Young Adult Apostolate
"The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God." (Gaudium et Spes)
Compelled by the desire placed in my heart by the Author of all Human Life, I came back home to the Catholic Church in 2002. I spent a great deal of my life after graduation, AKA, Confirmation, outside of the church. I grew up in a lukewarm Catholic family, my father didn't practice and my mother was indifferent. I never saw the faith played out in real time. Religious education classes seemed more like arts and crafts time than a time for interior conversion. I knew nothing about what I was called to or the reason I was here. Unbeknownst to me the answers were waiting in my heart to be discovered.
"Like those pilgrims of 2000 years ago, the men and women of our own day--often perhaps unconsciously--ask believers not only to speak of Christ, but in a certain sense to show him to them." (JPII-Novio Millenio Ineunte)
Like a lot of people I believed in God, but I couldn't always see him in others, much less myself. I was intent on finding those people who had cast out into deep water themselves and were willing to be an image of Christ in the world. I was searching for a living breathing billboard for the faith. One that could articulate as well as emulate the Catholic life. I was blessed to find those faithful people who had put the Eucharist at the center of their lives. When I was 17 my mother had a deep and profound conversion, and as you may have already guessed became instrumental in passing the faith on to me.
"Our witness, however, would be hopelessly inadequate if we ourselves had not first contemplated his face."(JPII-Novio Millenio Ineunte)
When I first came back to the church I had no idea what God wanted from me. I spent some time discerning whether I was called to the priesthood. He has led me to this apostolate for now, with the understanding that I continue to work on my own interior conversion. I have learned that there is no good that I can do in assisting the soul of another, if I am not constantly working on my own.
"For if man exists, it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator."(Gaudium et Spes)
My name is Ron Garcia and I am currently the Young Adult Minister for the Diocese of Madison. I was a Police Officer for ten years prior to finding my way in Christ. During that time I encountered alot of people who were much less fortunate, and yet, just like me, they were brought into existence by love. It is precisely by living out this love that we will be known as Christ's disciples(Jn; 13: 35). I would love to get you connected to a Young Adult group or parish. If there isn't one posted here, email me at rgarcia@straphael.org and ask me about it. It is time that we reconnected to Christ, each other, and our parishes. If you think you hear the Lord calling you to be a part of the New Evangelization, it's not a dream and you are not crazy. I suggest you answer in the affirmative! We are here, we are waiting.