Where I'm headed this Fall!

http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/147851/entering-the-convent-is-anything-but-conventional.jhtml#id=1559081

The title of the video speaks it all!:) I will be heading there September 2nd, along with several other women.

Letter to all those who are praying for me!

Dearest Prayer Warriors,

I am writing today to thank you so much for your prayers this year! I apologize for not sending out one sooner this year, as I love sharing how God is working in the little stories throughout the year. The "new to FOCUS campus" life has been challenging, and yet very wonderful for me to continue to learn how to reach out in faith! One of the stories that I was able to garner up by the end of the year is an amazing blessing for me to see, knowing that just being present is HUGE, even when I can't answer all questions about the faith. I have witnessed some pretty awesome miracles- students going to confession after several years, road trips with spiritual discussions on the way to celebrating Thanksgiving in Florida, girls opening up in Bible study, and people coming to our FOCUS conference that I wasn't sure would come, but this is a simple story that just fills me with simple joy!

Stacey is a student at Georgia Southern who wanted to meet with someone from St. Matthew's church, and in my humanity, I had forgotten to get in contact with her. I was reminded by my ever diligent priest, Fr. Tim, when he asked in an email if I had gotten in contact with her. Guiltily, before I had emailed him back, I called her, and left a message. When I met her the week of Thanksgiving, I realized the greatest gift I could have missed out on: sharing the Catholic faith with a hungry child of God, raised in an empty Jehovah's Witness background. We talked for a couple hours, and decided to get together after the Thanksgiving break, to go to Mass together. Just before we finished, I taught her the simplest prayer: the Sign of the Cross. We went to Mass twice together before the Christmas break, she joined us one night in making rosaries (cords that are knotted) asking questions about Mary, and she continues to ask questions that are difficult for me to answer (some I can, some I can't- THAT'S EXCITING!), and I look forward to seeing if we can get her into RCIA this next semester, and continue building a friendship, and relationship in Christ.

The really exciting thing about this particular girl that I want to share with you, is that she will be celebrating Christmas for the FIRST time this year. Can you imagine seeing Christmas with celebrating the coming of the Christ child for the FIRST time? Incredible. I will be praying for her, that she may see this as a time of great hope, and invite you to pray for her, and for the students at Georgia Southern to see Christmas with new eyes.

I myself want to continue seeing Christmas with new eyes, in adoration of the Christ Child and His Holy Family. In fact, I have been trying these past few weeks to prepare my heart to receive Christ in a special way this Christmas. I want to prepare my heart to be able to give it to Him. I know that all that I do in FOCUS is nothing; if it is good, it is because He is. God is the one who works in the hearts of my brothers and sisters that I am privileged to be with.

I have been so blessed to be partnered with you this past year. May God bless this Christmas in your families. You are prayed for, especially this Christmas Mass. You will be offered up in my prayers as we worship our Lord. Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

All Souls Day....a celebration of lives!

This past week was crazy fun! We had missionaries from all over the South Region come and join us, from Florida Gulf Coast to Belmont Abbey, from University of Florida, to Auburn University! It was wonderful! On Friday morning, we began with a holy hour and some talks, and then went into the chapel for Rosary and the Mass. As we prayed the rosary, an elderly gentleman by the name of Henry Lota (although we knew him as Mr. Henry) lead the rosary. I couldn't help but think of how inaudible he was while we were praying, and just how sweet he was in his thick Polish accent. I knew most of the missionaries couldn't hear him, and was still just in huge appreciation for his devotion to the Holy Rosary, and to daily Mass. Of course, after that was finished, I had several things on my agenda that needed to be attended to, but it was a moment.
The next day, while we were having a campfire with the missionaries, after a day of kayaking and an enjoyable women's night, a teammate approached me and told me that Mr. Henry had died in his sleep that morning. I was in shock. Mr. Henry!? But he had just said the rosary for us the day before! I shared this bit of news with the other missionaries, and they were in the same stupor- one even said, "I haven't ever had anyone I know die [during the age at which I could remember]." It was a happy and sad moment. The next day, when I shared that news and asked for prayers from my mom, she said, "You do know that was also the day that Grandpa Z died?" My mom's dad died twenty years ago on that exact date! But what was even cooler (if you can call it cool), was the fact that that Mr. Henry's funeral was on All Souls Day- an appropriate day to remember his life with joy- a 91 year old man who attended daily mass since I came to Statesboro, and was a member of the Polish army years ago in WW2. He chose a life of love, and chose also not to become embittered by the war and its effects on his life. He was a gentle old man, and reminded me of what my grandpa would have been like at his age (Grandpa Z would be 94, had he still been alive). Praise God for the body of Christ- I felt so free to celebrate the life of Mr. Henry, and to rejoice, and also pray for my own grandparents who have passed away. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

October return: Fall in a new place!

For those who have been following me on the blog world, I'm now at Georgia Southern University, in Statesboro, GA. I love it, because the world is new to my senses here... Seeing green...feeling consistent heat....hearing mockingbirds...tasting fried chicken, boiled peanuts, and sweet tea...smelling the Southern air... And working with the new campus! I love it! My team is awesome- Katie, Tom, Mark, and myself. And believe me, we do know how to have fun!

I just finished a trip home, tasted a breath of that great North Dakotan fall, and was so grateful to be able to spend some time with my mission partners, prayer partners, friends, and YES, my family! I hope that all those I ran into knows how I appreciate their friendship- thanks again!

The Colleges of St. Maria Goretti, St. Pio, and St. Rita

 

Breezy last week on campus....

So the last month has been an interesting ride, for God to call me to trust in Him. Being the melancholic personality that I am, I took a lot of it to heart quickly and personally, and being the sanguine that I am, couldn't help but share it like a kindergartner who can't hold a secret. God is so patient with me, though, because even as I write this, I see me, me, me written all over this, when it's really all about HIM....off the tirade that is my life, and on to the beauty of SDSU's campus- it's aesthetic and human beauty.



I was fortunate enough to take part in a Eucharistic procession early in the Easter season, and wanted to share a picture of that- it was a slightly breezy day as well, but that only encourages me to think that the Holy Spirit was present that day, as it was Divine Mercy Sunday, and the day Gideon Gauer was baptized!

What a beautiful gift God has given this past month, and even so this last week! Our men honored the women of the Newman Center with a meal, serving to their best ability. We were blessed with a talk by Jackie Logue, a woman who shares in the responsibility of praying for FOCUS to come to the campus of SDSU...to think of the prayers she has said for us, and her own personal struggles with the death of her husband, all the while seeing God, made tears come to several eyes. I have realized as of late, because of this, that I am definitely in need of learning how to be able to receive all that God wants to do in my life. Especially in loving me. I think He longs to show that to everyone that I am blessed to meet, so PRAISE GOD for all that He is able to show!

The time here on campus as of now has been one of savoring what is left- the relationships, the excitement and anticipation of how FOCUS will approach the campus this next year, and how these souls have such great potential at reaching others! I hope that this summer will be a boost for them- not a time to lag in their prayer, but to continue being the witnesses of how Jesus is a loving God and Savior, and the Holy Spirit invigorates their everyday lives.

So, then, what are MY plans for the summer?
I leave for Fargo on Saturday, and will be there until about the 21st of May. From there I will be driving out to Champaign, IL, via Dubuque, to visit some friends (Jason, Kjersti, and baby!). I will be in Champaign for 6 weeks, as a dean for a college (small group/suite of missionary ladies), and a fund raising coach. Following training I will be leaving for a 3 week pilgrimage to France, seeing the many wonders and beauties of the life of the Church in times past (hopefully to be replicated in fervor in the present!), and will then return home, the last week of July. At this point, I am not sure what campus I will be at this next year, but hope to find out soon, before training begins...no guarantees, just knowing what's going on for the next 3 months, at this point, is sufficing!

Full of Grace

This week has been busy with a beautiful Bible study on Monday going over the virtue of Faith (one of the theological virtues- it can only be given by God first as a gift), a great study over the Israelites in the desert for 40 years, and why that had to happen, with Chrism Mass (one of my favorite Masses of the year, because it is when most, if not all, of the priests from the diocese come together to take the sacred oils back to their parishes, but also renew their priestly vows, which is so great during the year of the priest- St. John Vianney, pray for us!) concluded by the blessing from the bishop, Bishop Paul Swain, an opportunity to meet another student who is seeking better lifestyle choices, and celebrating a successful completion of a grace-filled consecration to Mary (well, really, to Jesus through Mary!), and all leading into Holy Week this next week. Now, granted, that's not meaning to say this week has not had it's hardships. This week, I found out dear friend of mine is suffering, and it is hard to see that. In fact, I was nearly in tears on my way down to (the Chrism) Mass yesterday, just realizing how much I wanted to help this person, and just couldn't be there right now. A book I'm reading, "Fuel And The Flame," which talks about campus ministry, talks about how everything starts with prayer. I was instantly reminded how I don't ask God specifically enough to do things, I can get caught in the general intercession for others. It's so important to remember, self, that you are so much more effective when you are direct in what you are asking for!

Moving on.....I wanted to be able to share a poem that reflects the beauty of this day in such a wonderful human light, especially on the feast of the Annunciation. I had made a trip out to the Bronx this last year over spring break, and was able to visit a beautiful community called the Sisters of Life (http://sistersoflife.org). They wear a white and blue habit, with a medal that has a portion of a poem on the back side, which was striking to all of us "missionaries" on out mission trip (as noted in the highlighted portion. I will leave you with "The Annunciation" by Rev. John Duffy. (http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/682363/posts)

May God bless your week, and may nothing in your life be seen as "casual or small," but all a part of the Eternal Plan- Trust and say Yes to Him!

Mikki Breen

The Annunciation

And was it true, The stranger standing so, And saying things that lifted her in two, And put her back before the world's beginning? Her eyes filled slowly with the morning glow. Her drowsy ear drank in a first sweet dubious bird. Her cheek against the pillow woke and stirred To gales enriched by passage over dew, And friendly fields and slopes of Galilee Arose in tremulous intermixture with her dreams, Till she remembered suddenly...

Although the morning beams Came spilling in the gradual rubric known to every day, And hills stood ruinous, as an eclipse, Against the softly spreading ray, Not touched by any strange apocalypse Like that which yesterday had lifted her sublime, And put her back before the first grey morn of Time -- Though nothing was disturbed from where she lay and saw, Now she remembered with a quick and panting awe That someone came, and took in hand her heart, And broke irresistibly apart, With what he said, and how in tall suspense He lingered, while the white celestial inference, Pushing her fears apart, went softly home. Then she had faltered her reply, And felt a sudden burden of eternal years, And shamed by the angelic stranger standing by Had bowed her head to hide her human tears. Never again would she awake And find herself the buoyant Galilean lass, But into her dissolving dreams would break A hovering consciousness too terrible to pass -- A new awareness in her body when she stirred, A sense of Light within her virgin gloom: She was the Mother of the wandering Word, Little and terrifying in her laboring womb. And nothing would again be casual and small, But everything with light invested, overspilled With terror and divinity, the dawn, the first bird's call, The silhouetted pitcher waiting to be filled. I Sing of a Maiden Rev. John Duffy, C.S.s.R.