Here I am, Lord in “Hoosier” Country

What comes to mind when you think of the word “Hoosiers”?  Perhaps it is the movie with Gene Hackman wherein  a small-town high school basketball team was led to a championship that seemed against all  odds, or maybe it’s a March Madness game that you watched featuring the Hoosiers of the University of Indiana, or maybe it’s the colorful way that the commentators of the Indy500 referred to the big event. Either way, the term Hoosiers has been a long standing word that seems at the core of the state of Indiana; and it recently also took on a special meaning of faith and evangelization. 

The National Catholic Youth Conference was held this past weekend in Indianapolis where 25,000 faith participants gathered for faith, fun, and fellowship.  This year’s conference was held from November 19-21 at the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium which is also the home of the Indiana Colts.  The theme “Here I Am Lord-Aqui Estoy Señor” challenged young people to make themselves available as God’s agents in order to expand the kingdom of God.
 

One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Carolyn Woo, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services spoke about her lived-faith journey that brought her to leadership in the international humanitarian network.  After being raised in Hong Kong, she immigrated to the United States and attended Perdue.  At the onset, Carolyn only had one year to attend college, so she accumulated a total of forty-two credits.  Through the encouragement of a mentor, she applied for and was granted a scholarship enabling her to continue her college education.  At the core of Dr. Woo’s story of faith was her trust in God’s plan and her determination.  She shared how difficult it had been being an immigrant from a foreign culture trying to live in another culture that was far removed from her own in southeast Asia.  With the help of professors and others, she was able to be enculturated into American society.  In all these experiences that shaped her life, Dr. Woo offered us five practical ways to live for the sake of the kingdom:

 1.      Although we like to see “results” in life, we need to recognize that things will eventually work out according to God’s own plan.
2.      When the “door” of opportunity opens for us, it opens through mentors who help us find our way to God.
3.      Even if we do not feel a sense of “belonging” in a certain situation, there is still something we must learn and contribute in that situation.
4.      God is always with us and will not leave us as “orphans” (John 14:18).
5.      Always “desire” to be part of a solution even when you haven’t glimpsed the solution.

Another highlight to the experience was getting to be in the presence of Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez. Cardinal Rodriguez was ever present to all of the young people,  especially our many Salesians in attendance.  He brought a message of “mentoring” and it’s crucial importance for shaping ourselves vocationally.   Cardinal Rodregiez emphasized in his homily at the Salesian Family Mass during the convention that Fathers John Borel and Joseph Caffaso played a significant role in the pastoral development and mentoring of Don Bosco.  These skills equipped Don Bosco to meet the demands of shepherding masses of young displaced in the urban situation.

We, too, can profit by recalling those who have been instrumental in our own development.  Our very lives have been shaped by the reserves of faithful accompaniment offered to us by educational and pastoral mentors.  Coming on the heels of the bicentennial celebration, let us remember the vast reservoirs of faith that erupted in Don Bosco and have passed on to us to expand the kingdom of God for the young.