The youth ministry went to a retreat this weekend called Cincinnati 2000. This retreat is modeled after Youth 2000 with some improvs to mix it up, and we hope, build an even better foundation. This retreat was amazing, not just because of I was apart of the planning : ) But because of number of my youth and others around us really met Jesus for the first time this weekend. We had kids that hadn't been to confession in a couple years that were set free this weekend from the bondage of their sins. One youth in particular, a girl that is close to my heart, went to confession for the first time in two years (since confirmation) and was not only given the sweet tears of repentance, but I was given the gift of being able to pray with her afterward and speak words of blessing in the Spirit that she really needed to hear. She commented to her Mom afterward about the experience, about the liberation in confession, and about what came over her when we prayed together. So powerful was this story, that her mom sought me out first thing monday morning. Thanks be to God that her mom was grateful and amazed, because I have found that if you go introducing Church workers kids to Jesus, it doesn't always go so well. I don't say this in any way to build Me up, but I say this as a way of encouragement for all of us to pray with each other more and invoke the Holy Spirit. HE is powerful and Faithful. Christ's dying gift to us was His Spirit, that Third and blessed person of the Trinity. This young woman was a blessing and she wasn't the only one. I have at least five other stories of transformation which might come up later.
Also this weekend I met a real brother in the Lord. This guy was amazing! I had only just met him, but it felt like he and I had been hanging out for years. This man, Steve Camilli, was amazing. This guy, through the grace of God, started the first food bank in Argentina right before their terrible economic downturn. He had a very gentle spirit about him, but what was amazing, was the fact that he, a speaker at the retreat of over 500 kids, took the time to write a note to one of my kids that suffers from alot of difficulty in school, severe ADD, and is just not well adjusted. But, he wrote him a note and gave him some things. What a blessing. Steve may never know how he changed that young man's life out of his obedience to Christ.
Repentance, Lives Changed, People comforted...sounds like the Gospel. May He continued to praised and may we persevere!

Heading to the Airport

Heading to the Airport
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

Recently in the Catholic Churches around the world, there was read the gospel passage about the Transfiguration. Recall it? It is amazing how, by God's grace, we are called up the mountain, to the heights, to see Him. This is quite different from Moses bringing the Law down to us. Now, in salvation history, we do not bear the burden of the Law, but we have been given new hearts and freedom in Christ Jesus. But we squander it. We don't love like Him. We don't teach like Him. We still burden people down instead of setting captives free. Or we do the converse by trying to liberate people at the expense of the truth, His truth. May we teach Lord. May we Love Lord. May we give Lord. Maranatha, Come Jesus.

Dinner with the Friars-Lisa, Ana, Fr. Peter, Br. James, and just barely Br. Benedict

Dinner with the Friars-Lisa, Ana, Fr. Peter, Br. James, and just barely Br. Benedict
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

So we went to Nicaragua. Random, eh? It was a very blessed time and we are very grateful to have had the experience. We have always thought that we were called to be missionaries in some sense, but always thought of ourselves as being missionaries to a wounded Church right here in America. Who knows, this might bring us either one step closer to making that crazy leap and going for it down there, or it will make us that much more firm in our resolve right here.
This is a picture of us joined around the table with some men that have radically committed their lives to Jesus and loving Him in the poor, not just by kindness or deeds, but by becoming poor for the kingdom. Their example is a real blessing. They live in a wooden friary they put together in the middle of a coffee plantation and beg all their meals from those around them. Their only thing they have to return is the love of God. Let us be conformed to you Lord in this season of purification. Help us to draw closer to you and further away from those things that separate us from you.

The words in this image come from the Holy Gospel according to St. John, chapter 2, verse 5, I believe or somewhere near there. This scripture and this image are perfect to dwell on as we enter this Holy Season of Lent. I pray that we all might truly do whatever Christ tells us and may we remain to ask always for the intercession of that first and most perfect disciple, Mary, our Mother. Check back frequently for thoughts during these forty days and please be in prayer for our family as we prepare to travel to Nicaragua. May He reign in our hearts and rule our minds. Come Lord!