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NOMAD Issue 2

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The second issue of NOMAD features young adults who have chosen to take the path less traveled by. Their stories tell of lives lived sharing hope with others, changing hearts, changing the world. This issue also spotlights the growing city of Austin, Texas! We are excited to introduce you to all this city has to offer - from a growing young adult population, to a burgeoning underground/independent art & music scene, to some of the best bbq and tex-mex this side of the Rio Grande.
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ISSUE 2 // Austin Changing Hearts Changing the World NOMAD
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Page 1: NOMAD Issue 2

ISSUE 2 // Austin

Changing HeartsChanging the World

NOMAD

Page 2: NOMAD Issue 2

EDITORIAL TEAM

EditorMary Claire Curtis

[email protected]

Associate Editor Jackie Heider

[email protected]

MARKETING

Angela [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

‘El Viejo’Peter’s Pen

Dianna McKnightOff The Beaten Path

Angela SumnerGeneration Nomad

Gabriel DantesCulture Warrior

John & Liz BoringEver Ancient, Ever New

Kevin FordThe Watchman

Edward DavidFishers of Men

NOMAD is produced by GlobalCatholic and published 6 times per year by YUDU Media, 245 First Street, 18th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. NOMAD email: [email protected]. Subscription price $15. Content does not necessarily reflect the views of individuals or organizations interviewed by staff. NOMAD is the product of Catholic young adults, who are faithful to the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and who seek to live out the New Evangelization.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the second issue of NOMAD!

The mission of NOMAD is to provide a media outreach to young adults, while embracing Pope Benedict’s call to step forward and become leaders in our homes and communi-ties by utilizing our skills and faith.

This issue is filled with stories of young adults who have felt called to discover their talents, travel the world and learn how to love and be loved. We hope that our mes-sage, changing hearts changing the world, will resonate with you and that you will share what you read with friends & family.

We look forward to your feedback as we continue to develop NOMAD~

Page 3: NOMAD Issue 2

CONTENTS4 Calendar of Events Austin

8 Off the Beaten Path by Dianna McKnight

16 Cultural Issues Early August by Gabriel Dantes

19 For Your Library: City of God by Saint Augustine, ed. Vernon J. Bourke Making Good by Billy Parish and Dev Aujla Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

20 Peter’s Pen Laborem Exercens: Doing Good Work ‘el viejo’

23 Generation Nomad by Angela Sumner

26 The Creative Genius Film, Art & Music of a Generation by Jackie Heider

32 The Watchman Renewing the Family, Renewing the World by Kevin Ford

34 Ever Ancient, Ever New Hallowtide by John & Liz Boring

36 Fishers of Men by Edward David

38 Global Catholic Spotlight on Brazil by Mary Claire Curtis

Page 4-5 Photo Courtesy of Michael Connell: www.flickr.com/photos/mdconnell

Page 4: NOMAD Issue 2

9/26—11/4 40 Days for Life CampaignA peaceful prayer vigil outside abortion clinics. The purpose of this campaign is prayer and fasting for the end to abortion and a bringing about of a culture of life. Various vigils and services are taking place across the country. To find one near you, go to www.40daysforlife.com.

10/3 ADORE Praise & Worship: “Vintage Faith”A night of worship, relevant messages, and Eucharistic adoration. Catholic Charismatic Center 7pmFor more information or to volunteer: e-mail [email protected] or call 832.209.2190

10/5—10/6 Basic Certification in Youth MinistryFor anyone interested in getting involved in youth ministry in the diocese of El Paso, this program teaches diocesan policies and guidelines for working with and for youth.Alpine, Texas

10/8 At the Foot of the Cross: Young Adult Holy HourHoly Name Retreat Center @ 6pm

Page 5: NOMAD Issue 2

10/11—10/14 XXVI Houston: Young Adult Caritas retreatJoin other young adults in their 20’s and 30’s for a weekend of spiritual renewal and rediscovering God in your relationships and your own life. At Villa de Matel, cost is $150.For more information or to register go to www.sistersofcharity.org or contact: Sis-ter Kim-Phuong Tran, CCVI at [email protected].

10/17 Holy Hour Happy HourHoly hour followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant 5:30 pm – 9 pm @ St. Patrick Cathedral, Fort Worth

10/21 World Youth Day at Six Flags Over Texas“We Walk by Faith” with Monarch Ministries, featuring David Casey and Doug Tooke. An annual celebration of young Catholics gathered to enrich their faith journey. Open to all but geared toward middle to high school youth.

10/27 National World Youth Day @ Western Playland

10/31 Trick or Cans!Instead of begging for candy, join this friendly competition and beg for canned goods to benefit the Mission Arlington. 6 pm -11 pmUniversity Catholic Community Center, Arlington, Texas

Page 6: NOMAD Issue 2

11/5 ADORE Praise & Worship: “Vintage Faith”A night of worship, relevant messages, and Eucharistic adoration. Catholic Charismatic Center 7pmFor more information or to volunteer: e-mail [email protected] or call 832.209.2190

11/9—11/11 Maverick Awakening RetreatA weekend retreat open to all college students and young adults to awaken them to the presence of Christ in their lives. Cost is $50 if you register before 10/10, $75 if you register after. Scholar-ships may be available. For more information or to register: http://utacatholics.org/awakening.htm

11/11 Young Adult Day of ReflectionHoly Name Retreat CenterFor more information visit: http://passionist.org/holyname or contact [email protected]

11/13 Need YP’s at Lucky Strike BowlingA bowling social with young professionals in Need ministry to raise awareness for the need to end poverty. Fort Worth, 6 pm -8 pm.

11/16-11/18 RCYC—Region 10 Catholic Youth Conference “Shaken by the Spirit” A weekend of prayer, music, powerful speakers (keynote are Father Tony Ricard and Doug Tooke), and fun with young Catholics from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.San Angelo, Texas.

11/23 Alternative Black Friday SaleInstead of giving in to the ugliness of consumerism, be a ‘socially-conscious giver.’ Come to this market and find handmade products from the Catholic Relief Services Work of Human Hands project, as well as several local women’s cooperatives.10 am – 2pm at the Columbian Mission Center

Theology on Tap across TexasEat, drink, and hear great speakers talk about faith, science, politics, and other topics pertaining to young Catholic adults. Open to those in their 20s and 30s.

El Paso “Vatican II at Fifty”10/2 10/16,10/30 and 11/13 at Jaxon’s on Airway, 7-9 pm.

Houston (Central)10/18, 11/15 at Café Adobe on Westheimer at 7pm

Austin10/2, 11/1 at Nuevo Leon(1501 E. 6th Street, Austin, 78702)Music starts at 6pm, speaker at 7pmwww.austindiocese.org

Fort Worth10/2, 11/6 at Pappas Burgers

Plug in:To join St. Theresa’s Catholic 20 Something’s Ministry, check out the Facebook page for Williamson County Young Adults (search: WilCoYA Ministry).

Page 7: NOMAD Issue 2

October

10/5 Peter Bradley Adams Cactus Cafe @ 8 PM

10/12-14 Austin City Limits Music Festival www.aclfestival.com

10/18-25 Austin Film Festival www.austinfilmfestival.com

10/18 Imagine Dragons @ 10 PM Emo’s East

10/19 Norah Jones @ 8 PM ACL Moody Theater

10/26-28 Austin Record Convention www.austinrecords.com

10/27-28 Texas Book Festival, Austin www.texasbookfestival.org

10/9 Tap Dogs Dell Hall

10/18 Ravi Shankar Riverbend Center

10/21 “The Planets” Symphony Bass Concert Hall

10/28 Bill Cosby Bass Concert Hall

November

11/2-4 Fun Fun Fun Music Fest www.funfunfunfest.com

11/3-4 Austin Celtic Festival www.austincelticfestival.com

11/2-11/11 Wurstfest New Braunfels, TX www.wurstfest.com

11/10-18 East Austin Studio Tour www.eastaustinstudiotour.com

11/17 Annual Ranch Hand Breakfast, King Ranch, Kingsville, TX www.king-ranch.com

11/22 Turkey Trot http://thundercloud.com

11/10,15,18 “Pagliacci” Austin Lyric Opera

11/16 “The Scarlet Letter” University of Texas campus

Save the Date

Page 8: NOMAD Issue 2

NOT YOUR GRAN’DADDY’S

AUSTIN

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Page 9: NOMAD Issue 2

Austin, TexasLive Music Capital

of the WorldA bold statement, perhaps, but if worthiness of title is measured by the number of estab-lishments hosting local talent every night, then Austin is not only worthy, it has set the stan-dard.

Home of the world-famous Austin City Lim-its Music Festival (taking place in October this year) Austin takes pride in its music as well as its diversity. Scratch the surface and you will find that Austin’s music scene is just one part of one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. A very “green” city, Austin is aware of and quite open to any initiatives that benefit the city’s residents. From the burgeoning network of mi-cro-breweries, to Austin quickly becoming a “test stage” for plays headed for Broadway, to the continuation of offbeat shops along South Congress Avenue, Austin maintains an open-ness about it that is very welcoming. It is this potential which draws young adults, including a vibrant population of Catholic Young Adults, to the Texas state capitol.

For students, the various universities offer many services. UT is located just up the street from St. Austin’s Catholic Church and also has a large & lively Catholic student center, of-fering daily Mass, holy hour, and adoration, as well as other campus groups and nightly events. According to campus minister Lindsay Wilcox, the Catholic student community at UT is very involved, and even includes Catho-lic fraternities and sororities.

Off-campus, young adults may have to look a little harder for like-minded peers, but out-reaches are largely parish based and easy to plug into. The Diocese sponsors several events including retreats and monthly Theology on Tap (ToT) sessions where speakers, both local-ly and nationally known, welcome 18-35 year olds at local restaurants and pubs, where they discuss various issues and Catholic teachings.

Austin is very community minded and often

the best way to find out about events is to ask friends, neighbors, parish leaders, and even your local butcher!

In spite of it’s growing reputation as a foodie hot spot and watering hole for people of all back-grounds, or its catering to those who live organic/vegetarian/gluten-free lifestyles, Austin is still in Texas, and proud of it.

There is something for everyone. A city populated by young adult professionals, there are plenty of activities to do on any day of the week. Want a late night out on the town full of live music and hot new spots? You’ll find it here. Prefer some-thing a bit quieter and conversation oriented? You can have that as well. Feel like just taking a walk to see what you find? Go with a destination in mind, and be open to what happens along the way. You just might find yourself at a jazz party in the haberdashery.

On weekends you’ll often find groups taking advantage of the many outdoor spaces such as Zilker Park and Lake Travis. Up for an adventure? Try paddling in a kayak or stand-up paddle board down the Colorado River which runs straight through town.

If you prefer to stay out of the sun and need to work on your to-do list, visit one of the city’s many shopping strips where you are sure to see Stetsons and handmade cowboy boots.

Need a break and a bite to eat? Texas hosts a wide array of dining options, most notably – the food trailers which dot the city’s landscape from North to South, but for an authentic experience you must try one of several local BBQ and Tex-Mex landmarks!

In the afternoon, walk through the Capitol build-ing, which dominates the center of the skyline and is open to the public for tours.

At the end of the day, meet up at the Saxon Pub, the Continental, or Bangers which are likely to be crowded with locals who are eager to catch well-known Country and Bluegrass bands playing in town for the night.

In a city that’s buzzing day & night, you don’t have to be a young adult to enjoy Austin, but you’ll certainly fit right in.

Page 10: NOMAD Issue 2

In the Know

There is so much going on around Austin, however you do have to go out and find it. So much of the music, art, and events are put on by independent artists, so word-of-mouth is the main way to find out what’s happening, which is what makes indie Austin so exciting. However, there are some websites that have events and fun things to do listed.

Visit www.do512.com for some of the happenings around Austin (512 is the Austin area code, in case you were wondering).

Also worth a look is www.austin360.com.

If you take a car into the downtown area (highly recommended), you will probably have to pay for parking at some point. There are several pay-to-park lots. There are some meters on the streets, as well as pay-to-park street parking which are a lot cheaper. Check the posted signs; M-Th is free parking after 7pm. The ParkMe app helps you find the cheapest street parking where you are.

Rock & contemporary radio stations- 93.3, 95.5, 101.5

Don’t Miss:Bats-- from March to November, Mexican free-tailed bats roost under Congress Bridge. Around sunset they all wake-up and fly off into the distance. It’s a sight worth seeing, especially for city slickers. Tip: get there a bit early to get a good spot. Waterloo Records-- a music lover’s paradise. Waterloo records not only sells every music album you could want on CD, their claim to fame is their extensive vinyl collection. A turntable is avail-able for customers to listen to the records before they buy them. Waterloo records is also a licensed ticket seller.

BalconyTV at Joe’s Crab Shack-- every Wednesday night, Joe’s Crab Shack hosts new and locally-known bands on the patio, while a small crew tapes it. Come and discover the sounds of Austin.

Saxon Pub - a local favorite, this old Texas watering hole hosts Austin legends on a nightly basis. Definitely a spot for regulars of the older crowd, cowboy boots are optional, cover charge may ap-ply.

Capitol Building - open to the public and offering free tours, the Capitol building is a proud monu-ment to the state’s legacy. It is also a working State office. See the Texas House and Senate cham-bers, and learn a little bit of Texas history.

Page 11: NOMAD Issue 2

Zilker Park, Botanical Gardens & Barton Springs are a must see. A calm, natural green space in the heart of the city, Zilker park hosts outdoor plays and musicals during the summer. There is plenty of space to toss about the ol’ pigskin or play soc-cer. You can take a $3 train ride around the park. Within the park is Barton Springs Pool, a histori-cal pool fed by natural springs and sectioned off as a public swimming pool. $3 for adult admis-sion; you can’t bring food or alcohol.

Page 12: NOMAD Issue 2

BIGGER BITES IN TEXAS

Most likely due to the influx of non-Texans during the technology boom in the 1980’s, Austin’s tastes are as diverse as the people. From food trailers serving up gourmet eats to the more traditional Tex-Mex, Austin really does have something for everyone.

MARKETSA less expensive option than eating out is to buy food at many of the local grocery stores.

Whole Foods - Started in Austin, there are three Whole Foods markets in the city

Central Market - Similar to Whole Foods, this HEB market is preferred by some locals

MT Asian Market - The central feature of Aus-tin’s “Chinatown” this grocery store has every-thing you’ll need for Asian cooking. They even sell dishes.

In.gredients - A bit more expensive than the rest, this incredibly fresh market grows some of their own wares and has a café and beer tap at the register. And if you forget your jar to take home your freshly-made peanut butter, don’t worry, there are containers for sale.

Kerbey Lane Café $A family diner open 24 hrs (and serving break-fast during all of them!) Kerbey Lane is also a late-night hangout spot for young adults. Look closer at the seemingly typical diner menu to find that vegetarian options and gluten-free pancakes make this place suitable for even the pickiest of patrons.

Rosie’s Tamale House $$One of the top places to eat Tex-Mex in Aus-tin, Rosie’s has hosted Willy Nelson and other Texans for decades. With its laid-back atmo-sphere and family feel, Rosie’s is the ideal Aus-tin experience. It is a bit outside of downtown and is located at: 13436 Texas 71 Bee Cave, TX 78738

Oasis restaurant $$This place is not to be missed and is well worth the drive out on Comanche Trail to Lake Travis. Thousands of seats overlooking the lake, and fully occupied on nights and weekends, have earned this place the moniker “Sunset Capital of Austin.” Go during the week or be prepared for a very long wait. It may be off the beaten path, but Oasis is well known, and well fre-quented by locals.

R&R

Large hotels are readily available, but for a dif-ferent take on Austin, try these options:

HomeAway & AirBnB.com $ - $$Rent a room, apartment, or small house for a comfortable stay at approximately the same price you’d pay at a hotel, or less.

Austin Motel $$Lower priced than the San Jose, and with a longer history, the Austin motel is located on S. Congress as well and is a perfect starting point for city exploration.

San Jose Hotel $$$If you’ve got a couple hundred dollars lying around, stay in the beautiful hotel right in the heart of the SoCo district!

(Note finding affordable accommodation can be difficult if a major festival is going on!)

Page 13: NOMAD Issue 2

Car2Go $$With Car2Go Smart Cars dotting the city, this is an intriguing alternative to a rental. Sign up in advance on their website for information on how to use them and to get your membership card, which you’ll need to unlock the car.

Public Transportation $If you don’t want to drive at all, Austin also has a very reliable bus system, the Capital Metro. Visit www.capmetro.com for stations, schedules, and a trip planner

Bike Taxis If you’re already downtown, and tired of walking, hop on a bike taxi to get to your car or hotel.

Taxi CabOf course there are regular taxis. Austin has a few taxi companies, including Austin Yellow Cab, which has a downloadable app. The phone number is:512-452-9999

Austin is easy to get around, but it’s a sprawling city, and so much more than just Downtown. Tip: car/truck + gps/map = a Texas adventure!

Page 14: NOMAD Issue 2

HOT SPOTSDOWNTOWN

While 6th Street is the place to be for a first night out, there are many other areas of downtown that deserve a visit, like the Ware-house district, and Rainey Street, one of Austin’s best kept secrets.

6th Street BD Riley’s - An Irish pub hosting Open Mic Night Mondays and Wednesday Trivia Nights. Live music every night, voted one of the Top Ten Best Irish Pubs for food.

Recess - A bar with a focus on fun. Free arcade games and board games. 21+

Warehouse District Six-- One of the many rooftop bars in the area, Six offers a more cosmopolitan feel through the décor and jazz music.

Halcyon-- A coffee shop, bar, and cigar kiosk and all in one, this unique establishment offers a respite from the bar scene outside and an atmosphere of comfort.

Rainey Street Lustre Pearl-- a peculiar name for what feels more like a laid- back party at a friend’s house, the Lustre Pearl offers foosball, hula hoops, and a nightly band which you can enjoy from the bar inside or the picnic tables in the backyard.

The Clive-- another converted house (actually on Davis St.), the Clive deftly separates the indoor lounge area from the out door deck and beer garden. Local bands play nightly.

Icenhauer’s-- If a lounge experience with piped-in music is more your style, this is the place for you. Serving Sangria in Mason jars, Icenhauer’s combines southern hospitality with an urban flair.

Page 15: NOMAD Issue 2

OFF THE BEATEN PATHby Dianna McKnight

South Congress Ave SoCo Book Shop Used and rare books for sale, including first editions.

Allen Boots Your one-stop shop for handmade boots, Stetsons, and other Western apparel.

The food trailer lot A collection of permanent food trailers with a variety of fare, from po’ boys to pad thai to cupcakes. These are not the on-the-go food trucks of big cities; you’ll always be able to find the food trailers on South Congress. Several are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Goorin Bros. Hat Shop An old style shop with unique hats for all tastes

A busy street with a retro feel, South Congress gives an accuratefirstimpressionofAustin’suniquetakeonthings.

Page 16: NOMAD Issue 2

EARLY AUGUSTby Gabriel DantesPhoto contribution by David Curtis

Page 17: NOMAD Issue 2

Can the depth of this emptiness get any deeper? I was tortured by this question for much of my life. It’s hard to find hope or the light of peace amid death, emptiness, and pain. Yet in the heart of my distress and dissatisfaction, hope began to grow.

I grew up in the-middle-of-nowhere, Ohio. Even when I was a boy, I wanted only to love and to be loved. So goes the song by Ingrid Michaelson, right? Everybody wants love. I searched for love.

“It is for this that we have been made, for you have made us for Yourself, oh Love,

and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

I would have hated the world if it hadn’t been for my mother’s selfless love. She showed me what it meant to love and be loved. My father, on the other hand, knew nothing of love. He was always at the bar or the lo-cal casino gambling away my education, or making “friends” with other women. I hated my father. I hated the town. More than any-thing, I wanted to leave, to go to California.

I remember watching Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men as a kid and I knew right away that I wanted to be a lawyer. My dad said I was an idiot. “Ha! You a lawyer! That’ll be the day August! You can’t even do your homework,” he yelled once as he hit me with the back of his hand. I didn’t

care, or at least I convinced myself that I didn’t. In spite of my mother’s love for me I caused her a lot of suffering. One day, I got caught shoplifting and was brought home by the cops. My mother sent me to my room, but I could hear her praying the rosary in tears downstairs. Even then, in the hard-ness of my heart, love’s mercy was at work in me.

I really did want to go to law school, so I did my homework. My mother was the only one who be-lieved in me. She called an old high school friend of hers, a judge in California, who offered to let me come live with him in Los Angeles while I studied law, if I could find a way to pay for school and get a job to pay for food. She found me a scholarship and I found a job at a shopping center.

Still, everything wasn’t sunny in California. I had to work late shifts, and on my way home, sometimes, even when I made every attempt to avoid them, a gang would attack me. Less like men and more like demons, they would torture me, then steal any money I had. I felt so alone.

Finally - after years, I became a lawyer – a great lawyer, in fact – and I worked my way quickly into a prestigious firm. In time I be-came one of the most prestigious lawyers in California. The money was great, but I always wanted more – and wouldn’t stop til I got it.I had it all, so why didn’t life make sense? Why wasn’t I happy? Seeking out a path, I talked to lots of people and connected with a group of guys who encouraged me to become a Scientologist, but in the end I still didn’t find people who cared for me.

As a lawyer in Southern California, I often ar-gued cases against the Catholic Church and its members. There was one case where a Catho-lic priest was accused of being a sex offender. It ended in a mistrial, but the damage I did to his name was permanent. I justified it, think-ing that their Church was filled with pedophiles and hypocritically attacked Scientology. I didn’t realize then that they were only trying to de-

Page 18: NOMAD Issue 2

fend the truth, a truth I wasn’t ready to hear.I spent my money on clubs and nights with “better company,” because the hole in my heart was so deep. Even then, Jason Derulo was right – everyone is looking for love and that’s why I was at that club. I found tons of women there, but what I got was far from what I needed to fill that hole in my heart, the hole just grew bigger.

“Even then, oh Divine Love, I was searching for You though I did not know you.”

One of the women I fell in love with became pregnant. We lived together for awhile, but I spent most of my time at work. My colleagues told me that it looked bad to have a son out of marriage, that it would damage my reputation, and that I shouldn’t keep them around. I want-ed to keep my image clear, but I just couldn’t turn my back on my own son, or his mother.

She eventually made the decision for me and just after his first birthday, they left town and I never saw them again. The emptiness grew deeper.

I don’t know why, but I started reading the letters of St. Paul in search for truth, or love, or meaning, but still wasn’t con-vinced by what the bible had to say.

I had everything and I had nothing. I was one of the richest and most well known lawyers in California, but my heart was empty and my life was meaningless. On the outside, I seemed all put together, but on the inside I was the unfortunate remains of a consuming dark-ness. How could there be any hope for me?

One day, I sat on a park bench after work. I heard children singing a song I had never heard before: “toma y lee, take and read.” The words haunted me, and when I got home, I picked up the Bible. Half in disbelief and half in desperation, I asked God to speak to me. I read the first thing that my eyes land-

ed on: “Not in reviling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in quarrels and ri-valries; rather, arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ; spend no more thought on na-ture and nature’s appetites.” I read no further.

I was completely convinced. It was as if the light of confidence flooded my heart and all the dark-ness of doubt was scattered. I dedicated all of my life and my services to God – to Christ. And in re-turn, he gave me the most overwhelming peace.The light of truth that I had been seeking my whole life, consumed me. I studied canon law and began to defend the Church in law and in truth. I enter seminary tomorrow, but for now I’m off to catch one last wave and watch the sun set on the life that seems so long ago.

God does not call all men to serve him in this way, but he calls all men and women to this: to know the truth of His love. For me, it became a peace in my soul and a light to the darkness of my despair. For the first time in my life I knew Love and Love knew me.

“May the live coal of Your Love grow hot within my spirit and break forth into a perfect fire; may it burn incessantly on the altar of my heart; may it glow in my innermost being; may it blaze in hidden recesses of my soul; and in the days of my consummation may I be found consummated with

You!”

Page 19: NOMAD Issue 2

Kisses from Katie

Katie Davis, a young trail blazer,

shares her experience of

follow-

ing a radical calling to move to Uganda at the

age of 18. Her story

is one of selfless love and

courage in the face of tri

bulation.

Available at www.simonandschuste

r.com and most book stores for

$15.99

City of God

St. Augustine’s original volumes have been

abridged

in this translation of his P

hilosophical masterpiece.

Beginning with an analyzation of soci

ety and pro-

gressing to discussions on the history of Rome,

polytheism, paganism, angels & demons, Christianity

and death.

City of God is like sitting in on a cla

ss with your fa-

vorite professor. Warning: requi

res time and focus.

Available at www.imagecatholicbo

oks.com and most

major book stores for $14.00

FOR YOUR LIBRARY

Making Good

Billy Parish and Dev Aujla have cre

ated a practical and insp

irational

guide for anyone (especia

lly young adults) seeking

purpose in their

day to day lives. With each step

, you are instructed in th

e ways of

making a good life for your

self and those you encoun

ter.

This is not a book to sca

n through or read in one

sitting - this is a

book to absorb and implement.

Available at www.makinggood.or

g and most book stores for $15.99

Page 20: NOMAD Issue 2

The work was as dehumanizing as it was agonizing; prisoners labored in the frozen tundra, day in and day out, with only one hope: meeting the work quo-ta required to earn each day’s meager ration.

Life in the prison work camps was whittled down to a sharp, vicious circle: one worked only to get the food one needed to survive; but if one sur-vived, this meant facing yet another day of gruel-ing work.

If ever there lived a man who was justified in con-sidering work a curse and a burden, that man was

Doing Good Work: Is Our Labor a Blessingby‘elViejo’

Page 21: NOMAD Issue 2

... or a Curse?

American Jesuit, Father Walter Ciszek. Accused of being a “Vatican Spy” by the Russian Army during World War II, Fr. Ciszek spent over twenty years toiling in the infamous Siberian gulags.

There was nothing ennobling about the work per-formed under the horrific conditions of slave la-bor in the frozen North. The only meaning of their lives was survival.

Page 22: NOMAD Issue 2

When Fr. Ciszek refused to stop administering the sacraments to his fellow prisoners, he was assigned to the roughest work brigades. As a result, he spent his twenty years performing the most difficult and dangerous manual work possible: carving sewer trenches from the frozen earth with a pick and shovel; crawling through damp, dark, and shoddily excavated tunnels; loading and unloading construction materials with his bare hands and waning strength. Perpetually exhausted and hovering on the brink of starvation, Ciszek learned what it meant to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow.

He later shared that he came to know work at its worst—“at its most brutal, its most degrading, its most dehumanizing worst.”

By historical happenstance and by a grace, we do not share in Ciszek’s fate. The dif-ficulty of our own daily work does not begin to approach the physical, spiritual, and psychological brutality that assaulted slave laborers in the gulags. And yet, as Ciszek himself remarks, for us too, work is often a real burden.

Our routine work in particular can be mind-numbingly purposeless, a necessary evil endured only for the sake of survival. Although most of us in the developed world do not face the daily threat of starvation or death by exhaustion, we do suffer a reduction of our lives to a vicious circle: performing the work we need to do in order to survive, and surviving only to return to mind-numbing work.

In his encyclical, Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II decries the abuses of human work. He laments the reduction of human beings to sheer labor, as in the Soviet work camps, but he also regrets the diminishment of meaningful, humanizing work. Much of the letter is given to defending the rights of workers against the injustices they suffer in our global economic system. Especially in our turbulent economic times, we would do well to heed the prophetic admonishments which JPII levels against any socio-economic system—whether capitalist or communist—that tramples upon the dignity of the human worker.

As insightful and important as the Pope’s arguments against global structural and social sin are, it is his theological meditation upon the more individual, existential, and spiri-tual dimensions of work that shine forth as a beacon of hope for those of us who feel lost in our labors.

Central to JPII’s insight into labor is the uniquely human character of work. “Work is one of the characteristics that distinguish man from the rest of creatures,” writes the Pope.

“Workbearsaparticularmarkofmanandofhumanity,themarkofapersonoperatingwithinacommunityofpersons.”

From this uniquely human dimension of work, JPII draws two consequences: one phil-osophical, the other theological. Human work will always bring about some product or service in the world; but it will also always be the result of a freely chosen project, in-volving the intelligence, imagination, and creativity of a rational human being. In per-forming our work, no matter how trivial or demeaning its outer effects, we are always given the opportunity to shape our selves, for good or for ill. JPII remarks that “work is a good thing for man—a good thing for his humanity—because through work man not

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only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes ‘more a human being.’” By our work we shape nature; but by our work we also shape our own individual moral characters.The theological consequence: work, no matter how trivial, is originally and primarily a gift, a co-creative participation in the life of God. The uniqueness of the human being is expressed scripturally by the phrase imago Dei, “image of God”.

If work is a characteristically human activity, and if being human means being made in the image of God, then we cannot regard work primarily as a curse. Rather, we must consider work as originating in and reflecting the activity of our Creator:

“ManisintheimageofGodpartlythroughthemandatereceivedfromhisCreatortosubdue,todominate,theearth.Incarryingoutthismandate,man,everyhumanbe-

ing,reflectstheveryactionoftheCreatoroftheuniverse.”

For us, the goodness of work is eloquently emphasized by the patient and hidden life of labor which Jesus undertook as a carpenter. Christ’s years of apprenticeship and manual labor, is a proclamation of a life or “gospel of work”: “he who proclaimed it was himself a man of work, a craftsman like Joseph of Nazareth… he belongs to the ‘working world’, he has appreciation and respect for human work. It can indeed be said that he looks with love upon human work and the different forms that it takes, see-ing in each one of these forms a particular facet of man’s likeness with God, the Creator and Father.”

In affirming the goodness of work, JPII has not forgotten that work is always linked with toil, and that labor is often simply suffered in silence and sweat. Although work as toil seems to be a far cry from the humanizing creativity which intimates the heart of divine activity, JPII recalls for us that work has always had for human beings a link to both life and death: “the original blessing of work contained in the very mystery of creation is contrasted with the curse that sin brought with it: ‘Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life’. This toil connected with work makes the way of human life on earth.

Our choice is not between work that is “easy” and work that is “hard”: all work is hard, if not due to manual labor, then at least due to its dull monotony. Our choice, rather, is whether or not we will honor the goodness of work, both in its intrinsic ability to shape us each as individual human beings, and in its extrinsic ability to “obtain greater justice, wider brotherhood, and a more humane ordering of social relationships.” We have been given a particularly stark example—in Christ’s loving embrace of the Way of the Cross—of the goodness which can result from toil: “The Christian finds in human work a small part of the Cross of Christ and accepts it in the same spirit of redemption in which Christ accepted his Cross for us.

As he labored under excruciating conditions in Siberia, Fr. Ciszek learned just how indispensable the Cross is. Ciszek came to regard his work as a redemptive act. In the midst of horrific circumstances, he strove with all his might to affirm the intrinsic good-ness of work, and the dignity of the worker, in and through his toil. Fr. Ciszek’s virtue was certainly heroic, but at its heart his labors reflect the simple truth that work—all work—is valuable, because it is undertaken by a human being who can reflect the goodness of God.

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“If we allow the love of Christ to change our heart, then we can change

the world,” Pope Benedict XVI

Hands for Christ Ministry - Juarez, Mexico “Hands working in the name of Jesus,” this organization supports the Community Center of the Holy Spirit to provide hope to poverty-stricken Juarez, Mexico. Join residents of the community and other volunteers to assist in providing meals for children, health care services, school, and day-care for working mothers. Other projects include building homes and providing shelter to battered women in the community.

Mission: To nourish families in need, from children to the elderly. Build hope and support in the community by exemplifying the love of Christ in every action.

Long term volunteer opportunities and monetary donations accepted.

Contact Info: Handsforchristministry.org [email protected]

Help reach inmates with a message of hope by becoming a pen pal. Volunteers are needed to write to those in pris-ons and jails, focusing on Death Row inmates, to spread the Gospel and share the love of Christ.

Mission: With help from the Christian community, to glorify God in every prison and jail they can reach.

Contact Info: Founder Mr. Michael E Densonwww.tcadp.orgTel.: (972) 746-8392Mobile: (972) 746-8392P.O. Box 2853Frisco, TX 75034

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Totus Tuus - Summer Catechetical Program

Teams of young adults from all over the US travel to parishes to lead youth programs to foster personal relationships with Jesus Christ. During each week-long parish mission Totus Tuus teams inspire the youth through exposure to the Eucha-rist, Marian devotion, catechetical instruction, vocational discernment and fun. A special focus of this program is on catechizing the Virtues of the Beatitudes and the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Mission: To train and spiritually develop teams who will lead parish youth toward a life of holiness and dedication to God. To inspire both teams and youth to imitate their lives off of John Paul II’s motto of Totus Tuus which means “Totally Yours”.

Opportunities to be part of a team for seven weeks, or to bring a team to your parish.

Contact info: http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org

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“If we allow the love of Christ to change our heart, then we can change

the world,” Pope Benedict XVI

Family Missions Company FMC‘s volunteer opportunities range from a week-long mission trip to full-time mission work. Volunteers can choose from over seven locations in-cluding Picota, Peru, Calcutta, India, and Joplin, Missouri. Individuals and families can team up with others to serve the poor and witness the Gospel to the oppressed and suffering of these communities.

Mission: Proclaim the Word of God and help the poor through service and evangelization.

Short and long term volunteer opportunities available.

Contact info: www.fmcmissions.com [email protected] 337-893-6111

Join pro-life advocates all over the world in spreading a message of love and protecting pre-born life. The 40 Days for Life cam-paign runs September 26 - No-vember 4 and ultimately aims to close abortion centers and save lives. Sign up to participate in a local chapter of the campaign and to access vigil schedules.

Mission: Protect the sanctity of life through prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach.

Seasonal volunteer opportunities and monetary do-nations accepted.

Contact: www.40daysforlife.com [email protected]

Catholic Charities of New OrleansEspecially after Hurricane Isaac, there is a great need in New Orleans for volunteers to assist those who may be struggling.

Catholic Charities offers many opportunities such as helping the elderly in adult day care facilities, mentoring and tutoring youth, and participating in administrative or clerical duties. There are also internships available for those at the college or graduate level.

Mission: To serve those in need through love and respect for each human person.

Short and long-term opportunities are available.

Contact Info: 504-523-3755 [email protected]

GENERATION NOMAD by Angela Sumner

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Photos courtesy of Raul Fernandez Photography

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“I’m gonna talk about my own struggles as much as Lil Wayne or Eminem,

but my faith and the way I live my life is fueled by something different

than sex, money and weed or distorted goals. My life’s goal is to serve the One who created

me...” Nicolas Torres - Singer/Songwriter

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“I pray to God and give him thanks for ev-ery little thing I got. Seeking the freedom only Jesus could attain, tied to the vices and the prison, to the chains, music’s a weapon that can wash or feed your brain, it penetrates the soul so I seek to be the change in hip-hop.”

When it comes to being real about mu-sic, faith, and life, Nick “Dy-Verse” Tor-res knows what’s up. Born in Columbia and raised mostly in south Florida, this 21-year-old artist diversifies the music scene by professing his faith in the style of rap and hip-hop. His music is not the product of trying to fit an often unpopular message into a popular genre, however; it’s a reflection of himself. “I’ve always tried to be really authentic with music so really, it’s not like I tried to fit my faith into my music,” Torres explains. “I just tried to reflect myself in my music.” He does this by carrying listeners on a journey through darkness into light—real life struggles en-lightened by real faith.

It was about three years ago, while study-ing advertising at the University of Florida (one of the top party schools in America) when this young artist experienced a re-awakening in his spiritual life. The inde-pendence of college life made him realize that he had a choice to take his faith full force or leave it behind. Through his ex-perience and the people who crossed his path on campus, the religion he grew up with became the faith he lived. During this transformation, his music changed with his heart to reflect the love at the center of it all.

“When my faith really came alive, I start-ed wanting to use that more and more to redirect people who tend to listen to mu-sic, specifically this genre, for distorted purposes and to try and bring them back to what would be truth and beauty and something more than the stuff they’re lis-

Truth Faith Hope LoveHip-HopTHE CREATIVE GENIUSFilm, Art & Music of a Generationby Jackie Heider

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tening to—something au-thentic.”

Torres took this to anoth-er level, helping to form a group called FOUND-nATION (that currently includes artists Alfonso “Th0t” Pedroza and Car-los “C2Six” Zamora). To-gether they minister with El Padrecito ministries to bring positive messages through relevant music to un-churched urban youth around the country. He continues in this ministry as well as various campus ministries, always striving to just be real and show the truth.

Truth is, though Torres is a Catholic who raps, he doesn’t like to label his music as spe-cifically “Catholic rap.” “I’m gonna talk about my own struggles as much as Lil Wayne or Eminem,” he says, “but my faith and the way I live my life is fueled by something different than sex, money, and weed or distorted goals. My life’s goal is to serve the One who created me. . .”

He emphasizes that as Catholics we have a duty to be in the world but not of it, to be grounded in our faith so that everything we do reflects that: “As long as we’re living authentic lives centered around the Eucharist and the liturgy, there’s no need to try and fit a specific mold. God created you for being you, so your music is going to be authentically different and it’s gonna be you if you just pursue God all-around in your own life and just let it flow from there, instead of trying to be something you’re not, and that goes for faith as well.”

What’s next for this nomad?Nick is graduating in December with a degree in advertising, and hopes to pursue mu-sic. He is currently planning an EP, and has had opportunities to gain experience in the music industry and collaborate with other artists like Jin the MC, Temperamento, and Sammy Blaze. “God’s been just really awesome with me as He’s always been, and just opening up a lot of doors. So far so good!”

Where to find his music: www.dy-versemusic.com.

Also, check him out on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. His single “Little Ones” is also on iTunes.

FoundNation can be found on YouTube and Facebook. Their album “Universal” is avail-able on iTunes.

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The Human ExperienceLife is more than what we see, more than the day to day hustle and bustle, more than the violence that shakes the world, more than the politics that govern a country. The human ex-perience is not limited to a single individual’s perspective, but is a collective reality that af-fects all of us as a whole. There is truth to be found by broadening our horizons, cross-ing borders, and letting down walls in order to better see life from the eyes of another person.

Brothers Jeff and Cliff Azize, who grew up in an abu-sive home, are de-termined to find the bigger reality than the aggression and violence in which they were raised. Though they have found a home at St. Francis House in Brooklyn, New York (a home for young men looking for a new start in life), they embark on a journey in search of meaning, purpose, and answers in this mystifying human experience we call life.

Directed by Charles Kinnane, this documenta-ry follows the brothers from the streets of New York City, to the sands of Peru, and the villages of Ghana as they begin to see the world with new eyes.

The journey begins when they step out their front door and make the streets of New York City their home. They spend the coldest week of the winter living among the homeless in the concrete jungle, begging for food and mon-ey, and struggling simply to survive. Jeff and Cliff then hitch a ride with Surf for the Cause (a nonprofit that goes on mission trips to im-

poverished coastal communities) to search for the perfect wave, while also volunteering at a home for sick and disabled children. Their third experi-ence finds them across the world in Ghana with their friends Michael Campo and Matthew San-chez where they befriend social outcasts--victims of AIDS and leprosy.

As they experience new cultures, people, and be-liefs, these young men also learn more about them-selves and their place in the world. Throughout their journey, the film draws on interviews with the people they meet, as well as the insight of art-

ists, scientists, activists, philos-ophers and re-ligious includ-ing Dr. Alveda King (niece of Martin Luther King, Jr.), Rabbi Simon Jacobson (founder of The Meaningful Life Center), and actor Franklin Ojeda Smith.

The Human Experience of-fers a thought-p r o v o k i n g , soul-searching insight into the depths of the human spirit. It asserts that each

life is a beautiful, unrepeatable gift with inherent dignity, and the fullness of life is found by enter-ing more deeply into the mystery and embarking on the journey with an open heart. Where to see it:

Grassroots Films offers the chance to screen the movie with a special Q & A with guest hosts Jeffrey Azize and Michael Campo, who have traveled to 14 different countries to show the film. To screen the movie with your church or school, e-mail [email protected] or call 718.349.7622. The DVD is also available for sale at grassroots-films.com.

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Spotted: Your Mom

It was an ordinary wall on the side of an old building, but now it is sacred art. It isn’t some blurred water stain on the side of a building that may or may not be a miracle. This is some-thing humble and ordinary made sublime.

“Humble” and “sublime” are words often used to describe other pieces by the artists be-hind this painting, Miles “Mac” MacGregor aka “El Mac,” and his collaborator, Retna. These artists have done paintings on walls in streets around the world. Though both artists were raised Catholic, not all of their works are as explicitly re-ligious as this one portraying the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Their paintings are often spread on walls in public areas and streets people pass by every day. These portrayals of “ordinary” people are infused with such emotion that they serve as re-minders of the beauty, power, depth and height of the human spirit. They allude to something even greater, to man’s call, not to settle or conform, but to be renewed, to be transformed.

To see more work by these art-ists, check out elmac.net and digitalretna.com Photo courtesy of Karyn Williams

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It is really all about the family. The family is the institution on which is built a healthy social order. Contrary to the Enlightenment view, that the individual is the basic unit of society, the Church has always stated that it is the family that composes the most basic unit of society. Thus all laws should be made to promote the health and wellbeing of the natural family, as God designed it to be. Yet, over the last 200 years we have seen a radical change in the un-derstanding of what comprises a family.

Pope John Paul II once said: “As the family goes,

so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” We cannot hope to renew the world until we renew the very heart that keeps the world going: the Christian Family.

It is obvious that we have experienced an im-mense increase in divorce, contraception, and infidelity, but why have each of these come to the forefront? Each of these attacks has done more and more harm to the family, and in turn our society has become more and more de-praved. The list of societal ills that stem from family brokenness is almost unfathomable. To

Renewing the Family, Renewing the World

THE WATCHMANby Kevin Ford

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begin with we must look at one of the less ob-vious attacks on the family, that which stems from industrialization.

Many people are unable to see the harm done to the family and the structure of family life be-cause they have grown up in a fully industrial-ized world. Yet, when we pause to look at how families live today as compared to ages past we notice a distinct departure from the ways of our ancestors. Industrialization did something that was never before done on a large scale. It separated work and family life.

Prior to the industrial revolution fathers often spent their days on their own land and the fa-ther’s work was the family’s work. Every person in the family had a purpose and they worked together, resulting in a support structure. In other cases the stores and skill/trade shops of the old world were often attached to the living quarters of the home. Even in early America you see the homes on top of the shops on all old Main Streets. There was no such thing as separation of work and family life.

This separation harmed the makeup of the modern-day family. Fathers, now physically separated from their homes and families were often alienated not only from family life, but also from the very work they left home to do. Before the work was meaningful and benefited the whole family in various ways. Now work became merely a source of monetary income with little relationship to the larger family unit. Understanding work in the context of family life is essential for understanding the life of the family as it naturally occurs.

G.K. Chesterton once noted: “Our society is so abnormal that the normal man never dreams of having the normal occupation of looking af-ter his own property. When he chooses a trade, he chooses one of the ten thousand trades that involve looking after other people’s property.” – (Commonwealth, 10-12-32)

Fathers were meant to be the defender of the faith in the family. Joshua once said: “As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.” When the fathers were gone from the home, so

also was the voice of the father passing on the truths of our holy faith to the children. This is not to say that mothers have no part in handing on the faith, but that as the head of the family the father has a right and especially a duty to pass on the faith.

We live in a society that has destroyed family unity by cutting off the family’s head. When the father was no longer present in the home to guide the family, it was not long before all the other members went their own separate ways as well. Soon mothers abandoned notion of bear-ing and rearing children, in favor of the modern workplace. Children were soon lured by a mil-lion frivolities and activities, ensuring that nor-mal family life became completely abnormal. Homes which once housed families who lived, worked, and prayed together, became a mere place to sleep.

If we are to restore proper order in the home and in the family, we must again embrace a lifestyle where the family can again be one.

So the question is how we go about restoring a family life that is whole. The Distributist pro-moters who formed the original Catholic Land Movement in the early twentieth-century an-swered that question simply: flee to the fields. Servant of God Catherine Doherty once wrote: “It (farming) was a way of life God meant for the majority of people. In the growing of things, first to feed one’s own family, and then to serve one’s neighbor, man fulfilled himself as a work-man.”

Life on the land, and really any life where we work directly with our family in various crafts, is a life where we can be present to and for one another. One’s life is not meant to be segment-ed, rather a Christian family life that is digni-fied should be lived in totality. There, with the whole family together the candle of faith can be made to burn vigorously.

If we wish to renew the world we must renew the family, and if we wish to renew the family we must again make them whole.

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Ever AncientEver New

Reviving the Rich Traditions of the ChurchLiving by the Liturgical Calendar

by John & Liz Boring

Hallowtide

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All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ DayNovember 1 & 2

While many don masks and hand out candy as the sun sets on October 31, Catholics around the world prepare for the Solemnity of All Saints. Also known as Hallowmas and All Hallows, All Saints’ Day is set aside to honor the Church Triumphant, all the saints in heaven both known and unknown to us. Feasting continues on November 2 with the celebration of All Souls’ Day, commemorating all the departed who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Referred to in some parts of the world as the Day of the Dead, All Souls’ Day is a time for the living, the Church Militant, to pray for the Church Suffering, the holy souls in purgatory who cannot pray for themselves, most especially our loved ones. In addition to attending mass on All Saints’ Day (it’s a holy day of obligation), consider observing Hallowtide in one of the ways below.

• Feast on soul cakes. Some historians believe that the modern tradition of trick-or-treating on Halloween finds its origins in the medieval practice of “souling.” “Soulers”, often children and beggars, would go door to door throughout town offering to pray for the deceased of a household in exchange for a soul cake. Recipes for these small round cakes abound, but if you’re not in the mood to bake, doughnuts make an excellent substitute. Share them with friends and teach them a traditional “souling” carol: “A soul cake, a soul cake, have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake!”

• Pray the Litany of the Saints. The oldest of the six litanies the Church has approved for public recitation, the Litany of the Saints is one of the most beautiful and ancient ways to invoke the in-tercession of the Church Triumphant. Pray the Litany, alone or with a group, after sundown on All Saints’ Day and allow the prayer to stir within you “the great longing to be like [the saints]; happy to live near God, in his light, in the great family of God’s friends” (Pope Benedict XVI).

• Listen to one of the great Requiems. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Mass of Chris-tian Burial was termed the Requiem Mass. For centuries, composers have been inspired to cre-ate musical settings for the mass, called, not surprisingly, Requiems; some of the most notable Requiems come from masters like Mozart, Verdi, and Fauré. Listen to online samples of various Requiems and select your favorite to download. As you listen to all or part of the Requiem, try to contemplate “the mystery of Christian death in the light of the risen Christ” (CCC 1688).

• Catch up with your patron. Patron saints provide special models of charity for Catholics. Set aside time on All Saints’ Day to learn more about the great saint who shares your baptismal or confirmation name. Don’t forget to mark your calendar so you can celebrate again on your patron saint’s feast day.

• Visit a cemetery. Catholic cemeteries are sacred places that serve to remind us that the soul “will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection” (CCC 366). If you’re able, tidy up the gravesite of a loved one on All Souls’ Day; bring flowers, sprinkle holy water, and offer prayers for the deceased.

• Create a home altar. In Mexico, many Catholics observe the Day of the Dead by erecting ofrendas, colorful multi-tiered altars, in their homes to honor the memory of their ancestors. The altars are decorated with flowers, food, candles, photos of deceased relatives, and religious objects. Build your own ofrenda to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed and dedicate it as a special space to carry out your Hallowtide observance.

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The former army captain had just returned from a tour in Iraq and secured a management position as a civilian at a technology company in Northern Virginia. He had a panoramic view from his four-teenth story office suite and a house. Brian McAl-lister had no intention of retiring from the service to enter a life of selfish indulgence. But these trea-sures of the American dream could not satisfy Bri-an completely. Something else had grabbed his restless soul.

Brian attended Lutheran services most of his life, and although he considered himself protestant, he occasionally went to Catholic masses, drawn by their beauty and reverence. When he had gone to college and later entered the military, the allure of the mass persisted, but Brian never took the steps to officially enter the Church.

It was a particularly prayerful moment in Iraq that helped Brian come home. On a quiet night close to Christmas Eve, Brian was sitting outside of the barracks alone. Placing his night vision goggles on his face he gazed up at the des-ert sky. It was remarkable. The stars were as countless as the grains of sand under his feet. Brian found himself mediating upon the journey of the magi as they came to worship the newborn king. Brian, too, was on his own journey to find the Lord.

That moment remained with Brian during his tran-sition back to the States. After settling in Northern Virginia, Brian began the process of becoming Catholic. The journey, however, was not smooth. He tried one RCIA program, but found their les-sons slightly questionable. Another program in-sisted on dumbing down the rich theology of the Church. Finally, Brian found a solid program led by a dynamic priest from the Diocese of Arlington. A year later, he was accepted into the Church at the Easter Vigil. For Brian, the Catholic Church was not something altogether unfamiliar, but it was some-thing very mysterious.

Brian was in his mid twenties at this time. He had his American dream, his patriotic accolades, and even his new home in the Catholic Church. He had everything one could imagine – well, except for the only other thing he had wanted - a wife and children. But as is often the case in spiritual journeys, one good desire is accompanied by an-

other, even if it seems to compete with the original desire. But a priest?

If you ask Brian, he would say that God’s calling came at the most inconvenient time. Brian had just set-tled in at work, furnished his house, and made new friends. Was God calling him to leave all of this be-hind to become a priest?

Brian’s discernment was filled with ups and downs. He sought counsel from numerous priests, and prayed for clarity of mind and strength of will. Brian also found himself turning more and more to music to help him focus. One of his new discoveries since becoming Catholic, was Gregorian chant. It became

a powerful means of prayer for him. He listened to it everywhere because it helped focus on Christ.

Chant, however, was only one side of music’s role in his discern-ment. Brian also composed his own music, but in a completely different style. The Blues were his genre of choice. Blues and Gre-gorian chant share a surprisingly great deal in common: they are made of simple musical struc-tures, are easy to learn, are played on portable instruments. Besides, and both genres tell stories.

Brian, being a singer and guitarist, was fed spiritually through Léo-nin and Pérotin and was able to

put that faith into his own musical idiom, in a style similar to Stevie Ray Vaughan or James Taylor.

It was only a matter of time before Brian would say yes to God’s vocation for him. By August 2008, Brian was officially a seminarian for the Diocese of Arling-ton and was sent to study at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Now in his fifth year of formation, Brian looks back on his conversion and discernment with gratitude.

That men are called out of the desert to serve as priests is the prerogative of God alone; and Brian would be the first to admit that he is humbled by God’s calling.

Within months, Brian will be ordained to the tran-sitional deaconate, which means that this singing veteran – who now also holds a masters degree in philosophy – will be able to assist at the altar and preach at Mass. He looks forward to bringing restless souls out of the desert into the beauty of the Church.

“Placing his night vision goggles on

his face, he gazed up at the desert sky. It was remarkable. The stars were as countless as the

grains of sand under his feet.”

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FISHERS OF

MENby Edward David

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GLOBAL

by Mary Claire Curtis

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CATHOLIC

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SPOTLIGHT on BRAZILIn the 1970s, Brazil, with the desire to pro-tect and preserve vast areas of the rainfor-est, created the Tapajós National Forest. To complete this task, only one thing stood in the way - the people who lived there. Many locals were forced to sell their land, give up their livelihoods and learn how to incorpo-rate into a new society.

Author Andrew Blackwell wrote in an ar-ticle published on ScientificAmerican.com, that a friend’s family was one of the many families affected by the Brazilian Govern-ment’s actions. “…it had been disastrous for the family. Instead of farming together, they found themselves looking for new and unfamiliar jobs … One uncle had opened a brothel and eventually sank into drug traf-ficking and violence.”

Growing concerns over deforestation and preservation have created, according to Blackwell and other researchers, a discon-nect in our understanding of preservation and our relationship with nature. Blackwell stresses that there is a destructive dualism to the concept that humanity is not linked to nature.

Although there is some headway in re-sponsible harvesting of crops and timber in Central and South America, conservation-ists and scientists remain concerned over the decimation of entire ecosystems and species. With this in mind, the Tropical For-est Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to stewardship and sustainable forest management has created a model for industries in the Amazon to follow in or-der to promote responsible harvesting.

Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) was created with the intention of minimizing damage to water sources, wildlife and the local eco-systems as a whole. In many areas of the

Amazon, local communities are being edu-cated and invited to participate in this mod-el of stewardship, by harvesting resources and sustaining their local economy, rather than being bought out and pushed off of the land.

While this is an important first step, the question still remains – what happens to those who are not offered this model of re-sponsible stewardship?

Without land to live off of, it is likely that many families resort to working for larger agricultural organizations. Rebekah Rosas, of Bryn Mawr College, compiled a study of migrant workers who are faced with the harmful affects of pesticides and chemicals used in the agricultural industry. Her study reveals that workers can suffer from many symptoms, ranging from mild (headaches, fatigue, nausea, vision impairment, breath-ing difficulty) to severe (cancer, mental re-tardation, learning disabilities, etc.)

For those communities who are successful in fending off industrial agriculture compa-nies, logging groups, miners and foreign water consortiums, they are faced with an ongoing battle to retain their customs, lan-guages and way of life.


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