success, you’ve taught him a lesson for life,” said Garcia.

Founding and directing the “Life Skills” program was a challenge at times, especially to get all the athletes to help him, but he was motivated by a strong desire to help children learn the character traits that would help them to succeed. “Charity was instrumental. I think the best way to live is to try and do things out of love. Using charity synonymously with love reminds me that love is shown through actions and therefore takes effort.”

He had already grown in fortitude when he almost lost his sports career to a back injury. His whole life had centered around diving, and when it looked like he had to quit there was nowhere to turn except to God. The decision to trust in God unconditionally gave him peace to be able to go forward.

Charity often becomes a reflex that makes us heroes without even thinking about it. In 2002, while Caesar was canoeing with his family on the Oklahoma river, rainy weather made the river choppy and treacherous. They pulled off to the shore, but Caesar noticed that a couple fallen trees were causing trouble for other people still on the water, who were falling out of their canoes and getting sucked under. He swam over to help, pulling five kids out of the water and bringing them back to their families. His immediate courage and faith put into action saved their lives.

“I’ve had so many opportunities to apply my faith,” Caesar says, “faith that God is in control.” For Caesar, this faith is not just an idea from the classroom or the pulpit, but something that is alive and real. He knows that we see Christ through our friends and the people around us, and the little things that happen in life make our faith more real. It is time to move on from Olympic diving, Caesar decided, but as he looks ahead to graduation and career he knows that service will always be a part of who he is.

The Challenge is ours

The college academic all-star team demonstrates that by excelling in our schoolwork, we can gain the knowledge and confidence to more effectively put our faith and charity into action.  Both Rachel and Caesar recall that the greatest virtue is charity, and they want to make it a defining part of their lives.

At times our school work may seem boring or overly difficult.  During these times it would be good to remember some of the college all-stars and how they use their education to help others in creative and effective ways.  We also don’t have to wait for college.  Today and right now we are all learning things that can help improve the lives of others. It is up to us to find these opportunities and to then decide to be generous with the knowledge and talents God has given us.

Bible Blurbs

There are in the end three things that last: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:7,13)

“Be assured, then, that faith without works is dead as a body without breath.” (James 2:26)

“This is how all will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Catechism Clips

2447: The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God

2444: The Church’s love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition.” This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to “be able to give to those in need.” It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty.

Pope Quotes

“ …the happiness to which we aspire cannot be obtained without an effort and commitment on the part of all, no one excluded, and the consequent renouncing of personal selfishness.”

“The wounds of humanity cannot leave us indifferent; we must heal, console and care for the multitudes of suffering individuals and peoples.”

” Indeed, the new evangelization starts with us, with our lifestyle. The Church today does not need part-time Catholics but full-blooded Christians.”

Saints and Heroes:

Blessed Alcuin

Blessed Alcuin was a man from England who brought a system of education to the empire of the great Charlemagne. Born in to a noble family in 735, he attended a cathedral school where he drew attention from the headmaster for his academic excellence and strong faith. He was given special attention in his instruction, and eventually became the director of the school. He met the emperor of Europe, Charlemagne (Charles the Great), when returning from a trip to Rome, and was asked to share his education with the entire empire. Knowing that the faith would be spread easier if people knew how to read and write, Alcuin established a system of schools connected to monasteries and churches for the common people to go to learn. He also educated the future leaders of the empire in his schools. He helped to bring Europe out of the Dark Ages, fought errors in the faith, and invented cursive writing. He died in 804.

Saint Edith Stein

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) was born into a Jewish family in Germany in 1891. She had a great academic aptitude, and studied philosophy under some of the most important intellectual leaders of her time. Her ardent search for truth and the example of some Christian friends eventually led her to the writings of St. Theresa of Avila, which prompted her desire to enter the Catholic Church and dedicate her life totally to God. She was baptized into the Church in 1922, and spent a number of years teaching and writing. From the moment of her entrance into the Church she had wanted to become a nun, but her spiritual adviser asked her to wait.  In 1933 she finally entered a Carmelite convent and took the name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. As Nazi Germany became more hostile to the Jews, she was transferred to Holland. However, the Nazis invaded neutral Holland and took Sr. Teresa out of the Carmel, sending her in a cattle car to the concentration camp. She died in the gas chambers in Auschwitz on August 9^th, 1942. She was canonized in 1998.

Virtues Highlighted

Charity – Supernatural charity: Love for God. Love of others from God’s point of view.

Human charity- Kindness, respect, and generosity towards others.

Compassion – Feeling of sympathy for the distress of others, with the desire to help them

Courage- The capacity to meet danger without giving way to fear; to have the courage of one’s convictions; to be willing to put one’s opinions into practice.

Discipline - Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.

Faith – belief and trust in God 

Fortitude – Inner strength that allows us to keep going in the midst of difficulties

Generosity -- Giving freely of our own possessions, time and or talent to someone else

Humility - Virtue that reminds us we do not know everything and that God can be trusted to guide us as a good Father.

Leadership – To inspire and motivate others in their conduct; to play a guiding role

Perseverance – Trying hard and continuously in spite of obstacles and difficulties 

Responsibility – Accepting and meeting the demands of our chosen duty in life. Being accountable for our actions.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you ever think that the classes you have now will be useful in helping others? What are some ways that we can dedicate ourselves to serve with the education we have received? How can you use your math to help others? Science? History? English? Other classes?
2. The bigger questions sometimes get put off because the answers are hard to live up to. Rachel was motivated by reflecting on what life is really about. What do you think is the most important thing in life? What does your faith say about this? Why does it help to focus on your life’s priorities?
3. Did you ever think about how Christianity first spread because of the charity that they lived among each other? What do you think of when you hear the word “charity”? Why is it such a powerful virtue?
4. What are the different ways that Caesar lived the virtue of charity? How many people did he affect in a positive way?
5. Many of these students did not plan far in advance the ways that they were going to serve others. They just went with some needs that they observed, and then solutions they were naturally interested in. What needs do we observe in our local community, our nation and country? Let’s also include things that every person needs, no matter where they come from and how much money they have.  What are some of the ways we could help with our talents, time and resources?
6. Many times when we have to get up early for school, or work on homework, it is hard to see education as a privilege. What are the “riches” that we get from education that we would be deprived of if we were not in school?
7. What happens if you have a lot of talents, but no generosity? What kind of person would you be?

Journal Writing

• Write about the one need you would like most to address.  Describe the need in detail, your plan for addressing the need, and the talents, time and / or resources you could devote toward addressing the need.  Also include a description of the challenges you will encounter in trying to address the need.  Finally, write out a specific timetable for beginning the project.  Remember that the need you focus on can be as local as within your own family or as distant as a need in a foreign country.
• We cannot imitate Christ’s life of service unless we really know what he was like. How well do you know Christ? Imagine that you are in one of the Gospel passages, and you meet him. What happens? What does he do? What does he say?

Acticities

• Ask students to read the USA Today profiles of the 20 all-star members and choose their favorite. Students can then write an explanation of why they chose their favorite all-star. In groups of three, they can explain to each other why they admire the different team members.
• Imagine that you are holding an academic all-star competition in your own school. On the board, come up with a list of attributes that would be important for the winner to have, and define them (What kind of grades, what extra-curricular activities, any specific characteristics?). Advanced classes can actually organize this competition, designing an application form with specific questions, picking judges, and arranging for school-wide recognition of the winners.
• Enlist the help of parents to organize a class service trip where students can be with needy people in a concrete and obvious way (soup kitchen, children’s hospital, nursing home, etc.). This can also encompass spiritual needs such as a catechesis group for younger children or a mission.
• Divide students into groups of four. Give each group a newspaper article which of medium length. Students read the article and try to identify the needs of the people involved. On a sheet of paper, they list all of the characters or groups that are involved in some way in the story. Under each character, they think of all the possible needs that person has. The students put a star by one of the needs that they could help solve. Together they think of a project proposal (hypothetical) that would address the need.

Resources

Catholic youth missionaries: http://www.ytm.org/

Catholic Student Organization at Auburn University:   http://www.auburncso.com

NCAA Life Skills: http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/champs-life_skills/index.html

Engineers without Borders:   http://www.ewb-usa.org/

Bridges to Community:   http://www.bridgestocommunity.org/

Profiles of College Academic All-star team:

http://mostviewednews.orb6.com/stories/usatoday/20050217/2005collegeacademicallstarsfirstteam.php

This past summer the Olympics gave us the opportunity to watch some of the greatest athletes in the world achieve success in a wide variety of sports. Many stood in the spotlight for their extraordinary athletic talents, and shone for the virtues they exhibited under pressure. One of these men, Jason Read of the United States men’s rowing team, had already demonstrated a great confidence and faith in himself in the September 11th rescue squad. However, the Olympics challenged him to take a step higher, to a deeper faith and confidence in God rather than himself.

The greatest day of this athlete’s life was not the day he lead his eight-man rowing team to win the Olympic gold. He had already celebrated a golden day in the Easter Vigil Mass of 2002 when he became Catholic. As the pacesetter at the head of the first-place team, Jason Read not only crossed the finish line first, but set an example of faith for all to follow.

The beginning of the training

In eighth grade, Read became interested in the powerful sport of rowing, and worked hard to play even though everyone thought he was too small to be a competitive rower. As an adult, he is only 6’1″, and weighs 180 lbs, while most rowers are bigger and heavier, but he has faith in himself: “I hate to lose, no matter what the endeavor. I will do everything in my power to win. Most of my rowing competition presupposes that because I’m small, I somehow won’t be able to beat them. You must have confidence in your skills and continually strive towards reducing or eliminating your own weaknesses.”

The terrorist attack of September 11th

Also as a young teenager, Read became interested in giving his time to help others, and volunteered with the Hopewell, New Jersey Fire Department at age 14. Two years later he was an emergency medical technician, and at 21 became the youngest person in his state to be chief of the rescue squad.

Only one hour outside Manhattan, Read’s life changed completely on September 11, 2001. He received one of the first calls after the first plane hit the Twin Towers, and raced to a command post to help coordinate 800 rescue workers, set up a field hospital, and finally go personally to Ground Zero to free the victims trapped below.

Along with many other 9/11 heroes Read worked for five days straight, stopping only once to sleep for eight hours at a hotel. He explains how this was possible: “In the face of entire shifts of firefighters killed in a matter of seconds, there was hope we would find people alive. Hope we would bring joy to a family that had loved ones missing. That kind of tenacity and gumption enabled many of the rescuers to work for days and days without sleep.”

The experience was so strong that Jason began to take a look at the meaning of his life on earth. What was the purpose of everything that he was doing, if he would not live forever? What was waiting for him after his death? “I had a sense of apathy about all things in the world that had meant so much to me,” he said, “Did I want to row anymore? Did I want to be chief of a volunteer rescue squad? What did it mean? All those people had been killed. Game over. Mortality became reality in a matter of seconds.”

The decision to become Catholic

Read already had a strong faith in himself, but now he knew that he needed a stronger faith in God. Even though he was not Catholic, the day after returning from Ground Zero he went to Mass. “It was emotional and revitalizing,” he said, “I prayed very hard -for the first time in my life.”

Father Tom Mullelly, chaplain of the Olympic rowing center at Princeton University, had been a friend of Jason’s. Now he helped the athlete in his search for a deeper faith. That next Easter, Jason experienced the hope of a real resurrection. He described this day as “one of the happiest days of my life. Fellowship, becoming Catholic as an adult and my uncanny ability to be relentlessly optimistic no matter how tumultuous and ugly life can be helped bring me back to life.” The confidence he had in himself had been shaken when he realized that he was not going to live forever, but it was replaced by something more steady, a confidence in God.

Family also played a key role of support, and Jason’s younger brother, Gunther, was baptized along with him. Jason’s faith became real and active in helping him live these relationships in a better way. “I’m a better brother, uncle and son. Now I understand how precarious life can be, how quickly things can change. And I am grateful for each and every moment.”

Victory on all fields

This spiritual victory went hand in hand with athletic success, and Read began to win medals and championships till the moment he earned the key seat in the Olympic team. However, even though he and his team’s victory is also the fruit of tremendous dedication and effort, Jason, like many other Olympic athletes, is grateful to God for his successes in sports. This does not mean that God makes some athletes win and the others lose. “Although prayer does not guarantee victory, it helps players put things in perspective and do all for God’s glory and not just their own” says Fr. Kevin Lixey, L.C. of the new Vatican sports department, “The virtue of gratitude, by which we recognize that all good things come from God, is both an act of humility as well as of praise and adoration.”

Jason was awarded the U.S. Rowing’s Man of the Year Award, but more important than what he did was why he did it. Before, he was rowing for himself, after his experience at Ground Zero and at the foot of Christ’s cross he learned to row for something besides himself. He rows for love of the sport, for love of his country, and for love of God who gave him the talents of an athlete. “After 9/11, I changed my approach to rowing. I no longer was fueled by vengeance and anger to beat other crews. My desire was to become the absolute best rower for America.” St. Paul says “Run so as to win (1 Corinthians 9:24),” but also emphasizes that any activity we do, if it is without love, is empty. Jason mastered both aspects, driving his team to win the gold while doing it not for himself, but for God.

Bible Blurbs

• “I do not think of myself as having reached the finish line. I give no thought to what lies behind but push on to what is ahead. My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me-life on high in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
• “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26
• “I myself am the living bread come down from Heaven. If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever.” John 6:51
• “Do you not know that in a  all the  , but only one gets the prize?  in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Saints and Heroes

Pope John Paul II

As a young man he had the dream of becoming a teacher, a writer, and an actor, but God had a bigger plan. During the tragic events of World War II and after the death of his father he felt the call to be a priest. His dedication and faith have eventually led him, to his own surprise, to be called to be a bishop, cardinal, and also the Pope, the visible head of our Catholic Church. He has often been called “God’s athlete” because of the millions of miles he has traveled to encourage his brothers in the faith in every part of the world, and because neither an assassination attempt nor numerous illnesses have stopped his efforts. During his time as our Holy Father he has helped in the fall of Communism, created the World Youth Days, and inspired thousands of young men to become priests. His deepest purpose is the new evangelization of the modern world. His rallying cry is: “Be not afraid!”

Edel Quinn

Born in Ireland. After a happy childhood she felt the call to be a contemplative nun, but the death of her mother obliged her to help care for her family for a number of years. Then tuberculosis (a sickness of the lungs) made it impossible for her to enter the convent. Nevertheless she consecrated herself privately to God and became very active in door-to-door evangelization in the poorest neighborhoods of Dublin through an organization called the Legion of Mary. In spite of her poor health she insisted with the leaders of the Legion of Mary that she wanted to go to Africa to spread this good work. She eventually received permission and worked tirelessly in as a lay missionary in spite of her poor and failing health. Her dedication and love resulted in much success in that continent.

Vocabulary

Confidence: Firm belief, trust

Faith: (In self) Confidence that one can do a good job.
(In God) Personal relationship with God. Trust in God’s love and readiness to do God’s will

Hope: (Human hope) Belief that what one desires can happen
(Theological hope) Confidence in God’s gift of eternal life, Confidence in God’s mercy

Humility: Freedom from pride and arrogance. A modest estimate of one’s own worth

Tenacity: Ability to persevere in the midst of difficulties

Fellowship: Friendship and encouragement of others with the same values. Christian friendship

Gratitude: Thankfulness. Ability to honor the help of God and others

Discussion Questions

1. What are the different moments when this story speaks about hope? Are they different kinds of hope? What are some examples of the difference between hope in other people, and hope in God?
2. What are the different moments when this story speaks about faith? Are they different kinds of faith? What are some examples of the difference between faith in other people, and faith in God?
3. Would you say that September 11th was a tragedy for Jason, or an important moment in his life? Why? What made it either negative or positive for him?
4. Was there something deeper that Jason discovered in the faith than just a solution to death? What was it?
5. What was the difference in the way that Jason played sports before and after September 11th? What were the things that motivated him before and after?
6. When athletes thank God for their triumphs, is it because he makes them win? Does he make the other people lose? If you lose during a game, does that mean that you did not pray as hard as the other person did?
7. Jason Read became Catholic, but it was more than just a name that he called himself. How can you tell that he began to live as a real Catholic? How did he live his Catholic faith in his daily life.
8. Let’s try to pick out some the key moments that God was working in Jason’s life. Let us try to imagine how God was trying to do something to help Jason and make him into a great person. What moments can you see in his life where God was working?
9. Does receiving Christ in the Eucharist give you confidence and hope? Does it push you to be better? Why? Is the Eucharist just a symbol of God or is it something more? What more?

Writing Activities

1. Try to imagine how God is working in your life right now. What are some things that have happened recently, either big or ordinary, that might be ways God is trying to help you become a better person, student, son or daughter, friend, Christian, etc.?
2. Do you thank God for the talents and successes he has given you, or do you forget? Take some time to write a thank you letter to God, for all of the things he has done for you recently, the happy moments, and the good things he has given you.

Resolution Ideas

• In small groups, look for other inspiring cases of Olympic athletes, how they lived different virtues in their games. Write a short biography on these athletes, picking out 2-3 virtues that they demonstrate, and present it to the rest of the class. Some examples might be: Mariel Zagunis, Cesar Garcia, the Iraqi soccer team, etc.
• Go to Mass as a class, and try to imagine what it was like for Jason in that first Mass where he “prayed like he never did before.” Invite the pastor or a local priest to the class to speak moments when he has seen the power of the faith in others. Students each write a paragraph to try to answer this question: “What’s so great about your Catholic faith?”
• As a class, brainstorm ways that an athlete can give credit to God in sports (if they have the chance to say some words after the game, wearing a medal in the game, doing a team prayer before the game, giving a good example, showing joy, showing dedication in training, congratulating and encouraging others, using good language, etc.). If there are enough students on one of the school sports teams, encourage them to start a trend in the team to remember to ask God’s help and thank him for the successes he brings.

Web Resources

More information on Olympic athletes:

http://www.usatoday.com

http://www.nbcolympics.com/index.html

Information on becoming Catholic:

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia.shtml