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2/13/2018 0 Comments Father's House Retreat Written by: Michaela Mencacci What do you think of when you hear the words, “Father’s house?” Do you think of God? Of peace and quiet? On the weekend of February 2-4, a small group of students and FOCUS missionaries attended the Father’s House retreat in Wimberly, Texas and received tons of peace through meditation, and prayer. The students and missionaries who went were Brittany Betik, Abbi Vinci, Amanda Graves, Jake Olson and Megan Callaghan. “The retreat was focused on [our] relationship with the Father and getting through the battle for [our] souls and safely into the Father’s House,” Abbi Vinci, student at Stephen F. Austin, said. “The retreat itself was one based on personal meditation and relevant talks.” The students were able to build their relationship with God and find inner peace within a busy spring semester. “I love retreats because they are a great time to get away from the world and re-focus on God,” said Brittany Betik, SFA student. “I definitely needed to do that … amidst this crazy semester of student teaching. I also really wanted to see some of my friends from SFA and hang out with other Catholics who also wanted to grow in their relationship with God.” The retreat was meant “to learn and experience the Father's love for us. Not [as] humans, but as individuals,” Amanda Graves, FOCUS missionary, said. “Me, Amanda, knowing that I am loved by the Father and that I am good.” The students were able to stay at a jewish camp in Wimberly during the retreat. “We stayed at Camp Young Judea in Wimberly, Texas,” Betik said. “It was a really beautiful camp, full of open spaces, trees, lots of deer, some super annoying geese and even a hidden tree house you have to cross a stream to get to.” Along with the beauty, “there were plenty of benches and areas to sit and meditate or walk around with all the people you know [or] met there,” Vinci said. The retreat had keynote speakers and meditation time for all of the students. “Generally, we had a 45 minute talk, 50 minutes to work through a meditation, and 45 minutes for small groups,” Graves said. “The meditations walked us through the battle of mission and how crucial it is to remain looking at the Father in the midst of the battle.” “One of the speakers described [Campy Young Judea] as similar to Jerusalem.” Betik said. “I’ve never been to Jerusalem so I cannot testify to that myself, but it sure felt like what I imagined Jerusalem to be. Sunday was especially beautiful because the sun finally came out and the weather was glorious!” Everyone from St. Mary’s who went all said they would definitely go again. “The talks will never be the same and even with the same meditations you are never in the same place and God wants to show you something new each time,” Vinci said. A lot of the student’s said that the meditation time was their favorite part of the retreat. “My favorite part of the retreat was all of our meditation and prayer time,” Betik said. “We had several self-led meditations where we got to go off by ourselves and enter into these moments in time with the Lord and let Him move in our hearts and minds.” “Meditations are my favorite thing because I do better with pictures than with words and Ignation meditation is my favorite prayers,” Vinci said. Throughout this meditation time, the students and FOCUS missionaries were able to experience God in a very personal and intimate way. “I was able to learn how the father loves me and who I was created to be,” Graves said. “I know that the Father's love is endless and that he will always have gifts to give me.” Here are some things that our students and FOCUS members from St. Mary’s want to tell you after attending this retreat: “We are good. The Father has made every single one of us good & with his love. He wants us to abide in him. The more we busy ourselves with the temptations of society, the less we are able to receive our true identities as daughters and sons of our Father in Heaven.”
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 Everyone knows the story in Genesis about Adam, Eve and that sneaky little serpent. The one where the first humans ever created stood in front of a certain tree that bore a certain forbidden fruit. They were told by the Lord God himself that they should never eat of the fruit, or else they would surely die. But that fateful day in the garden when the serpent fed them it’s poisonous words of denial, doubt and deceit, Eve and Adam both fell for the tongue that slithered lies; each taking a bite of the fruit. Yes, we all know that story and because of it, we all have learned what NOT to do. But have your ever wondered what it was like to be Eve? Have you ever wondered about what was going on in her head? Her thoughts may hit closer to home than you think. I imagine her as a sweet, innocent young woman who had never experienced anything in the realm of evil before. I imagine that she was just minding her own business, maybe looking in the bushes for some berries to eat, when an animal crept up next to her. They sat and chatted for a moment about the tree in the center of Eden and about the forbidden fruit. In her mind, she was speaking to a friendly snake who was wiser than her, and more experienced. He spoke of God as just a creator who has no power over her and not only tells her that she surely won’t die if she eats the fruit, but also tells her that it will grant her knowledge that would put her equal to that of God. So, what does Eve do? Without any warnings from her husband, Adam, who I picture standing next to her with a blank expression eating a leaf, she bites into the fruit, and gave him some as well. |  As her teeth punctured the skin of the fruit, sin entered the world, and the knowledge of good and evil was assumed by the human race. God, being the all-knowing creator of the Earth and everything in it, had to have known that someday this would happen. He set that tree there in the middle of the garden not to tempt his little humans, but to give them free will to love Him as He loves them. So, Adam and Eve Failed. They sinned and just so happened to be the first people to do it. The truth is, we all have a little of Adam and Eve in us. For every time we see someone sinning and not only do nothing, but actually partake in the sin itself, we are Adam. For every time we have been innocent and naïve, and have fallen for something other than God’s will, we are Eve. We are all the same. The only difference is, they were the first. They were the examples that had to be made. Yes, we will mess up because we are human, but we also have these stories in the Bible for a reason: to guide us and teach us the word of God, and how to live it out. We are given this truth so that when we are face to face with a serpent, we have the knowledge and the tools to hear the lies within its hiss, to turn our backs from evil and to kneel before our Lord God and give Him praise. |
WHAT TO DO DURING THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF YOUR JOURNEY IN FAITH.
Written by: Michaela Mencacci
When we were baptized, our parents gave us the ticket to ride on our own spiritual roller coasters that have durations of a lifetime. With our first taste of the Eucharist, we stepped in the line that awaited the tracks. When we were confirmed, we made the choice to get on and lock ourselves in.
Once the over-the-shoulder restraint locked into place, our adult journey with Christ began.
Some of us have been riding for years and years, and some have just begun, but all of us will experience multiple spiritual highs and lows throughout our lives. Just as the highs are inevitable, so are the lows. The best thing to do about this, is to be ahead of it. To be ahead of your lows, you need to expect that they are coming. Next, you come up with a game plan for when they do come so you can get back on your spiritual high. If you are currently experiencing a low, all you have to do is acknowledge the fact that you are in a low phase of your spiritual roller coaster, and follow the game plan you made for yourself.
You can create game plans for any of the cardinal sins that you are more susceptible to falling to.
For example, if you know that you are highly susceptible to falling to sloth, then make a plan ahead of time. In my opinion, the best treatment for sloth is to make a schedule, follow a daily and weekly routine, and write out a list of goals you set in place for yourself. The idea in doing this is to create good habits, and to allow less room for sloth to seep back into your schedule. If you have fallen to sloth, a good start to getting active in your faith again is to set aside some time every day to spend with Jesus and to meditate. This will allow you to still interact with Christ while not putting too much on your schedule. Also, you should add a daily devotional to your morning so you can get your day started off with the mindset of growing closer to the Lord.
When dealing with any type of cardinal sin, whether it be lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, sloth, envy or pride, your lows may seem even lower. After going to confession, there are many things you can do to help get you back on your spiritual high. Go on a mission trip, visit the sick or imprisoned, help someone in need, go to bible studies, talk to your friends about your struggles; any of these things will help.
And of course, don’t forget the power of prayer.
Our roller coasters are all different. Some feel like they are soaring higher and higher while others feel as if they are plummeting downward with no end. Each of our roller coasters, just like each of our lives, will have ups and downs, loops and dips. All of us are part of an unpredictable ride that has already been set in place with precision and love. It’s not our job to make our own tracks, we just have to enjoy the ride.
Once the over-the-shoulder restraint locked into place, our adult journey with Christ began.
Some of us have been riding for years and years, and some have just begun, but all of us will experience multiple spiritual highs and lows throughout our lives. Just as the highs are inevitable, so are the lows. The best thing to do about this, is to be ahead of it. To be ahead of your lows, you need to expect that they are coming. Next, you come up with a game plan for when they do come so you can get back on your spiritual high. If you are currently experiencing a low, all you have to do is acknowledge the fact that you are in a low phase of your spiritual roller coaster, and follow the game plan you made for yourself.
You can create game plans for any of the cardinal sins that you are more susceptible to falling to.
For example, if you know that you are highly susceptible to falling to sloth, then make a plan ahead of time. In my opinion, the best treatment for sloth is to make a schedule, follow a daily and weekly routine, and write out a list of goals you set in place for yourself. The idea in doing this is to create good habits, and to allow less room for sloth to seep back into your schedule. If you have fallen to sloth, a good start to getting active in your faith again is to set aside some time every day to spend with Jesus and to meditate. This will allow you to still interact with Christ while not putting too much on your schedule. Also, you should add a daily devotional to your morning so you can get your day started off with the mindset of growing closer to the Lord.
When dealing with any type of cardinal sin, whether it be lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, sloth, envy or pride, your lows may seem even lower. After going to confession, there are many things you can do to help get you back on your spiritual high. Go on a mission trip, visit the sick or imprisoned, help someone in need, go to bible studies, talk to your friends about your struggles; any of these things will help.
And of course, don’t forget the power of prayer.
Our roller coasters are all different. Some feel like they are soaring higher and higher while others feel as if they are plummeting downward with no end. Each of our roller coasters, just like each of our lives, will have ups and downs, loops and dips. All of us are part of an unpredictable ride that has already been set in place with precision and love. It’s not our job to make our own tracks, we just have to enjoy the ride.
7/7/2017 0 Comments
Farewell, Father D.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”
It is hard to say goodbye, especially to someone who you thought you had more time with. Father Denzil's reassignment to Paris, Texas came as a surprise to all of us. Father D has helped the ministry expand and grow, in numbers and in faith.
He has been a mentor, teacher, friend, father, and brother to all who have encountered him. He has touched many souls here at SFA, he has cooked for us, prayed for us, helped with the funding and planning of the new Student Center, and has assisted us with so much more. He has been a beacon of light to those who were lost and has brought so much happiness and love to our campus.
Although we are not ready for Father D to move on, we have to trust that it is all part of God's great plan. Father D is needed somewhere else now, and although St. Mary's Catholic Campus Ministry will miss him, we need to keep growing and expanding. The new priest, who has not yet been chosen, will be welcomed with open arms and with open hearts, here in Nacogdoches.
God puts people in our life for a reason, and he keeps us on our toes with meeting new faces as well, so that we may be blessed by experiencing different perspectives. Father D's calling has been to be a missionary priest, traveling to different areas of the world while spreading the word and sacraments of God. Father D will leave such a big impact here in the oldest town in Texas, and he will continue to do great things in the next church he arrives at. Father D's life testimony and teachings are too great to keep in one place for too long, which is something we can all understand.
So, Farewell Father D, and be ready to see some visitors every now and then over there in Paris! Thank you for the love, joy and commitment that you have poured into our ministry. May peace be with you, always.
He has been a mentor, teacher, friend, father, and brother to all who have encountered him. He has touched many souls here at SFA, he has cooked for us, prayed for us, helped with the funding and planning of the new Student Center, and has assisted us with so much more. He has been a beacon of light to those who were lost and has brought so much happiness and love to our campus.
Although we are not ready for Father D to move on, we have to trust that it is all part of God's great plan. Father D is needed somewhere else now, and although St. Mary's Catholic Campus Ministry will miss him, we need to keep growing and expanding. The new priest, who has not yet been chosen, will be welcomed with open arms and with open hearts, here in Nacogdoches.
God puts people in our life for a reason, and he keeps us on our toes with meeting new faces as well, so that we may be blessed by experiencing different perspectives. Father D's calling has been to be a missionary priest, traveling to different areas of the world while spreading the word and sacraments of God. Father D will leave such a big impact here in the oldest town in Texas, and he will continue to do great things in the next church he arrives at. Father D's life testimony and teachings are too great to keep in one place for too long, which is something we can all understand.
So, Farewell Father D, and be ready to see some visitors every now and then over there in Paris! Thank you for the love, joy and commitment that you have poured into our ministry. May peace be with you, always.
7/6/2017 0 Comments
The healthy trinity
Written By: Michaela Mencacci
| As a student athlete at SFA and a child of God who is working to become a saint in the kingdom of Heaven, I have to stay fit: physically, mentally and spiritually. Just like the holy trinity, I believe that the mind, body and spirit are connected in the same way. God created our minds in which he uses as vessels of communication, Jesus gave his body to grant us eternal life, and the Holy Spirit always dwells in our souls. To effectively be fully open to the way, the truth and the life, we need to keep our minds, bodies and souls fit and clean so that we can become the people God created us to be. Most of us know how to exercise the body and the mind - with extensive training. We have spent years in school to improve our scholarly thinking, and with the use of the internet we could all find answers on how we could stay physically fit. So how do we train the soul? The answer lies within each of us. Me? I'm just now finding my personal workout routine, and it works out all three: mind, body and soul. I could define my whole workout in one word... Cleansing  Recently I have been given the challenge to stay away from a select group of foods for six months. Due to certain health issues that could become more of a problem for my future self, my doctor recommended that I take a food sensitivity test. My results came back a little daunting… Some of the ingredients and foods I have to cut from my diet are: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Cane Sugar, Random food colorings, Soy, Wheat, Rye, Barley, and Yellow Squash. I've lost the privilege of being able to eat anything I want, whenever I want. I now have to plan, prepare and clean every time I need to eat. This gave me and my college-wired brain a huge shock. For the first time in my life I have consistently been checking nutrition facts in everything that I eat, which has been an enlightening experience to say the least. What I have noticed from my first two weeks of staying away from all processed foods is that I have had more energy, have not gotten any stomach aches, headaches, or migraines, felt more productive, lost a few stubborn pounds and have felt all-around better. This new found natural way of living has boosted my happiness, which shows from the inside out. I have had less anxiety, less anger and a lot more peace. Peace of mind, body and soul. |  Sugar is something that has always been a part of my life. It was like a drug, of sorts; addicting and pleasing to taste. I am now learning to walk on my own without using the crutch that sugar gave me. Almost everything I ate had sugar in it, and although it will be hard to eliminate in my diet, I believe that God will fill the empty spaces where sugar resided with the graces that were always meant to be there. If we take out the bad things in our lives, it will leave room for the Lord to work through us. Most of us live a very fast-paced lifestyle, working hard today so we can have a better tomorrow. This same way of living could also be used to grow stronger in your mind, body, and your relationship with God. To achieve this I have been journaling a lot more, reading the Bible and going to confession regularly. In doing this, I have been cleansing both my mind and soul of worldly thoughts and feelings. These exercises have helped free myself of a lot of extra weight that have been building up for years. With the help of my new routine, I have been shedding the intoxicating pounds of self-abasement and it has been truly liberating. My self-love has grown and has encouraged my acceptance of Christ’s pure love for me, and for the whole world. Our body is a temple that has it’s fair share of upkeep. I have found a workout routine that works for me in a way that I never expected. It may seem simple, but it is effective. Here are some steps to help find your own personalized routine:
Wishing you all many blessings and good luck to everyone on their road to fitness! Thanks for reading, -Michaela  |
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