When I was a full-time youth minister (shorthand for coordinator or director of youth ministries in a Catholic Church), one of the most heartbreaking moments was just before a retreat or conference when a young person would say something like, “Thanks for the invite. I really want to go. And I’ll go next time! It’s just... I’ve got this ::insert random sport, social, or family event. My ::insert parent, coach, teacher, or friend:: really wants me to go.”

Most of the time, I knew (I KNEW!) that if they went, it would likely change the trajectory of their lives (and afterlives). But if they didn’t, the opportunity would be missed and the pressures and competing pulls of adolescence would prevent them from ever prioritizing their Faith again.

On Monday, I dropped my daughter off at her new school for KinderCamp. The next day, she turned five. And this weekend is Father’s Day. Blend these up and you get a dad thinking quite a bit about his relationship with his daughter.

One day, there is a good chance some young man is going to come along and ask if he can marry my little girl. I’m going to ask him if he thinks he is worthy of her.

This weekend’s Gospel focuses on the central mystery of our Catholic Faith—the Trinity. The eternal Creator. The eternal Redeemer. The eternal Advocate. Three in one. Eternally.

The quick definition of mystery is “something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.” So, yeah. I’m not going to try and explain the Trinity in a small column. I’ll leave that to the ordained professionals. Instead, I want to focus in on that one word: “mystery.”

I’ve noticed lately that most of my close friends are geniuses. I’m serious. If Kim Jong gets us with a missile, I’ve got a friend who failed. Another friend is basically MacGyver and the government regularly asks him to invent things. And the list goes on.

Have you been confirmed? No? What are you waiting for!? If you are in 3rd or 4th grade, contact Sr. Susan Marie. If you will be in 6th-12th grade next year, reach out to our youth ministries coordinator, Mady. If you are a high school graduate and still alive—email me at dlins@oloj.org.

But if you have been confirmed... what are you so afraid of?!

The disciples were huddled up in a locked room. They were frightened for their very lives. They dared not speak the name of the Lord or they might be put to death.