Oakland Athletics minor league prospect Grant Desme was on fire in 2009. He hit 31 homers and 89 RBIs with a .288 batting average in 131 games. Then he threw down an MVP performance in the Arizona Fall League, where some of baseball’s top AA and AAA prospects compete. In an unprecedented display of power during the 27 game season, Grant batted .315, hit a league-leading 11 homers, and drove in 27 runs! During an 11 game hitting streak from October 14-28, he hit 10 homers in 10 games.

This kind of success meant a move up to Class AA for the 2010 season, just two steps away from the Major Leagues. But with his chances of being a major league player now as real and close as the smell of his leather glove, Grant Desme shocked the baseball world. No, it wasn’t by crushing a home run or making a spectacular diving catch. He informed the Oakland Athletics that he was retiring at just 23 years old…

…to become a Catholic priest. People who didn’t know Grant may have thought this was a joke or a publicity stunt. However, Rob Fai, Assistant manager for the Oakland affiliate in Vancouver, BC, isn’t surprised about Grant Desme’s choice: “If you know Grant, the spiritual side of his life has always been a priority.”

Get in the Game

Gregory Grant Desme was born April 4, 1986, in Bakersfield, California. He attended Stockdale High School and was an all-area baseball selection his Junior and Senior year. “For my entire life, baseball’s been my life,” Grant told the LA Times. Like most young athletes, he grew up dreaming of being a professional player and one day being in the Hall of Fame.

It takes a serious amount of practice and dedication to reach this level in a sport, and growing up Grant devoted every available second he had to working on his baseball skills. In an interview with Catholic.org he said, “I could never get enough baseball in my life.”

After playing for San Diego State University, and later for California Polytech State University, he was drafted in the second round by the Oakland Athletics. He played the 2007 season for one of the A’s minor league teams, but was injured early in the 2008 season.

Time Out

Grant suffered a separated shoulder which allowed him to play only 2 games in 2008. For the first time since his childhood, he had to live life without baseball. He finally got to think about who he really wanted to be and what he really wanted out of life.

“My injuries were the biggest blessings that God’s ever given me,” he said, “[…]I’ve defined myself as a baseball player. When it was taken away, it was kind of an eye opener, a real shock. Either way, if I played in the big leagues and became a Hall of Famer, you never know when it’s going to end.”

Reading the Signals

During this time, Grant visited an order of priests called the Norbertines at St. Michael’s Abbey. During this time, he had a chance to pray undistracted. He got to see first hand what it meant to be a priest and a monk, and what life is like when you are wholly devoted to God. “I started doing some soul searching about who I was, and this is where it’s led me.” The monks at the Abbey lead a life of quiet and prayer, something Grant found refreshing compared to the circus parade of public attention in which a pro athlete lives. “I could see that being home,” he said.

Grant felt a pull in his heart; a deep sense that God was asking something of him. This is called a vocation. Not only did Grant feel this calling from God, but he truly in his heart felt the desire to follow it. He quickly knew this was where he would find his truest peace and happiness.

Bottom of the ‘09th

Grant made an interesting decision next. He wanted to leave baseball on a different note. It would mean one thing to leave for the priesthood after a year off from injury. But he wanted to try one more season of professional play before he made his decision final. Desme returned for the 2009 season, and as you read earlier, it was an incredibly successful one for him.

On his nationally syndicated radio show, Dan Patrick asked Desme if he had trouble concentrating on the game while having already made up his mind to become a priest. Grant answered, “I still had my job to glorify Him, to use it to the best of my abilities.” It took a lot of patience, discipline, and self-control to keep playing well while his mind was on the priesthood. He realized that we must do our very best at everything to give glory to God.

Now Grant felt he could peacefully make his decision. Knowing that he freely chose to walk away from a baseball career, in the midst of success and not injury, gave Grant the last bit of assurance he needed.

The Slugger Fires a Bombshell

On January 22, 2010, Desme publicly announced his change of plans. He had called Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane and told him that he would be retiring from baseball to enter a Catholic seminary in order to become a priest. Grant explained his choice to the LA Times, “I love the game but I aspire to higher things.”

Despite his recent professional success, Desme realized he wasn’t completely at peace as a baseball player. “Unfortunately this dream [of being a major league baseball player], as I became older, turned into more of an idol. I ate, drank, and slept baseball…”

During his season off, Grant had realized that his love of baseball had been competing with his love for God. Once he truly felt inspired to be a priest, Grant said it would have been selfish for him to keep playing baseball. “Baseball is a good thing,” Desme said. “But that felt selfish of me, when I felt that God was calling me more. It took awhile to trust that and open up to it and aim full steam toward him […]” he explained.

Training is Key

As physically challenging as Grant Desme’s road toward the Major Leagues has been, it’s prepared him for the challenges that he’ll meet in the priesthood. Grant is joining an Abbey where the priests are required to do lot’s of prayer, work, and private study. He’ll spend hours and hours of study and preparation for homilies and preaching. A priest’s day starts very early in the morning, and often he has to answer calls in the middle of the night, too. Along with his work at the Abbey, Desme may also be asked to perform additional jobs just like your parish priest: celebrating Mass, baptizing babies, weddings, funerals, and hearing confessions.

Right now in the United States, there is only roughly one priest per 1,600 Catholics. This number clearly shows that Grant has a lot of work ahead of him. He’ll need all of the patience, discipline, self-control, energy, and determination of a professional athlete in order to successfully meet the demands of his priestly duties.

When asked about having to start his “career” all over from the beginning, Grant said, “It’s about 10 year process of studying, so in reality, this is kind of a comparison. It’s like I’m re-entering the Minor Leagues.”

His Crowd of One

Professional athletes have a lot of opportunities to use their talent and public status to show God’s love to the world. Kurt Warner, Troy Palomalu, and Tim Tebow are all football stars who use their sports image as a platform to talk about God, and whose stories have appeared in other articles in Our Faith In Action®. You may have recently even seen Tim Tebow use his star power to put a personal pro-life commercial on TV during the Super-bowl XLIV. Grant himself had said that he could have given glory to God by playing baseball. So why would Grant Desme choose to give up his position of influence?

In his radio interview with Dan Patrick, Desme was asked if he thought he’d be able reach more people for God as a professional baseball player than a priest. “[God is] the one in control,” Grant answered, “and whatever He wants is going to be the best for me and for everyone else.” But it goes further than that.

Grant is not the first professional athlete we’ve seen forsake his career to follow God in this way. In the November 2008 Issue of Our Faith In Action®, we learned about Chase Hilgenbrink, a professional soccer player, who entered the seminary. Both men had very similar things to say about their experiences. When you get very close to God, you start to think like He thinks, and you begin to want what He wants. Once they had tasted that closeness to God, they truly wanted to be with Him and do His will more than anything else.

Grant Desme sums it all up very well: “I wanted to give my life completely to God for love, for everything He has done for me,” Desme said. “I’m very thankful for that. Something like this is very little in comparison to what he has done for me.”

You’re On Deck

We should be very happy for Grant. He has found something that all the money and fame in the world can’t provide. “Deep down, I think I knew it was the right decision,” Grant Desme said. “I can’t explain the peace and joy I’ve experienced from making it.”

We can learn a lot from Grant’s decision and the process he went through to make it. Not everyone is called to be a priest or a nun, but we all want to be happy and find peace. Grant found it by getting close to God, and allowing his heart to be drawn to what God wants. If we can do the same, God will lead us to that same place of peace and contentment.

The X-Games™ have always been the place where over-the-edge athletes throw down adrenaline-pumping stunts that blow the minds of spectators. Those who really excel at these death- defying sports often embrace a dark and murky culture of dissent, dissatisfaction, and dissing anything that resembles rules or conformity.

But a few of these dare-devils have been raising an uncomfortable stir. Sponsors and organizers are nail-biting over what fans will think when they learn their bad-boy, rebel heroes have embraced Christianity. In this lesson we’ll find out who some of them are, and how it happened…

x-treme biker

When motocross racing newcomer Brian Deegan won the1997 LA Coliseum Supercross, he astonished the crowd by hopping off his moving bike at the finish line. It launched riderless into the air. That was to be the first of many shocking stunts from Deegan that would rock the motocross world. The move was immediately banned by motocross authorities and racing rebel Brian Deegan found his bad boy niche.

Deegan was 12 years old when his parents divorced. He found a vent for his anger in dirt biking, and turned pro by age 17. He left small town Nebraska for Southern California, FMX headquarters, promising his father he would come back home and go to college if he didn’t make it.

Brian soon switched from motocross racing to freestyle motocross (FMX), which is more about stunts and tricks than riding laps. He soon joined up with other riders who wielded the same revulsion for authority. With Larry Linkogle, Deegan co-created the “Metal Mulisha”, an FMX team that would eventually compete and perform around the world.

In an interview with Phil Bartsch of the Courier Mail, an Australian newspaper, Deegan said “We formed the Mulisha because we wanted to have our own group of guys who stood up against the (motocross industry) establishment. We’re against people trying to make you do things you don’t want to do, like dress and look how you don’t want to look.”

The Mulisha became known for their raucous, destructive behavior, shaved heads, tattoos, wild parties and busted hotel rooms. Deegan chose a skull with a Nazi helmet for the Metal Mulisha emblem, marketing the symbol in a multimillion dollar clothing line.

x-treme talent

The X Games (formerly known simply as “X-treme Sports”) began to include Freestyle Motocross in 1999. Deegan has taken 3 Gold and 7 Bronze medals, competing in at least one X Games event annually.

He was the first ever to do a 360 in competition - an aerial back flip on the motorcycle while ramp jumping. The trick was named the “Mulisha Twist”. Deegan became internationally known for his willingness to invent new tricks risking everything to entertain an audience.

x-treme attitude

“For me, I would say my whole life was being a rebel; trying to form an image of this guy who has done a lot of sins, a lot of bad things. (I was) trying just to build a name - basically glorifying being a bad person…” Deegan goes on to express his growing emptiness he felt inside. “ I just was hurting the people I loved and doing the bad things.”

x-treme pain

The Metal Mulisha packed stadiums wherever they went. But ripping on a bike in FMX competition has the potential to rip the rider’s body as well as take his life. Like ancient gladiator games, spectators are as eager to see a crash as they are thrilled with a successful death-defying trick.

In May of 2005 Brian Deegan attempted a back flip for the MTV cameras filming Viva La Bam. He tried to slice through a 40 mph crosswind. The jump went bad. He took the handlebars in the gut, exploding his kidney, lacerating his spleen. He crash landed and writhed in pain on the ground.

x-treme promise

“In my head, I knew I was dying.” recalls Deegan. Rushed to hospital, the surgeon told him that he might not make it. Then and there he made a promise to God. “That was the final moment when I said, ‘You know what? If I live through this, I am going to fully follow Christ.’”

The day after his surgery, his wife Marissa fueled his desire to live by announcing that she was pregnant with their second child.

x-treme change

In an interview with Chris Palmer of ESPN Magazine Deegan said, “ That was be being a dumb kid. I tried to uphold an image and shock people. We had to be gnarly all the time. When I realized how stupid that was, people called me a sellout. But I didn’t owe them anything.” He also said, “It took me years to realize that I was a [expletive removed] idiot. It took me another 2 years to get away from it.”

True to his promise, as soon as he recovered he found a church for his family to attend and began opening up his home for a bible study and faith sharing for his biking brothers.

x-treme influence

Soon other members of the Metal Mulisha joined Deegan in his search for God. “I was able to bring Jeremy Lusk into our bible study. Twitch was in our bible study, just our close friends that we really cared about and it started to grow.”

They started taking heat for expressing their Christian faith in a culture that despises religion. But they found strength to stand up for their beliefs in each other. “I think the main thing,” said Deegan, “ is finding people that you can associate with. I continued to grow. Through that, we (all) really started to learn about God and the bible. That was pretty much how our walk started advancing.

x-treme loss

Jeremy Lusk was one of Deegan’s closest friends and a teammate, and he had recently been baptized. On February 9, 2009, while performing a back flip trick called the “Hart Attack” at a show in Costa Rica in front of thousands of motocross fans, he crashed and crushed his skull. The Metal Mulisha were devastated, but continued in their public outpouring of faith.

x-treme wake-up

“At this point, I’d say Jeremy Lusk passing away - you know I see my best friend, and just seeing him laying there – you know after he passed, down there in Costa Rica, I was just like, you know what? I go, this has to be the strongest awakening for me going, ‘You better figure it out, you better just follow Christ from this day on.’ It just really made me see how short that life can be and you don’t know what is going to happen the next day, and so why not live your life to where when you’re gone, you can be like, ‘Man, I lived the best life I could possibly live. I affected people in a positive way.’

x-treme witness

Deegan, when asked about his making his faith public, told The New York Times, “In the end I said, ‘who’s more radical than us?’ Everything we do is full-on. Once we went to church, we were full-on Christians, too. And we’re going to go for it. On the mic, I’ll say it. On TV, say it. The next thing you know, I have way more people pumped on me.”

So many fans began to question what it meant to give one’s life to Christ that Brian Deegan was moved to share his faith with his fans in an interview posted on YouTube called “Faisst Pastor PJ and Deegan Gospel” part 1 and part 2.

x-treme struggle

Brian De­­agan spends a lot of time up in the air flipping motorcycles. But his life is becoming grounded in Christ. He strives to be a better person with God’s grace. “You know we had our ups and downs. We have done a lot of bad stuff and it still happens. I am still a sinner, I’ll admit it. I have my moments. I’m not happy for the things I’ve done. I feel bad the next day and I don’t want to do it again. The thing is, I am trying to become a better person, a better dad, a better husband, a better friend.

x-treme sacrifice

X-treme motocross has something in common with the real Cross. When an FMX biker, rally car racer, or any other extreme sport athlete performs, they offer every bit of themselves to their sport. Risking great injury and maybe even death, they pour it all out on the altar of that dirt track; to feed their fans hunger for a rush, and to gain their prize: the medal, respect, and money.

When such radical people come face to face with the intense, “full-on” love, giving, and selfless sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross (and we witness at Mass), they have a deep understanding of what it takes to do that. They get it, they respect it, and want to follow it.

God’s love for us, and giving that love to others, is the missing element that they were searching for but could never satisfy with an adrenaline high. Their desire to be unique is answered by Christ’s individual love for each of us. And as they continue their Christian walk, they find themselves more radical and different than ever before.

God, our Father, we know that every good gift comes down from you. Teach us to always place the greatest importance on what matters most to you. Amen.

The Super bowl XLIII match-up between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburg Steelers showcased two players who have distinguished themselves as men who see the bigger game, beyond the hype. Though they were rivals on the field, off the field Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, share common ground in their Christian faith. In this lesson we will take a brief look at their faith and their values.

For Troy Polamalu, who plays safety for the Pittsburg Steelers, the 2009 Super Bowl was his second time playing in the “big game”. In 2006, Polamalu helped the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. He knows what it’s like to perform under pressure. He has achieved the kind of success that most amateur and even many pro football players will only dream about.

Polamalu normally deflects praise and attention, always reminding others that giving glory to God is more important. In a 2006 article for Catholic Online, Troy states that “success in football doesn’t matter. Success in anything doesn’t matter. As Mother Teresa said, God calls us not to be successful but to be faithful. My prayer is that I would glorify God no matter what, and not have success be the definition of it.”

Troy has dealt with adversity. He was the youngest of five children. Suila, his mother, had to raise all of them alone; on welfare, and in a rough section of Los Angeles. His older brother and sisters were already in a lot of real trouble in high school. “I was just a little hood-rat, walking around parks by myself, hanging out with homeless guys…”

When he was eight years old, Troy’s family visited their uncle and his family in Oregon. It seemed beautiful and serene there compared to the streets of L.A. Even though he was young, Troy saw a chance at a better life. At the end of the visit, he begged his mom to let him stay there. Realizing that this was a better environment for her child, she gave permission.

He loved living with his Uncle Salu, Aunt Shelley, and their three sons. From them he learned about his Polynesian culture; especially, their traditional reverence for family, faith, and personal responsibility. Troy attended Catholic school, and he discovered the power of prayer and dialogue with God at a young age. He developed a deep, personal relationship with God as his true Father. “The beautiful thing about the way I was raised is that I didn’t really have parents, and in that way I had to rely on God.”

Troy defines faith in one word: surrender. “It’s knowing in your heart that God will take care of you… We all have to struggle to overcome our adversities…When Jesus was on the cross, he didn’t say, ‘Father in heaven, He said ‘Daddy.’ This is an intimate relationship. This isn’t praying to the unknown.”

Theodora, Troy’s wife, belongs to the Greek Orthodox Christian church. While they were dating he asked her a lot of questions about her beliefs. As he fell in love with her, he fell in love with her faith. When they got married, Troy passionately embraced her practice of faith. They attend weekly Mass (they prefer to call it Divine Liturgy). He is described by others as a “soft-spoken, Christian family man.”

Troy prays daily, and he says that should be true of every Christian. He also prays during his games, both on the sidelines and after each play. Those who have watched him on TV may remember seeing him make the sign of the cross, a trademark he is happy to bear. To some of us it may seem he makes it backwards, but Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians still follow an old tradition of blessing their right shoulder first.

Troy does not spend his free time hanging out with his teammates, studying replay tapes, or watching games; he spends his time with his wife and their new son, Paisios. “Football is, for me, it’s something I do. It’s like [being] a reporter. It’s what you do, not who you are. Football does not define me. How I am with my faith and how I treat my wife is what truly defines [me] as a man. That is my goal in life: to live that way and believe in it.”

Many players and writers comment about how humble and unselfish Troy is. When he is not able to make a big play, he does whatever he can to help his teammates make one. In this particular Super Bowl game, Troy didn’t play the most outstanding game. He spent most of the game quietly helping to cover the Cardinals’ star receiver, Larry FItzgerald. This kept him out of the limelight and action; but he did his part humbly, and for the first three quarters of the game Fitzgerald had only one catch.

The Steelers won 27-23 in what turned out to be one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory, and they set a new record as the only NFL team to win six Super Bowls.

During his post game interview, Troy had his son Paisios on his knee. “It’s a blessing,” he said about winning the game. “I don’t know how much he (his infant son) will remember, but he’ll have two rings in his vault, and, God willing, maybe more. He’s speechless right now as you can see.”

Troy has said he loves playing for the Steelers, because they are a hard working, family owned and family friendly team.

“I hope [winning the most Super Bowls] can be an example to people. It’s a legacy that’s not built on pride. It’s a legacy that’s built on humility and unselfishness.”

Just a few days before the Super Bowl, the teams met with the press for what is called media day. During his interview time, Troy took this opportunity to publicly acknowledge one of his opponents who also uses Super Bowl stardom to share his faith in Jesus:

Read the next article from this issue, about Kurt Warner.

(Play Hard, Pray Harder, Pt. 2)

Go back and read Pt. 1 here…

Cheshire High School Football Rams

Another struggle

Prayer is also part of another struggle, although perhaps not as dramatic and personal as a vocation to the priesthood.

The Cheshire, Connecticut public high school has a football team that has been struggling to make the playoffs this season.

Prayer warriors

Some of players from the players from the team, including the star quarterback, Billy Ragone, have revived an old tradition of one of the team’s past quarterbacks. They meet to pray the rosary before each game.

They find that praying together helps unite them and gives them confidence in the struggle.

Our Faith In Action was able to meet these players and ask them a few questions. The interview will soon be posted on YouTube and on our website. Here is some background about their prayer tradition.

The star comes back

Steve Bowman was the star quarterback at Cheshire High in the 1993 and 1994 seasons. During that time the team was undefeated, was state champions both years, and in 1993 was even ranked number one in New England.

Steve is Catholic, and since a young age had always felt that his faith was very important to him. He would never miss Mass on Sunday and tried to pray on his own a bit each day.

He found that praying with Mary before each game gave him a greater confidence and an awareness that, no matter what happened, God was always his friend. He could face winning or losing with that awareness, and was able to focus better on just living the moment.

Cheshire team fighting for the win. Photo Joe Izzo

Steve came back to Cheshire after college and married Alicia, a beautiful girl he had known when they studied together at Cheshire High. He also volunteered as an assistant coach at the school. The school was proud to have the past star back, so as to mentor the new players. One of his jobs is to train the quarterbacks.

Through a lot together

One of the boys he has mentored since he was a freshman is quarterback Billy Ragone. Billy, co-captain Tom Acamora, and senior running back Tim Flood have been through a lot with Steve over the last four years.

Steve was diagnosed with a brain tumor when Billy and his buddies were sophomores. The boys stayed close to Steve during that time and often joined him in prayer. Alicia was also a true rock for Steve during this trial and shared many prayers and tears with him. Yet Steve had great peace in the midst of this trial, a peace he attributes to prayer. After about a year of uncertainty and treatment, Steve was given the heads up: he has been cancer-free for the last two years.

Billy and the team

Meanwhile, Billy and his team have been improving. They have also been getting noticed, especially Billy, but Billy says he is only trying to help the team.

Still, Billy stats are impressive. He plays quarterback, free safety, and, recently, he also does the extra point and field goal kicking. He has scored 23 rushing touchdowns this season, 13 passing touchdowns, with a total offensive yardage gained of 2,952 yards. He also has 9 points on field goals and extra points, and has 4 interceptions as a free safety, and 44 total tackles.

He is considered the best player in Connecticut this year, and is being recruited by a number of major colleges. His dream is to play for an Ivy League school, because he also wants to study business.

Big game This Week

The Cheshire team was favored to win its league this year, but the team had two heartbreak losses in close games at the beginning of the season. Since then, the guys have won every game. Their last game of the regular season is November 26. If they win this one, they have made the playoffs.

Cheshire cheerleaders. Photo by Ruth Trott

Discovering something BIGGER

Will the guys be praying before the game this week? You bet they will!

But it looks like, win or lose, they will keep praying. They have discovered something together. Prayer gives you power. It doesn’t guarantee that you win, but it gives you the power to struggle, confident that God is your friend. And that is the biggest victory.

Bible Blurbs

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”

(Luke 11:9)

“As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook.”

(Acts 4:31)

“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened. There was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. “

(Acts 16:25)

“This then is what I pray … so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God.”

(Ephesians 3: 1, 19)

Pope Quotes

“What matters most is that you develop your personal relationship with God. That relationship is expressed in prayer…

Your personal prayer… brings you closer to God and also prepares you to serve others. … We can begin to imagine the path of love along which we must move…

Do you leave space to hear God’s whisper, calling you forth into goodness? Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, and adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey.”

(Pope Benedict XVI, April 19, 2008, Papal Youth Rally, Yonkers, NY)

Catechism Clips

2560 Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.

2562 It is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture most often speaks of the heart. According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays.

2563 The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live. It is the place “to which I withdraw.” The heart is the place of decision. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation; it is the place of covenant.

2567 As God gradually reveals himself and reveals man to himself, prayer appears as a reciprocal, a covenant drama. Through words and actions, this drama engages the heart.

Saints & Heroes

Strength for a New Adventure

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St Joseph
(Entered Heaven January 4, 1821)

Elizabeth was one of those rare girls of delicate beauty and extraordinary culture. She was born an Episcopalian, but prayed her way into the Catholic Church. Her family was on the inside of the early American “aristocracy.” Educated at all the right schools, she moved as easily among New York’s elite as she did among visiting European dignitaries.
She married “well,” as they say, after losing her parents and a sister during her early years. She and her husband William had five children, but financial difficulties aggravated William’s weak constitution. On the advice of doctors, Elizabeth brought her husband to Italy, hoping that the milder climate would do him good. Soon after their arrival, he died. She stayed in Italy a while with a family of faithful Catholics who were financiers of international repute.
The months she spent in Italy gave her an opportunity to experience the beauty of Catholic Mass and prayer, and she began learning about Catholic doctrines like that of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. By the time she returned to New York, she was already falling in love with the Catholic Church.
Of course, this didn’t go over well with her family and friends, nor with her Episcopalian pastor. She entered a period of loneliness and confusion, and turned more and more to prayer and study to discover God’s will for her.
Finally, with her doubts resolved, she was confirmed in the Catholic Church, and soon after began fulfilling her dream of educating the young Catholics of America. She was invited to Baltimore to start her first school and lay the foundations for a religious order that would carry on her work after she died.
She suffered much in those years, especially from the loss of three of her children through painful sicknesses, but now she had Christ in the Eucharist to give her naturally iron willpower a supernatural boost (she was granted the uncommon – at that time – privilege of receiving Holy Communion daily).
Her community, the Sisters of Charity of St Joseph eventually had 7000 members serving parishes, orphanages, and hospitals throughout the fifty states. (Source: CollegeCompass.org)

Not Dead Yet…

St Abraham Kidunaia
(entered heaven sometime in the sixth century)

Abraham Kidunaia grew up in Iran (before it was called Iran). As a young man he decided to leave a promising future and dedicate himself exclusively to God in a radical way. He went out into the desert and lived in a cave with a minimum of possessions. For years he dedicated himself to prayer and sacrifice.
Nearby there was a city inhabited solely by non-Christians who lived very badly. They had resisted every attempt at accepting the Christian message. The bishop of the diocese was distressed about these souls, and asked Abraham to emerge from his hermitage in order to minister to them. Reluctantly, the saint agreed. He was ordained and sent to the iniquitous city.
Of course, no one paid any heed when he arrived, and he was shocked by their abominable practices. He then asked the bishop to have a church erected in the middle of the town, which was done. He spent a night in prayer, and then went all through the city, smashing the idolatrous altars and the vain idols.
The townspeople were furious. They beat him violently and drove him out of the city. That night he snuck back in and was found praying in the church when the sun came up. As the people began their daily labors, he emerged and started preaching in the streets, urging them to give up their false religion. This time the villagers dragged him out of the city, stoned him, and left him for dead.
He wasn’t dead, though. And as soon as he regained consciousness, he went back in and kept on preaching. This pattern continued for three years. For three solid years he prayed and tried to evangelize these stubborn pagans, and for three solid years they violently opposed him.
Finally, however, his patience and meekness wore them down, and God softened their hearts. Eventually everyone in the town was baptized, and Abraham stayed on for another year, instructing them in the faith every day. When they were sufficiently grounded, he sneaked back into his hermitage and the bishop sent other ministers to tend his recovered flock.
God is counting on you to keep on trying. In the end, he will grant the victory in his own wise way. (Source: CollegeCompass.org)

Discussion questions:

1. Do you think Chase would have laughed at you if you told him he would be a priest when he was a boy? What events in his life caused him to go deeper in his relationship with Christ?
2. Do you think keeping your faith in college is easy today? What might be some of the challenges to living the faith be in college? How would you handle this? What strategies would you use?
3. Do you think going to Chile was a real test for Chase? What elements got him through the change? What did he discover about himself and about God in this new situation?
4. Do you think Chase is happier and more fulfilled now that he is living his vocation to the priesthood than when he was playing soccer? Do you think he still likes soccer? 
5. How does prayer help us to discover a deeper happiness in our lives? What does it teach us?
6. Is the work of a priest important? In what ways might the world would be different if there were no priests? 
7. How does praying with others bring us closer together? Are people that pray together stronger in difficulties? Why?
8. Do you ever pray the rosary as a family? Would you be willing to begin praying a decade of the rosary (One Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be) with your parents each day during Advent as a way to pray for strength in your life?
9. How can prayer get us through the difficult times in life? What does prayer teach us about our real goals in life?

Activities:

• Conduct a prayer mission. Split up into groups of two or three and visit homes in your area or visit a mall or a popular local walking trail. Everyone in each group should wear the same t-shirt, maybe with a religious or Christian message, and a cross. Each group can approach a home or a passer-by and introduce themselves as part of a Catholic youth group. They should ask each person they meet to join them in a short prayer for peace in families and homes. The prayer should be very short, maybe the length of one Our Father. They can also write down the person’s prayer intentions and offer a special time when they will pray for these intentions
• Send a text message to your friends once a day for a week, inviting to make five minutes for God today. Offer to pray for their intentions and ask them if they have any in particular.

Debate (Choose one theme)

• Priesthood is stupid. We should get rid of it.
• People who pray are cowards. It only shows weakness and lack of self-confidence.
• Sports are dumb. People should do better things with their time.

Journal Writing

1. Write a letter to this imaginary friend: One of your friends says she no longer believes in God because she asked God to keep her parents together, but they divorced anyway. Write a letter to her and show her that you care about her and want to always stay her friend. Tell her about your faith in God and how God helps you when there is pain and suffering in your life. Invite her to develop a personal prayer life and tell her what you do in prayer. See if you can find a way to help her take some concrete steps in prayer, like asking her if she would like it if she would like to pray with you sometimes. Share any of your other thoughts on how God is there for us even in suffering and uncertainty. 
2. Write a prayer to God, thanking him for some of the joyful things in your life. Ask his help to be a person who brings joy to others.

Virtue Verification

Confidence: firm belief; trust; the fact of being or feeling certain; assurance

Faith: trust in God; personal relationship with God; belief in what God has revealed

Goal: an end that one strives to attain; aim; Our true goal in life as Christians is to know, love, and serve God, and to be happy with him forever in heaven.

Grace: a special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God 

Mentor: to advise or coach

Mission: The special task or purpose to which a person is called in life; calling

Passion: strong or compelling enthusiasm or drive for something

Peace: One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Peace results from awareness of God’s goodness and love; knowing that God is with us and that he makes all things work together for good. Peace is inner calm in the midst of difficulties and trials. 

Prayer: the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2559) Respect: to feel or show honor or esteem for; hold in high regard; to consider or treat with deference

Struggle: to make one’s way with difficulty

Unite: to bring together in common cause

Vocation: a call or summons from God to live a certain mission or to enter a certain path of life, esp. a religious one

Resources used for this Lesson:

• ESPN article on Chase Hilgenbrinck.




• Hartford Courant article on Billy Ragone: “Cheshire’s Ragone Does It All”, Oct 16, 2008.




• Cheshire Football website. 




• Pope Benedict XVI’s speech to American young people, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, April 16, 2008.

Chase Hilgenbrinck playing for the New England Revolution

Prayer and Power

Prayer has power. It can change our lives. It can make us capable of doing what we had never imagined. In this lesson we will look at two examples of prayer and the impact prayer has on our lives.

Giving it all up

He had it all: a promising sports career, a pretty girlfriend, an exciting future. And he has left it all. For God. For others.

His name is Chase Hilgenbrinck. This summer he left his professional soccer team, the New England Revolution, in order to enter a seminary. Chase is preparing to become a Catholic priest. Let’s look at some highlights of Chase’s life and how prayer has opened him up to a bigger mission.

Seeds of faith and sports

Chase grew up in Catholic family in Illinois. When they were boys, Chase and his older brother Blaise were altar servers at their parish. Blaise liked serving Mass. Chase did not.

Chase serving as an altar boy… Not always his favorite activity… (Photo: Miike Hilgenbrinck)

They both liked sports, however, especially soccer. And they were good at soccer, so good in fact that they had to give up serving Mass, much to Chase’s delight, because they were on travel teams that spent most weekends out of town.

Their parents accompanied them to all the games, but also taught them that God is the most important person in their lives.

Chase and his parents after a recent game at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary. (Photo: Mike Hilgenbrinck)

Surprise discovery

Soccer was Chase’s passion. He and his brother improved each year. Yet when he was a junior in high school, something special happened in his relationship with Christ.

He went on a weekend retreat with his parish youth group. God was waiting for Chase in that retreat. Somehow, through the talks, prayer, and activities Chase found a new relationship with Christ. He found Christ as a personal friend. Not everything changed in Chase’s life, but something new was definitely happening.

Soccer excitement

Chase made the US National 17 & Under team. (Photo: Mike Hilgenbrinck)

In high school, Chase made the United States 17-under national team. He began to travel even more.

Chase and his older brother Blaise both ended up playing division 1 soccer in college. Chase played at Clemson University, where he was a three year starter, playing on the same defensive line as future U.S. senior national team fixture Oguchi Onyewa.

The light bulbs come on

Often the values of faith are challenged in college. It was no different for Chase. But in fact college became a time of growth for Chase.

“I was away from my family for the first time. I no longer had to go to Mass, no longer had to practice any faith if I didn’t want to. But just out of habit, I continued to go. And actually, the light bulbs came on, and I realized what my faith was, what the Church was all about. I was paying attention in Mass. I started to have a passion for Scripture. That was the time I truly made the faith my own.”

New adventure

When he finished college Chase was hoping he would be drafted into a major league soccer team in the United States, but that did not happen. A coach suggested that he could probably play soccer in Latin America, and put him in contact with some teams in Chile.

Chase moved to Chile to try out for a team called Huachipato. He spent four seasons in Chile, with three different clubs, and grew to become a star player.

Lonely beginning

But the beginning of his professional career was tough. For the first six months in Chile he did not even have a contract. He was unwelcome by his teammates, because they saw him as competing for their jobs. He did not speak the language and had little or no friends.

Strength from passion & faith

But he had passion and he had faith. His passion was soccer. His faith was in God’s friendship.  He threw himself into his soccer training, yet he had plenty of free time after the practices and games.

He started to use some of the extra time to go to church and pray quietly in front of the Blessed Sacrament. There he found real peace and true friendship. He started to talk to Christ while he played. He talked with him at other times during the day as well.

Success

Little by little his career began to flourish. He started getting noticed, and he helped lead his new team, a team called Nublense, from second division to first division. Then in first division Chase improved even more and became a key player, well known on the national scene.

He also found a pretty girlfriend and, even though the relationship was not too serious, he started to think in depth about who he was going to marry.

A new horizon opens

But, as he found success on the field and in friendship, something else was happening. He felt the desire to excel in something even greater than soccer. He began to think about bigger goals.

These thoughts scared Chase, but he could not put them away. What mission did he have in life, besides soccer and marrying the girl of his dreams?

The thought of the priesthood started to surface. He immediately put up a lot of mental barriers. Still, the question would not leave him, so he started to bring it to prayer.

Struggle

For two and a half years he struggled with the question of his vocation, yet the thought of the priesthood kept getting more attractive. He found himself praying about his vocation even when he was playing.

One day he finally realized that all the barriers had come down. He was given the grace to really want to become a priest. The change had happened slowly. God had quietly, respectfully won over his heart.

The other part of finding out

But Chase knew that, even though he had kept his struggle private, the priesthood is not a private vocation. He needed the advice and help of a priest who had experience.

Chase prays with teammates & opponents after helping to win the Rector’s Cup at the seminary. (Photo: Christian Kendzierski/Mt. St. Mary’s)

So he contacted the vocation director of his diocese, Fr. Brian Brownsey. After a few, very long phone conversations, they both agreed that Chase could apply for acceptance to the diocese. Chase filled out a series of written answers and required essays about his life and sent them to Fr. Brian. Then he had to schedule a time to visit personally with Fr. Brian and do some in-person examinations.

Home

About that time, Chase reached another goal in his soccer career. American teams began to inquire about him. He decided to move back to the States and try his luck with the MLS.

When Chase went home at Christmas 2007, he met with Fr. Brian and also did the in-person interviews and tests to determine whether he might be accepted. He not only was accepted for entrance to the seminary, but he also was given a contract with an American soccer team while he waited for seminary life to begin.

Chase playing for the New England Revolution just before he entered the seminary

Chase played for a few months for the New England Revolution, and began to get noticed here in the States. Then came the surprise: he announced that he was leaving soccer to become a priest.

The REAL excitement begins

His announcement made headlines all over the world, but Chase is no longer interested in headlines. He just wants to be a priest, a good priest. The rest was fun, but this is truly exciting. This time, as a priest, he will be playing for keeps. The souls he wins for Christ will be the real winners. They will be with God for all eternity.

Gotta study your Latin before you check the MLS scores! (Photo: Kieran Darcy)

Let’s pray for Chase and for all those called to the priesthood. Let’s also pray that each of us lives our own personal vocation to the full.  Prayer gives us power to do that.

Celebrating the victory with seminary classmates (Photo: Christian Kenzierski/ Mt. St. Mary

Click HERE to read Part 2: Prayer, Struggle, and Victory

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

He is the number one soccer player on the globe. He has had thousands of adoring fans since he was a teenager. Now his fans number in the millions. In this lesson we will look at soccer sensation Kaka’. We will try to understand a bit more about his life and his values.

Champion

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos, better known as Kaka’, was born in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil on April 22, 1982. He presently plays for AC Milan in Italy. Even though he is only 26 years old, he has already won every award he dreamed of as a boy.

His accomplishments include leading his junior and senior teams to win Brazil’s soccer championship, being a member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup Champion team, leading his Italian team to both national and international championships in 2004 and 2007, and being awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year for 2007. In May his AC Milan team just clinched another Italian championship.

For the Team

Even though Kaka’ scores many brilliant goals himself, those who really know soccer are most impressed by his unselfish play. He actually prefers playing in a support role (at midfield) rather than in the lead scoring position. He drives defenses crazy with his ability to do everything well: stealing the ball, dribbling, creating plays for others (passing and assists), and hitting deadly shots on goal under pressure. His quick smile shows he considers it aprivilege to play sports for a living.

More than a flashy smile

But Kaka’ is not the typical superstar. He does not flaunt his success and good looks. In fact, he continues to surprise the world by a different set of values, values that he learned in his family and through his faith.

He comes from a close and loving family. His nickname was given to him by his younger brother when they were children. Kaka’ continues to be proud of his little brother. In fact he used his first paycheck as a professional player to help pay for his brother’s education. His dream is that one day his brother can play beside him.

Finding Faith Young

Kaka’ s family is deeply Christian. They are evangelical Christians. Kaka’ claims his faith is what really makes him happy. He was baptized when he was 12 years old (normal in his evangelical church), and says that moment in particular helped him in his relationship with Christ.

“When I was baptized in 1994, something supernatural happened to me. I cannot explain it, but after that experience I got closer to God, more in tune with Him. At that moment I was really born spiritually. I began to know God more in depth, and I’ve learned that faith works within the limits of circumstances. I began having a Father to son relationship with God.”

Catholics Can Do It Too

As Catholics, our baptism, our First Communion, our Confirmation, our personal prayer time, our participation in Sunday Mass, and the many times we receive the sacrament of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) all help us live this type of relationship with God and deepen it as we grow. Like Kaka’, we should all have moments when our relationship with Christ grows, just as our heart and our intelligence grow as we mature.

Discovered

Like most Brazilian boys, Ricardo had been playing soccer since he could walk. He was discovered at a very young age. He was eight years old when he was invited to be part of the boys’ teams of Sao Paulo FC, one of the country’s most prestigious soccer clubs. He turned semi-professional when he was 15, not unusual for a soccer star in Brazil, and eventually led his youth team to the national championship. He made his debut in Brazil’s top professional league when he was 18.

Tragedy Stalks

But tragedy almost seemed to end his career when he was 18. He was at a water park while visiting his grandparents and fell from a water-slide. He broke a vertebra (a disc in his back) as he hit the bottom of the pool. Doctors said the fracture should have paralyzed him permanently. They said he was lucky even to walk. Remarkably, after a year, he made a full recovery, and came back to lead his team to the championship.

Kaka’ and his family have always seen his recovery as a sign of God’s mercy. “They (the doctors) were talking about luck and my family was talking about God. Back at home we always thanked God because we knew that it was His hand that had saved and protected me.”

This is one of the reasons Ricardo always raises his hand to the sky after he scores a goal. He knows that without God’s help, he would not be where he is. He recognizes that his success is a gift from God, a gift he can acknowledge or a gift he can misuse.

The Soccer Star and Courtship

Another area where Kaka’ shows his faith is by his Christian commitment to chastity. He believes deeply in what the Bible teaches about the true meaning of marriage.

Ever since he was a boy, Ricardo had always felt the beauty and attraction of marriage, and often prayed that God would lead him to the right girl. When he was 19, and already a professional soccer player, his dad introduced him to Caroline. Caroline was the daughter of a friend of his father. She was also a committed Christian. And she was very pretty.

But deeper than her beauty, Kaka’ saw something special in Caroline, something that brought out the best in him. Caroline became his best friend. They would talk often, and they would spend a lot of time with each other’s families. But there was something else they shared: a Christian commitment to chastity.

Their courtship lasted four years, and had to endure two years of separation, because Kaka’ went to play in Italy after their first two years together.

During those last two years, 2003-2005, they set rules about how they would stay faithful to each other. Kaka’ says he and Caroline considered this time as very important: “It allowed our love to mature and be tested.”

Italian Surprise

Even though Kaka’ was already a star in Brazil, it was expected that he would only play a minor role his first year in Italy. Kaka’ was hired for a team that already had several international superstars, including fellow Brazilian, Rivaldo, who had been the top scorer in the 2002 World Cup.

But something happened when Kaka’ hit the field in Italy in 2003. His magical passes and brilliant shots could ignite the team to victory. Much to his surprise, within a few months he became the acknowledged leader on the field, and Rivaldo, unselfishly, became his proud advisor. That year AC Milan won the Italian league and the European Super Cup.

Worth the Wait

After two years of separation, Caroline and Kaka’ were married. Their wedding was on December 23, 2005. Last month Caroline gave birth to their first child. Talking about their commitment to chastity before marriage, Kaka’ comments, “The Bible teaches that true love waits until marriage. If our life today is so beautiful, I think it is because we waited.”

Others on the Radar

Another value that is important to Kaka’ is helping others. He often does promotion for charitable causes, even at great sacrifice of his time.

Among the many causes he supports, one is the fight against world hunger. In 2004, at age 22, he became the youngest Ambassador Against Hunger at the United Nations. He travels to Africa and other poor parts of the world, including the poorest regions of his own country, Brazil, in order to promoteawareness of world hunger. He appears in television and other media advertisements asking for donations to help alleviate world hunger.

Not Afraid

As a Christian, another area that is important for Kaka’ is sharing his faith. He tries to give an example of sportsmanship on the field because he knows that others will be convinced by the way he lives, more than by what he says.

Yet he is not afraid to talk openly about his faith, and has encouraged other players to do so as well. In fact, when he retires from soccer he hopes to become a lay missionary in his evangelical church.

When Love Touches the Pockets

Kaka’ is also generous with his money. He donates 10% of his salary to his church, and helps other causes as well. In the Bible, giving 10% of your earnings to God is called tithing. Being generous with our money helps us realize that we are stewards of God gifts, not absolute owners of them, and that we have a responsibility for others as well. Tithing helps us live the virtue of thankfulness to God, and makes us less selfish.

Real Champions

What is in the future for Kaka’? As he will tell you, only God knows. But there is no doubt that his example is having a positive impact on the world. He is helping people think about deeper values and especially about their relationship with God.

Kaka’ shows us that love, faith, chastity, and generosity lead to a happiness and fulfillment that last beyond the thrill of the moment. Whether we are world soccer champions or simply the person next door, we can all be champions of faith, hope, and love. In the end it is these values that are the real championship.

Bible Blurbs

Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.

(Luke 12:33)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

(Matthew 5:14)

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

(Matthew 5:16)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

(2 Corinthians 5:10)

Pope Quotes

Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.”

(Benedict XVI, April 16, 2008)

Do not cease to cultivate your own personal encounter with Christ, to keep him ever at the center of your heart, since in this way your life will be converted into a mission; you will let Christ who lives in you shine forth.

(Benedict XVI, August 23, 2007)

It is necessary to discern between what serves to build the “civilization of love” according to the design that God revealed in Jesus Christ, and what runs counter to it.

(Benedict XVI, March 3, 2008)

Catechism Clips

1723: The beatitude (happiness) we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement - however beneficial it may be, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love.

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.

2013: All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to holiness: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

2347: The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship. It shows the disciple how to follow and imitate him who has chosen us as his friends, who has given himself totally to us and allows us.

Saints and Heroes

United in Love for God and Others

Blessed Frederic Ozanam and Amelie Soulacroix Ozanam

Frederic Ozanam and Amelie Soulacroix were born in France during the 1800’s, at the time of the Industrial Revolution. Both Frederic and Amelie grew up in families with a strong, Catholic  faith. Both had a great desire to show love to others.

When he was 20, Frederic, along with his friends, founded of the now-famous St. Vincent de Paul Society, as an attempt to do something for the many poor they found all over the streets of France. He said to his friends, “I am weary of words – let us act.”

Frederic was a very intelligent, restless man, full of enthusiasm and love for God and the poor. Amelie was the woman he was looking for: the perfect soul mate.

He met her when he was 26, as he was finishing his doctoral studies in the city of Lyons, France. He was invited (by a priest who was convinced Frederic’s vocation was to marriage) to have dinner with the president of the university. There he met Amelie, as the priest was hoping. She was the president’s daughter. Even though she was very pretty, what most impressed Frederic was that she was totally focused on attending to her handicapped brother. The kindness and delicacy with which she loved her brother deeply touched Frederic’s heart. He came back to get to know her better, and fell in love.

Before their wedding he wrote her a letter. He said he could not offer her riches and an easy life:

“Nevertheless, I hope that my gift, as modest as it may be, will be kindly accepted …: I give you the will of a man, an upright and honest will, the will to be good so as to make you happy.”

They were married on June 23, 1941. In remembrance of this day, Frederic made it a custom to give his wife a bouquet of flowers on the twenty third of every month.

They moved to Paris after they were married.  They lived their marriage deeply in love. They also brought Amelie’s handicapped brother to live with them.

In Paris Frederic became famous at the university for his ability to stir up a great passion for God and a great love for the poor in his students. Besides his work as a professor, Frederic continued founding chapters of the Saint Vincent De Paul Society all over France and other parts of Europe. He also wrote many books that combined scholarship with faith and received much acclaim. God did not spare him sufferings, though, and both his work and his writings also received many strong criticisms.

Amelie was there to support him and encourage him every step of the way. He found strength in her companionship and love.

Back then, medicine was not as good as it is now, and Frederic became sick because of all his work. After twelve years of happy marriage, it became clear that Frederic was dying.

Amelie, who had always worked to protect his health, cared for him with tremendous affection. She was with him when he died, on September 8, 1853, at age forty. She raised their only child, Marie, and continued supporting the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Today the St. Vincent de Paul Society is one of the biggest charitable organizations in the Catholic Church, with over 700,000 members.

Frederic was beatified by Pope John Paul II on August 22, 1997. Many hope his wife will also be beatified, and she has been included in many studies on saintly married couples.

Discussion questions

1. Have you ever seen Kaka’ play soccer? What most impresses you about his style of play? Would you agree with the description of his play in this lesson?
2. Is living love in our families always easy? In what ways does it help us?
3. What are some ways we can deepen our personal relationship with Christ, like Kaka’ did? 
4. Why is it important to have “strong moments” of closeness to God as we grow?
5. What do you think of Pope Benedict’s statement that faith should not be hidden? Besides sports, what other areas of society need courageous witness to faith today?
6. What do you think of Kaka’ and Caroline’s decision to stay chaste until marriage? Do you think it was easy for them? What sort of difficulties did they probably face frequently? How do you think they handled them?
7. What do you think of the phrase, “True love waits”? Do you think it fits with the teachings of Christ? Do you think it is possible in today’s world?
8. What are some ways guys can help girls wait until marriage? What are some ways girls can help guys wait? How can the way we dress, the way we act in front of others, even the way we have fun send the right or wrong message about our decision? 
9. Do you think that Kaka’ and Caroline will always remain best friends? Do you think they have a better chance of remaining faithful as spouses since they waited? Why is it so important to put a solid friendship and respect at the base of a lasting marriage? 
10. Do you think Jesus loves human love? If so, why does he set rules about it?
11. Do you think we should wait until we have a lot of money in order to donate to church or good causes? In what ways can generosity help us find true happiness? What does a generous person show the world about God?

Activities

• Have a debate about showing faith in public, such as during sporting events. Does it help others think about God? Is it a good testimony? Is it an important testimony? When is it good and when could it become counter-productive?
• Write a letter to your future spouse. (You can also write a letter to God as your greatest friend.) Tell your future spouse or tell God what type of person you would like to become in order to make him or her happy. Tell your future spouse some things you will do in order to prepare for that day when you will be together.

Virtue Verification

Acknowledge - to express thanks for; to state that one has received (a gift, favor, letter, etc.)

Alleviate – 1) to make less hard to bear; lighten or relieve (pain, suffering, etc.) 2) to reduce or decrease

Chastity – the virtue that moderates the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith and right reason.

• “Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.” (Catechism of the the Catholic Church 2395)
• “Those who are engaged to marry are called to live chastity in continence. They should see in this time of testing a discovery of mutual respect, an apprenticeship in fidelity, and the hope of receiving one another from God. They should reserve for marriage the expressions of affection that belong to married love. They will help each other grow in chastity.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2350)

Commitment – 1) dedication to a cause or long-term course of action 2) pledge or promise to do something;

Courtship – a time of relating with another, getting to know the person – and his or her friends and family – through friendship before moving into a dating relationship. Courtship (versus dating) teaches you to first be friends with a particular person for a good period of time before jumping into a romantic relationship. This low-risk, balanced approach to pursuing a relationship creates a firm foundation on which love can be built. (Definition courtesy Theology of the Body for Teens, Ascension Press)

Faith – trust in God; a personal relationship with God; trust in God’s promises and in Christ’s teachings.

Faithful- maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal

Generosity – quality of giving or sharing liberally and willingly; Generosity is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Generosity is sharing God’s goodness with others and responding to God’s love with the gift of self.

Hope – trust in God; trust that God wants the best for us, even in difficult circumstances; trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness; trust in God’s gift of heaven.

Lay person – In the Catholic Church a lay person is anyone who is not ordained as a priest or deacon. Most Catholics are lay people. Most Christians are lay people.  Technically, even Catholic monks who are not priests are lay people, but they are consecrated lay people, like nuns, etc.

Love – 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.

Responsibility – condition or quality of being answerable or accountable for someone or something.

Sacrifice – forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

Sportsmanship – ability to exercise the virtues of justice, truthfulness, kindness, respect and fairness while playing a sport.

Steward – a person entrusted with administering the goods, property, household, estate, or finances of another

Resources

Articles on Kaka’

• LifeSiteNews report on Kaka’ interview about chastity and faith
• Kaka’ Interview in Athletes for Christ
• “The golden boy of a golden team”: article on Kaka’ in The Independent 
• “Kaka’ able to see beyond the dollar signs”: Article on Kaka’ becoming youngest “United Nations Ambassador Against Hunger”
• “Milan put their faith in Kaka,” article in The Telegraph 

Catholic Athletes for Christ Web site

Article on faith during World Cup 2006: “Faith and Football”

Teen chastity support resources:

• Pure Love Club (seminars, research, chastity clubs) 
• Generation Life 
• Real Love Productions, Inc. (Mary Beth Bonacci) 
• Theology of the Body for Teens Web site
• Theology of the Body for Young People:  God’s Plan for You: life, Love, Marriage & Sex  
• Theology of the Body for Teens Podcasts

Lord our God, help us to love you with all our hearts and to love all men as you love them. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Karen Gaffney is a thirty year old long-distance swimmer.  Her many accomplishments include swimming nine miles across Lake Tahoe, competing in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, and being part of a relay team to swim the roughly thirty miles of sixty degree water in the English Channel.  An inspirational person to be sure, Karen Gaffney also shatters the myth that having Down Syndrome, a genetic chromosomal disorder, ruins a person’s life.  She states, “Yes, we are different…But we also are filled with potential and abilities and dreams…”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How familiar are you with Down Syndrome? Do you know anyone who lives with this condition? Would you expect someone living with Down Syndrome to be able to do all of the things that Karen Gaffney accomplished?
2. What kinds of preparation does it take to do all of the things that Karen did? Are there things that you are involved in that require this kind of committed preparation?
3. Do you need help from others to accomplish important goals in your life? In what ways do people with disabilities remind us that we all have limitations? Is this a good thing for us to be reminded of?
4. How can helping others do great things also enrich our own life? Do you think Karen parents feel fulfilled seeing her accomplish these goals? What sort of things do people learn about life through parenthood? What sort of things do we learn by helping others?
5. Why do you think it was necessary for Senators Brownback and Kennedy to propose this bill? Should it be left up to the parents on both sides to organize their own support networks and seek out their own information? What role do you think the government should play in situations such as this? Why is it important to present the positive aspects of having a child with Down Syndrome?
6. Do you think our current culture and our current laws respect the principle stated in the Declaration of Independence by the phrase: “…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”? In what ways can we promote a greater respect for this principle in our country today? Can you list any other initiatives that try to promote a greater understanding and living out of this principle? What things can you do in your own community to promote this more?
7. Read the Sports Illustrated article listed in the resources below. Do you think the NJ basketball coach did the right thing in allowing Brad to play ball? Why or why not? How did this opportunity impact Brad? His teammates? The members of the teams that he played against? How would this also impact the people in the stands just watching the game – would they have left with a different perspective?
8. Does society treat people with disabilities as inferior people? Can you name situations which support your response? Why do you think this is so? What can we do to change negative attitudes towards people with disabilities? Are there people in your school or your family that are treated differently for one reason or another?
9. How would you react in a situation where you would need to work with someone with a disability? Would that make you feel uncomfortable? What could be done to make you feel more comfortable in that situation? What motivations can we find to treat others with greater respect and charity when our first reaction might be one of distance or fear?
10. Is there any truth to the idea that people would begin to feel differently about Down Syndrome if they met families coping successfully with this situation? How could this be encouraged?
11. Why would God allow someone to be born with a disability of any kind? How would this change someone who knew them?

Partial answer to Question 11:
Through allowing disabilities to exist, God helps us all learn to be more humane, more focused on the deeper worth of each person, more empathetic, more loving, more like Christ. People with Down Syndrome also help us see that being a loving person is more a source of joy than being the most talented, most attractive, most intelligent, etc.

ACTIVITIES

• Determine the names of the acting Senators/Representatives for your district. Write them letters or emails in support of the Bill. You can state your concern that the right to life of every child be protected and promoted. Express your desire that women with difficult pregnancies be given the full support of the government to welcome their children with love and joy. Express your own thoughts on the dignity of each human life.
• Have a mock debate about this bill. Argue the reasons why it is important for the Brownback-Kennedy Bill to pass.

JOURNAL WRITING

Imagine that your parents came to you and told you they were having a baby and your new sibling would have Down Syndrome. How would this new situation impact your life right now? Write about your worries and your concerns. Do you seen any positive aspects of this possible situation after reading this article? Would you have enough room in your life for a sibling with special needs? How do you think your life would be changed?

FURTHER FORMATION

From The Gospel of Life (Pope John Paul II, 1995) “It is therefore a service of love which we are all committed to ensure to our neighbor, that his or her life may be always defended and promoted, especially when it is weak or threatened. It is not only a personal but a social concern which we must all foster: a concern to make unconditional respect for human life the foundation of a renewed society.
We are asked to love and honor the life of every man and woman and to work with perseverance and courage so that our time, marked by all too many signs of death, may at last witness the establishment of a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love.”

RESOURCES

Information on Karen Gaffney: www.karengaffneyfoundation.com

Catholic pro-life support groups for prenatal diagnosis:
www.prenatalpartnersforlife.org
www.benotafraid.net

Down Syndrome websites:
National Down Syndrome Society
Trisomy 21

Information on the Brownback/Kennedy bill:
Petition to support the Brownback/Kennedy bill

Brad Hennefer:
Story on Brad Hennefer
Brad Hennefer’s gallery
Brad Heffener Golf for Life Foundation

Story about Aidan Milligan: “The Joy of Aidan”

Interview with actress Eva Longoria about her sister Elizabeth

CNN interview of Representative Cathy McMorris-Rogers (Washington) about baby Cole born in 2007 with Down Syndrome:

• “People have just been tremendous, and when I returned after some maternity leave, I brought Cole with me that first night to the House floor.”

Interview with actor John C. McGinley – currently Dr. Cox of “Scrubs”

• His son, Max, has Down Syndrome (John was 2006 & 2007 National Buddy Walk Spokesman):

“A great blessing – Student with Down syndrome inspires school:” The Catholic Review October 13, 2006

A dream can be powerful. It can turn enthusiasm into success. For one, humble young man, his dream is gradually becoming his reality. Yet it would not have happened without his family, without their love and faith. In fact, his family saved his life. In this lesson we will look at how Tim Tebow’s family helped him put a solid foundation on his life, and how he has also found a model of faith and charity in someone else in his life.

Heisman History

Tim Tebow made football history at the end of this college season by becoming the first underclassman (freshman or sophomore) ever to win the Heisman trophy. After a solid start as a freshman, Tebow became a starting quarterback for the Florida Gators’ his sophomore year and has broken Southeastern Conference records for rushing touchdowns.  Tebow finished the regular season with 3,132 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.  He also ran for 838 yards and 22 touchdowns, becoming the first player in Division I-A football history to both pass and rush over 20 touchdowns in a season.

“It’s something I used to dream about,” Tebow says of his Heisman win on the Florida Gators’ website.  “For it to come true, it’s unbelievable.  It’s special.”

Character from the clan

Not only is his win special, the humble and soft-spoken Tebow brings character to the game. A solid family life and faith in God is what led a high-school-aged Tebow to proclaim in an interview with The Baptist Press, “Just because you play football you’re no more important than anyone else.”

The youngest of five children, Tebow could not recite his own stats during interviews when asked about his play.  Growing up in a family of homeschoolers, he was allowed to play ball with the local high school when the state of Florida passed a law allowing homeschoolers to play high school sports.

As a boy, he had always been very enthusiastic about sports. As his successes on the field mounted, his parents would remind him of a Bible verse to keep him humble: Proverbs 27:2 “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

Survivor, thanks to mom and dad

Tim began beating the odds long before he ever picked up a football. Before he was born, doctors strongly urged his parents to abort the pregnancy. The physicians believed the unborn baby had been severely, maybe even fatally, harmed in the womb by medications they’d given his mom to fight off an infection.

The details of the discussions between the doctors and Tim’s parents are an inspiring story all their own, and we’ve asked Pam and Bob to tell us exactly how everything happened. They were unavailable at press time, but have promised to fill us in for our next lesson.

In the meantime, suffice it to say that their courage to stand up to the doctors and trust in the Great Physician — Jesus — paid off: Timmy was born underweight but otherwise healthy.

“We were concerned at first because he was so malnourished,” recalls Pam, “but he definitely made up for it.”

And how. Today, Tim stands 6’3” and weighs 235 pounds.

“I really have a heart to encourage moms and women to trust the Lord with all their heart for all their lives,” says Pam about the challenges of motherhood.

Missionary man

Brought up with this solid faith, Tim Tebow heeds his call as an evangelizer and role model in society very seriously.  He regularly shares his Christian faith in talks to youth around the country.

Tim’s father, Bob, has spent years sharing his Christian faith with people in the Philippines, has helped to build an orphanage there and has also organized medical help for the poor. Every summer Bob brings young people from the United States to help him on his work there. His son Tim has been a regular participant in these youth missions and really loves it.

Says Tim, “Its been a great experience. We go into medical clinics, hospitals, prisons, market places and schools. You preach and help out. We go to the orphanage and a lot of things like that. It’s a great experience. I love going every year and I can’t wait until I go back. Every time you go you learn something different, and it changes your life even more.”

Tim Tebow acknowledges that working with people so disadvantaged has changed the way he looks at the world.

Finding family spirit

It is no wonder that Tim Tebow chose the University of Florida to pursue his career and football aspirations.  Majoring in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Tebow has found another family of his own in his teammates and Gators’ coach, Urban Meyer.  Coach Meyer, a Catholic and another solid family man has said of Tim Tebow, “He’s such a positive influence.  He’s such an unselfish guy.”  Coach Meyer acknowledges that Tim Tebow is the kind of role model young people can look up to.

Coach’s favorite team

Coach Meyer and his wife, Shelley, maintain a strong family life.  Shelley credits her husband in part, for always keeping his family in the know about his schedule.  The schedule of a famous college football coach is demanding, but, like football, teamwork is the name of the game.  Shelley is a stay-at-home mother who spends her time attending to her three children and volunteering in the community.

For Coach Meyer, devoting time to his family is as important to him as it is to them. He once found himself with some time after his football commitments were completed, so he took advantage of a police escort to catch a few minutes of his son’s baseball game.    Coach Meyer makes time to spend weekends away with his son.  He also has set aside “date nights” to spend individual time with his teen daughters.

Faith: part of the program

Faith is an important aspect of the Meyers lives as well. “Spiritual health is very important to our kids and our players.  It’s very important to us,” Shelley Meyer said in an interview with The Gainsville Sun.  “Faith is the only thing that can get you through the hard times.”

The Meyers family attends Queen of Peace parish where their two teen daughters are preparing to make their confirmation.  Shelley herself was raised Protestant and she and her husband, have also taken their children to Protestant churches in the area so they can be familiar with their mother’s Christian background as well.

Fatherhood and football

Like Tim Tebow, Coach Urban Meyer takes his position as a role model very seriously.  Recruiting is one of the things any college coach must be good at.  Coach Meyer treats his recruits like family – they spend time at the Meyer family home and he has been known to text message them almost daily, just to check in and see how they are doing.

Relationship building is an important part of the coach’s recruiting process in that both the coach and his players see their Gators’ team as an extended family.  The difference that Coach Meyer brings to the lives of these athletes is his sincere concern for them.  Many recruits often comment that he truly makes himself available to them, and, when he wants to know how things are, it is because he means it.

Tim Tebow admires these qualities in his coach. As he said in an interview with The New York Times,”That’s one thing that’s so great about Coach Meyer is that he does realize that there’s things more important than football. Helping guys out, changing their lives. There’s countless guys on the team … that he’s totally changed their lives, did a 180. … He’s so much more than a football coach, he’s like a fatherto a lot of guys. He’s one of the best coaches in college football, but he’s more than that. He’s interested in helping people and doing the right thing.”

Success in selflessness

Shelley Meyer credits the team’s successes to this close-knit family feeling.  “That’s why they win,” she said.  “That’s exactly why they win.  Egos are left somewhere else.  That’s just a really special thing about our team.”  Sounds like a place called home for a young, humble football star named Tim Tebow.

Forming for fatherhood

There is always talk that successful collegiate athletes and coaches will one day find their way to the pros.  Perhaps that dream will also become a reality in the future for Tim Tebow or Coach Urban Meyer.  Shelley Meyer is quick to remark, “Urban’s calling is really to mentorand role model and teach these college guys how to be good dads and good husbands.”  That is the preparation for real life that Coach Urban Meyer brings to his team.

In the player of Tim Tebow, Coach Meyer’s example is just one more person modeling behavior that his family has instilled in him since he was a child.  For the world of football and for the world outside of football, these two men have become shining examples of what it means to live faith in every day life.

Bible Blurbs

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” (Ephesians 3: 14-15)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Hoy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and Lo, I am with you always, until the close of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)

“And the King will answer them, truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Pope Quotes

“The natural family, as an intimate communion of life and love, based on marriage between a man and a woman, constitutes “the primary place of ‘humanization’ for the person and society,” and a “cradle of life and love.”(Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Peace 2008, no. 2)

“This point merits special reflection: everything that serves to weaken the family … constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace.”(Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Peace 2008, no. 5)

“Today, too, there is a need for disciples of Christ who give unstintingly of their time and energy to serve the Gospel. There is a need for young people who will allow God’s love to burn within them and who will respond generously to his urgent call.” (Benedict XVI, July 20, 2007)

“Do not be afraid to become holy missionaries like Saint Francis Xavier …  or like Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus … Be prepared to put your life on the line in order to enlighten the world with the truth of Christ; to respond with love to hatred and disregard for life; to proclaim the hope of the risen Christ in every corner of the earth.”(Benedict XVI, July 20, 2007)

Catechism Clips

2205 The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.

2207 The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom.

2210 The importance of the family for the life and well-being of society entails a particular responsibility for society to support and strengthen marriage and the family.

2472 The duty of Christians impels them to act as witness of the Gospel.  This witness is a transmission of the faith in words and deeds.

2272 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy (by condemning abortion). Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

Saints and Heroes

Priest Dedicated to Educating Young People in the Philippines

Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, OMI

(Gave his life on January 15, 2008)

Fr. Reynaldo Roda was a member of a Catholic missionary community, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He dedicated his life to helping the poor, youth, and families in the Philipines. For the past ten years he ran a missionary station and Notre Dame High School –which has about 30 students- on the island township of Tabawan, Philipines, in the southern part of the Philippine islands.

Most of the Philippines is generally peaceful, and is predominantly Catholic, but in the southern islands, about 650 miles from Manila, Muslim extremists have waged a decades-long insurgency. Priests and missionaries have often been the target of Muslim extremists.

Father Roda had received death threats from the al-Queda linked Abu Sayyaf group, which has gained notoriety for bomb attacks, kidnappings and hostage beheadings. However, Father refused to abandon the young people who attended his mission and school. On Tuesday, January 15, about 10 gunmen believed to be from the al-Qaeda-linked group seized Father Roda while he was praying in the chapel to take him captive and shot him dead when he resisted. According to a witness, Fr. Roda said that he preferred to be killed right there and then rather than be taken hostage and used for ransom. Father Roda was the third Catholic missionary killed in this southern area of the Philipines in recent years.

Pope Benedict XVI heard of the news and immediately sent a telegram to the bishops of the Philipines, praising the courage and faithfulness of Fr. Roda. The pope also commended Fr. Roda’s example to priests and people throughout the region, and especially to the young.  (Source: Associated Press January 18, 2008 and other sources)

From Self-fascination to Love for Others

St Maria de Mattias

Virgin and Foundress of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
(entered heaven August 20th, 1866)

Maria was born in the early 1800’s in central Italy.  Her family was comfortable and aristocratic, and she spent her youth close to her father, who read to her from the Bible and even gave her the rudiments of an education (girls didn’t receive formal studies at that time in that place).  She developed sensitivity for spiritual things, and an appreciation for the Scriptures, but in her teenage years, living in the relative isolation that her social class required, she became self-absorbed.  She spent more and more time admiring her own beauty and fantasizing about the wonderful life it would bring her.  Somehow, though, when she was about 17, her daydreams turned sour.  She experienced a kind of existential crisis, which must have been the fruit of grace, because when she turned to prayer and to her dad in order to get out of it, seeking from those sources light and wisdom about the true meaning of life, God granted her a mystical vision of Christ crucified, in which she perceived the beauty of God’s love in the blood spilled by Our Savior.  She found in Christ the burning, higher love that her heart had been vainly searching for in worldly dreams, and she found it in the beauty of Christ’s blood.

That experience, matured in prayer, moved her to take to the streets of Italy, which were stained by the blood of countless feuds and civil wars in those years, to preach what she had experienced.  She wanted to help others see Christ’s love as he had helped her see it.  She received another boost that same year when a holy preacher (Saint Gaspar del Bufalo) led a mission in her home town.  He preached so effectively that she could see the change in the lives of her fellow townspeople.  This gave her confidence.  It showed her that God could use human words to do in others what he had done directly in her.

Soon her zeal made her known, and the bishop asked her to take over a house for poor girls, where she cared for them, taught them their faith and some trades, and even the basics of academics (she had taught herself to read and write).  Her teaching was amazingly effective.  Soon the mothers started coming to listen as well.  And then they brought their sons too (not just their daughters).  And even though the social mores forbade her to speak to men, groups of men started gathering outside the windows to listen in.  The local shepherds, dodging the rules of etiquette, sneaked into town at night and begged her to teach them about Christ.

She attracted a following and formed a religious Congregation of women dedicated to preaching the love of Christ, so as to transform every heart and thereby change all of society.  By the time of her death when she was 61, she had founded 70 communities, usually in small, out-of-the-way towns.  By the time of her beatification almost 100 years later, the number had soared to 400. Her feast day is February 4.
(Source:www.collegecompass.org)

Virtue Verification

Acceptance - approving reception; approval

Aspiration - strong desire or ambition

Calling - an inner urging toward some profession or activity; vocation

Character - moral strength; self-discipline, fortitude, determination

Concern - interest in or regard for a person or thing; charity

Evangelize - to preach the gospel (the good news)

Faith – belief and trust in God

Humility – being simple; honesty in recognizing that one’s good qualities come from God’s generosity; unpretentiousness; having or showing a consciousness of one’s defects or shortcomings; not proud; not self-assertive; modest

Love –1. a deep and tender attachment or devotion to a person or persons
2. God’s tender regard and concern for all human beings
3. devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good

Mentor - a wise, loyal advisor

Selflessness - devoted to others’ welfare or interests and not one’s own; unselfish; altruistic

Steadfastness - firm, fixed, settled, or established; not changing, fickle or wavering; constant

Strength - the power to resist strain, stress, etc.; toughness; durability

Support - to give courage, faith, or confidence to; help or comfort

Trust – 1. firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith 2. confident expectation, anticipation, or hope

Discussion Questions

1. Tim Tebow’s parents had to put their trust in God rather than in the doctors who advised abortion. Do you think this was an easy time in their life? Where do you think they found the strength to be steadfast in their love for God’s gift of life? Do you think their strength helps Tim today? In what ways might it help?
2. According to researchers, doctors are frequently telling women they should consider abortion when confronted with various medical situations affecting their health. Yet, as prominent researcher Joel Brind notes,  and as Tim Tebow’s story shows, doctors can successfully treat both mother and child without suggesting the baby be killed to spare the mother’s life. Why do you think this pressure for abortion is a common practice in society today? Can you think of any ways we can change this mentality? How can Tim Tebow’s story help to affect this change?
3. Why did Tim Tebow’s parents teach him to follow the verse from Proverbs 27:2 – Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips?
4. How might Tim Tebow be different if he was raised in a family without such strong values?
5. In what ways do good marriages and families help children become good members of society? What difficulties in life can strong families and strong marriages help children and young people overcome?
6. Do you think Tim Tebow’s effort to witness to his faith and share it with others is something worth imitating? Do you think this world would be a better place if more people knew and loved Jesus Christ? In what ways might it be better? Do you think Catholics do enough to share their faith with others?
7. Why does Coach Meyer’s personal attention make such a difference to his team both on and off the field? Can you give any other examples of professions where concern for others can be a key to success?
8. Coach Meyer spends individual time with his children.  Do you think this is important as children become teenagers?  If so, why?
9. Sports can help in the formation of character and virtue. List some virtues that can be lived in sports. List some that Tim Tebow has displayed.

Journal Writing

• List the talents that God has given you and write about which ones you might be able to develop into a career.  Are there talents that you have been given that make you uncomfortable but that you think God would like for you to work on?  (examples: public speaking, helping small children or the elderly, being a peacemaker)
• Write about a time that was difficult for you.  Looking back on it now, write about why you believe God allowed this difficulty to happen in your life.

Activities

• Have a debate about question two of the discussion questions: Are doctors too likely to advise abortion in difficult pregnancies? Why or why not is this so? Do you think this can be changed, and if so, how?
• Have a debate about this question: Should homeschooled students be allowed to play on high school sports teams?  Why or why not?
• Research your real life role models.  Is their public life a reflection of their personal convictions?
• Check out the Catholic organization Missionary Youth (www.youth4missions.com)  for the possibility of participating in a mission or organize your own mission:  break into small groups, list people that you would like to invite to church for Easter Sunday and then visit them together to invite them to Mass.

Resources

• Official Heisman website: www.heisman.com
• Unofficial Tim Tebow fansite: www.timtebowfans.org
• ESPN’s Tim Tebow profile: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=183484
• UF football website: www.gatorzone.com/football
• UF’s first lady of football: http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070409/SUNFRONT/704090328
• Top quarterback recruit aims to stay grounded in Christ: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=22513

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