It is with mixed emotion that I write to tell you that I will be stepping down as youth minister here at St. Vincent de Paul in the next few weeks. After returning to Notre Dame this summer tocomplete a masters in theology, I will be taking up a new position at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School in theology and campus ministry this fall. I am excited to see what God has in store for me there and I am so grateful to this parish for helping to prepare me for that work.
When I took this position as youth minister last summer I was so glad to be coming home. If I am honest, I was also somewhat intimidated by the prospect of ministering at my home parish. What I found though was a parish alive with zeal for our God and a people energized and excited about the future. The atmosphere here at SVdP is one of growth, of construction, but the building going up out front is only a small sign of the mighty community being built here. I have been tremendously blessed to be a part of that and so thankful. You have reminded me of the great things that our God can and will accomplish with even a mustard seed’s worth of faith. I was welcomed home with open arms and knew instantly that this is where God needed me to be. This is true of theentire parish, but it has been especially present to me in the youth. From the very first meeting I had with the senior leaders I was in awe of their passion and hunger for this ministry. Time and again this year I have seen that eagerness reflected in the eyes of the teens as we prayed, laughed, learned and debated together. In them I have seen the love of our God at work and I am confident that that love will only continue to grow this parish. I cannot thank the teens of the youth group enough for their example of true joy to me, and I pray that they know of my genuine love for each of them. Please know of my profound gratitude to all of you who have been a part of this ministry and a part of making this parish such a welcoming home for me and for so many.