Recharging

This time in the semester is usually the time where the semester starts to get a little long. Lucky enough, we got granted a day off last Friday! Since I don't have classes on Thursday, I decided to hop on the train home to spend some quality time with my parents and dogs. I was able to go to NYC with Saint Michael's Playhouse to observe auditions during the break.
It was such a great experience - we saw over 130 people in one day! It helped me gain another idea of what I could do in the theatre world. 

Another way to recharge during the semester that I like to do is going on retreat. I applied to go on the Emmaus retreat offered through Campus Ministry and got welcomed to go on the retreat last weekend! It was held at St. Anne's Shrine up at Isle La Motte - a beautiful retreat space of the Edmundites, complete with new cabins this year! If I could live there I would! It's a gorgeous space right on Lake Champlain and perfect for a retreat. 

This weekend was filled with the method of Ignatian Contemplation and Spirituality for prayer - which I loved! Using scripture, meditation, songs, talks, and prayerful thoughts, it was a great way to reconnect with God and recharge myself for the last bit of this semester. I came off the retreat relaxed and rejuvenated, knowing that I could make time to work on my spiritual needs and having this new community to support me on my faith journey.

A wonderful picture from the weekend
from my friend Kelly!
(instagram:kainsworth17)

What's great about Saint Mike's is that there are so many opportunities to pursue your faith. You don't have to be religious to participate, making all feel welcome to be as involved as you want to be. For me, this was an important part of my college experience and I can't imagine being anywhere else where I could explore my faith and have such wonderful Campus Ministry. 

Today marks the start of Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent for Christians. Campus Ministry puts out a blog of Lenten Reflections which you can see here! Students, faculty, and staff come together to provide prayers for the season - a great collaborative effort!

What are you doing for Lent? Giving up Alliot fries? Girl Scout cookies? Being more proactive in your community by volunteering? This year I haven't decided what I'm doing, but I hope to use it as a reminder for the Lenten season!

As always, sending my love to you and yours, 
Katelyn :)

The Beginning of the End: The Eve of my Last Semester at Saint Michael's College

I know I have said this before, but truly this is the beginning of the end of my academic career here at Saint Michael's. Now I don't want to get all sappy (I'll leave that for May), but instead, speak to something that has made my SMC experience simply wonderful. 

As you're scrolling through this post, feel free to listen to this song (Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets) , as it was the main song for our VITA retreat this weekend:

Being apart of VITA Team has shaped me as an individual, leader, and team member. Most recently Team members were invited back early to participate in a retreat and planning process for the semester. 

When the day got closer and closer to go back to SMC, I was apprehensive. Why did I say yes to go back early? Why do I need to leave home? What did this mean for me, physically, emotionally, spiritually? 

Once our VITA Team reached Saint Anne's Shrine on Isle La Motte, about an hour from campus, my anxieties were subdued.  The Edmundites, along with benefactors and donations, built five gorgeous cabins so that SMC retreats could be held in a specific area instead of having to be moved around every semester. 

The cabins themselves are absolutely amazing, feeling very shiny, new, and cozy. The only thing that I missed was a fireplace! It was the perfect setting for our retreat. 

It was a great opportunity to connect as a VITA Team. We don't normally have the opportunity to be all in one space together as we all run different parts: LINK, Connections, Dessert and the Divine, Taize, and Socials. Meeting before the semester was ideal because we're all so busy doing so many things that we don't get to share in our faith all together at the same time all that often. 

The Christ Candle in the center, to each of our own candles,
demonstrating that we each have the light of Christ within us.

The theme for the retreat was "Celebrating Our Stories".  We focused on how God is working in and through our lives in obvious and not so obvious ways. I learned so much about myself and my VITA community that really set the tone for this semester. It was a welcome beginning to this last semester at Saint Mike's. I was able to reflect on where I've been and where I want to be. 

Times of prayer, reflection, and discussion enabled us to see that there are many stories that we can relate to, even if the details aren't the same. We were writing squares based off of questions and Scripture passages our Campus Minister Anna had chosen for the weekend. In the end, all of our squares were combined and we were able to see how even though there are parts that are different in our stories and our lives, they all come together to create something beautiful.

Our "Patchwork Quilt"

I am so grateful that I was able to start off my semester with this beautiful opportunity and I can face the semester head-on feeling refreshed and revitalized. 

Now I am off to finish unpacking and organizing for our first day of classes tomorrow! EEP! I can't wait to see all my friends coming back from break and make more SMC memories. 

As always, sending my love to you and yours!

Katelyn :)

Dessert and the Divine: DELICIOUSNESS!

Hey everyone! Something I'm involved with on campus is VITA, Saint Michael's Campus Ministry. Along with the wonderful Emily, we run Dessert and the Divine. We meet once a month to bring together all that's been happening in other VITA events and socialize about how our time at Saint Mike's is going. It allows me to take time out of my busy schedule to reflect on what's happening in my life and relate to others at SMC going through a similar college experience.

Check out the spread!

Last night was our first meeting of the semester. I baked about 70+ mini cupcakes that we used as an activity. Emily made delicious butter-cream frosting, dyed with food coloring to signify different parts of our lives: Red = God, Purple = Academics, Yellow = Friends, Green = Family. We decorated cupcakes accordingly and discussed what our thought process was. It opened up my eyes to see that I've got a lot on my plate (literally!) this semester and finding a balance will be key between God, school, friends, and family. 

My delicious creations!

Dessert and the Divine is a low-key commitment, much like many of our VITA weekly events. It's great to have a huge turnout but also nice when we have small-group discussions. We had a great group of people and I look forward to more discussion and deliciousness next month!

This weekend us VITA Team Leaders have the opportunity to visit our Campus Minister Anna's house for apple-picking, kayaking, dinner, and smores! Hopefully I can get all my work done to enjoy the gorgeous, crisp fall with my friends.

Any questions let me know!
Sending warm thoughts, 
Katelyn :)