PHONEIX- On December 30th, 2019, nine Western CT State University students along with their four FOCUS missionaries and Chaplain Father Augustine traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) Student Leadership Summit (SLS). The conference had over 8,000 Roman Catholic college-aged attendees.
The conference took place in the convention center for five days. Each day consisted of the Sacraments, speakers, entertainment, and opportunities for future vocations. The purpose of the conference was to teach students how to evangelize their campuses, parishes, and community. Students were given the tools to become leaders in the faith in their respective arenas. They were challenged to teach others by going to training sessions and then having to bring back the information they learned to their respective small groups.
The difficulty of living out a Catholic lifestyle is extensive for most Catholic young adults. They are often accused of being unloving or misunderstanding of their peers. However, this conference gave students the opportunity to fully understand that the Catholic view is the optimistic view. Catholic means universal and that our Church is one that can grow extensively if we meet others where they are. SLS highlighted that these young individuals can be the ones that bring others to our Church. They can be the ones that meet their peers at their brokenness and guide them to a life centered on Christ.
Overall, the conference is a true indicator that if we all work in the hearts of our youth, our communities will thrive and continue to grow.
Mariana Martins’s Testimony
Being one of the nine students that went to SLS was an opportunity of a lifetime as I watched the reversion of hearts that was taking place in my heart and the hearts of my friends. Going into SLS, I thought that there wasn’t much more Jesus could do in my heart. I thought I was doing just fine and that I can keep living life the way I had all the days prior. However, I never thought that SLS would be such a wake-up call to me, my peers and even the Church as a whole.
The first night of keynote speakers consisted of Father Mike Schmitz and Emily Wilson. Their talks highlighted the artificial conversations we have with our peers. We often are asked “How are you?” with the automatic reply set to “I’m good, just tired” or “I’m busy!” However, this talk spoke deeply into the hearts of thousands of college students attending the conference. Our hearts aren’t fine, some are broken, wounded or transformed. Our world tells us that we have to be good all the time. That vulnerability is a sign of weakness and that people will hate the parts ourselves that aren’t “perfect.” However, this isn’t true. Authentic friendships rooted in Jesus Christ will free you from fabricated friendships that are based only on convenience and interests.
During the conference, I was specifically touched by Sister Miriam James Heidland, who I had the opportunity to listen to three times out of the five days I was there. She spoke a lot about healing and freeing ourselves from our wounds. She pointed out that 80% of our current distress is caused by our past. This struck me when she said it because currently, the Church is facing a crisis, where young adults are struggling to find their place in the Catholic faith. No one has taught them that carrying their cross will be difficult and that they too may go through agonizing pain like being nailed to their own cross. However, Sister pointed out that if they look to Jesus and let Him enter their hearts, they too will see a transformation in their wounds and begin a journey to healing and freedom. This talk gave me the opportunity to enter into the hearts of my friends and my own. We all became more aware that we are limited to our humanness and we need good authentic friendships to bring us closer to Christ. These friendships remind us that it isn’t what we do, but who we are that matters.
Emily Lynch’s Testimony
Leading up to SLS, I was nervous and apprehensive. However, SLS exceeded my expectations. It was amazing to be surrounded by about eight to ten thousand Catholics from around the world. Everyone was very open to conversation which is rare in our society today. The speakers were also amazing! During almost all of them, I felt God calling me higher. Others gave me a new perspective on the teachings of the Church. Most importantly, I learned how to effectively evangelize. At first, the task seemed very daunting; however, by the end of the conference, I was ready to do it! Going into SLS, I assumed that evangelizing meant just telling random strangers about your faith and being shut out by them. But that is not the case at all! I learned that evangelization needs authentic friendship first. Throughout the conference, they emphasized the importance of evangelization which I had not realized prior to SLS. They said it came down to saving souls and heaven or hell for both of us. The one thing that turned my heart was Sister Miriam James and adoration.
Going into the conference, I had a vague idea of God’s eternal love. Then, Sister Miriam James gave a talk about our wounds. She emphasized that if we leave our hearts open to Jesus, He can fix it all. Right after that talk was adoration and that is just what I did. I dove deep and told Jesus about wounds I had shoved down and wow Sister was right. That night I felt God’s love like never before. I was filled with such joy after opening my heart that I wanted to share my faith which was a new feeling to me. I always had seen evangelization as a chore. There were talks after saying “Jesus’ love is greater than our fears” and I actually knew what they were talking about. I came home with my heart on fire and trying to share the Gospel. While I have not always succeeded, I have made more improvements since I got home than in my entire life. If you are looking to deepen your faith and really get to know God, SLS is the place to do it.
