The Valley Catholic November 20, 2018 | Page 17

tvc.dsj.org | November 20, 2018 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 17 Ignite Youth Group Sparks Joy and Devotion at Saint Francis High School Saint Francis High School has a new youth group on campus for students who want to live their faith more deeply further and be in a community of like- minded peers. Each month, several opportunities exist for students to participate in Ig- nite, a youth group that gives students a space to refl ect, build connections and engage in leadership roles with campus ministry. Senior Ana Brockmann, whose idea it was to start this group, explains that faith is not a topic that naturally comes up during lunch conversation so it has been good for her to have a place to discuss with others something that is integral to who she is. “You have people to share your values and beliefs with,” she said. “My reason for doing Ignite is that I want to be a disciple of Christ, and I want to help others be a disciple and love their faith.” Designed to be a welcoming group that is open to all students from all faith backgrounds, Ignite has given students the chance to practice Catholic tradi- tions that are not otherwise performed at school. For example, at a recent morn- ing meeting, students explained how to pray the rosary, and at a retreat that they organized, they entered into the ancient practice of praying before the Blessed Sacrament. There are also social gath- erings in the evenings where students gather in small groups to refl ect and discuss life issues. For many students, the appeal of the youth group is knowing they will grow in their faith alongside their peers. “I want to build relationships with friends and with God, and I see those worlds collide,” said senior Klarissa Yap. Student leaders of the youth group say their goal is to help classmates see how their faith is applicable and rel- evant to all parts of their life, not just when they are at school or even at Ignite meetings. “We want to foster a safe environ- ment for people to express their faith and help students discover more of who they are in a spiritual aspect,” said senior Aristotle Vergara. Santa Clara University Explores Tech and The Human Spirit What can Ignatian discernment teach us about our relationship to tech- nology? That was a question posed by Diocese of San Jose Coadjutor Bishop Oscar Cantú, who recently visited Santa Clara University as part of an 18-month series of talks exploring Tech and the Human Spirit. Bishop Cantú went on to explore the myriad benefi ts of technology; how memory works; and how we should stay alert to elements of our humanity that technology ignores or harms. “Our unconscious mind does not engage the problem until we’ve con- sciously defi ned the problem,” he said, quoting author Nicholas Carr. “We need larger schemas of values by which to organize information.” At SCU’s Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, the new Tech and the Hu- man Spirit program is a response to the fact that technology has changed us, and will continue to shape our lives, our or- ganizations, our communities, and our future. The program will invite speakers to address the question: how can we steward technology’s advance to benefi t humanity to the fullest – supporting human endeavor, and contributing to human fl ourishing in all its dimensions? Santa Clara University brings the in- clusive perspective of Jesuit education to Silicon Valley to pursue answers. “One of the major topics discussed at the recent Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment in Rome was young people’s relation- ship with technology, a relationship with both lights and shadows,” said Dorian Llywelyn, S.J., executive direc- tor of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education. “We try to teach our chil- dren to do and say what it right and what is wrong. But that task is harder when we ourselves don’t always know SAN DAMIANO RETREAT where the truth lies. So it’s important for us to discern carefully the daily choices that face people of all ages in this digital age.” From ubiquitous Internet access and its infl uence on human communication and relationships, to artificial intel- ligence, bioengineering, and quantum computing – poised to transform ev- erything from business to education to healthcare – we are experiencing an un- precedented wave of tech-driven change – a ”Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Santa Clara seeks to be a rare forum for exploring the most profound and complex questions about technology’s impact on what it means to be human. At Santa Clara University, such topics are the domain of the human spirit – the place in each of us where questions of identity, meaning, purpose, and hu- man interconnection dwell. If we are to steward technology to its highest good, shouldn’t spirit be part of the conversa- tion – and an inspiration for action? Tech and the Human Spirit is a one-of-a-kind initiative that will en- gage a diverse array of partners in conversation, reflection, and action at the intersection of technology and the human spirit. The inquiry SCU convenes will transcend ethical and technological considerations to explore the full spectrum of human fl ourish- ing: Mind, body, and spirit. Together, we will pursue questions at the very heart of our humanness: In the midst of this Fourth Industrial Revolution, what does it mean to be fully human? And who, as technology creators shaped by our own creation, are we becoming? To view Bishop Cantú’s talk visit http://bit.ly/CantuSCU. More information on Tech and the Human Spirit can be found at https://www.scu.edu/ic/ths/. Employment Opportunity Attitude of Gratitude as Thanksgiving with Tom Gorham and Staff from Options Recovery, 11/23 - 11/25 Inner Peace Christian Meditation Day with Claire La Scola, Donna Lack & June Pangelinan, 11/24 “The love of God has been poured into our hearts” Advent Silent Retreat with Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy OFM & Fr. Charles Talley OFM 11/30 - 12/2 Christmas Open House 12/2 at 2:00 PM Spirituality & Conscious Aging: Finding Meaning & Purpose in Retirement Years with Jim Briggs, 12/7 - 8 [Re]discovering Hope (Advent Day of Renewal) with Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy OFM & Jan Stegner, 12/8 More information or register 710 Highland Dr., Danville 925 837 9141 Visit us at sandamiano.org & on Facebook Senior Admin Wanted Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Santa Clara University Strong Team; Great Benefi ts Apply: www.scu.edu/hr/careers Inquiries: [phone] For more information regarding advertising please contact [phone] or [email protected]