Yo ho ho,

The mid-west is way different than the south. Before Florida I never had the opportunity to tip on every single transaction. I was just able to walk away guilt free. No more of that and LOVING IT! My first three weeks here I tipped on every transaction because it’s on the receipt, staring me in the face. I thought it would be rude not to. Fortunately Mike caught me doing it and told me to "stop being so weird" and tipping 27% on a protein shake purchase at the gym (oh how i love protein shakes).

My favorite is at Publix. My main man Eddie in the seafood department always hooks me up with the best salmon fillets. He sees me walking up, grabs a salmon, eyes it up and cuts a near perfect .98lb piece. Why I eat that much salmon in a single serving baffles me. I shouldn’t be eating a lb of anything. I digress. It seems almost surreal that I treat him like the person that he is and ask him how he’s doing while most people treat him like a salmon cutting cyborg, not worthy of 32 seconds of their time. Don’t text or take a call while in line for anything. Don’t be "that guy." Strike up a conversation with the people around you lest we end up disconnected like the people in the movie Wall-E (terrible movie by the way).

While still in Publix I have to checkout. I, like most people, pick my checkout line at random. I don’t have a favorite one. Regardless of what time of the day, what day of the week, what checkout line I’m in, stereotypical high school girl is ready to bag my groceries and joke with me about my purchases. I never knew this before she pointed it out but it’s weird that I love applesauce at my age. It’s simply my attempt to be ever more efficient and move towards an entirely puree diet (applesauce, protein shakes, blended vegetable drinks). Note, I never said you would have great conversations with the people around you, I just said you should try it. The last thing she says to me is "Do you need help carrying your groceries to your car?" Excuse me? Who do you think I am? Speaking of cars Ms. high school girl, I can bench a ton. I work out 27 hours a day, 9 days a week. My blood-proteinshake level is at .12, barely legal to drive before mentioned car…but now that you mention it…I could use the help. I have a gallon of 2% in one of the bags and that’s like 8lbs…so yeah, if you don’t mind? I’m parked right up front…

KWess

Dear Reader:

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. 2,000 years ago a young Jewish girl said yes. 2,000 years ago heaven invaded earth. 2,000 years ago, the Creator became the created. Today is kind of big deal.

Today I finished renewing my Total Consecration to Mary. The Consecration started by St. Louis de Montfort and consists of 33 days of preparation through prayer. For the past 3 weeks I have been making room for Him. I have been finding those things that have been taking root in my heart that are not from God and I have given Jesus permission to remove anything in my heart that is not worthy of Mary. Whatever isn’t worthy of Mary is certainly not worthy of my King.

So what’s different?

Physically not much is different. I haven’t grown a set of wings and I can’t levitate. I do wear a chain around my ankle to remind me of my total slavery to Christ through Mary, but other than that, you wouldn’t know anything is different just by looking at me.

Spiritually the change is happening. I am by no means a saint, but the Lord has allowed me to see the ways I need to continue to grow. By striving to make my heart as pure as Mary’s I am really in search of creating a throne for my King. My devotion to Mary is not for Mary’s sake, but for the sake of Christ. She’s the one who taught my Lord everything, so I turn to her to ask her to help me to learn what I need. Her heart loved more purely than any other heart and I strive to love like her.

Totus Tuus Maria.

mDub

If you haven’t heard of Facebook…

Well…

Anyway, Facebook is THE biggest social networking site for basically - the world.  It started out just for college students to stay in touch with those oh so important relationships that were kindled in high school, but now its for everyone.  I got Facebook to keep in touch with high schoolers - because they don’t check email, because that’s SO 90’s. This post is for those people who know FB (see how hip I am, I abreviate Facebook…sometimes even while talking) and can understand the rant that I am about to go on.  This is a response to status updates (there’s a way on FB to post what you are doing at any given moment and is one of the most used features).  Here goes:

Most of us work in the hours of 8-5, but thanks for the update.

You can’t sleep because your staring at a computer screen.

Work and school are busy.  It’s work and school.  But I guess there’s always time for FB.

I like the new Facebook look - in fact its a HUGE improvement.

I bet your group never gets 1 million.

Your status is not a complete sentence… is that what you want to communicate?

I’m done.

Jason is done with Monday’s post.  Oh yeah, and I’m REAL busy.

This post was really for Mike because I think he gave up FB for lent.

That’s all for now.

Hello,

I think Mike hit the nail on the head with the life of the missionary. We are constantly asked the question "So…what, besides having lunch with high school guys, do you do…exactly…in five words or less." Ok, so that’s not an exact quote but I would answer the question this way. Mike and I are on the ground floor of Tallahassee. We are present in the schools, having lunch or watching the baseball games. We are present at Bible Studies, Apologetics groups, and in the classrooms teaching the faith. We are present to each other, to the community, and to the world. We are present.

Long gone are the days where I am lukewarm in my faith. The holy spirit burns within me and it’s only a matter of a time before I as a missionary set the world ablaze. Gone are the days when I’m Catholic when "convenient." No longer will I remain silent and stand in the background while every generation that walks the earth is being bombarded with a message of violence, sex, and anger. It’s plastered on every billboard, it’s in every magazine, it’s blaring from every radio. In a world where I’m taught "vice is nice," something about that doesn’t sit well with me.

Virtue is not easy. If anyone ever said it was they were lying. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. So when I’m asked next time what exactly I do with my life…I can simply respond "live the gospel ."

KWess

Dear Reader:

People ask me, “So what’s it like to be a FRATERNUS missionary?” It’s hard to explain.

I guess it’s kind of like driving down Pike’s Peak at 90 miles an hour in the dark with the headlights off. You’re going fast, you keep thinking “How did I get on top of Pike’s Peak in the first place?”, You don’t really have control so the best you can do is get your head down, hold on and pray for a soft patch of grass when you land. I guess the only difference is that for us, there’s someone who’s steering you down the mountain the whole time. I’ll give you two guesses who that is.

It’s been a busy few weeks for us here in Tallahassee. Between ongoing FRAT Nights, getting the new High School H.A.W.C. program off the ground, plans for summer camp, plans to expand, plans to plan more planning, Kevin and I have a busy schedule. Yet somehow the question always comes up, “How is this a full-time job? Don’t you just go have lunch with a bunch of high schoolers?”

Believe me, there is more to it than that. Because of the oath of secrecy I’ve taken I can’t divulge my daily routine, but it’s safe to say that a 12-14 hour day in the average week of a missionary is not all that unheard of.

With all that’s going on, it’s important for all of us on staff to be rooted in prayer. When the winds of chaos start whipping around, wherever your roots are deepest will be unshaken.

Prayer is where are roots are deepest and strongest. The holy hour we schedule into our day is the most important thing we do.  Through that time away from the swirling winds and alone with the King, we are able to retreat, regroup and recharge.

In this season of Lent, it’s important for each of us to put our relationship with the Lord back on the front burner. Where do you need to let Him have more control? Work? School? Relationships? The Lord wants to bring you complete happiness and more importantly, He wants to bring you Himself. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Anima Cristi Sanctifica Me

mDub

Here in St Augustine, we have THREE billboards for ONE local "adult" store for so called "gentlemen".  You can guess what the billboard has on it.  It’s not adult and definitely not gentlemanly.  Of course, it’s not much different than many billboards advertising anything from soap to plumbers.  I hate these billboards.  Not only to I prepare myself not to look at them for reasons of holiness and purity, but because it ticks me off that every time I see them they "worked".  Right?  Every time we see a billboard we let it do its job - show people stuff to buy.  Well I’m not buyin’ it.

Unless we’re sellin it of course.

FRATERNUS Missionaries are like a walking billboard on the campuses of high schools.  If you don’t know, our missionaries go and visit the schools in the area they’re in.  What do they do?  Well, they’re kind of like billboards.  They prepare with mass and holy hours every day and then take the love of Christ and bring it to the campuses where the devil has had way too much free time.  When the high schoolers see them, after a while they know who they are and they know why they’re there.  They’re there for them.  They sell this fact: we think your worth our time to be here.  The kids see this and, whether they know it or not, it has an effect.  Our billboards (missionaries) are tellin’ all the other billboards that they’re liars.  The world can’t make you happy.  Vice sucks and virtue is awesome.  You are loved.  Someone does care.  The devil is a liar.

I also think real billboards are like the earth’s pimples.  Except for the one’s for South of the Boarder in SC - those are awesome.

Viva FRATERNUS Missionaries.

Jason Craig

Executive Missionary

Hey Guys,

Ummm…I’m sitting here, really unsure of what to write. I guess i’m just not meant to blog stuff of legend every single time. So here’s what i’m thinking…

I was thoroughly disappointed with the waterfall. Our attempts at roughing it were quickly bested by slabs of concrete and signs telling you that no matter where you happen to wander off to in the woods, you’re always within 15 minutes walking distance of civilization. It really didn’t speak to the adventurous side of the high school guys. However, like Mike stated, it was far from a loss. We managed to make the best of it and play two hours of basketball in the afternoon FL sun. I don’t care what the “Floridians” would say, it was really hot. Who cares that it was the equivalent of an Ohioan August and that “I ain’t seen nothing yet.” Apparently the world does get into temperatures past 100 degrees, but this is something i’ve never experienced before. I’m kinda nervous.

The week was one of encouragement though. Summer camp is right around the corner and the information packets are, as we speak, being (hopefully) signed by enthused parents ready to entrust the brothers to a week with FRATERNUS. It’s going to be amazing. I really can’t wait. More encouragement to come. According to our CEO, “FRATERNUS is growing at mach speed.” That’s awesome to hear growth on a macro level, but wait, there’s more. On the micro level, the RE teacher at the school where Mike and I sometimes teach stated “The guys really ENJOY being with ‘the FRATERNUS Guys’ as they call you. They come into the room saying, ‘FRATERNUS?’ and they’re very disappointed if they have a regular religion class.” I don’t know about Mike, but it was really happy to hear that.

From my perspective we’re now about to embark on the home stretch of the semester. HAWC will begin soon and this week Mike and I will explain the program to the high school guys and recruit from there. HAWC will really allow for personal mentorship, spiritual growth, and accountabilty to happen amongst the Sr. High brothers. Needless to say, I’m really looking forward to starting this part of the program in Tallahassee.

…but for now, it seems my brain is fried. Maybe too much sun, or too many protein shakes, or just because I did my taxes, but I think i need to take some time now and go outside for the first time today and enjoy it.

God Bless

KWess

Dear Reader:

Here I sit, a day late and a dollar short. I tried to blog all of this yesterday and as I went to post, there was an error of some sort and I lost everything I’d typed. We’ll try this again.

Take 2!

Last weekend we took a handful of our high school brothers to Falling Waters State Park in Chipley, FL. Falling Waters is home to Florida’s largest waterfall… although we found out that is not very much to brag about.

We arrived at Falling Waters with the plan to hike the nature trails that were promoted on the State Park’s website. After making 15 minute trek down the concrete slab nature trail, we arrived at the end. This was no big deal, we would just have to be a little creative with the rest of the day.

The end of the trail is home to the waterfall. We were all excited. I mean the Park was named after this very place. Falling Waters! Visions of Niagra, Victoria, Daniel Day Lewis jumping out of the middle of the falls. The excitement mounted as we rounded the corner and then we saw it.

A trickle of water sliding down the side of a cliff that had been formed by a sinkhole. Technically it was a waterfall, water was falling. However, if that’s the definition of a waterfall, then every time I wash my face there is a natural wonder being formed in my sink.

Disappointed? Maybe. Defeated? No. We did what every red blooded American male would do… we threw stuff in the sinkhole.

Sticks and rocks became our tools for checking to make sure gravity still worked. Newton would have been proud.

We headed to lunch at Subway then found a basketball court where we spent the rest of the afternoon playing taps and 3 on 3. We had a blast. Lots of laughter, exercise and fellowship. Afterward we had the chance to talk to the guys about where they are in their faith and where we want to help take them. We took some prayer time and then talked a little about a new program we’re starting up for the High School guys called H.A.W.C.; expect to hear more about that in the future.

We hit the road and got back to Good Shepherd just in time for 5:30 Mass.

That’s a lot of set up for a very short and simple lesson that God taught us that day; things aren’t always as they seem. Disappointment doesn’t have to be a bad thing, it can just be a chance to get creative and ultimately get away from your plan and get into His plan. I really believe the whole purpose of that day was to allow us to really start to go deeper in faith with these guys.

When things don’t go exactly as planned, you can either fold up your tent and go home or figure out why God’s throwing you a monkey wrench.

Has anything gone not according to plan for you this week? Maybe that was just God steering you in another direction.

Anima Cristi Sanctifica Me.

mDub

I’ve always lived near a lot of vegetation.  I have a vegetable garden and I also went to school for plants.  I’ve always had my hands in the soil on a regular basis.  That’s why right now is my favorite time of year.  Yearly I anticipate with eagerness the emergence of new leaves from dormant trees (the few species we have in FL) - its one of the first signals of Spring.  Of course there’s tons of reflection for this yearly renewal - new life from seemingly dead trees, fresh starts, seasons of growth after seasons of inactivity - but my favorite part is the beauty.  Its just plain beautiful.  If you haven’t looked up at the blazingly bright green leaves that are peeking out now in much of the country, you’re missing out.

The constant look up has caused a crick in my neck, but it’s also helped me, once again, to direct my thoughts and orientation up to that wich is beautiful, good, and true.  Of course anything good, true, and beautiful comes from God, so naturally this Spring has been a gift from Him.  I hope everyone reading this takes time when they step away from the gravitational pull of the computer and look up at the new life that trees show us and learn from them.  Trees are:

• rooted in the dust from which we came
• made from the wood that our Lord was crucified on
• constantly reach to heaven
• patiently await water and nourishment from heaven
• slowly grow into creatures that show us strength and perseverance

All these reflections makes us Christians the real tree huggers.  We love green because it is the color of hope, not because its a fad.

Jason M. Craig

Executive Missionary

So it’s wednesday after the Good Shepherd Bible Study. I’m chilling in the office listening to Paul Cacciatore talk about future LifeTeen plans with the Core Team. I was sitting there listening, giving my input, for the most part constructively participating in the conversation. Then something caught my eye. Why did I care? I knew it was there. Everytime i’m in the office it’s there. Normally I can resist the temptation but not this time.

I’m not talking about the unclaimed bag of skittles that tempts me to taste the rainbow.

I climbed over the mounds of paperwork 18 years old and VHS tapes that Paul is cleaning out of the office in the process knocking stuff over. Everyone is watching me at this point, I don’t care. I see it. I want it.

I reach up onto the top shelf and grab the FRATERNUS sword. I slide the sheath under my belt. I look around the room as if nothing had changed but everyone knows there is something I have to say and the meeting can’t progress until I state it.

“FRATERNUS has a sword and that’s pretty cool.” I state through a grin. Interupting Paul once more, I take the sword out of the sheath and stab at things in the office. God has imprinted on the soul of every man a desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. FRATERNUS is well aware of this fact and has created a program that challenges young men to be fierce, to be passionate, and to live a life of purpose. In FRATERNUS, we all learn to grow deeper in our faith through learning about virtue.

oh yeah…and we have a sword too

-KWess (aka Spencer)