7 Catholic Cougs give their post-grad years to Jesus in mission
Friends,
As we find ourselves in the midst of summer break, Pullman and the Hill at WSU have grown quiet with our students back home. In May, we had the privilege to see 38 of our students graduate and move onto the next chapter of their lives away from St. Thomas More. It is with great joy that I share that 7 of our graduates have made the bold decision to listen to God’s call to be sent and will be serving as full-time missionaries with St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO), serving college students, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), serving in Belize and Mexico and seminary for the Diocese of Spokane.
God has called us all to be missionaries and share the Good News of how He has changed our lives. We all live out this call differently and in our own particular mission field. Most of our students will leave St. Thomas More and be missionaries in their workplace or to their families and local communities, but a few, will be so radically transformed and have the desire to give totally of themselves for one or two years, maybe even longer, as full-time missionaries. This bold decision that 7 of our students have made to be sent out on mission has led me to launch our new Community on Mission Campaign.
We want to continue to support and form our community to be one centered around mission. Our hope is that our students will continue to be on mission after their time at St. Thomas More, and be convicted to serve and give away what they have received during these pivotal years. On the other side of this newsletter you will find personal testimonies from several of our graduates who are going on mission and the role St. Thomas More had in that choice. Your support for this campaign is vital for the success of our mission.
We are asking that you consider supporting St. Thomas More with a yearly donation of $1,500 or $125 monthly . This contribution would help us significantly to cover our yearly costs as we continue to form our students to be a Community of Mission. I couldn’t be more proud of these students and how God will continue to teach, challenge and transform them throughout their time on mission. Please continue to pray for them and us as we prepare for this new chapter.
May God bless you abundantly,
Father Paul Heric
Director & Chaplain, St. Thomas More Student Center, WSU
Students on Mission
Andrew Fry
“...our unique identity as beloved sons and daughters of God, living in that identity brings a whole-hearted, deep-rooted peace and joy, that pleasures of this world cannot come close to comparing to. And knowing that’s what the Lord wants to give to everyone makes it imperative to go and tell people about Him. Because if I love others, I want to go give that same joy I have to them.” Andrew will be attending Seminary in Wisconsin for the Diocese of Spokane as he discerns priesthood.
Cesar Sitio
“Living at Chi Rho has given me purpose beyond what the world has ever offered me. I was always stressed about my grades or what my workout would be that day, but now my concern is the pursuit of sainthood together with these men.” Cesar will be serving with St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO) and will be helping form college students at one of the campuses they serve.
Natalie James
“I would be in a much worse place in my life and in relationship with the Lord. I wouldn’t have grown in my faith and had so many encounters with the Lord that I had in college.” Natalie will be serving with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) in Mexico and will be caring for young girls at a boarding school that have been disadvantaged, neglected, and abandoned.
Jacob Seals
“...because of this community I was able to hear Gods call for me to serve with the Society of our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) as a missionary in Belize. The mission of St. Thomas More has shown me that my Catholic faith isn’t just a thing I do on Sundays. It’s a way of life that I want to share with everyone I meet. I want them to experience the love and freedom Jesus has for them in the way I have received it.” Jacob will be serving with SOLT in Belize and will be teaching math or science for high schoolers.
Lucas Soto
"I’ve decided to become a missionary because I have been impacted so much by the spiritual healing that I have received. It’s more than just that Christ died for my sins but it’s about what that means for me and how it has changed my life. That encounter and impact has inspired me to become a missionary because I want to give away what I have been given by the Lord here through this ministry.” Lucas will be serving in Belize with SOLT and will be teaching accounting and economics for the high school.
Joseph Koenig
“The mission of St. Thomas More has helped form me into a disciple of Jesus and this has led me to desire to spread the gospel every chance that I get. Being involved in community here at St. Thomas More, I have found my identity as a beloved son of God and this has shaped me into pursuing a virtuous life and has given me confidence to share my story of how Christ has changed my life with others.” Joseph will be also be serving in Belize with SOLT teaching high schoolers.
