Franciscan Experience Summer Institute

As they learned, prayed, played and served together, rising high school juniors and seniors looked more deeply at their vocational calling during The Franciscan Experience Summer Institute (TFE). The event was held July 12-16 at the Bishop Robert E. Tracy Center in Baton Rouge.

A record number of 30 students attended this year’s institute.

“Not only have we grown in participant number, but also in community partnerships and the staff and students who make up the team. We have some fantastic, mission-centered students representing FranU. Most of them are previous participants in TFE,” said TFE Tyler Trahan director. 

The week included Mass, eucharastic adoration, “TFE Olympics,” as well as discussions on Franciscan saints, marriage, vocations and theology. 

Dr. Brian Pedraza, associate professor of theology at FranU, said the youth attending the institute understand the importance of community, “not just in having friends or with other people of faith, but in forming you into the person God wants you to be.”

Pedraza noted the TFE youth are “hot coals in their community” and when they come together, a flame of faith ignites that extends to even more people. 

FranU professor of theology Dr. David Whidden, believes “these youth are thirsty for a deeper relationship with Jesus and the church. The purpose of this (institute) is to sustain a relationship with Jesus, not just for six weeks or six months or a year, but for the rest of their lives.”

“We see these youth sustain their leadership in faith over the years,” he added. “They come back as mentors.”

Whidden and Pedraza were among the FranU professors who spoke to the TFE participants.

Whidden gave a presentation on “Virtue and Vice.”  

Pedraza’s presentations included the life of St. Francis and the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Catholic faith.”  

Pedraza is also the creator of “The Dunces Corner,” a podcast in which FranU theology professors and their students talk about faith, reason and culture. TFE participants witnessed a live recording of the podcast.

One of the most meaningful parts of the institute was the youth connecting their faith with action by volunteering in the St. Vincent de Paul Society dining room and warehouse and cleaning up the cemetery at St. Isidore Church in Baker.

Owen Abbot, a rising junior home-schooled student said, “We’ve built a lot of brotherhood. We have bonded with people. When you help the less fortunate, people who don’t have money, you find they are helping and blessing you in many ways as well.”

As they painted a large, ornate metallic cross at the St. Isidore Church Cemetery in Baton Rouge, Rebecca Babin and Julia Coffey pointed out that God reflects his love through the less fortunate they serve. 

“We are God’s smiles,” said Babin, a rising home-schooled junior. “God is smiling through me and God is smiling back at me through them.”

Coffey, a rising senior at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge, said “doing these activities of working for people helped me to learn more about Jesus’ love by helping people in their daily lives.”

Michael Acaldo, president and CEO of SVDP, expressed his appreciation for the impact the youth were making in serving their neighbors. 

“Spiritual growth is a continual process. I think this experience will help them to grow immensely and open their eyes spiritually,” said Acaldo.

“In the Gospel Jesus said to love one another as I have loved you. And that’s what they’re doing here today. They’re loving their neighbors and themselves.”

During the week, the youth also made what could become life-long friendships.

“I’ve only been here a short time, but I felt like I’ve known everyone for years,” said Molly McCarroll, a rising junior at Ponchatoula High School in Ponchatoula. 

Neil McAllister, a rising junior at St. Michael, said the highlight of the week was fellowship with his peers.

“Everyone is worshipping and being open to everyone. This helps you to be more open with your faith and share God’s word and bring it to others,” said McAllister.

Perhaps most importantly, the youth said the week opened up the world to them so they can see more clearly their own specific vocational calling.

 “I feel like I can make a difference, and that making a difference is what we are called to do,” said rising home-schooled senior Maria Brandenburg.