Our Lady of Light's Director of Youth & Mission, Christen Aquino, found remarkable inspiration in our parish youth during this year's 8th Grade Retreat.

"This past weekend we held our first 8th Grade Retreat for Our Lady of Light Family of Parishes. The retreat theme, “Some Assembly Required,” reminded us that each of us are unique and unrepeatable, are here for a specific purpose, and our relationship with God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – gives us a foundation for living out our faith both now, into high school, and beyond."

As the retreat leader, Christen had the opportunity to witness EDGE students and school students come together and build community around their common faith. Sharing meals together served as a big uniter, as well as Saturday night's time in Adoration.

"I was sitting up front, eyes closed in prayer. After a few minutes of exposition, I invited the teens to take a comfortable position to pray and talk with Jesus. I heard loud noises and was about to say something to them when I realized that what I had heard was all of them coming up to sit before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament."

​When she opened her eyes, Christen saw not one or two, but the entire group of 8th graders together before the Blessed Sacrament.

"It's moment like this, watching young people “seek the face of Christ” as a community, that I’m reminded how powerful young people are in a parish. Our teens have the power to change the culture of our community for the better – to help all of us, young and old, seek the face of Christ more, and particularly in our worship at Mass and in Adoration."
​
Even after a weekend retreat, several 8th graders were present Sunday evening for our Parish Mission, True Presence Night, and once again found themselves eagerly approaching the altar to be close to Christ.
​
Please pray for the 8th graders in our family of parishes, who grow closer each day to graduation. Ask God for His many blessings upon them as they enter high school, so that they may continue to seek Him throughout their lives.

​"And while I'm standing there taking photos of these young men and women receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, I can't help but smile and feel a tear pool in the corner of my eye. I'm witnessing the Holy Spirit live in front of us like we see Christ each week in the Eucharist and it's spiritually overwhelming. He's with us in this room and He's igniting a flame that will catapult these young people into their faith in a way they haven't experienced before. Just watch them as they turn from Archbishop Schnurr - there's a soft smile that they just cant help. That's pure joy from a true encounter with God."

Our newly hired Digital Communication Specialist, Sarah Chivers, recalls her work taking photos during the recent Confirmation celebrations in January. In her service to the Church, Sarah shares how she witnesses God among us, especially in the sacraments. Through the lens of her camera, she captures special moments such as the proud smiles of the newly confirmed seen below.

Apart from larger occasions like Confirmation, Sarah finds the special moments of being Catholic while celebrating weekly Mass, engaging in youth programs, and even while out in nature. As the primary photographer for Our Lady of Light, she takes inspiration directly from our community to tell the story of our family of parishes.

"I like to think that God is still writing unpublished chapters of the Bible. That there are hundreds of thousands of books lining the walls of Heaven filled with the stories we've lived out. The moments that I capture illustrate His love stories to us and from us."

Whether those moments are a couple in their golden year of marriage sharing a sweet hug during the sign of peace, a LifeTeen student kneeling before the blessed sacrament during an XLT or even a young family celebrating that first Mass with their newborn child, Sarah hopes to share the beautiful stories of our family of parishes.

Similar to how Sarah looks for special moments in our congregation, try to notice the special moments in your life. There are no moments in life too small to glorify God. 𝗜𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲?