Next Generation Catholic Archives - The Bishop's Bulletin

Better entertainment choices bring lasting benefits

March 2021, Next Generation Catholic

01Mar 2021 by rkranz

By Laura Melius From the moment we open our eyes each morning, countless sources of entertainment vie for our attention. We may awake to a favorite song. Our cell phones report how many social media notifications have appeared overnight. News, music or talk fills the background of our morning routines and as we drive to school or work. A wait at the doctor’s office is an opportunity to catch up on texts or news feeds. A free Saturday afternoon provides uninterrupted hours to conquer a new video game or binge-watch a new TV series. We no longer need to leave our homes to seek out entertainment—it constantly surrounds us. This is not all bad. When healthy entertainment options are consumed in moderation, the benefits can bring us closer to friends…

Retreats bear fruit as young people go deeper into their faith

February 2021, Next Generation Catholic

23Feb 2021 by rkranz

By Matthew Chicoine Total abandonment to God seems like an odd phrase, a difficult concept to grasp. Whether we’re cradle Catholics or brand new Catholics, attending Sunday Mass, praying the rosary, and being able to name the seven sacraments may not be enough to help us form a deep relationship with Jesus. A loose routine of prayer isn’t always enough to sustain us through the storms of life. God is calling us to a deeper relationship with Him. Going deeper in the faith [caption id="attachment_5524" align="alignright" width="300"] Elaina Lubeck[/caption] Two seniors at O’Gorman High School, Allison Kassing and Elaina Lubeck, lived at a surface level of their faith. They were both born and raised Catholic, and both teens said their parents never forced the Catholic faith on them. The faith…

Thoughts from a college student: It’s not enough to just be nice

January 2021, Next Generation Catholic

01Jan 2021 by rkranz

By Meghan Vogel As modern-day Americans, we live in a very busy and often self-centered culture. This culture lacks the value of pausing and taking silent time to reflect on life and the real gravity and sacredness of what it means to be a human person created in the image and likeness of God. Our culture maintains some slight sense of Christian values which become more apparent during the Christmas and New Year seasons as we give gifts and share time with family and friends. We also see this as we make resolutions to try to improve ourselves or our lives in a meaningful way. We feel a sense of longing for something better, for something more, but many people do not seek that in the person of Jesus who…