Inspiration 

"The work, the training of the spiritual life, is consistent prayer, mass, confession, letting go of sin, fidelity to Church teaching, and works of Charity.  We have to have the whole package, and we are fooling ourselves if we think we can be holy if we are not willing to put in some time and effort.  It involves an awful lot of sacrifice and will power.  It takes leading a disciplined life, a life based on virtue." 

-Msgr. Robert Panke, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

Throughout this amazing journey of discernment I have been blessed to cross paths with some truly wonderful people who, by their faithful example, have become shining beacons of light and hope for me as I pursue following the Lord with my whole life. People who dedicate their lives day in and day out to spreading the Gospel and sharing the Good News of the Lord with all who have ears to listen. These are just some of those people who have inspired me to take on this crazy marathon project, but there are countless others who will go unmentioned here.

And for that, their reward shall be great in heaven! 

In 2009 Sr. Alicia Torres was ready to enter the Franciscans of the Eucharist in Chicago, but found herself under the weight of a lot of student debt, 

I met Pat Castle of the National LIFE Runners Team (virtually... we still have yet to cross paths in person!) in 

January 2012, and was immediately hooked on the organization's mission and vision to pray, fundraise, and run as a team, "...until we cross the finish line that ends abortion." All in Christ - for Pro-life! Much of my spiritual endurance as I train for my marathon is aided by the LIFE Group Devotions that I receive from people in this organization who are committed to ending the tragedy of abortion through prayer, activism, and physical sacrifice in the form of running. On February 13th, teams on both the east and west coasts kicked off the FIRST EVER A-Cross the Country Relay for Pro-Life! You can still sign up atliferunners.org to run a 5k leg of the relay, which is heading across the country until March 24th. Hit the pavement with us and pray for LIFE! 

 

just like me. She decided to launch thenunrun.com, where she told people about her mission to raise funds for her vocation through running the Chicago Half Marathon. Thanks be to God she is now debt free, has entered her community and is a great friend of the Imagine Sisters Movement - a group of amazing people who are working to spread awareness of the beauty of women's religious vocations. Imagine Sisters is still young and getting up on its feet, but has done the most WONDERFUL work over this last year! One of their current projects is the Light of Love film... which they are making to show young women and the world that nuns are awesome! Please support them however you can, and share their mission with the young ladies in you life! 

Danielle is in the same boat as me, along with countless other young people who desire to enter their vocations, but first need to take care of their student debt. I stumbled upon her fundraising blog a while back and was touched by the spirit of stewardship she takes in her approach to fundraising. She is utilizing her passion for art and photography in an effort to get rid of her debt, and has recently begun working with the Laboure Society - which aids a number of aspirants each year in their journey to enter their vocations debt-free. Danielle's blog is what inspired me to finally get serious about my online fundraising efforts, and led me to create supportjennsvocation.blogspot.com, where I have already had a number of people make generous contributions, praise Jesus! While due to my entrance timeline, I am unable to work with the Laboure Society at the current time, I ask you to please pray for Danielle and all of the aspirants working with this organization as well as the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations, and please give to them if you are at all able! 

The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. has a most excellent support network for fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In 2011 I met Molly, who shared my interest in physical fitness and was involved with Run for Vocations to support her brother, who is a seminarian for D.C. Each year a number of people (including lay people, seminarians and priests) run the Marine Corps Marathon and 10k, "as a way to pray and sacrifice in support of our future priests and our Church." Praying for our current and future priests is so important, and it is truly a blessing to have been introduced to the idea of running as a sacrifice for others - through reading about what they do in D.C., and various other running events which are organized in the effort to support vocations. Molly and her sister Annie prayed with me and ran by my side for the first couple miles of my first half marathon, and they have since gone on to become the leaders of the NYC LIFE Runners Chapter, running and praying for the pro-life movement and the increase in religious vocations. Great work, brothers and sisters on the east coast!