A Welcome From the President of the Catholic Leadership Team

Date: 
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Quarter: 
Fall 2014

    When I graduate this coming June, it will be with many fond memories from the Catholic Community at Stanford. I’ll think of the spiritual fulfillment I searched for and found in the liturgies – but I’ll also remember the late night conversations, movie nights, and games of Mafia. And, whether I want to or not, I’ll remember the times that I was stressed out, frustrated, or heartbroken, crying my eyes out, only able to listen to a friend whisper “everything will be alright”. A well-rounded experience, you might say.

     These past three years have been a journey for me – at times a walk through the park, at times an inevitable train wreck. However, I have been so blessed to walk the entire way with the people of the Catholic Community at Stanford. Thanks to them, I’ve found the courage to choose a path to which I can honestly and passionately devote my whole life. I’m fairly sure that without the strength and support I’ve found from Catholic Community, I’d still be picking up the pieces of my life, shoring those fragments against my ruins.

     It was God, working through the people of this community, who has created my life into what it is today. I didn’t know what to expect when I first met the Catholic Community at Stanford, but I’ve found just what I needed: a home. A family. Not just a place to be myself, but a place where – despite all my imperfections and all the challenges that come my way – I can put together my life in the context of God’s plan, one puzzle piece at a time.

     Whether you’re a new student, a returning student, or a member of the permanent community, it’s my pleasure to welcome you (back) to the Catholic Community at Stanford. For the undergraduates who are reading this, we do hope that you’ll choose to get involved in the events that your fellow Stanford students on the Catholic Leadership Team have planned.

     Look forward to Thursday spaghetti dinners for fellowship and friends, and to small group meetings with meaningful discussions on the Bible and how our faith is relevant to our lives today. Take a break with the weekend retreats that we hold twice a year, or serve those less fortunate than us through soup kitchens or visits to juvenile centers. There are so many opportunities that await you – and know that at every step of the way, there are students who are praying for you, and with whom you can pray.

     With the Catholic Community at Stanford, we hope that you find an opportunity to live out the words of the Gospel. There’s no time like college to grow deeper in your faith, no time like the present to find a relationship with God that will sustain you in the years to come. It’s our hope that however long you are at Stanford, you’ll find for yourself a spiritual home.

     You are all in my prayers!

*Hannah Abalos, president of the Catholic Leadership Team, is a senior majoring in Creative Writing.*

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