Support Madeline in Poland with Jason Evert
To begin - I am in the process of obtaining a certification of the Theology of the Body under Christopher West. I am also in college and plan to go to grad school for psychology, specifically research psychology. My vision with this is to eventually do in depth research to find the countless ways in which spirituality and psychology integrate, connect with, and overlap each other in the human person. I love writing, and I see myself teaching this as a mini course or seminar, especially to priests. Not only will it help them to minister to their flocks, but through their learning of this they will come to a better understanding of themselves, their own strengths and weaknesses, and so they themselves will become better and holier shepherds. Priests have always been special to my heart, and they need help now more than ever, as the recent scandals have told us. This is only a short, bullet-point summary of what I deeply feel God calling me to do with my life.
An unexpected opportunity popped up for me to spend a week in Poland! I will be meeting a pilgrim group in Warsaw led by Jason Evert (director of the Chastity Project and a Theology of the Body speaker), then travel to Krakow and other places with them. August 1st-6th I'll be in Pennsylvania for my third course of Theology of the Body with Christopher West at the TOB Institute. On the 7th I will fly out of Philadelphia to Warsaw, then fly back home on the 16th. Immediately after studying some of the writings of JPII, I will be walking around his home country! After that, I have about a week at home to recuperate before driving to Ave Maria for the fall semester. God's timing is the perfect timing! I would have never foreseen this.
People who donate can send me a prayer intention. I will write them in a booklet/note pad which I will carry to the birthplace and home of St. John Paul II. I am going to pray to him for peace in our world and our nation, as well as for the undertaking of the above calling which I feel very drawn to, by God's grace. I will also pray for the intentions of my "sponsors". After the trip, I would also love to send them a few pictures of Poland to show my gratitude.
After calculations, the total cost of the trip may be around $3,500, but if I can raise about $2,500, I could cover the rest. Thank you to all who generously support this cause, and may God bless you for your openness to Him.