Alumni of the latest Lay Mission Project apostolate in the Diocese of Sacramento make one thing abundantly clear — the inner formation of the faithful reveals new and previously unexpressed ideas and possibilities for the body of Christ, the larger community, and the mission of Jesus.
As one participant put it, “We are the body of Christ born for this time.” Speaking of all Christians, he emphasizes the imperative vocation of the laity – the calling, here and now, from Jesus to go, share and love as unique persons with unique gifts.
Catholic Herald magazine features insights from three of 60 cohort members working faithfully to perpetuate the mission of Christ by honing their personal gifts and efforts.
What is the sphere of influence God is giving you?
Steven Braatz – Janesville
“We spent pretty much our whole adult lives in Protestant evangelicalism,” says Steven Braatz, an obstetrician and former U.S. Navy doctor who, upon retiring from military service, moved with his wife, Lori, to the town of Janesville, 11 miles southeast of Susanville in Lassen County. The remote rural area in the mountainous northeastern part of California, at that time 15 years ago, had “a shortage of health care providers,” he says, knowing that he and Lori, a labor and delivery nurse, could help “where they were needed.”
They immersed themselves in their Christian faith and actively engaged with a local congregation becoming key players in bringing a faith-based international outreach ministry to town to serve teens and adults with addictions.
By 2015, seven years settled in their new community, Steven and Lori were driven to “better be able to defend the faith.” They began pouring over resources to learn all they could.
“I was weak in philosophy,” Steven admits, although secure in his knowledge of science and evidence of the creator. “I was reading a lot of philosophy and especially natural moral law,” he explains of his discovery of Catholic philosophers. From there, the thread led him deeper into Church history and early Church Fathers.
“I discovered Catholicism,” Steven recalls, ecstatic that Lori, too, “had the same discovery, at the same time” as they traveled parallel study journeys.
“We decided we just had to be Catholic,” he says with audible excitement telling of their “march” to Sacred Heart Parish in Susanville in 2017 and their exuberant request of the pastor to please “make us Catholic!”
“It just blew my mind away,” Steven says, compounding all the reasons together from apostolic tradition to transubstantiation to “all the tools to pursue holiness,” with reference to the sacraments, the Mass, and the wonders and depth of Catholicism.
Just over two years later, then-pastor Father Arbel Cabasagan, invited Lori to be the group leader for the local group of the Lay Mission Project cohort.
“I went with her to the inaugural retreat to support her,” Steven recalls, sensing his medical practice obligations would not allow his own participation. But soon enough, surrounded by friendly and inspiring people, he was drawn in and enthralled listening to executive director and instructor, Dominican Father Michael Sweeney, teach all day.
Steven credits his wife of 43 years with getting him through the program and insists “this whole thing started and ended with Lori.” He refers to her leadership and organization of their local group and how she was “truly my inspiration and help all through this” three-year period of discipleship formation.
Steven remembers how instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours and the importance of a structured and disciplined prayer life influenced him immediately. “I committed to have a more steadfast prayer life,” he says, explaining how it “bound me to the Lay Mission Project.”
In tandem with an enriched prayer life, Steven talks easily of his increasing desire to share his love of Jesus and all that he was discovering.
“As very serious Protestant evangelicals, Lori and I sought to follow Jesus with our whole heart…we wanted to pursue God’s will for our lives,” Steven shares. reflecting on how “at first it seemed like kind of a mystery.” But any clouds of obscurity scattered quickly Steven asserts, “It simply boils down to wanting to share with others what one really loves … what one is excited about and cares about,” pointing to his journey to the Catholic faith and how it “brought great joy.”
“If you think about one’s responsibility,” Steven says, encouraging profound introspection and asking, “What is the sphere of influence that God is giving you?” He suggests considering the following groups, including loved ones, family, colleagues and co-workers, and anyone prompting interaction or engagement.
“You sort of feel a burden to help them grow in their faith, too,” Steven surmises, suggesting not a weight, but a happy responsibility tinged with an overwhelming and humbling essentiality.
For Steven, his Lay Mission Project experience translates into helping and teaching others, bringing the richness of faith to his community. Collaborating with his pastor, Father Arnold Parungao, and parishioners, Steven lines up speakers, musicians and films to inspire and educate on a range of topics. He also teaches confirmation preparation classes and offers youth-focused instruction on Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. He teams with Lori to continue youth nights every Wednesday accomplished with a lesson, snacks, games and activities.
“I don’t want our young people to be stolen from us, we don’t want them to fall away,” Steven expresses with honest concern for his sphere of influence. He and Lori plan to join the parish and its youth on a pilgrimage next May – an annual, international march of Catholics in France from Paris to Chartres for “a time of fellowship and celebration of tradition with other Catholics.”
Professionally, Steven sees how his formation has reshaped his obstetrics practice. “I radically modified my practice when I became Catholic,” he says, indicating how he clearly identifies himself as a “pro-life Catholic OB-GYN.” Steven and Lori are very involved in the pro-life movement, advocating “in the trenches” for life in the courts, legislatures, and media. Steven serves as board chairman of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Steven sees people everywhere yearning for faith and meaning but looking in all the wrong places. “Unfortunately, there is sort of this message in the culture that ‘we’ve already tried religion and it didn’t work,’” Steven laments, citing the trendy groupthink as the very reason why fervently sharing faith is so important.
“When we talk to a person in need, share the faith, share the love of Christ, touch someone and pray for them, it is the hands of Christ, the voice of Christ, the body of Christ,” Steven conveys, believing small measures can work powerfully to spread the message and love of Christ.
“We have to love Jesus and pursue holiness in our own lives,” Steven says, adding that “the desire to serve will spring up in each of us and we’ll each contribute to the mission of Jesus and the mission of the Church.”
What are the gifts that God has given us?
Marcela Mora – Folsom
When Marcela Mora came to the United States five years ago, she looked for opportunities “to learn more about my faith and be close to God.” Originally from Colombia, she and her husband, Carlos, relocated from his homeland of Mexico and brought their expertise as young engineers to California, calling Folsom and St. John the Baptist Parish home. Both are active leaders in the parish’s Hispanic apostolate and Carlos directs the choir.
While attending a spiritual retreat in 2019, Marcela heard about the Lay Mission Project but had concerns about the three-year duration and her English language skills. Still, she felt in her heart a desire to commit to the individually-paced video lessons and the monthly local group meetings that would begin January 2020.
Now, in hindsight, and despite the challenges of two pregnancies and working full time, Marcela has no regrets.
“It was easier with time,” she says gratefully acknowledging how the “Holy Spirit helped me a lot.”
From the very beginning of the Lay Mission Project, Marcela felt inspired to pray with family members in Columbia and Mexico, reminiscent of togetherness at Mass growing up, but also aware that praying together as a family outside of Mass had been missing.
“I asked my family in Columbia and Mexico if they would join me and pray on Sundays,” Marcela remembers of her initial request to host digital meetings and use social media platforms as the means for prayerful connection across the miles.
Marcela prepared topics for discussion and reflection, such as the Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer or reconciliation, and included related Bible commentaries. Prayers and petitions followed.
“All this was when the COVID lockdown occurred,” Marcela remembers, appreciating and understanding “the importance of prayer” at that difficult time. “We discovered that connection,” she says, detailing her relatives’ decision to also meet daily to pray.
By design, Marcela hoped to create a space for formation and evangelization “for Hispanic individuals and families,” especially for those “who don’t have experience praying and who don’t have the habit to meet God, rest in him and listen to his will.” The regular virtual gatherings gave way to authentic and emergent prayer lives and soothed the imposed isolation of the time. The meetings continue to this day.
While Marcela’s initial outreach concentrated on her own family, early on, she also invited friends to three separate online meetings during the week. One focused on guided Lectio Divina, another on the Daily Examen, and another on reading and reflecting on the Bible.
Over time, family and friends continued to invite people “to have that encounter with God,” Marcela shares, describing individuals who already know God and want to learn more, and others “apart from the Church or having problems spiritually.”
“Some people come
saying, ‘I haven’t touched a Bible,’” Marcela explains, indicating that Lectio Divina “helps them to know they can have a personal relationship” with God.
Marcela, her brothers and a few friends commit to maintaining a range of social media – a webpage, YouTube channel, Facebook and Instagram. Online resources abound there, and visitors can view new and archived content. Marcela has developed Lectio Divina workshops and retreats aligned with liturgical seasons, all in Spanish.
As a result of Marcela’s Lay Mission Project experience and her discernment of personal charisms, she cites a clearer understanding of her God-given gifts.
“When you know what you’re good at, you do that,” she says of her own self-knowledge but also encouraging others to examine the gifts God has given.
“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more,” Marcela quotes from Luke 12 suggesting that gaining clarity about one’s gifts leads to “better work and fruit” as disciples.
“I can’t explain the empty space I had in my heart because I wanted to serve the Lord, but I didn’t know how,” she discloses with great peace now that she has awareness of the Holy Spirit’s gifts and how they “heal your heart. I discovered things about myself I didn’t know.”
Today, Marcela sees charisms of evangelization, knowledge and administration in herself as she continues to explore her gift of intercessory prayer. She is paying attention to signs and praying about it.
“People approach me and ask me to pray for them or situations,” she shares empathetically, inspired to respond with prayers but also in writing prayerful words of consolation, strength or peace. She has shared the prayers as part of her online resources where many have accessed them and expressed comfort. Marcela also has formed a group of friends who gather to offer intercessory prayers in response to prayer requests and petitions received on the website.
Capturing the effects and reach of digital media most often occurs as a recap of numbers, counting subscribers and visitors. Marcela notes 1,700 YouTube subscribers, 13,000 website visitors and more than 5,300 hours logged on “video watch time.” Yet, Marcela is most heartened to hear the testimonies of people who have experienced changes in their prayer lives and who have developed personal relationships with Jesus.
“We help with fundamentals and God takes them forward,” Marcela avows, highlighting stories of individuals who have returned to the faith or healed their marriages.
“We have reached many Hispanic people from around the world,” Marcela writes in her concluding Lay Mission Project capstone summary. “I have felt God’s inspiration.”
How does God want you to serve?
Michael Durant - Auburn
“These are matters of the heart,” says Michael Durant, a lifelong Catholic recently retired after 32 years as a pediatric gastroenterologist with Kaiser Permanente. He describes the sense of vulnerability he feels as he reflects on “God’s hand” in his life; not only in leading him to pediatrics decades ago but directing him to the Lay Mission Project.
“It’s so funny how God works,” Michael says curiously, convinced that seemingly subtle happenings over the past 15 years definitively point to God preparing him and forming him more fully to serve, albeit in ways he had not imagined.
It started when Michael decided to take an active role as a primary catechist for his children while living in the East Bay.
“We have to catechize not just our kids but our communities, and our world,” Michael asserts, acknowledging that despite his own Catholic education from elementary school through high school, “I didn’t know about my faith.”
Since then, Michael and his wife of 40 years, Monica, who is also a physician, moved to Auburn, becoming involved in St. Teresa of Avila and St. Joseph parishes.
In the back of Michael’s mind, he held a deep yearning from his youth. He recalls his childhood memories of first Communion and reconciliation and “marveling at the priest, thinking what a beautiful thing it is to serve our Lord this way.”
Poignantly, he wondered if God might be calling him to the permanent diaconate. He prayed and discerned God’s voice telling him to “save souls.”
After a series of twists and turns, including time spent securing an online catechist certification through the University of Notre Dame’s STEP program, serving as a parish advocate, and catechizing students at the parish and Catholic school, Michael knew. He knew he would not serve as a deacon. In God’s providence, Michael was destined for the Lay Mission Project. What lay beyond had yet to be revealed.
“I opened up Catholic Herald magazine and there’s an ad,” Michael explains of the announcement for Lay Mission Project’s second cohort. “I was seeing what I was seeking,” he says excitedly, indicating that “I wasn’t fully prepared for what God is calling me to” and the opportunity for formation in discipleship would bring clarity.
“It synthesized and organized this huge ocean of knowledge, material and Church teachings,” Michael says of the Lay Mission Project and its ability to guide participants in understanding “how best to serve out our role as lay members of the Church.”
In addition to formation, Michael values how his prayer life developed with his commitment to the Liturgy of the Hours.
“It’s so true how God’s word is living and bears fruit,” Michael shares, thinking of his morning prayers and particularly that day’s reading from 1 Peter 4. “As generous distributors of God’s manifold grace, put your gifts at the service of one another,” he quotes, linking the verse to charism discernment.
Michael shares how discerning his own charisms led him to clearly recognize the gifts he offers at the service of others. In his capstone project, Michael outlines an almost complete full-circle odyssey that merges everything he is passionate about – serving, leading, catechesis, souls.
At the completion of the Lay Mission Project, Michael enrolled in Divine Mercy University in Sterling, Virginia for its two-year spiritual direction certificate which he will complete next year. In the meantime, he is working to build the framework for a program designed to expose confirmation students to spiritual direction, once in the fall and once in the spring. A parent advisory committee is offering insight as the program forms.
“Most adults don’t have that experience,” Michael says of the opportunity for spiritual direction, which allows “the Holy Spirit to guide the directee to discern God’s call for them.”
Working closely with the religious education director, Michael sees spiritual direction as a way to help kids prepare themselves for the sacrament. “They are coming to the sacrament – this beautiful place – where they need to be spiritual and hungry for the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” he adds, mentioning that in the spiritual development of adolescents, the beginning and the ending of this period are critically important. The formidable ages of 12 or 13, and 21 years old, Michael describes, can be points “when a child is open to tremendous spiritual growth or regression.”
Students will experience an introduction to spiritual direction with a parent or sponsor co-attending. Michael also continues to explore other avenues for replicating the model elsewhere in the future, after gauging receptivity and feedback. Having completed onsite residencies in Virginia and offering spiritual direction to parishioners with the support of his pastor at St. Teresa of Avila, Father Arbel Cabasagan, he senses “the Holy Spirit at work.”
“I’m just trying to fill a void and make a difference in helping kids to know themselves,” Michael stresses, with hopes of nurturing a healthy attachment to God for a lifetime, underscoring the ongoing nature of growth in the spiritual life.
“We need to educate in matters of most importance,” Michael insists, which is nothing less than saving souls.
To learn more, visit www.laymission.net or contact Lyn Solano at lsolano@scd.org or 916-733-0153.
In photo above, left to right: Michael Durant, Steven Braatz and Marcela Mora.