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SPIRITUAL SPRING BREAK IN TAIZÉ

by Dominic Lazzaroni (LUC ‘20), Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Going into the Taizé community, I was a bit unsure what the experience would be. I knew it was a place of prayer, but that was about it. Praying in song, three times a day as part of a large group, made a deep impact on me. At first I wasn't familiar with the songs, but once I became comfortable with them, I was able to deeply reflect during these occasions of prayer.

Another great part of Taizé was meeting all kinds of new people. We met quite a few Germans, some people from France and Belgium, and others from Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary. Meeting all of these new people from around the world has caused me to see clearly that although we may be separated by thousands of miles, we still go through the same struggles in our lives. This experience has also helped me to truly appreciate how those in other countries take up second languages. If it weren’t for the proficiency the Germans had in English, I wouldn’t have had half of the conversations I enjoyed during the trip.

As I went on this trip to France as part of a group from Loyola, our group leaders made sure we didn’t simply stay in the village of Taizé throughout the entirety of the trip.  On most days we would walk to a village near Taizé, on others we would take a bus to villages that were farther away. We had great fun exploring these villages and enjoying the various breads and pastries they offered! Overall, it was a fantastic experience, as I was able to grow spiritually, meet new people, and enjoy the beauty of the French countryside all over the course of one spring break.

200-ISH MILES IN THE DESERT

by Zel Salazar (LUC ‘19), Archdiocese of Chicago

My spring break this year was probably one of the least glamorous, yet it turned out to be one of the most rewarding of all.  I participated, as part of a team of twelve runners, in a two-day running race. On Wednesday, March 8, I took a plane from Chicago to Phoenix for a running race that started from Wickenburg, Arizona and finished in Fountain Hills, which is roughly 190 miles in total. Running through the Sonoran desert is probably considered crazy by many people, but accomplishing a nearly 200 miles race is less arduous than it might seem; especially if you have teammates to help you. Running in 90-degree weather on the road in a desert was a breeze when you had your team in a van encouraging you every step of the way.

One thing I will never forget from this trip is my teammates. I made lifelong friends that share the same passion for pushing limits. Most of the time we spent together was filled with laughter, joy, and constant positivity. This race reminded me why I enjoy the running community. Regardless of who you are, or how slow or fast you run, there are always people cheering for you to reach that finish line. Crossing that finish line is much more magical when you can share the moment with companions who never gave up on you. I will forever remember this race. It will remind me to hold on to the gifts with which God has blessed me, and to persevere, especially through the tough moments that life may bring.

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WHAT TRAVELING ABROAD TAUGHT ME ABOUT FAITH AND TRUST

by Adam Gonzalez (LUC ‘17), Archdiocese of Chicago

March 3rd, 2017, happened to fall in the midst of many things. It was the beginning of spring break, but also the beginning of Lent, and I had midterms to look forward to once school began again. Yet I was sitting on a plane with fellow seminarian Wally Ferrara at O’Hare International Airport getting ready to fly to London, England for break. I chuckled a little to myself at the circumstances, and said, “Lord, this one’s on you”.

Wally and I landed in London early in the morning on March 4th, while it was still the middle of the night back in Chicago. We were tired, yet very excited for whatever the day would bring. My first impression of London was green; it had been a few months since I had seen green grass, and what a welcome sight it was! Wally and I parted ways to head to our hosts’ homes and get acquainted with them. I stayed with a woman named Rikke, a friend of my sister’s, who lived in a small flat right on the River Thames. I was greeted by warm bread and an open home, and was made aware that God was in charge of this trip. As Rikke and I headed out into the city to explore, I was blown away by the large amounts of people, both residents and tourists, and the hustle and bustle of the city. Rikke had to run some errands, so I was on my own for the afternoon.

That’s not the only time I was left alone. Rikke had to travel to Paris for work for a couple days, so I was very much by myself as Wally was kept busy by his host family, who also took him to Paris. I was alone for forty-eight hours in a new city and new country, and I absolutely loved it. I loved getting lost in the city, I loved looking up instead of down, I loved the beauty in the architecture of the city, and I loved that I was alone with my thoughts.

I spent a lot of time in prayer, sometimes because I didn’t know where I was going, but other times because having no one to talk to is a great opportunity to talk to God. I prayed about my apprehensions in travelling, about where I found him in this new city, and about what I wanted to take back from these experiences. What I got was this: a person can have all the faith in the world in God, just like I do, but until a person learns to trust God, he will spend his life trying to control things out of his control. I related with that all too well. It took travelling to a foreign country, having some alone time, seeing Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Oxford, and Westminster Abbey, eating amazing street food, seeing a play at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and getting lost both physically and mentally in order to see how little I trusted God and how much I need to put that into practice in my life. I guess going to London during Lent was the best time to go. Cheers!

Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo shares a moment with some nuns.