Mount Notre Dame and Moeller High Schools’ L.I.F.E. (Living in Faith Experience) Group hosted a fundraiser at Max & Erma’s in Kenwood on Thursday, September 24.
Held twice a year this event benefits new LIFE leaders’ week-long training program at the Bergamo Center in Dayton. The program allows students to deepen their faith through prayer, discussion, sacraments, social justice simulations and leadership exercises. They then return to their schools, ready to create and lead small faith communities. Moderator Gail Motz of West Chester said, “When students reflected on their days at LIFE this past summer, the following words were used: amazing, faith-filled, great, community, welcoming and love.
MND senior Becky Bradley says, “LIFE camp was an experience I will never forget. It put me in touch with people my age who share my beliefs and helped to affirm my stand. It was a week where I was changed into a different person who was merely hiding inside of me. All I had to do was find her. My favorite activity was my Mixed MLC (Marianist LIFE Community) or small group. All the people in this group became great friends in less than a week. We became a tight-knit group almost overnight.
Moeller student Jordan Calhoun added, “LIFE was a way to meet people from all over the country and even a few out of the country. It was a way to become a better leader and become closer with the people in my school's LIFE group.”
LIFE is based on the Marianist tradition of faith formation and growth. Each meeting focuses on a different faith topic such as Philosophy of Faith, Self Image, Co-Existing in Today’s World, among many others. Each topic is tackled by small discussion groups. Recent graduate Emily Motz added, “The result is that we grow in our relationship with God and with each other. LIFE is a time to challenge ourselves, our thinking and our beliefs. It is a great opportunity to take the time out and think about what is really important in our lives while having a great time with friends.”
