Back to Samuel Group  l  Merrine  l  Nathan  l  Molly  l  Laurey 

Your Excellency, 

          I have heard students from colleges around the country refer to the Newman Center at the University of Illinois as a “Catholic Disneyland,” and you know what…they’re right. Being that I don’t visit other campuses that often, it’s been hard for me to fully understand what they’ve meant, but after reflecting on my experiences with Samuel Group this past school year I would have to say that I agree with them.

           I am so fortunate and blessed that God guided me to U. of I. because over the past two years, I have grown exponentially in my spiritual life. Granted, I probably have a long way to go overall, but I would have still been on “spiritual auto-pilot” if not for the opportunities and support I encountered at St. John’s. Becoming more involved in the community here has challenged me to grow in my faith resulting in a continuing hunger to love and understand my Creator. Also, I feel that being in Samuel Group this past year has definitely helped me come to know God better. Rather, I’ve come to better understand God’s will for me and how to listen to, and answer, His call. 

          Thanks be to God for the Apostles of the Interior Life who have brought me to a greater understanding of the different paths to Heaven through wonderful explanations and education of vocations. Although I cannot say that I have discerned my exact calling, I do know that God is asking me to repeatedly die to myself so that I may decrease and He may increase. By asking me to put my absolute trust in Him, I have resolved to aggressively live as a true Catholic Man of God and soldier in the army of the Lord. This resolution carries over well into my near future as I have applied for and accepted a job with FOCUS (Fellowship Of Catholic University Students). As a FOCUS missionary, I will be sent to a campus somewhere in the U.S. to lead Bible studies and engage students in personal discipleship. The world we live in, although a wonderful creation of God, is in a sorry state. Being a lukewarm Catholic who is apathetic to or fearful of ongoing injustices just won’t cut it anymore. I believe that if I strive for a life more holy and do what God asks of me, my vocation will naturally come to me. Until then I am called to dig deeper in living the Gospel.

           I would like to thank you for all of the excellent opportunities for faith formaton and spiritual growth that you provide to the students at the University of Illinois. God Bless and may the Peace of Christ be with you always. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Joseph

Back to Samuel Group  l  Merrine  l  Nathan  l  Molly  l  Laurey