A Beautiful Noise

The steady beep of a man lift reversing, the sound of a hammer on steel, drills and grinders humming: this is the background music for our daily 9 AM holy hour these days. While some might find it distracting I find it rather delightful. These unorthodox hymns of the new church and student center rise to the heavens and remind me of the tremendous growth we have experienced at Our Lady of Wisdom over the last couple of decades. It is a daily reminder as I come before Jesus in the Eucharist of the need to continue to beg the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into his vineyard, for the harvest is abundant and the laborers are few.

Concrete slap is being poured on the second floor of the student center, and the final piece of steel will be installed on October 6 after the Topping Out Ceremony.

So often we hear this passage and think, “we need more priests!” That is certainly true, but all baptized members of the Body of Christ are called to be laborers, co-workers in the vineyard. Our mission to “form lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ” flows from this reality. The exciting part is that our students are doing it! Last week we had our first Men's Night of the semester at the Hernandez House. A parishioner cooked over 750 chicken wings and not one was left at the end of the night. Over eighty men showed up for food, community, and a message from Fr. Nick. Close to half of the men were new to Wisdom, and they showed up because our men intentionally invited them. They invited their engineering classmates, their rugby teammates, and their fraternity brothers. They have experienced the Lord profoundly, and they are being bold in inviting others to that life-altering encounter.

Fr. Nick shares a message at the Men's Night in the back yard of the Hernandez House.

We are seeing incredible things in our OCIA program as well. Back in 2018, Fr. Sibley made the very wise decision to have Katie Landry full-time over our formation. This allows us to accept people at any time throughout the year, and get them plugged in and formed in ways and on a timeframe that works for them and their individual needs. Last year we baptized five students. This year we already have around fifteen (15) preparing to be baptized! Along with them, we have around another fifteen (15) who are seeking to come into full communion with the Catholic Church, and over thirty (30) more adult Catholics who are in formation to complete their sacraments. These are incredible numbers, but we aren’t finished! Just this past weekend four (4) more students reached out to me after Mass to inquire about becoming Catholic (2 baptisms and 2 full communions). The Lord is moving profoundly on campus and it is fun to watch!

This passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians has been coming up frequently in my prayers over the last several months: “And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).  What else can I do after reflecting on everything mentioned above and so many more incredible things happening on campus?  Be thankful!  That is the only response. I am incredibly grateful to Bishop Deshotel for entrusting this important ministry to me. I am grateful to you for supporting us, spiritually, financially, and emotionally. Most of all, I am grateful to God for his fidelity. This mission is not always easy. The Lord asks us to work diligently, tilling, planting, and watering, but He is always the one who brings about the growth. In His own perfect way and timing, He always does bring about tremendous growth!