Connecting to the YA Community

The St. Michael’s young adult community (ARK) has a special place in my heart. As a second-year missionary, it has been such a blessing to grow and build friendships with faith-filled followers of Christ after a day of serving the homeless here in Portland. The missionary year stresses the importance of prayer, intentional Christian living, and doing works of mercy, but one of my biggest blessings has been the friends I’ve made here at St. Michael’s.

Two young women, Kenna and Emily, are really good friends of mine. We met at one of the First Friday Holy Hour/Social Hour events here at St. Michael’s and all went through the Alpha program together. They both started to come here last fall, and it’s been amazing to grow in friendship with Christ at the center of it. They share a fire to serve people and dispose themselves to receive graces and direction from the Lord. 

When I was away for two weeks back in February to attend my older sister’s wedding, I realized just how much I missed my community here. I am from Providence, Rhode Island, and was planning on moving back there once this Mercy Mission year was over. But instead I will be staying in Portland, looking for employment, and moving in with Emily and Kenna once this year is over. I give thanks to God for putting such wonderful people in my life; Julie, Austin, Anais, Abigail, Avi, Garrett, Olivia, Jenna, Chelsea, and Tom (just to name a few). I look forward to life after the mission year, continuing these friendships in more faith-filled ways!