“We do not tolerate you, you are not accepted. You belong. This is just the truth. It’s not anything dramatic.”

That’s how Fr. Mike Schmitz began the workshop with a title he wouldn’t have chosen. It’s a difficult topic, and tolerance simply doesn’t have anything to do with it.

There were three main principles in play: it’s not about ‘us’ and ‘them,’ there is only us; life is not easy, it’s difficult; and since to be human is to be both a body and a soul, what we do with our bodies matters. Continue reading

Dan Harms gave a special workshops for graduating seniors. He offered these tips for the graduating seniors:

• Know the dangers that you will face.
• Prepare to face the temptation.
• Set expectations for yourself.
• Pray and stay close to the sacraments.

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The session for men began with a rousing call to worship by Adam Bitter. He shared the story of one of his friends who has cerebral palsy and who, consequently, has trouble raising his hands in worship. Even in his weakness, Adam’s friend pushes his body to the limits out of love for God. Adam called us to be leaders in worship, to give everything we have to Him. What an awesome challenge that I think we all need.

Pete Burds began by telling us about one of his childhood heroes, pitcher Randy Johnson. Johnson once threw a 105 mph fastball that accidentally hit (and obliterated) a bird. If you dare, you can view the video here.

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Of course it all began with Taylor Swift. We sang a little ‘Love Story’ because we love love songs. We know what real love is and we long for it. We also know what real love isn’t.

That’s because we were all made from love, by love, and for love, as Jackie Francois Angel pointed out. It all started in the beginning, when God created the world. We know from St. John that God is love, and love always has to go out of itself. God created the world out of love because He is love. Continue reading

At Mass on Saturday, Fr. Mike Schmitz’s homily focused on the very heart of Jesus present in the Eucharist and challenged us as to whether we are willing to give our whole heart back to Him.

Lacking Heart

How hard is it to put our whole heart into things! Putting our whole heart into things means that we are risking our very selves. Fr. Schmitz noted that it is that very risk that prevents many people from living with heart.

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