Some thoughts before Lent begins

Christmas came and went, and now two weeks after ending our celebration of the birth of our Lord, we will soon be meditating on his Passion and sacrifice for our salvation. Amazing.

Every year, as I grow in God's grace, I find my Lenten journey becoming more and more intense. This year will definitely be an intense one, as well. I intend to use the Lenten season as an opportunity to purge myself of the evil and unholy habits that I've picked up over the years, and prepare myself for my missionary journey to Honduras.

Lent will be finished off with two pivotal moments this year: Jesse's baptism, and the mission to Honduras.

How great God is that I'll be able to celebrate my 21st birthday on the night that my good friend, Jesse Burgard, will be baptized and receive Christ in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time. I'll finally be able to call him GODSON instead of "Godson-to-be"!

fun times with Jesse and JREM in Mexico.

The day after that JREM and I will be venturing off to Honduras. What God has in store for me there, I do not know.

Whatever it is, if anything, I am open to His Spirit and will, and I pray that during Lent my desire to serve Him will be strengthened, that all the things in my life that are not of Him will be uprooted, and that I will continue to grow in His grace and wisdom.

Pray for me,
Cecilia

And the juggling act begins...

Spring semester is now underway, and it didn't take long for me to remember how insanely hectic my life has become. I have hit a breaking point, and I truly believe that sometime soon something has got to give. What part of my life, however, I do not know.

The three main components of my daily life at this point are Christ, school, and work. School and work are obviously irremovable, so I suppose it's my ministry work that needs to be adjusted. My work in youth ministry has primarily been as a youth group coordinator, though with World Youth Day 2008 in our midst, I have taken on the responsibility as pilgrimage coordinator for that endeavor as well.

Please join me in prayer for the gift of prudence, as I try to determine what it is that God wants for me at this time.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.

It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.

-Colossians 1:24-29

Note to self:
HIS POWER WORKING WITHIN ME...

Legacy

This song never ceases to make me take a step back and evaluate where I am at this point in my life and where I am headed. I heard it again, and thought I'd post it, because it definitely helps remind me what the real goal in life should be. I pray that I am on the path that will leave behind the legacy that I hope to - sainthood.

Nicole Nordemen - Legacy

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all the who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such 'n such...it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
the temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon destroy

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well done" good and faithful one

Pray, Pray, and stop shopping!

It is amazing how much prayer can do for one's life. The intensity of engaging in conversation with the Lord always leaves me astonished at how wonderful and compassionate our God is. Though my father still sits on the fence in regards to this Honduras Mission Trip, through prayer, my heart has been brought to peace. It's as if God spoke to my heart and said, "Don't worry mija."

After picking up my Bible, Scripture reminded me the same thing, particularly Matthew 6:25-34:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

Not only did this passage bring me peace, but it also reminded me that my shopping trips need to come to an end. :) Old habits die hard, but I'm working on it! When I go anywhere where I might be tempted to shop, I'll be sure to repeat to myself "Learn from the way the wild flowers grow."


Until next time,
<3cecilia

My heart is torn.

Walk for Life West Coast was AMAZING! The light in my heart for Christ and His people was lit so much brighter because of today. MAN, I LOVE JESUS!!

On another note, please pray for me. My parents, who initially expressed support in me going on this mission trip, have changed their mind and no longer want me to go. It really tears me up inside, because it took me a lot of prayer and discernment to figure out that this is what God wants me to do. Now that my parents are against me serving, though, I'm very confused as to what to do now.

I suppose it's because I've never been more certain that this is what God wants me to do. For once in my discernment process, the Spirit has really moved me to go on this trip, and prayer and Adoration has led me to the same conclusion - God wants me to go. And I want to follow Him.

Lack of support from my parents has been a recurring problem for me. I know that they have hopes and dreams when it comes to my future, the problem is that their hopes and dreams for me are not what make me happy or bring me peace. I often feel like I'm living a double life - one in which I am discerning my vocation (possibly to the religious life), and one in which I am pursuing a career in business law.

To be frank and honest about the whole thing, I don't want to do business. I don't want to do law. The only reason I told my parents I wanted to be a lawyer was so I could major in Philosophy. My work right now as an accounting assistant only further convinces me that this is not what I want to be doing with my life.

The only time I ever feel happy and fulfilled is when I'm doing the work of the Lord, spreading His Word, sharing the joy He has brought me, helping His children in need, and letting others know that He changed my life. Nothing else has ever meant more to me, or made me happier.

If my parents were supportive, I guess I would be more active in my discernment process. My heartstrings sound like a symphony when I contemplate on the idea of using my life to serve the Lord and build up His Kingdom. Unfortunately, the beautiful music is drowned out by what my parents and the world expect from me: good education, good job, make money.

I wish I could tell them how I felt. I wish I could explain to my dad that God is calling me to do something else with my life. I don't know if it's marriage or religious life, but I know it is certainly not to be a rich and successful corporate lawyer. I really wish that I could tell them why I want to go to Honduras without being cut off after the first word of every sentence. I wish I could tell my parents that I don't care about making money, that pursuing their goals for me at this time is what is really making me go insane, and that I need to be able to seek God's will whole heartedly without worrying about what they think. Yeah, right....I wish it was that easy.

I want to cry. Actually, I'm already crying in my heart.

Exciting World Youth Day Chaplain news!

Unfortunately, because of Father Thomas' leg sickness, he will no longer be able to serve as one of our chaplains for World Youth Day in July. Please pray for a speedy recovery for him!

After receiving this new, I have been on OVERDRIVE trying to secure our pilgrimage group of 25 would have 2 chaplains. We've already graciously committed to by Fr. Juniper Sistare, CFR, and we're really excited to have him on board. And now, after grueling hours on the phone with our travel agent and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, we were able to secure a second chaplain.

FATHER JOSEPH MARY DEANE, CFR, (yes, the Turtle Power! priest) has committed to serving as chaplain for our group, as well! He had already formed a really solid relationship with our youth, so having him as a chaplain along with good ol' Father Juniper is going to make the trip insanely awesome!

GOD IS SOOOOOO GOOD to us, and it is amazing that we were able to secure a second chaplain in the span of 2 days. But praise God for providing us with these two charismatic, gifted, and young priests to serve as our chaplains!

Fr. Juniper Sistare, CFR.

Fr. Joseph Mary Deane, CFR.

If you can't already tell, our youth have formed a tight bond with these priests already. The things that they spoke about, and the way that they did it, instantly made them both hits!

To top it all off, I haven't officially told any of our youth that Fr. Joseph's coming!!

World Youth Day is going to ROCK!!!!!

I'm leaving on a jetplane!

Plane tickets have been booked!

Jeremy and I fly out of San Francisco first thing Monday the 24th. When I say first thing, I really mean first thing, because our flight is at 12:35 am. We connect in Houston, and proceed to Tegulcigapa (talk about a tongue twister!).

We return from Honduras Saturday the 29th, and get back to San Francisco around 8:30pm. Which is awesome because it means I'll be able to catch the Warriors play the Mavericks on Sunday. ;)

Aside from the plane tickets being book, Jeremy and I have started sending out our fundraising letters. I used to be really wary about sending fundraising letters, but I've come to realize that they are such an amazing tool for evangelization. It's not even really about raising money as much as it is asking for prayer.

And once again, as I will continue to ask over and over, please pray for me, Jeremy, and the mission trip. As Pope Benedict the 16th wrote in his message to the young people of the world on the occasion of World Youth Day 2008, "Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and “efficient”, but is the result of the community’s constant prayer."

Thank you so much for your prayers, and know that I constantly pray for all of you.

Until next time,
Cecilia

Youth 2000 Pictures

I promised more pictures... so here they are!!

Always the first stop on ANY journey. haha.

Who's in the house!? JEEEEESSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUSSSSSSS!


"So check this out.." haha. Father Juniper in action.

My inspiration this weekend.
Someone called our youth the "example of on fire-ness".
I couldn't be more proud and blessed. I love you guys.

CECE, JREM, and JR.
The EPITOME of fun! lol.

Brother Justin's father, Jesse.
He's my youth 2000 dad,
totally keeping track of me NOT going to confession.
I did go, just last minute as usual! :)

Ted, me, and Mossbachy.
We're going to form our own community called
the Perpetual Discerners.
haha.

Too cool for school, man.

Mike Saturnino of Grass Valley.
He has been trying to kidnap me for years!
Sorry Mike, Our Lady Queen of the World has my life!

Father Juniper, our World Youth Day chaplain!
He asked for coffee more times over the weekend than I did!

CECE sandwich!
Brother David and Brother Justin.

"Everyone loves you, so someone's gotta be mean to you." lol.
Tough love philosophy of Fr. Joseph Mary

Matt of Remnant Catholic Apostolate!
check them out: remnantband.com


THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER,
STAYS TOGETHER.

Spiritual Preparation - Youth 2000 Redding!

This past weekend was the first big step of spiritual preparation for both Honduras AND World Youth Day in Sydney. Our Lady Queen of the World Parish, where I serve as a youth coordinator, took a group of about 40 youth and young adults 3 hours north to Redding, CA for a Youth 2000 Retreat (for more information about Youth 2000, please visit their website!).

I was able to reunite with Jeremy (my companion on the Honduras trip), who made a 6 hour trek down from Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon with his seminarian brothers. Not only that, but I was able to reunite with my Franciscan friar friends, particularly Father Juniper Sistare, and Brother David Valenzuela. Needless to say, both of them are extremely excited for me to be visiting the Honduras mission. In fact, Father Juniper was the one who initially told me about the opportunity to serve in this way! Lucky us, we also are honored to have Father Juniper as our World Youth Day chaplain, as well!!

Adoration, praise and worship, faith sharing, fellowship...it doesn't get any better! I am SOOOOO proud of the youth of our parish, as they set this retreat on FIRE! Their enthusiasm for the Lord not only surprised me, but kept me going when I was ready to fall over and take a nap :) God bless you guys! As much as you all say that I inspire you, I think the inspiration poured in the opposite direction more so this weekend than ever!!!

Here are some pictures from the weekend, with a LOT more to come :)

Filipino Seminarian brothers from Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.

JR and Dominic Figueroa, one of our World Youth Day pilgrims from Napa.

Jesse Burgard, my future godson to be baptized this coming Easter Vigil,
eating at Denny's at 1:30 in the morning.

Joseph and JR with little Joseph Drewsen.
Little Joseph told them that he wanted to be a priest, too!

JR with my amazing brothers in Christ,
Chris Mossbacher and Ted from Grass Valley, CA.

The youth hanging out in the hotel room Friday night.
(No, we didn't all sleep in that room!)

Champions of the placebo effect -
shots of Rockstar energy drink with breakfast the next morning

OPA!

California native, Brother David Valenzuela.

Consecration to Our Lady.

Some of our group with the Filipino semiarians.

Me with Jeremy and JR. We weren't ready yet!

Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar!

7 priests at mass on Friday night. AWESOME!

Fr. Juniper incensing the Lord.

Fr. Juniper giving me a special blessing
before saying goodbye.

Leading worship with my core members and
the Redding core members!

My best friend in Christ, Manolito JR Jaldon.

GOOD MORNING, JESUS!

Fundraising!

In the midst of World Youth Day 2008, an overwhelming majority of my income is designated to pay for that pilgrimage journey, which is about $2800. To date, I have paid about 80% of my trip, and have two payments left to make. I have been blessed with a good job that enables me to pay for most of it, however, there are also many people who have been involved that have helped support my trip financially and spiritually.

To all of my benefactors - I praise and thank the Lord God almighty each day for your compassion and kindness. Without your support I would be unable to maintain my sanity through this process. Coordinating a trip to the other side of the world of 25 people, particularly youth, on what may be one of the busiest traveling weeks of the year, is nothing less than insane! But because of your prayers, I'm able to carry out this task that the Lord has called me to do, and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart.


That being said, I now have another $1500 that I need to raise in order to attend the mission trip to Honduras. I am very excited about doing this, and I know that the Lord will provide for me in whatever way He chooses. Please pray for me as I begin the fundraising process for the Honduras Mission Trip.

Thank you so much!

Until next time,
<3Cecilia

Honduras, Here I Come!

If you asked me what my plans were for my 21st birthday a few years ago, I probably would've told you I was headed to Vegas. If you then informed me that my 21st birthday happened to fall on the first day of spring break, I probably would've changed my mind and said I was going to Cancun, Jamaica, or another beautiful tropical island.

However, if you ask me now, in the actual year I'll be turning 21, I'll tell you that my plans are definitely not what I anticipated in years past.

This year, for my 21st birthday and for my spring break, I will be going to Comayagua, Honduras to serve on a mission trip!

I have just completed the application process, and I just THRILLED to be going. My friend Jeremy Santos, who is a seminarian for the Diocese of Sacramento, will also be going with me to serve on this amazing mission trip! This will be our second mission trip, as last year we traveled to La Morita, Mexico to build houses for very deserving families. Here are some pictures from that mission trip:

From their side, looking at ours....

"dying to get in"

Me, Jrem, and the family of house 1

See, we worked!

We will be serving with the Missioners of Christ and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and what exactly we will be doing there depends on what is needed. We serve in whatever way we need to - awesome, huh?

Here are some pictures of the Friars mission in Honduras....

This is incredibly exciting, and I hope that you will all unite with JREM and me in prayer as we prepare for this trip!

Until next time,
<3Cecilia