After dropping the boys off at Aunt Nancy's, we made final late night preparations for our trip to Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio.We woke up at 4:15 am and were on the road by 5:30. Tori had an interview scheduled at 1 pm with the Net Team and we did not want to stress about time.There was no traffic at all and we arrived at 10:30 am.
The Net Team is an evangelistic apostolate that puts on retreats for young people all over the country.Tori has been to three of their retreats at our church and likes how they carry the message of Catholic Christianity in song, skits and small group discussions. .They take volunteers from the ages of 18-28 and the lifestyle is structured, sparse, social and sacrificial. There were 30 people on this retreat and there are about 7 more across the country. It was a pleasure to allow her this opportunity to find out more about it.
We had come to see this school in December because it is a very well loved school by most alumni. It is authentically Catholic with a very alive and fun feel to it.
After settling Tori in, Natalie, Miss J.and I went to the 12 noon Mass.Their chapel has a Seventies look to it and is not what I would call beautiful inside. It was designed to have fantastic acoustics and it does. The most notable thing about their Masses which I experienced both this time and in December is that the students SING well and loudly.There were so many songs and responses where the guys would sing first and the ladies echoed them.All of the kids participated and knew the words by heart to modern praise songs and all of the sung parts of the Mass.
The Board of Trustees was apparently meeting this week-end at the college so there were 10 priests con-celebrating this daily Mass.
It was gorgeously warm and sunny (even hot) as we wandered to their Adoration Chapel which is built to resemble the church that St. Francis restored when he heard God call him to "Rebuild My Church."It is small and very rustic inside and very conducive to prayer.If you are one of my friends or family, you were prayed for here!
St. Francis is credited with the idea of "creche displays" and they have one in a rock grotto year round.
These stairs lead to their Outdoor Stations of the Cross which meander around a trail on the edge of this hill.
This is the fourteenth Station where Jesus is lain in the tomb.
We enjoyed walking around the campus until it was time to check into The Hampton Inn which is located just off campus, within walking distance.The Indoor Pool and Fitness Center were next on the agenda!
We bought some tickets to a play for that evening produced by the students and thoroughly enjoyed a high quality,dramatic performance of:
Natalie and I then began to enjoy a number of episodes of "What Not to Wear" on TLC since we don't have cable T.V. at home.I could have been the fashion victim in any one of the shows because I had on the exact outfit that they were criticizing! I could relate to all the women who were the "style trainees".
On Saturday morning, I treated myself to a The Latin Mass at 8 am. It was interesting but I prefer it in English.It had gotten very cold and we stayed in the Hotel all day to relax. It was at this point that I realized that we were experiencing a "Spring Break"
The Continental Breakfast was super.
On Sunday, we picked Tori up and headed for home.
She was able to stay with Kat, a girl from our local church's youth group who goes to school there.She also reconnected with Kat's friends whom she met the last time we visited.
As we passed through one of the many bridges around Pittsburgh, we were able to see the stadium that the Steelers play in.We also went through two mountain tunnels each way. It was a most relaxing week-end and a spiritual boost with a lot of time for reflection on how best to finish out the school year.I am grateful for it.
