I recently started a new position at the University of Notre Dame. My job as a rector is primarily to be a community-builder, which uses the gifts that come most naturally to me. However, as I work with students, I discover more and more that community-building does not come naturally to all, which makes the many distractions that isolate rather than bring people together even more problematic. We must teach our students not only how to build communities but also the value of community in our lives as they prepare to move on to life after college. Some of the best advice I received as a college graduate was from a mentor who told me that whenever I moved to a new community, I should make as many connections as possible and work to integrate and make the community better. For many young people, that can feel overwhelming and scary as they find their places in life, as it did to me then.
Continue reading “Modeling Community-Building for Vocation”