FAITH

FEEDS
Having
Having a
a faith
faith conversation
conversation with
with old
old and
and new
new
friends
friends is
is as
as easy
easy as
as setting
setting the
the table.
table.

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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Introduction
Introduction to
to FAITH
FAITH FEEDS 3
FEEDS 3

Conversation Starters 6
Conversation Starters 6

W
 hy Mentors
• Why Mentors Matter
Matter by
by Fr.
Fr. Ken
Ken Himes, OFM 77
Himes, OFM
Conversation Starters 9
Conversation Starters 9

• Jesus
• Jesus in
in the
the Midst
Midst by
by Kevin Dowd 10
Kevin Dowd 10
Conversation Starters 12
Conversation Starters 12

• P
• racticing Joy
Practicing Joy in
in a
a Fractured
Fractured World
World by
by Paul Melley 13
Paul Melley 13
Conversation Starters 15
Conversation Starters 15

• G
• Gathering Prayer 16
athering Prayer 16

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ARTICLE
ARTICLE 1 I

WHY MENTORS
WHY
By
MENTORS MATTER
By Fr.
Fr. Ken
MATTER
Ken Himes,
I-limes, OFM
OFM
It’s
It's the
the fall
fall of
of 1968.
1968. I’mI'm a a sophomore
sophomore in in college.
college. ThatThat was aa vitality
was vitality there you could
there you could not
not overlook
overlook or
or ignore.
ignore.
academic
academic year year isis a a tough year. Martin
tough year. Martin Luther
Luther King King Noel
Noel would
would sit
sit up with us
up with us at
at night. We’d be
night. We'd be sitting
sitting
is
is shot
shot inin April
April ofof ‘68.
'68. Bobby
Bobby Kennedy
Kennedy is is shot
shot twotwo around
around inin dorm
dorm rooms
rooms drinking
drinking beer
beer --
-- back
back in
in those
those
months
months later
later in
in early June.
early June. days
days in in New York, you
New York, you could
could drink
drink atat 18.
18. We’re
We're talking
talking
By
By now,
now, I’mI'm politically
politically engaged,
engaged, and and I’dI'd become
become with Noel,
with Noel, and
and finally,
finally, at
at aa certain
certain point,
point, I’m
I'm one
one ofof
absolutely
absolutely cynical about making change through the
cynical about making change through the the last
the last guys
guys toto leave
leave the
the room
room oneone night.
night. He
He said
said to
to
system.
system. TheThe system
system is is corrupt.
corrupt. TheThe slogan
slogan that
that a a lot
lot of
of me,
me, “Himes,
"Himes, I got
I got aa question
question for you.” I said,
for you." I said, “Father,
"Father,
us
us had
had back
back then was, “Don’t
then was, trust anybody
"Don't trust anybody over over 30.”
30." what’s up?”
what's up?" HeHe said,
said, “Why
"Why are are you
you soso sarcastic?”
sarcastic?"
Dylan
Dylan used
used toto sing
sing about
about it.
it. And
And I looked
I looked at at him
him andand asked,
asked, “What
"What do do you
you
So
So here
here I am,
Iam, this
this cynical
cynical guy who doesn’t
guy who doesn't think
think mean?”
mean?" He He said,
said, “You’re
"You're very
very funny,
funny, butbut all your hu-
all your hu-
much
much of of anybody
anybody but but people
people inin my
my own
own generation.
generation. I’m I'm mor
mor is is at
at other
other people’s
people's expense.
expense. All All your
your humor
humor
convinced
convinced I know
I know more than any
more than any adult
adult in
in my
my family,
family, and
and is
is mocking.
mocking. All All your
your humor
humor is is putting
putting other
other people
people
probably
probably know
know more
more thanthan some
some of of my
my professors.
professors. TheyThey down.
down. You’re
You're better
better than
than that,
that, oror at
at least, you should
least, you should
don’t
don't get
get it. They
it. They don’t
don't know what’s really
know what's really going
going on.
on. be
be better
better than
than that.”
that."
And
And this
this guy,
guy, Noel
Noel Fitzpatrick,
Fitzpatrick, a young priest,
a young priest, So
So I thought
I thought to to myself,
myself, maybe
maybe I should
I should do do some-
some-
moves
moves intointo the
the dorm where I’m
dorm where I'm living.
living. Noel
Noel is is this
this thing different.
thing different. He He gives
gives meme aa little
little book
book onon St.
St. Fran-
Fran-
incredibly
incredibly charismatic
charismatic guy. guy. He wasn’t particularly
He wasn't particularly cis
cis of
of Assisi.
Assisi. Noel was aa Franciscan.
Noel was Franciscan.
good-looking,
good-looking, but but he was smart
he was smart enough.
enough. But But he just
he just He
He said to me,
said to me, “Read this, it will
"Read this, it will be
be good
good for
for you.”
you."
had
had anan energy
energy about
about him.him. When
When NoelNoel walked
walked into into aa So
So I read
I read this
this little
little book
book onon St.
St. Francis that’s aa reflec-
Francis that's reflec-

room,
room, youyou would
would havehave noticed
noticed himhim right
right away.
away. There
There tion on
tion on his
his life.
life.

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Chesterton
Chesterton was this famous
was this famous BritishBritish Catholic
Catholic writ- writ- who makes
who makes it
it all
all happen.
happen.
er
er in the middle of the 20th century. And he has this
in the middle of the 20th century. And he has this And
And all all of
of sudden,
sudden, the the vision
vision of of Francis
Francis gives
gives me me
one
one passage
passage talking talking about
about how how Francis
Francis sees
sees the the world
world another
another take take on on things.
things. Noel Noel Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick introduces
introduces
differently.
differently. Francis
Francis used used to to go
go upup into the mountains
into the mountains me
me to to another
another way way of of thinking
thinking aboutabout thethe world.
world.
of the Umbrian
of the Umbrian Valley Valley in in Central
Central Italy
Italy to
to bebe alone
alone and and The
The reason
reason I bringI this up
bring this up isis because
because in in my
my own
own
pray.
pray. life,
life, II think not only about Noel but of four other spe-
think not only about Noel but of four other spe-
Francis
Francis is is up up there,
there, on on oneone side
side of the Umbrian
of the Umbrian cific
cific individuals
individuals who who at at certain
certain points
points in in my
my life
life saved
saved
Valley, and he is looking back on the other side of
Valley, and he is looking back on the other side of it at
it at me.
me. I was
I
was screwing
screwing up up my my life.
life.

Assisi, his
Assisi, his hometown,
hometown, the the city
city that
that hehe loved
loved so so much:
much: II had
had a a crappy
crappy attitude,
attitude, a a crappy
crappy frame
frame of of mind.
mind.
aa solid,
solid, massive,
massive, walled,walled, thick,
thick, heavy
heavy city.
city. I had
I had no particular ambitions, was angry in a sort
no particular ambitions, I I was angry in a sort
Francis
Francis was was something
something of ofa a street
street performer.
performer. Ches- Ches- of
of undifferentiated
undifferentiated way, way, I didn’t
I didn't know what the
know what the heck
heck I I

terton says Francis may have

terton says Francis may have done tumblesaults. done tumblesaults. thought anything
thought anything was was about.
about. And And at at different
different points
points in in

And
And all all ofof a a sudden,
sudden, in in one
one of of his
his tumblesaults,
tumblesaults, my
my life,
life, anan adult
adult camecame intointo it and
it and said,
said, “Himes, think
"Himes, think
he sees the world upside-down.
he sees the world upside-down. And now, this And now, this city
city about
about this.this. Himes,
Himes, let let me
me showshow youyou something.
something. Have Have
that was
that was so so strong
strong and and solid,
solid, nownow upside-down,
upside-down, it’s it's you ever
you ever experienced
experienced this? this? Have
Have you you ever thought
ever thought
hanging over the abyss. And the
hanging over the abyss. And the very thing that made very thing that made about
about that?”
that?"
it seem
it seem solid solid and and strong
strong now now makes
makes it seem seem terribly
it terribly The
The point
point is, is, people
people came came intointo mymy life
life that
that didn’t
didn't
precarious: its weight
precarious: its weight and its mass. and its mass. have to come into my life. These
have to come into my life. These weren't relatives, weren’t relatives,
Francis
Francis lookedlooked at at this
this and
and he he comes
comes to to the
the insight
insight these weren't
these weren’t peoplepeople who who owedowed me me anything.
anything. But But
that all of existence is like this. All
that all of existence is like this. All the things that wethe things that we they took some time, they exerted
they took some time, they exerted some energy, they some energy, they
think make
think make us us strong,
strong, make make us us solid,
solid, make
make us us safe,
safe, thought, “This
thought, "This guy’s worth talking
guy's worth talking to.”
to." Mentors
Mentors are are
that all of that seen the other way
that all of that seen the other way makes us incredibly makes us incredibly one of the great gifts
one of the great gifts of life. of life.
precarious.
precarious. I
I hope you’ve had
hope you've had a a few
few byby now. They may
now. They may passpass
What
What Francis
Francis comescomes to to experience
experience is that life
is that life is
is in-
in- through for a period of time. They're there for a cer-
through for a period of time. They’re there for a cer-
credibly
credibly and and radically
radically contingent,
contingent, meaningmeaning it need need not
it not tain moment
tain moment when when you you need
need them.
them.
be.
be. Every
Every humanhuman being being is is radically
radically unnecessary.
unnecessary. You You To have
To have thosethose kinds
kinds of of people
people stepstep into your life
into your life is
is a
a
and
and I need
I need not not exist.
exist. There’s
There's nothing
nothing aboutabout us that
us that rich
rich grace.
grace. ThatThat people
people wouldwould comecome along
along into your
into your
makes
makes us us necessary.
necessary. own
own life,life, tap
tap you
you on the shoulder,
on the shoulder, and and say,
say, “Let
"Let me me
So
So what
what do do youyou do do once
once you you come
come to to that
that aware-
aware- show
show you you around
around a a little
little bit.
bit. Let
Let meme maybe
maybe point
point outout
ness?
ness? aa few
few things you’re overlooking.
things you're overlooking. Or Or some
some truth
truth that
that
Chesterton
Chesterton says you’ve got
says you've got two
two choices.
choices. One One op- op- maybe
maybe you you are
are forgetting.
forgetting. Or Or some
some relationship
relationship that that
tion is to say that it’s all random. It’s
tion is to say that it's all random. It's all an accident. all an accident. you need to straighten
you need to straighten out." out.”
Someone
Someone rolled rolled the the cosmic
cosmic dice dice and
and it came
it came up up snake
snake When
When I think
I think about
about mentors,
mentors, it leads
it leads me me to think-
to think-
eyes
eyes -- exist! am, but don't have to be. It's just by
-- I exist!
I I I am, but II don’t have to be. It’s just by ing about gratitude.
ing about gratitude.
chance.
chance. We
We are,are, I am,
I am, youyou areare because
because of ofa a gracious
gracious God.God.
That
That was was one one option
option open open to to Francis.
Francis. He He doesn’t
doesn't Wake up every day and say, “Thank
Wake up every day and say, "Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank
take it. The
take it. The other
other option,
option, Chesterton
Chesterton says, says, is that the
is that the you for
you this day.
for this day. I hope
hope I do
I I do something
something with with it that’s
itthat's
only reason that we exist is because
only reason that we exist is because somebody willed somebody willed worthwhile. hope someone will touch my life or
worthwhile. I hope
I someone will touch my life or I’ll
I'll

to us
to us into
into existence.
existence. The The only
only reason
reason I am
I am is is because
because touch theirs.”
touch theirs."
somebody
somebody loved me into being. And what Francis
loved me into being. And what Francis
comes
comes to to realize
realize is that at
is that at the
the heart
heart ofof it allall is
it is love.
love. Fr. Ken Himes,
Fr. Ken Himes, OFM, is aa Professor
OFh is Professor of
of Theology in the
Theology in Morrissey College
the Morrissey College of
of Arts
Arts and
and

There is no other reason why any of us exist except for

There is no other reason why any of us exist except for
Sciences
Sciences at Boston College.
at Boston College.

love. There is
love. There is aa divine
divine lover
lover whowho holds
holds it all all in
it in place,
place,

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WHY
WHY MENTORS
MENTORS
MATTER
-MATTER
“Our
"Our chief
chief want
want in
in life
life is
is somebody
somebody who
who will
will make
make us
us do
do
what
what we
we can.”
can."
—Ralph
-Ralph Waldo
Waldo Emerson
Emerson

Summary
Summary
In
In this
this excerpt
excerpt from
from an Agape Latte
an Agape Latte talk,
talk, Fr.
Fr. Ken
Ken Himes,
Himes,
OFM,
OFM, shares
shares how
how hehe encountered
encountered mentors
mentors at at pivotal
pivotal
moments
moments during
during his
his life.
life. He
He recounts the role
recounts the role that
that one
one
priest
priest played
played in
in helping
helping him
him to
to see the world
see the world — – and
and himself
himself— –
differently, which ultimately
differently, which ultimately changed
changed thethe course
course ofof his
his life.
life.

Questions
Questions for
for Conversation
Conversation
1.
1. 
H ave you
Have you had
had any
any mentors
mentors in your life
in your life who
who have
have helped
helped
you think
you think about
about the world or
the world your own
or your own life
life in
in aa different
different
way? Who
way? Who areare they
they and
and how
how did they shape
did they you?
shape you?
2.
2. H imes says
Himes says that the gift
that the gift of
of mentors
mentors led led him
him toto gratitude.
gratitude.
What
What unexpected
unexpected giftsgifts has
has God
God given
given to you in
to you your life?
in your life?

3.
3. D
Doo you
you include
include thethe Ignatian
Ignatian practice
practice of the Examen
of the Examen in your
in your
daily
daily routine
routine inin which you review
which you the blessings
review the blessings God God has
has
given to you
given to you each
each day? What effect
day? What effect does
does that/might
that/might thatthat
have
have on
on your
your life?
life?

4. W
4. hat do
What you think
do you think about
about St.
St. Francis’s
Francis's conclusion
conclusion that that our
our
dependency
dependency and and contingency
contingency reveals
reveals God’s
God's love
love for
for us?
us?

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GATHERING
GATHERING PRAYER
PRAYER

Be
Be With
With Us
Us Today
Today
St.
St. Thomas
Thomas More
More (1478-1535)
(1478-1535)

Father
Father inin heaven,
heaven,
you
you have
have given
given us us aa mind
mind toto know
know you,
you,
aa will
will to
to serve
serve you,
you,
and
and a a heart
heart to
to love
love you.
you.
Be
Be with
with usus today
today in in all
all that
that we
we do,
do,
so
so that
that your
your light
light may
may shine
shine out
out in
in our
our lives.
lives.
Through Christ
Through Christ our
our Lord.
Lord.

Amen.
Amen.

For
For more
more information
information about
about Faith
Faith Feeds, visit bc.edu/c21faithfeeds
Feeds, visit bc.edu/cmfaithfeeds

This
This program
program isis sponsored
sponsored by
by Boston
Boston College’s
College's Church
Church inin the
the 21st
21st Century
Century
Center,
Center, a
a catalyst
catalyst and
and a
a resource
resource for
for the
the renewal
renewal of
of the
the Catholic
Catholic Church.
Church.

(617)5
(617)5 52-0470
52-0470 • church21@bc.edu
church21@bc.edu • bc.edu/c21
bc.edu/c21

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