Moreau Capstone Integration
Part one (Mission Statement): Like most people, I would say the most important thing in my life is my family and friends. In good times and in bad times, I find I am the happiest with them and know that they are the relationships that I will have for the rest of my life. However, that is not unique to me. Again, like most people, my faith is very important. I was raised and confirmed in the Catholic faith and have gone to Catholic schools all my life. One somewhat unique tradition that I find essential to my faith is service. Going to a Jesuit high school, we were constantly reminded to be “Men and Women for others.” Several classes that I took were service integrated classes where a component of the class was using what we learned to go out in the real world and give back to the community. To me, without service, faith and religion would be incomplete. Having a close relationship with God through prayer and service is obviously very important but using that close relationship to make a positive impact on our community and those around gives substantial meaning to our religion during our time on Earth. Overall, I believe a unique aspect of mission in this world is found in service.

Part two: Throughout the year, the main opportunity the main opportunity I have had for service is through the Dismas House of South Bend. This social service organization provides opportunities for ex-convicts. After being released from jail, it can be very difficult to find a job since they are often put at the bottom of candidate lists when applying for jobs. This organization, though, helps these ex-convicts find jobs and being reintegrated in society. My dorm has supported Dismas house by using the money we make from dorm events to donate to Dismas house. Just a few weekends ago, we held a mini golf tournament that cost $5. I helped to work the desk where we were selling tickets and t shirts and made around $2,000. Hosting this event was a simple and fun task, so knowing that the money we made it from went a good cause was an added benefit. While I am enjoying running these events, we have not had many opportunities to directly work with Dismas House. Throughout high school, I volunteered at a community center for younger kids who did not have a place to go after school. Many of these kids came from low-income families and could not afford paying for after school programs at their actual schools. While the town this was in was just 10 minutes north, the group of kids who I worked with were from” (“Dean G. Marcus Cole: 'I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something” by Dean G. Marcus Cole-Moreau FYE Week 12). My community growing up was sort of a bubble where everyone had the same experience, so to work with kids who had a different background than me, showed me how similar they were to me in terms of interests, but also the things that I took for granted growing up.
While working with kids from low-income families is one thing, directly working with ex-convicts is another. In my mission statement, I discussed how going to a Jesuit high school was a large part of why I hold service to be such a large part of my faith. One Jesuit role model who I read about frequently was Fr. Greg Boyle S.J. who we also read about in Moreau. In the reading we had for Moreau he had one quote that really stuck with me which was “Close both eyes; see with the other one. Then, we are no longer saddled by the burden of our persistent judgement, our ceaseless withholding, our constant exclusion. Our sphere has widened, and we find ourselves, quite unexpectedly, in a new, expansive location, in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love” (“Chapter 8: Jurisdiction” by Fr. Greg Boyle S.J.-Moreau FYE Week 7). In, this quote the statement that sticks out the most is “Close both eyes; see with other one.” This is especially relevant in working with ex-convicts, as Fr. Boyle did. As explained earlier, ex-convicts are often judged for their past actions and are not given the chance to be rehabilitated. Fr. Boyle is asking us to think and see with love, and not judgement. This is what I believe my faith is about and this practice perfectly manifests itself in service. 
While I believe service is a quintessential part of faith, the actual practice of going to Mass and practicing my faith is essential. In the “Hesburgh” documentary, Fr. Austin Collins was interviewed and said, “When we think about Fr. Ted, we cannot really talk about him and the decisions he made without talking about his faith” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley-Moreau FYE Week 2). People of faith allow this faith to impact their daily decision and choices. In the example of service, the Catholic faith and scripture teach us that “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same” (Luke 3:10-11). By going to Mass, hearing scripture, and receiving the Eucharist, we cement our faith and allow to guide us in our lives. At Notre Dame, I have tried to take this one step further and volunteer as a Eucharistic minister at Sunday and Thursday mass in my dorm. I live in Dillon Hall and every Thursday, we have milkshake mass where students from around campus gather for mass and milkshakes afterwards. Gathering with not just my own dorm community, but students from other dorms to celebrate our faith together. For my college decision, I was deciding between a non-Catholic school and Notre Dame and am glad I chose Notre Dame for several reasons, one of them being the Catholicism. While it obviously allows me to practice my faith easily, I feel as though the community is close because of our common identity.