## Is your Insta feed missing a dose of divine inspiration?
Meet [Artist’s Name], a Catholic artist who’s not just creating stunning visual masterpieces, but guiding hearts towards Jesus, one captivating Instagram post at a time. This isn’t your typical influencer ride; [Artist’s Name] is weaving faith and art into a powerful tapestry that’s captivating millions.
A Gathering of Catholic Leaders
The Speakers Who Inspired and Uplifted
The Wisdom and Courage of EWTN News President Montse Alvarado
The Impact of the Talks and Events on Attendees
As part of the social-media team for EWTN News, I spent a week in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC), the first one in the U.S. in 83 years. I went to the congress ready to capture inspiring content in hopes of sharing it with the world. As Catholics, we always strive for the good, true and beautiful, and the Lord was not shy with his graces that week.
During the congress, there was a 24/7 adoration chapel, right next to the convention center. Every day when I passed it, there was a constant flow of people going inside. When I finally had time to enter, it was the most peaceful and quiet place. I felt as if God was telling me to leave my stress behind, that, in this chapel, in front of him, I could find relief.
In addition to this, as part of the official program at Lucas Oil Stadium, every evening ended with adoration and Benediction: 50,000-plus people fell to their knees to bow before Our Lord. We had many moments of silence, and a group of musicians played worship songs, but it was during Benediction that I really felt God’s presence. I can’t help but feel God’s mercy when singing Tantum Ergo Sacramentum and Holy God, We Praise Thy Name and reciting the Divine Praises.
Looking around at my 50,000-plus brothers and sisters in Christ, all on our knees, praising the Lord together was a powerful memory I will never forget. Adoration was so moving.
2. Youth Praise and Worship
I have watched the YouTube videos of Jackie and Bobby Angel via Ascension Presents for a few years. So when I read that Jackie would be a speaker at the “Awaken” portion of an “Impact Session,” I was extremely eager to cover it. Jackie gave an incredible talk, which touched on healing, breaking cycles, surrendering to Christ and what to look for in a spouse, and even shared personal testimony.
After her talk, Franciscan Father Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University, offered a prayer of healing. As I was leaving, one of my favorite worship songs, Way Maker, began to play. It’s a song that I have played many times in the midst of my own struggles. I quickly hurried back in front of the band, and I paused. I felt like the Lord was giving me a special gift, that I had nothing else to do in that moment but just be.
It was a morning of praise and healing, surrounded by hundreds of young adults on fire for Christ. I felt lighter after leaving that room, and all I can say is that God knew what my heart needed.
3. The Speakers
ETWN News President and COO Montse Alvarado was one of the emcees for the entire congress. I have had many bosses in my professional career, but none like Montse. To see her love of Christ radiate in front of thousands of people made me feel even more blessed to be part of the EWTN family.
During several breakout sessions, on the main stage, and during various Masses, I heard from Father Mike Schmitz, Scott Hahn, Lila Rose, Sister Miriam James Heidland, Mother Adela Galindo, foundress of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Sister of Life Bethany Madonna, and Father Josh Johnson, among many others.
I am constantly grateful for their wisdom, strength and courage.
(Catch the talks and other events you missed here.)
The Eucharistic Procession
A Beautiful Sight to Behold
The Joy and Devotion of the Crowd
The Significance of the Eucharistic Procession
On Friday morning, I was standing on the fourth level of the parking garage to get content of the procession. As members of the clergy and other religious began to line up, the crowd was cheering.
I looked around at everyone gathered in the hot sun, ready to walk behind Our Lord, and tears began to form. I thought, “This is it. This is what the past three years have been about — this is what we came for.” It was the most beautiful sight to behold.
I took photos in different parts of the procession, as each section touched my heart in different ways. One large group was praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet; another was chanting Viva Cristo Rey; another…
Preparation for the Christ Child
The Gift of Advent: A Reflection
It is a season to journey to Jesus and to prepare ourselves to present our gifts to him. Advent is busy for everybody. But as a college student, it is often just chaotic, balancing multiple papers, exams, end-of-the-semester shenanigans, and the usual gift-purchasing, light-seeing, movie-watching chaos of the secular Christmas season.
In years past, I became swept up in the chaos. This year, I added another element to the spiritually unnerving cocktail that is life: coming to terms that I now had one semester remaining of college.
For weeks, this realization had been overwhelming me by the unknown that May and beyond hold. I expected to be consumed by these thoughts in the days leading up to Christmas, determined to figure out life so I could proudly tell Grandma that “I have everything figured out” when she inevitably asks me about my plans at Christmas dinner.
But I forgot an important factor: Jesus. When I sat down for Mass on the First Sunday of Advent, a question popped into my mind: What if I took Advent to not obsess about next year, but instead use it to prepare a gift for the Lord, the gift of my heart?
When I took this to prayer, I began reflecting on the story of the Magi, Matthew 2:1-12, and how the Magi journeyed to Bethlehem, where they found the Christ Child, “worshipped Him” and humbly presented their gifts.
I read this passage again, and again, and again, struck by the humility and actions of the Magi — and I realized that each of us find ourselves in similar circumstances as the Magi, having to “interpret” and read the “signs” to determine where to go.
We, too, must journey — it is a season to journey to Jesus and to prepare ourselves to present our gifts to him. What can we give? We have our hearts, our livelihoods, our lives — all that he has given us.
If you are anything like me, your heart is not ready to be given as a gift. It is broken and wounded. But Advent is the perfect time to prepare our hearts as a gift, to take time to pray about and allow Christ to enter those wounds and heal them.
When I began praying on this concept, offering up my insecurities, I realized that if I wanted to give my heart as a gift, I had to give everything, even the mess, uncertainty and undue pressure I was placing upon myself with thinking that I had to have everything figured out and that it had to be perfect.
By giving all of that to God, he has given me peace about next year, reminding me that he will take care of everything. All I have to do is give the year — and my heart — to him as a gift for the Christ Child.
Conclusion
Conclusion:
In the article “Catholic Artist Leads Hearts to Jesus — One Instagram Post at a Time” featured in the National Catholic Register, we are reminded of the profound impact that faith can have on our lives when shared through creative expression. The story of [Artist’s name], a Catholic artist using social media as a platform to spread the Gospel, highlights the power of art to inspire, educate, and evangelize. By leveraging the vast reach of Instagram, this artist is successfully connecting with a younger generation of Catholics, drawing them closer to the heart of the Catholic faith.
The significance of this story extends far beyond the individual artist’s efforts. It speaks to the broader need for authentic, relatable, and engaging Catholic witness in today’s digital age. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it is more crucial than ever that we find innovative ways to share the Good News with others. The artist’s approach serves as a model for how we can harness the potential of social media to build a more vibrant, inclusive, and faith-filled community. By embracing this approach, we can ignite a new wave of Catholic revival, where art, faith, and technology converge to inspire a deeper love for Jesus Christ.
As we look to the future, it is clear that the intersection of faith, art, and technology will continue to shape the landscape of Catholic evangelization. As we navigate this uncharted territory, we must remain open to new forms of creative expression and innovative ways of sharing our faith with others. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of our faith, spreading the love of Jesus Christ to a world in need. As the artist’s Instagram posts so eloquently put it, “God is always speaking, if we only listen.” Let us listen, and in doing so, become the messengers of hope that our world so desperately needs.