A Homecoming, a Legacy, and a Sign of Hope
I am feeling very blessed and privileged to be attending Steubenville Atlantic this weekend in Halifax. It is a beautiful event and a real blessing for the Church in Atlantic Canada.
Attending this event has been a real homecoming.
Literally, because it is in my hometown, and at every turn there seems to be someone new to reconnect with whom I haven't seen in a decade or two.
But even more so, it has been a return to my spiritual roots. This conference is an outgrowth of youth ministry initiatives in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth that, two decades ago, inspired me to give my life to Christ – a choice that has shaped my entire life, every major decision I have made, since.
-- It was on an Archdiocesan pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002 that Christ first captured my heart in a deep and lasting way.
-- It was through Halifax parish youth ministry programs that I first began putting that commitment into action.
-- It was on two archdiocesan trips to Steubenville conferences in Massachusetts in 2003 and 2004 that my faith was strengthened and I first encountered so many other young people striving to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
-- And it was on a CCO mission project organized in partnership with the Archdiocese in 2004 that I met Jenna, my wife, and first learned about Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College.
Like so many places in the West today, the Catholic Church in Halifax is facing challenges. One of the heartbreaking parts of our trip this year was driving by the site of St. Theresa's Church -- Jenna's childhood parish and the church we were married in -- which was torn down this year.
The fact is we are living in a deeply secular and secularizing age. There is a real spiritual crisis around us. Living the faith authentically today demands that we be countercultural, that we swim against the tide. From this crisis comes real suffering. People leave the Church. Parishes close. Vocations dwindle.
But it is also through these trials that God raises up new movements, new witnesses, and new signs of hope. I have been deeply encouraged to see those signs on this visit home.
While some churches have closed, it seems to me that this has allowed the formation of more centralized, mission-driven parish communities. These are communities led by priests who are on fire for the fullness of the faith. Priestly vocations here are growing -- I'm told the number of seminarians is higher than it's been in forty years. A new Catholic private school has just opened. Steubenville Atlantic has sold out and drawn its largest attendance in years.
In many ways, these are hard times for Christians in our culture. But I also firmly believe there are clear signs all around us that God is at work, preparing the "great springtime" that St. John Paul II spoke of.
Today, I am feeling grateful for my home diocese and for the many people the Lord used here to shape my life and vocation.
In 2027, Steubenville Atlantic will celebrate 20 years of ministry—and we want to hear your story!
Has Steubenville Atlantic made a difference in your faith, your vocation, or your relationship with God? Share your experience with us at steubenville@halifaxyarmouth.org for a chance to be featured on our website as part of our 20th anniversary celebration.
Keep an eye out for some special events as we celebrate 20 years of Steubenville Atlantic!
