To the Editor:
From June 17-21 I joined 16 other young Catholics from the Diocese of Davenport in visiting the University of Notre Dame for the Notre Dame Vision conference, which helps high-school students recognize God’s calling for them. This was my second trip in two years, and I felt like a different person by the end of the week.
Why was this? One factor was the first night, a time to reflect on my life since my last ND Vision retreat. So many things were changing: I was heading off to college, and there were new temptations and the responsibility of adulthood. Looking back, I saw that God helped me push through all of this, even though I acted as if I didn’t deserve it.
Another factor was the relationships created throughout the week. Students had the ability to share and listen to stories of personal strife, without the fear of being judged. I felt a special connection with others, realizing that we were all here for a reason. Or, it could have been the presence of God found throughout the beauty of campus, at the basilica, while praying at the grotto, or looking up at a mural of “touchdown Jesus.”
The theme of the week was “What happens at Vision changes the world.” People who attend find a plan has been created for their future, and it is up to them to put it into action. I did find it incredibly difficult to leave Vision, though. I knew that an experience like this comes only once in a lifetime, that the people I bonded with would be hundreds of miles apart once again. But I also knew it was time to go and use my gifts to fulfill the purpose I was given.
Mitchell Frischmeyer
Grinnell
