Thank You Our Sunday Visitor Institute!

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Last April, the Our Sunday Visitor Institute awarded the Saint Benedict Forum a matching grant. We are pleased to announce that the matching grant is complete!   In three short months, we raised $22,000 and the Our Sunday Visitor Institute has matched it! We are grateful for the generous support of our work.  It is a real blessing to have the encouragement of this fine Institute.

We are also grateful to all of our benefactors who made this opportunity a rousing success.  You make our work possible.  May God richly bless you!

In Their Own Words: Immersion Trip 2015

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For Spring Break 2015, eleven Hope College students worked alongside, prayed with, and learned from the Franciscans of the Eucharist in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood.  Below are some of their beautiful reflections on the week.

The Trip in Three Words

“I've been trying to think of a "quick and easy" way to respond to your questions... But my heart is so full after the trip that I don't really know if that's possible. Well, here goes: "Taste and see." (As in, "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord." Andrew brought a few hymnals, and this was one hymn we sang that really hit home.)”

“I had such a hard time putting my growth from this trip into words. My heart is truly overflowing . . . Three words to describe the trip: discovery, perspective, inspiration.”

“Relationship-driven, reflective, peaceful (in that we were removed from the clutters and stimulation of life centered on material things while living with the nuns)”

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“Awe-striking, Heartbreaking, Inspiring”

“Thought-provoking, refreshing, simple”

“Challenging, thought-provoking, stirring”

“Intense, edifying and hopeful"

“Community-based, prayerful, loving”

“Frustrating, heartbreaking, joyful”

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One Memorable Highlight or Story

“Any day spent in the after school program with the little kids was awesome (I was with the 6-8 boys). Tutoring William who has autism was incredible and having Darrian try to teach me how to "slow dance" was a great slice of happiness I will carry with me.”

“The best part of the trip was seeing how the sisters interact with the community that they are now a part of. They are truly respected by the people they are helping and they are not seen as outsiders.”

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“The sisters are possibly some of the greatest people I have ever met. I was blessed with opportunities to have serious one-on-one conversations with almost every one of them over the course of the week, and each time I felt completely inspired.”

“Sister Kate tried to convince us that we were having blended liver for dinner one night, but we caught her in the joke because it was a Friday in Lent, and we knew there was no way they would serve us meat.”

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“It all just seemed so hopeless, like there was nothing that anyone could do. But at the same time, seeing the dedication of the people who run the afterschool program, talking to some of the kids at the high school who really do have hopes and dreams and plans for college and were so willing to work to make those real, witnessing the good work the Franciscans are doing in the neighborhood... All of that was so full of hope. It blew me away how there can be so much good and so much beauty in such a broken, difficult place.”

“My favorite moment of the trip was when one student opened up to us during the reflection shortly after he learned of his grandfather’s passing away, and how everyone rallied around him and the whole group came together to support him and each other.”

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“I'd like to share two highlights, the first being Daniel's witness story, and how it so effectively touched me and made me notice what might also being missing in my faith journey as well, and then the other highlight would have to be when I talked about my father, and grandfather on the trip, which was very hard but at the same time very humbling.”

“While the entire trip was one huge highlight in itself, I especially loved how the trip helped me see past stereotypes and make connections with so many people despite vast differences. Watching the sisters’ willingness to reach out to the community, I was inspired to abandon my own preconceptions or criticisms and open my heart to discover the power of sharing Christ’s love through service. It was extremely uncomfortable at first, but it allowed me to discover the freedom that lies in selflessly giving to others in big and small ways. I built such powerful relationships through service with the community, with the nuns, and with my peers.

I also was able to discover the value that lies in a life of simplicity, humility, quiet, and all-encompassing service. The sisters have created such a calming, faith-focused environment despite the chaos and despair in the neighborhood. It is truly a little piece of heaven.”

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“Near the end of the trip, Sister Stephanie told our group that their boiler had just broken. So the sisters were without heat in their home.  Sister Stephanie seemed surprised but not worried. Her attitude wasn't "We don't have the means for this. What is God thinking?" but rather, "Well, that happened. Here's another chance to lean on God." It was at this moment that I realized just how much the sisters place their trust in God. The sisters had said multiple times before how everything they have is donated, but it didn't really sink in until Sister Stephanie told us about their boiler. This realization of how much God will provide if we let Him, and of how much He wants to provide, has helped me tremendously in trying to say "Jesus, I trust in You" for all aspects of my life.”

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The Impact of the Trip in One Sentence

“After this trip life does not make any sense without God.”

“This trip taught me that God’s mercy is present even in the darkest, most seemingly hopeless of situations.”

“This trip not only helped become conscious of where joyful self-giving and reckless abandonment to God are called for in my life, but also intensified my appreciation for genuine friendship and community that is rooted in Jesus Christ and His Church.”

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“This trip gave me some hope for the world by showing me some of the unseen work being done to help those living in poverty and violence both spiritually and physically.”

“A relationship with God is necessary for complete fulfillment and joy.”

“This trip challenged me to re-examine a faith I had grown all too familiar with, helping me rediscover my appreciation for Catholicism and the way it is being lived out in humble service today.”

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“In one sentence, man this will be fun... Ok so here it is:  My spiritual life was in a way shattered, and the trip led me to re-evaluate what my journey has been, and try to piece together what my life means.”

“Staying with the Franciscans really made me realize how important it is to rely on God's provision, in terms of material things, of course, but also in terms of spiritual and emotional stability. I don't think the sisters could do what they do where they do it without relying on Him for sustenance through prayer, through His Word, and through His body and blood. We had a difficult enough time, and we were only there for a week.”

“Much of this week was challenging to witness, even in the context of all the amazing work that the sisters are doing in the neighborhood. At several points during the week I found myself very discouraged in regard to God's plan for His people in the area as well as in regard to my helplessness. In a time of reflective prayer and reading, it was brought to my attention that like St. Veronica, sometimes the Lord calls us to wipe the sweat from the brows of those who are suffering. It was a beautiful revelation for me, and probably the main message that I'm taking out of the immersion trip. I felt blessed by the compassion that I felt for the people that I met and stirred by the freedom I found in the calling to suffer with others. I tend to want to fix all the problems in the world, and this week really showed me that it is not my will to change the world that I must chase but rather the will of my Heavenly Father, who is often simply calling me to love others and walk with them through their journey instead of try to fix them.”

Immersion Trip 2015: Franciscans of the Eucharist

By Daniel Karlovich, Hope College '15, Engineering Major

During Spring Break this year I was blessed to go on the Hope College Immersion trip sponsored by the Saint Benedict Forum to Chicago. With 10 other Hope students and two adult mentors from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Holland, Michigan I lived and worked at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels alongside members of the religious order Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago. It was a powerful and blessed experience for us all.

A View of the Hope Students from Chicago's Famous "Bean"

During the course of the week we learned to live simply like the Franciscans. A significant part of the trip was spent doing simple tasks such as cooking and cleaning. We quickly learned from the sisters that even such “boring” chores take on great meaning when done with joy and love for Christ.

We also ventured into the community in which we were living. Inside one of the poorest and most violent neighborhoods in Chicago, we spent a few hours every day at the local YMCA with the children in their after school programs. Helping teach a junior class at the local high school, a school with a 67% dropout rate, was particularly powerful for many of us. We also visited a Catholic school, Cristo Rey, and learned about all the wonderful work they are doing to help underprivileged children get a good high school and college education.

All these great things were secondary to what the trip was mainly about. The trip was about self-reflection, learning what it means to live as a Christian in a broken world. It was here that the trip made a lasting impression on me.

I don’t think this trip was easy for anyone. We all were blessed by our experiences, but it wasn’t comfortable. It was a week of both great joy and great sorrow. Joy seemed to just flow from the sisters and it influenced our whole week in our work and in our relationships with each other and the people we met. What a contrast to the pervasive sorrow caused by the poverty and violence that was so prevalent and normal in the neighborhood and in the lives of those we met. Living for a week in an area of so much violence and poverty made all of us ask questions of ourselves and of God that we perhaps had never asked before.

What were these questions? We questioned what purpose was there to come into these people’s lives for a week and then leave. How could we change anything in so short a time against such overwhelming odds? We also questioned ourselves, where are we in our own spiritual journeys? Where is God in our lives?

Some of these questions are easy to answer. Immersion trips are aptly named because we really do not go to help others. We cannot change anything in a week. We go to learn about ourselves and to deepen our own understanding and love of God. In this aspect, this trip succeeded. Some of us left hopeful despite all the struggles. Others left frustrated. It wasn’t the frustration that comes from failure, but the frustration of struggling with a hard question that taxes us spiritually and mentally, but which always leaves us better for the struggle.

For me, being in the midst of so much violence and poverty left me feeling more hopeful than I have in a while. Despite the conditions of the neighborhood, I found so much good there. All the residents we met were loving and welcoming. The kids were a constant joy to be around. The YMCA employees worked tirelessly to get the kids off the streets, to do their homework and have a hot meal. And, of course, there are the sisters who are respected and loved within the community, doing everything with so much abundant joy and love for God. I realized that despite the evil in the world there are so many people who go about their lives humbly and lovingly in the midst of suffering, helping those in poverty both spiritually and physically.

It is always good when facing hard questions to draw on the wisdom of other godly people. In the car ride home one of the girls, like the rest of us still struggling to come to terms with all we had experienced, read a reflection on St. Veronica. The message was clear, “sometimes all we can do is wipe the sweat from someone’s brow as they suffer” (Kerry Weber, Mercy in the City).

Before the trip we may have said we went to help the poor, but we are wiser now. Like St. Veronica, the best we could do was to wipe the sweat from those in pain as an act of love. The real change came in our own hearts.

Deification Day of Study

On Saturday, March 7th, the Saint Benedict Forum, Western Theological Seminary, and Hope College hosted a Day of Study on the theme, "Fundamental Issues in the Western Understanding of Deification."The overall goal of the Day of Study is to provide a leisurely opportunity for scholars in the region to explore together questions of theological and cultural import.

There were four informal papers:

• Carl Mosser (Notre Dame) - “How Deification was Mislabeled as ‘Eastern’: Ritschl, Harnack, and the Russian Diaspora”

• Jared Ortiz (Hope College) - “Deification in the Early Latin Liturgy”

• Daniel Keating (Sacred Heart Seminary) - “Typologies of Deification”

• Kirsten Laurel Guidero (Marquette University) - "A Pneumatic Deification? Resources and Trajectories from the Traditions on Theosis."

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A dozen interlocutors from the region were invited to engage each paper in an extended period of discussion.  The discussions were thoroughly enjoyable and spilled over into the breaks and lunch and after the event.

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Here are a few more pictures from this delightful day:

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Dominican Sisters Spend the Day with Hope Students

By Garrett Sims, Class of 2018, Chemistry for Secondary Education Major

I have to admit, being a Protestant, the only thing I knew about religious sisters was what I saw in The Sound of Music. Yeah, you could say my understanding was pretty deep. From what I could tell they are irresistibly joyful, their singing voices are unmatched, and their wit is innocently hilarious. The funny thing is, only when I was able to spend a day with Sr. Joseph Andrew, Sr. Mary Lawrence, and Sr. Maria Karol did I realize my idea of a nun was spot-on. No, they didn’t randomly start singing atop mountaintops while the cool spring breeze ruffled their habits. Maybe that was a little disappointing, but in truth, my experience was so much better. On Wednesday, March 4th (50 years to the day of the release of The Sound of Music!), three nuns arrived on Hope’s campus. Little did we know what was coming. Sr. Joseph Andrew marched on stage at Chapel with poise and confidence.

With her Bible close to her heart and her rosary beads at her side she faced a sea of eyes. “Do it anyway.” These wise words, first spoken by Mother Teresa reverberated through the speakers, spoken by the sister now standing on stage in front of me. “The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.” A statement not only spoken, but I am sure lived out by the indomitable sister. “Forgive.” Something not usually taken easily, yet said so gently that it melted our hearts as it rolled off her lips. After Chapel I, like many others, felt revived and rejuvenated, ready to take on the world. Thankfully, my time with the sisters was not over. A few friends and I took the sisters to lunch. There is something about walking around campus with nuns. Whether it was the many stares from passersby or being in the presence of some amazing ladies, something felt different.

We got our lunch and sat down. The sisters had Cokes. Why was that peculiar to me? I don’t know. Perhaps it’s because I had never really considered nuns as real people. Yes, that does sound strange, but it’s true! They seemed too heavenly for humanity. I couldn’t help but think though, if God calls normal ladies to be nuns, maybe, just maybe he calls for the same righteousness from me and you. A thought I had to consider. All my thoughts came to a standstill when Sister Joseph Andrew asked me to pray for our lunch. I don’t care how righteous you are, nothing strikes more fear in you than a nun asking you to pray! Regardless, I began to pray in my normal, unpoetic voice. As the meal commenced, our conversation tasted even better than the food we were eating (I know, a hard thing to do in a college cafeteria.) The joy of the sisters was tangible. Also, side note: I think it may be a gift from God, but the sisters remembered the name of every single person they met at lunch. It took me a whole semester to remember the name of everyone in my dorm hall! The sisters graced us further with their presence in my religion class. The topic of the day was vocations. Nothing hits home more to college students than jobs. The sisters spoke beautifully of their own calling to be nuns. Each person has his/her own place in the world. It is a place God specifically created you for. Sister Joseph Andrew put it as: “God could have created anyone, but he created you. With all your flaws (if they can be called flaws), with all your problems, and with every part that you don’t like about yourself, God intentionally created you that way. They are gifts. The world needs you just the way you are.” I have to say, He broke the mold when he made this special sister. Later that evening, along with Confession and adoration of the Eucharist, Sister Joseph Andrew gave a talk titled “Heroic Witnesses in the Third Millennium: If Tempted, Everyone can be a Hero.” She went through a montage of true heroes in our era. This ranged from James Wright Foley to John Paul II. It was a solemn night filled with laughter and worship. Echoing her other talks, she added a new spin; God designed each person in order that they may be a hero. With that said we must, like Maria Von Trapp, “have confidence.” God already knows our vocational calling. He made us to be happy as we walk in love. Find, and then be the you God made you to be. As Mother Teresa says, “In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.”

Relaxing with the Ortiz Family

The video of Sr. Joseph Andrew's talk can be found here.

Interview with Catholic World Report

Co-founders Jared Ortiz and Jack Mulder were recently interviewed by Carl Olson of Catholic World Report.  They spoke about the founding of the Saint Benedict Forum, their vision, and their plans for the future.  You can read the full interview here.

A Catholic Bishop Comes to Hope College

By Anna Jones, Theater Major, Hope College '18

It was Wednesday, February 4, and faculty, students, and members of the surrounding community were gathering in Winants Auditorium in Hope College’s Graves Hall. Some came with questions, others with pencils or laptops at the ready, but all with welcoming hearts. Bishop David Walkowiak of Grand Rapids was invited to speak at Hope College by the Saint Benedict Forum. The event was co-sponsored by Hope’s Campus Ministries, Religion Department, and Office of the Provost. This was to be the first time in Hope College’s 149-year history that a Roman Catholic Bishop would make an official visit to the college. As a Catholic student at Hope, I was incredibly excited to be a part of this historic event.

After a brief introduction by the Chair of Hope’s Religion Department, Dr. Jeff Tyler, Bishop David Walkowiak of Grand Rapids took the podium. The bishop spoke for about twenty minutes regarding his vision for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, an office that he has held for just under two years. Bishop Walkowiak was appointed by Pope Francis to serve the eleven counties and over 191,000 Catholics that constitute the Grand Rapids Diocese.

An extensive question and answer session followed Bishop Walkowiak’s opening statements. There were a wide variety of questions asked from the diverse spectrum of attendees. The questions ranged from liturgical to political, covering issues from Eucharistic protocol to reaching out to the Latino community. While these topics were both intriguing and informative, what hit home most for me was Bishop Walkowiak’s effort to “have the scent of his flock,” as Pope Francis exhorts.

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About one third of the population of the Diocese of Grand Rapids is Latino. In an effort to better serve this segment of his flock, Bishop Walkowiak learned to speak Spanish. This ability enables him to personally extend the sacrament of Confirmation and celebrate Mass for the Spanish speaking part of his community. Bishop Walkowiak’s commitment to being personally present to his people shows just how dedicated he is to the service of his office.

Bishop Walkowiak’s devoted service can be seen to spring from a deep knowledge about the Christian life. He shared his knowledge in response to a question concerning the nature of love in the Christian vocation. Bishop Walkowiak expounded upon the idea of agape, that highest love of disinterested self-sacrifice. The bishop commented that agape is “outward bound,” it is the unconditional giving of oneself.

With his unique mixture of quiet dignity and authentic congeniality, there couldn’t have been anyone more suited to present to Hope College an example of what ecclesial service should look like. Bishop Walkowiak demonstrated to our Protestant brothers and sisters the unity that the Church desires, and in turn, Hope College recognized and reciprocated that ecumenical desire.

Rebecca and Bishop

After the conversation in Winants, Bishop Walkowiak, along with members and supporters of the Saint Benedict Forum, enjoyed Christian fellowship and dinner in Hope College’s Maas Conference room. After the dinner, following a long established tradition for speakers who visit Hope, Bishop Walkowiak shared a personal testimony with those present. Bishop Walkowiak’s story wasn’t one of a dramatic conversion or wrought with great life-changing events. It was the story of an ordinary boy who grew up in a good Catholic home. It was the story of a young man who heard God’s call and had the courage to trust and follow. One of the most poignant moments of Bishop Walkowiak’s testimony was when he described how his mother taught him a vocation prayer to pray each day.

“O God, Who enlightens the minds and inflames the hearts of the faithful by the Holy Spirit, grant that by the same Spirit I may know my true vocation in life and have the grace to follow it faithfully. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Its simple sweetness became a part of Bishop Walkowiak’s routine as he discerned his call to the priesthood. Bishop Walkowiak’s visit to Hope College was yet a further step towards achieving the Christian unity to which Christ calls us.

The video of Bishop Walkowiak's talk and Q & A session is available here.

March for Life: Becoming Missionary Disciples

Marchers have been gathering in Washington D.C. since 1974 on January 22nd to protest the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in the USA. While this was the 41st annual “March for Life,” joining the event for possibly the first time were students from Hope College. The Saint Benedict Forum sponsored the Hope College contingent.

The group departed from Holland around 3:30pm the day before the march, arriving at their destination safe, but tired around 2am Thursday morning. After a short night’s sleep the team was up and off to its first event, the “Life is Very Good” rally sponsored by the Diocese of Arlington, VA and held at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University. Any sleepiness was soon dispelled by the inspirational message of Catholic Apologist Chris Stefanick, the music of Ike Ndolo Band, and the rousing homily brought by Bishop Loverde of the host diocese. Besides the thousands of young people in attendance, it was a powerful experience to see all the priests, seminarians and women religious present.

“There were around 100 or more priests that attended as well as four bishops” commented Eric Plaehn. “ I thought their dedication to the event, to the sacrament of the Eucharist and also to inspiring young minds (the next great generation) was very powerful." 

After the rally the group motored up to Washington D.C. to join the actual march. The group merged with the main body of marchers on Constitution Ave. about 5 blocks from the actual starting point. Hundreds of thousands of marchers passed famous sites such as the National Gallery of Art and the US Capitol with their peaceful but forthright pro-life message. The march ended appropriately enough in front of the Supreme Court building.

“It was eye-opening and moving to see so many people, who were mainly young adults, come together from across the globe to be the voice for the voiceless” said fellow marcher Kelley McKeon.

“I spent the majority of the March silent, just taking in everything that was happening around me.” According to Madeline Taylor, what was most impressive was the respect shown by all involved.

“To my knowledge, there was no belligerence; just the prayerful and respectful articulation of a deeply held belief. Indeed, there was a beautiful element of joy involved, as everyone present seemed to be happy to have the opportunity to speak up for our society's most vulnerable members” she said.

Following the March, the group walked down to the Holocaust Museum and learned of the atrocities committed against humanity by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was a good closing activity for a day focused on life and human dignity. It is clear that Catholics have much to do in our nation. Eric’s sentiment mirrored what the whole group was thinking at the end of the day.

“My mission is to take on the roles of a missionary disciple lovingly condemning evil, counseling and consoling the afflicted and to standing for my brothers and sisters, especially those that can’t stand for themselves.”

"Mary is a Christian Thing": Director Jared Ortiz Speaks on Mary to Protestant Students

On December 15, Dr. Jared Ortiz spoke to 800 students at Holland Christian High School about the meaning of Mary and how she can help us prepare to receive Christ at Christmas.  Ortiz's talk begins around 4:55.

Advent Retreat: Preparing for Christ

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Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Saturday, December 6, the Saint Benedict Forum hosted a retreat to help all of us get ready for Christmas. Students and parishioners enjoyed an abundant breakfast spread before listening to a beautiful talk by Dr. Jack Mulder on the meaning of waiting, suffering, and adoption.  Dr. Jared Ortiz also offered a reflection on what Advent and Christmas might look like through the eyes of Mary.  After each talk, students and parishioners shared personal thoughts and experiences on the themes of the talks.

There was a holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament during which two priests were available for confession.  The retreat ended with Mass.

Two Talks on Prayer

Three times a week, one thousand Hope College students gather to praise God and listen to a meditation on Scripture. Recently, co-founders, Dr. Jared Ortiz and Dr. Jack Mulder, were invited to speak on prayer.

Dr. Ortiz spoke on "The Meaning of Prayer," October 24, 2014.

Dr. Mulder spoke on "The Name of Jesus," October 29, 2014.

Director Jared Ortiz Featured in FAITH Magazine

FAITH Magazine recently ran an article on Jared Ortiz, Director and Co-founder of the Saint Benedict Forum.  The article discusses the gory details of Ortiz's conversion story as well as how the Saint Benedict Forum came into being.  Well worth a read, though not for the faint of heart. Read the whole story here.