Responding to the challenge

By Laurie Duncan
Special to The CS&T

There are countless times in the Bible where God commands his people not to fear. As Catholics, especially on a secular campus, it is imperative that we embrace our faith and demonstrate our trust in God in real and tangible ways. While it is a continuous struggle for us all to rely on the Lord and fellow Christians for strength, I learned how to do both while on the Catholic Leadership Institute’s Leaders Experiential Adventure Program (LEAP) retreat.
The Newman Council, the undergraduate Catholic organization on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, sent its members on a LEAP retreat to encourage fellowship and spiritual development.
Many different groups attended the retreat including college students from Immaculata, Neumann, Villanova and also a group from Generation Life, a Pro-Life group in the Philadelphia area.
At LEAP, my fellow council members and I faced challenges that enabled us to face our fears and learn how to deliver them up to God. We each took part in different challenges, but the premise was the same: in a time of fear and uncertainty, ask God to support you, and listen to the encouragement of your brethren.
Every Catholic is charged with the responsibility of encouraging God’s children in the ways of the faith. Many people from various different groups helped me to realize how far the Catholic community extends. During LEAP, my fellow council members and I really felt the community as we accepted challenges and faced our fears.
One of the main parts of LEAP is the ropes course. One was called Jacob’s Ladder. Participants ascended the “ladder” in pairs. In order to reach the top of the ladder, we had to climb through tires, up ladders and over logs roped together. Throughout, we were “belayed” [held fast by ropes] by the other participants.
While we all had different fears, somehow, with everyone’s encouragement and God’s grace, we were able to achieve our goal — even if we didn’t climb all the way to the top of the ladder. Climbing Jacob’s ladder with a partner also helped reinforced the value of unity.
The other challenge was called Peter’s Walk. Each person in our group had an opportunity to climb a tree and walk across the log 40 feet above-ground, also while being encouraged by members of our group.
Each person supported the others with praise in order to achieve our goals, offer comfort and assurance when members of the group appeared frightened. Personally, I never believed I could do it, but when I began climbing, my fellow Catholic students all encouraged me, and I felt really empowered. To my surprise, I walked straight across that log, completely trusting my God and my faith community.
LEAP changed the way I think, and I know it has changed a lot of other people in the Newman Council as well. The event really helped us to grow closer, but it also made clear that even in the most turbulent times, what is most important is to trust God.
As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Take solace in knowing that as you begin recognize that God will never let you fall, and if you do fall, he will always belay you down to safe ground. God never wants his faithful to fear.

Laurie Duncan is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Newman Council which plans and implements activities for the Catholic community on the campus.

The Young Adult Philly Connection

“DayOne” in Philadelphia!
Oct. 24: Generation Life invites all those willing and able to DayOne ’04, a special day for youth to stand up for life. Join youth and young adults for a Mass at 12:15 p.m. in the chapel attached to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. After Mass, gather on the Art Museum steps for a pro-life chain from 2-3 p.m. and a pro-life rally from 3-4 p.m., which includes music and a special guest speaker, U.S. Representative Chris Smith, Chariman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. For more information, call (215) 885-8760 or visit www.generationlife.org.

“Ask Father Philip”
Oct. 26: Do you have questions about the Catholic faith and want answers? Join the young adults at the Secular Oratory for “The Question Box” with Father Philip. The Oratory is located at 2321 Green Street in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. Please ring the bell at 2319 Green Street. For more information, contact David Ermine at (610) 800-1247.

In His Sign Radio Network
Don’t get frustrated by traffic jams, tune in daily from 5-6 p.m. with host Dom Lettieri for an hour of interactive call in radio to keep you up to date on issues and concerns in the Church today that affect young adults. Show airs Monday through Friday 5-6 p.m. on 800 AM. Don’t miss the Catholic Unity Conference from Oct. 22-24 in King of Prussia. Guests include Father Andrew Apostilli and Estella Ruiz. For more information, contact In His Sign Radio Network at (610) 527-2906 or (888) 343-2484.

Are YOU interested in YOUFra?
YOUFra is for any Catholic Christian between the ages of 18-29 (single or married) who is practicing his or her faith regularly and wants to deepen that faith by growing in the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. YouFra or Youth/Young Adult Franciscans is a community of young people who feel called by the Holy Spirit to share the experience of Christian life in fraternity, in the light of the message of St. Francis of Assisi, deepening their own lay vocation within the context of the secular Franciscan order. Find out more about Franciscan spirituality by attending an orientation meeting in May. Contact Brian Lester at kblester@yahoo.com or Father Paul at friarpaul@hotmail.com