#15 Thing I Love: Learning About Different Religions

As it's been noted previously, I consider myself a pretty faithful person. My background is Roman Catholic, and I consider myself to be a fairly liberal Catholic. Do I believe in abortion? No, not for myself. Do I believe that homosexuals should get married? Yes.
I don't agree with everything the Catholic church has to offer. However, I love it.
In all honesty, if the Jesuits had their own entire religion revolved around Catholic Social Teaching and social justice...that's what I would be. My experience at St. Joe's has really opened my mind up to that.

For a few years I have gone back and forth about whether or not I really am a Catholic since I differ in some ways. I also love the idea of contemporary Christian worship. Running interdenominational camps like I do with Group Workcamps Foundation doesn't really help this inner debate.

Despite my love for Catholic Social Teaching...I love learning about other denominations and religions other than Christianity. This past semester, for example, I took a course about Judaism, and I absolutely loved it.

There's something amazing to see how other people worship God, or to see what they believe in. Religion is a powerful thing to have in this world. It has caused wars, destroyed countries, and has also saved so many lives. It gives people meaning and hope in this crazy world. However, everyone has a different way of praying and finding a faith of their liking. It's beautiful to see and learn these things. I believe that learning about a different religion or different denomination gives one a new feeling of grace and pride in their own religion. Having to explain or defend Catholicism to those of a different denomination is a beautiful thing because we find so much in common and come to understandings. It is like a way of restoring peace and erasing judgements that we all have about other faiths that have differing opinions from our own.

God bless, or whoever you believe in...
-Cat

#16 Thing I Love: My Summer Job

So this summer, and last summer, I have had the amazing opportunity to work for a wonderful organization: Group Workcamps Foundation.

What is it? http://groupworkcamps.com/Workcamps/Pages/default.aspx
-Basically youth groups from all over the country invade a community, live on air-mattresses in classrooms of a local school, and do home repair for needy families in that community.

What do I do? http://groupworkcamps.com/Workcamps/Pages/SummerStaffintroduction.aspx
-I'm part of a crew of 4 (there are several crews) who travel together all summer in a Ryder Truck and a Chevy Cobalt...we go to different places to set up these amazing camps. We all have different positions...mine is Office Manager.

Last summer this job took me to Rocky Mount-VA, Sullivan-IL, Baltimore-MD
This summer I've been to Coshocon-OH, Indianapolis-IN, Winston-Salem-NC
Not to mention our two week training period in Estes Park, Colorado (which we drive back to at the end of the summer), and the travel time in between camps.

Basically, I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend summer...traveling, serving people, meeting new people, and growing in my faith.

if you want to know more: http://summerstaffing.blogspot.com/
-Cat

Beauty and the Tragedy

what an amazing song by Trading Yesterday

Watch your step, love is broken
I am every tear you cry
Save your breath, your heart has spoken
You already have my life

For I am finding out that love will kill and save me
Taking the dreams that made me up
And tearing them away
But the same love will take this heart that's barely beating
And fill it with hope beyond the stars
Only love

Another day, another sunrise
Washing over everything
In its time, love will be mine
The beauty and the tragedy

For I am finding out that love will kill and save me
Taking the dreams that made me up
And tearing them away
But the same love will take this heart that's barely beating
And fill it with hope beyond the stars
Only love
Only love, love, love

For I am finding out that love will kill and save me