Notre Dame Vision- Reflections
One of the valuable experiences I am able to offer our young people at St Benedict Parish is an opportunity to see their faith through a different lens. This opportunity is the benefit of attending Notre Dame Vision and it reveals itself to everyone who accepts the invitation to attend. Every summer the parish extends an invitation to our 8th through High School students to attend Vision. First time participants are 100% supported financially by our parish.
This summer 7 young people from our parish accepted the invitation to attend. Two of the participants were attending for the second or third time. Because of their courage to try something different and their willingness to be present in the moment, they each were able to acknowledge God’s continual presence around them and grow in faith. We heard several speakers throughout the week and each one provided something to reflect on and think about.
For the next several weeks we will share their reflections on their experience at Notre Dame Vision, on our website. I hope their thoughts give you hope. If you’d like to make a donation toward this opportunity to grow in faith, please let me know.
It’s easy to say “no” to something new. Familiarity can make us comfortable but these young people took a chance and benefitted from it. Their courage has the potential to change them and everyone they interact with, and I am grateful for their “yes.” ~ Kim McMillan
Cameron- I felt God’s Love
My time at Vision uplifted me in my journey with God, personal connections with the Church, and my perspective on the past, future, and all the moments that have been and will be brought into my life. If I had to reflect on my favorite parts of Vision, I would say how easy it was to connect with everyone. Having transferred schools (twice) and been the “new” person before, I knew it could take a little bit before some of us became close or even comfortable. But I never felt that at Vision. The second I joined my small group, a guy named Ivan, a person I would grow to become close with, asked me my age, where I came from, and started becoming interested in ME. I felt listened to at Vision. Not just by God, having heard my reconciles and prayers, but by the people that surrounded me in my small group and even by my mentor Nick.
Vision allowed me to personally reflect on the highs and lows of my life and how it has shaped me into the person that I am today. The best part about it is that even though we touched the parts of ourselves that brought tears, heartbreak, and distress, no one looked at you differently or thought any less of you. I felt loved, heard, and welcomed in with open arms. The many activities we had, whether being in the small groups we shared for the week or with everyone, all had lasting impacts on me that have helped me clean up my relationship with God and personally put in the time and effort to build it up to where I want it to be.
Being outside of a Catholic school means I need to put Church in my own hands. Vision really gave me the independence and courage to feel that I am a child of God and that I can maintain a relationship with Him. I remain in contact with the people I met in my small group. I still remember what a peer, Lily, said to me on the last day in the Grotto as we lit our candles, she said she had saw God’s light through me. I had never felt that way before.
I was surprised that someone could see someone so powerful through my presence on Earth. I remember the final activity in our groups. Each individual would stand in the middle of the circle that our small groups made, and everyone surrounding them would say a prayer for them. People would say what qualities they appreciated in the person in the middle and how much they are cared for. People shared the hopes they had for each person’s future, too. The feelings I felt in the middle, holding my candle, and hearing the prayers people had for my life, and said to God, brought tears to my face. I had grown so close with the people in my group, and I heard all the things they appreciated about me. I felt like a person loved by God and by my community. Vision is a place where people will be loved no matter where you come from. Others will learn to know and understand you and make you the happiest person. I never thought a religious camp could do what Vision did for me. I would pay a lot of money and more to go back.
Petra-What I found at Notre Dame Vision
As an incoming junior at a Chicago Public high school, I am in an environment where religion isn’t integrated into the academic and community setting. Following the graduation from St. Benedict (Class of ‘22), I stayed connected to my faith by regularly attending Sunday mass, being a Eucharistic Minister, and leading reflections during the Liturgy of the Word for Children. Before school ended for the summer, I had the opportunity to go on a week-long retreat to the University of Notre Dame for Vision. The program entailed sleeping in dorms on campus, activities relating to faith and identity, and guest speakers to give us new insights about ourselves as Catholics. I was very reluctant to go as I had not been faith-orientated since middle school and I typically have a harder time in new environments. Multiple conversations with parents, siblings, and friends led me to submitting the application alongside my twin sister.
Once I entered Notre Dame’s campus, I was overcome with joy, excitement, and love from the mentors. While sharing a dorm with my twin sister provided comfort and a sense of home, I was quickly introduced to many girls on my floor who later turned into an accepting community. Once I got settled, I encountered my small group, consisting of 7-8 kids with whom I would be working closely with over the following week. Initially, I felt quite shy; however, I eventually mustered the confidence to engage with two girls in my small group, who soon became my close friends and partners in all activities. This feeling of companionship encouraged me to share my personal journey and challenges during our first small group session. Although it was scary, it was incredibly reassuring to realize the kids I had just met, along with my mentor, embraced and supported me through our shared faith. The days following unfolded with remarkable ease, as I was engulfed in the love, growth, and confidence fostered by my group, which ultimately guided me toward a deeper understanding of my own self-discovery and the identity connected to my faith.
The following days I spent were filled with exciting activities that allowed me to deepen my faith, ask questions, and strengthen my values. Whether it was through the musicals presented by BOSC (Band of Saint Cecilia) or the keynote discussions led by Megan Hunter-Kilmer, there was always consistent insight to be gained, guiding me towards a new direction to my sense of purpose. A memory that remains engraved in my mind is the final evening at Vision. Following a night filled with adoration and reconciliation, we were guided to a concluding activity: prayer at the Grotto. As we lit each other's candles and offered our prayers to Mother Mary, I experienced the profound moment of hearing God's voice for the first time. I distinctly remember Him telling me that He has a plan for me, and encouraging me to continue being the honest, loving, and respectful woman I strive to be. As my small group came together, showering one another with heartfelt compliments in anticipation of our goodbyes the next day, I was overcome with emotion, realizing that I had discovered my purpose as a Catholic. That night, I truly witnessed the illuminating power of my faith.
Notre Dame Vision was truly one of the best experiences of my life, leaving me with lasting memories and friendships. Experiencing something such as Vision as a teenager opened my eyes to a world so profound and heartfelt. Vision came at a pivotal moment in my youth and l will carry these values, lessons, and words of wisdom into the future. This retreat made me not only realize just how loved and valued I am by God, but how I should love and look at myself. Through the Vision experience, I will always be reminded that I was made in Gods image and likeness, and that being yourself is the most important message God wants us to spread.
