Students are coming back to school, those fortunate enough to have summer vacations are returning to a more traditional schedule . . . For a variety of reasons, the "fall of the leaves" presents a time of renewal for our community. Whether it is being together again in meaningful ways, continuing to live God's love as expressed in the Gospels through Mercy & Justice, or a renewal of responsibility of being the primary catechist for your children, the time is always ripe, but especially so in fall.

For the last 16 years, together with Dr. Mary Romo, I have had the privilege of accompanying hundreds of adults on their journeys to become Catholic through St. Ignatius’ Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, (previously known as RCIA). My faith has emerged to be the central axis of my life. It has shaped me, guided me, inspired me, and comforted me. My faith is a treasure that has come to touch each facet of my life. Throughout my time with the this community, I have seen the enrichment of so many people who have let faith become their beacon too. At the heart of any Christian endeavor is coming to the understanding that Jesus’ teachings about love can be applied to any situation or circumstance. And as we introduce folks to the Catholic tradition, we do so with this notion in mind. The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program is ultimately a pathway to discovery and serving as a catechist means we get to participate in the spiritual growth of people who continue to search for God’s presence. As a lifelong Catholic, sharing our faith this way is truly inspiring because we get to see the fruits of our tradition take form.

My first exposure to the slave trade outside of something I read in a textbook was a visceral experience I had when I visited the Slavery Memorial at the Christiansted National Historic site when I lived on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. St. Croix was a Danish territory from 1733 to 1917 and one of the centers of slave trading in the Caribbean. There are records of more than 100,000 slaves that were brought, confined, auctioned and sold in St. Croix from 1734 to 1803. The Danish West India Company kept meticulous records of the origin, family composition and disposition of each slave which were mostly sourced from what is now modern Ghana in West Africa which was also a Danish colony.