Round Two

I hope everyone is having a grace filled Lent.   Easter will be here before we know it, but Lent is a great time for us to separate ourselves from this world and cling to our Lord.  It is a great time to reflect and remember who we are made for. 

This second semester has been full of adventure and blessings.  The Lord has poured His love on his people.  He has made our hearts new and called this generation to stand up for the truth.  From the FOCUS Conference called SEEK to the 40th March for Life the youth have gathered in the thousands and in the hundreds of thousands to search and fight for more in this life.  If you could only see the eyes of these youth you would see their energy and hunger.  The midshipmen are great examples of these men and women.  It is obvious there has been a great change in their hearts, and I am honored to be a part of their lives. 

On January 1st over 6,000 college students left for Orlando, Florida to attend SEEK from January 2-6.  They gave up days from their Christmas break to learn more about Jesus Christ and their faith.  Most of these students were people who have not lived out their faith in years, but they were seeking more in their lives.  They were looking for something or someone to make life fulfilling.  The world says that faith is foolish, but these men and women took a chance and amazing things happened.  One of the biggest signs of this was that about 5,000 people went to confession in those five days.  It was a great sight to see, and I know that same energy was sent back to each campus. 

The Naval Academy is no different.  As soon as we returned from SEEK, we could see a change in the midshipmen.  Daily mass involvement had almost doubled.  Students were inviting others to the Catholic Midshipmen Club, mass and bible studies.  I think the most impressive group that was started was a men's chastity group.  These men formed this brotherhood inorder to battle lust, and it is one of the most manly things I have ever seen. 

There are days when I can't believe the opportunities the Lord has given me.  Who am I?  The truth is that I just heard His call, and I chose to follow Him.  He gave me the strength, and I suppose that is all that he asks of us. I can honestly say there is nothing better.  Let us all pick up our cross and follow Him.


P.S.  Newsletters will be going out soon.  If you do not get one then let me know.