That's right! Brs. Brandon Frank, Joseph Donvoan and thirty-one students from the Catholic Center at Northeastern University flew down south for their Spring Break. They did not go to tan, but to participate in a comprehensive blend of service and spiritual enrichment. Titled "Extreme Makeover: Christ Edition", this trip was unique among Alternate Spring Break experiences. At night students prayed, participated in small groups, listened to talks, and of course sang their favorite praise songs. They also enjoyed some fine southern eating! During the day the group traveled deep into Hoary County along with volunteers from Help4Kids, a local non-profit. There they worked directly for the poor: remodeling houses, replacing rotten floors and walls, installing windows, and painting dilapidated trailers. They were often surrounded, and sometimes aided by local children returning from school. This was one Spring Break that truly could be called epic! Check out the pictures on Facebook!
Head Coach of the Boston University basketball team, Patrick Chambers came and spoke to the Men's Group of the BU Catholic Center's in the only way he knows how... with passion! The men must have thought they were getting a pre-game speech as Coach Chambers gave a rousing, enthusiastic exhortation calling them to live out their faith in the midst of the challenges of this world. He also told the guys to pick one word that they choose to make their motto in life. "For me, it's perseverance," said Coach Chambers, "everyday I choose to persevere in living out my faith in all the areas of my life."
What does a Global Positioning System, Transformers and Ultimate Love have in common? That's easy... They're all Spring Retreats on the campuses at NU, BU and FSU! This past weekend over 300 students in Boston and Florida got to experience the power of God's love through amazing talks, witnesses, powerful praise and worship and the sacraments. Students sharing on their experience of the weekend talked about how their lives were powerfully impacted by community, by the Eucharist and by the sacrament of confession.
Former Swiss guard, Andreas Widmer and current second-in-command Lt. Col. Christoph Graf shared their own personal stories of knowing our late Holy Father John Paul II with students at the Rutgers Catholic Center. Andreas spoke about how his conversion happened over time and how his encounters with John Paul pointed him to Christ. "There was a craving inside me that was never satisfied," confessed Andreas. Andreas concluded the night with an exhortation for all of us to share in the oath he made in defending the Holy Father and the Church. Many left the night encouraged by how the Lord worked in Andreas Widmer's life through his service to the Church.