#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

#17 Thing I Love: Outrageous Amounts of Snow

Here in the Philadelphia area, we experienced a weekend full of a Outrageous Amounts of Snow.

How would I describe Outrageous Amounts of Snow?

Well I'm not good at the whole inches/feet guesstimation business...so I describe an Outrageous Amount of Snow by the fact that I couldn't really leave my house all weekend, that it stopped snowing Saturday and yet schools are still closed Monday.

Outrageous right?

oh and every restaurant on City ave was closed.

More outrageous.

At least the Super Bowl is still going on?
Oh wait, I don't care.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/weather/stories/Images-Snow-Pets--83725252.html

-Cat

#18 Thing I Love: Pedro Arrupe Quote

Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.-Pedro Arrupe SJ.

There really is nothing to dislike about this quote. Even if you're not religious, do not believe in God at all, this just speaks to the soul. Whether you're simple, or the most intellectual person in the world...this quote just encompasses what a lot of people feel about love, faith and life.

-Cat

#19 Thing I Love: Happier by A Fine Frenzy

So I love everything by A Fine Frenzy. Her first album was phenomenal. Her next album "Bomb in a Birdcage" is just as good, but with more variety.
She rightly picked the first single to be "Happier". What I love about this song is that it is not what you expect at first glance. When you listen to it you can't help but be in a "happy" mood. After all the song is called "happier". The tune is just catchy. However, then you look at the lyrics...and it's not really all that happy. I love it. Obviously, A Fine Frenzy wasn't the first to use this little switch, but it still cracks me up. My emotions get so confused when I listen to this song hahah.

"Quick kid quick, so harsh and cynical
Touches stricken, cold and clinical
What a transformation to behold
But I don't like this new, I want the old

It's not the words that make it final
You've said such things such things before to rival them
But it's how you say 'em now that's changed
Cold but sympathetic all the same

Lie to convince me that I'll be better off
Oh, you go on and I'll be happier, I'll be happier
You go on, yeah, you go on
You'll be gone and I'll be happier

Shoot me with your rubber bullets
Your finger's on the trigger, pull it
I know you want this suffering to end
So it is forgivable my friend

It's all to convince me that I'll be better off
So you go on and I'll be happier,
You go on and I'll be happier
You go on, yeah, you go on
You'll be gone and I'll be happier

Bo-bo-ba-do-bo
Bo-bo-ba-do-bo-da-da-da

Say what you mean, what you mean
Cause you'll be happier without me, without me, without me, oh

You won't convince me, that I'll be better off
So you go on and I'll be happier, I'll be happier
You go on, you go
You'll be gone, and I'll be gone
You go on and I'll be happier, you go on and I'll be happier
You go on, you go on, you go on and I'll go on and I'll be happier
You on and I'll be happier, you go on and I'll be happier

You go on, and I'll be happier"

#20 Thing I Love: Dance Movies

There's something about a movie where people have more talent than I do. I can't dance for my life. I could probably fake it if I tried, but let's be serious, I will never be like Baby from Dirty Dancing. I mean maybe if Patrick Swayze was around to step in and save my moves there might be hope. I normally awkwardly stand in the corner doing the head nod, or even the Jersey fist pump.
However, whenever I watch movies revolving around dance...I get happy. I get a little bit jealous, but for that hour and a half or so I'm transplanted to a new place where I'm a fabulous dancer. I can bust moves, break dance, and not embarrass myself while doing so.

Oh...
And I'm dating Channing Tatum in this dream world.