MORE GOOD NEWS ABOUT NOVUS ORDO PARISHES STRIVING FOR RENEWAL IN CONTINUITY ACCORDING TO THE GREAT POPE, POPE BENEDICT XVI!

Father, I am so happy to read your article!

At my Novus Ordo parish in Akron, Ohio, we have many college-aged young adults at daily and weekend Masses, as well as at Confession and Adoration, who are quite devout and faithful - a real example to me. My parish is the home of the University of Akron Newman Center and FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Student) missionaries, and my pastor is their chaplain. He is also relatively young (39) and is pastor to our sister parish.

In the 6 years Father has been our pastor, we have had numerous vocations after *decades* with no vocations. Presently, one young man is in the Benedictine monastery in Oklahoma in priestly formation, one young man has completed his first year at the Diocesan seminary and will start his second year next month, and one of the members of the Newman Center will be entering the seminary next month, having graduated from the University this past January. In addition, one young lady professed as a Nashville Dominican a couple of years ago, and another young lady from the Newman Center made her first vows as a Mercedarian Sister about a year ago. And two teenaged brothers who serve Mass requested Father to escort them and their parents to the seminary for a tour, along with a visit to our good bishop.

Father has promoted reverence and dignity among the altar servers and all of us at Mass. When he arrived, the Newman Center students asked for monthly Adoration, and he happily obliged, adding a homily and Confession and opening it up to both parishes. On June 24, my parish hosted a Mass in honor of the Eucharistic Revival at our local AA-league ballpark, presided by our bishop. We had over 900 in attendance, with at least 15 priests, several deacons, 12 young servers, and 4 local seminarians. It was followed by a formal Eucharistic Procession with the Blessed Sacrament to our parish church and concluded with Adoration.

I thank you for recognizing the reverence among our young adults. From what I have seen, most of them are far more concerned with being faithful Catholics than in protesting on campus, going to beer bashes, and participating in unwholesome activities. Our students, instead of going to the beach for Spring Break, instead volunteer at soup kitchens, work at home renovations for the elderly and poor, and help in practical ways around our parish.
God will never abandon us, but we have to do our part to instill and pass on the Faith to the next generation. Thank you, Father, for all you do!