"Let us meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
Mother Teresa
MY JOURNEY
FAMILY
I am a cradle Catholic, meaning I was raised Catholic as a wee baby. My whole family is Catholic, except my dad.
HIGH SCHOOL
I went to public school up until my Sophomore year of high school where I decided to pursue my faith. So I switched schools to a Catholic high school. There I was very involved in the campus ministry.
My mom was the Youth Minister at my parish, so I was always very involved in my faith going to youth groups and retreats. I was especially fond of the Steubenville Youth Conference that I attended every summer for 6 years. That is where I first heard about Franciscan University.
COLLEGE
I liked the formation in high school and wanted to pursue that, so I decided to go to Franciscan University. Although I always had loved it, I never actually thought I would go there. When I stepped foot on campus, I felt at home.
The Life of a Stigmatic
His name is Alexander Avendano (1966-2006). My family got the pleasure of knowing him and serving him. I will come out with the story later!
Discipleship
At college, we had Focus missionaries that lead Bible Studies. I was able to become involved in a Bible Study and was selected to receive intentional formation to equip me with resources to form others.
ST. PHILOMENA
The Wonder-Worker
St. Philomena was a Greek princess who was martyred at a young age. Born into a Christian family in the 3rd century, St. Philomena found herself the desire of Emperor Diocletian, who was going to war with St. Philomena’s father. When the virgin St. Philomena, believed to be roughly 13 at the time, refused, she was subject to cruel torments like scourging, drowning and shooting. However, in each attempt on her life, St. Philomena was protected by angels who rescued her. Eventually, Emperor Diocletian had the virgin martyr decapitated. Her tomb was discovered in a catacomb the 19th century. Images on the funerary tiles on her tomb were an anchor, a palm, a javelin, arrows and a lily.