Saint John Neumann Research Paper

This year I met the amazing Chaplain, he has been working at Elmhurst College for more than 15 years. His name is Scott Matheney, a native out of San Diego, California and lived in New York for 15 years and who currently resides in Elmhurst. When I learned about what the work Scott has done, I was really moved and I wanted to know more of what he has done for his self, for this community and others. Scott’s

As you reflect on your past college year, explain how your faith has impacted your life. Think of decisions that you made and / or actions that you chose to take.

My religion is very important to me; I would not be the person I am today if I didn’t have God to turn to. My parents were raised in different religious cultures. My mom was raised Jewish and my dad was raised Calvary Holiness Baptist. When I was a little girl, we attended the Fitzgerald Synagogue and the Calvary Holiness Baptist church. We would go to Synagogue for the Jewish holidays. We would participate in many of the Jewish rituals such as the lighting of the candles on the menorah for Hanukkah, reading the book of prayers from the back to the front, and saying the blessing over the bread. When I would spend the night with my Nana she would take me to New Corinth Holiness Baptist Church. When I was about 4 years old, our family started attending First Baptist Church in Tifton. A few years later, while I was attending vacation bible school at First Baptist Church, I asked Jesus to come

Saint John Neumann Catholic School. This is the environment where I’ve spent nine years. I’ve had so many ups and downs in my years here, but I couldn’t imagine a place with a better education and environment than Saint John Neumann. If you need help, it will always be there for you. If you need consoling, it will always be there for you. And if you need healing, it will always be there for you. These are just some of the reasons that I love Saint John Neumann, and there are many others.

Many of you have made a huge effort to join us today. On behalf of us all, we are deeply appreciative and offer you our most grateful welcome. Also, thank you to all my friends, family, teachers, and most of all, my Savior who is Jesus Christ for helping me every step of the way.

Every decision, major or not, I question. I am christian. For me this means following the ten-commandments stated in the bible and generally striving to be a better human being. Without my religion I would not be the same person. Going to Sunday services, VBS, AWANA, and youth group have all affected me in that the way I view the world is different then a lot of my other friends. At one point in my life my dad was going to college, and my mom was working three jobs, and on food stamps to support my little brother and I. The church stepped in and made sure we got back on our feet. My religion is probably the most important aspect of my personal life. Religion gave me my morals, Ethnicity gave me the way I define

I didn't understand how someone could falter in their faith and I felt like I had life easy because my testimony with not as "interesting" as others. I entered into high school and through my freshman and sophomore year I seem to be on a constant, unfailing religious high. I was talking to God throughout my day, reading my Bible and inviting my peers to church on the weekends. I figured that because I was in a routine that I was a strong Christian however it wasn't just last year, junior year, but my faith was truly put to the

Everyone has their own personal faith story. Personally, I haven't had the wide awakening of my faith or something big to encourage my faith more than it is. Just as most kids in high school I struggle with keeping my faith my number one priority. For example, I struggle with doing things in likeness of God. Everyone, not just high school kids, we struggle with temptations into drugs, alcohol, lying, lust and many more things. This is something that I need my faith the most.

When I was in eighth grade I became a chaplain at my middle school. I

My beliefs in God is the one thing that has made me into the person I am today. Without beliefs, a person does not have their basics for life. My beliefs have kept me out of bad situations, and has taught me a lot. I have learned how to deal with a lot of stressful situations. My life is guided my what I believe in, and I will continue to grow with what my beliefs continue to teach me.

My junior high experience was a nightmare. In sixth grade my grandpa passed away and I was very close to him so it had a huge effect on me. Then in seventh grade I found out that all of my friends were fake. They set me up and I almost got suspended because of it. I have been raised Catholic my entire life but I didn’t actually know much about what I believed in. I started to actually get into my faith when my grandpa died and it really

I have met new people and made new friends through my faith. My Christian faith allows me to see certain situations in a whole different way and gives me hope when I am down or am having problems. It has also given me a whole new set of things to do. If I didn’t believe in Christ I wouldn’t go to church every Sunday morning, or if I didn’t want to learn more and more about God and Jesus then I wouldn’t go to Youth Group on Wednesday nights. The songs that I like, the friends I have, the things I do, and the ways I live my life would be WAY different if I didn’t have God in my

Additionally, Going to a catholic school all my life has made me value my faith and learn more about my faith. Service hours have helped me value being catholic more because we get to go out and

My ongoing journey with faith has been complex. Growing up, I was surrounded by a family full of preachers, teachers, and other persons of God whose highly saturated faith background and deep loyalty to the church shaped my world views. Deeply ingrained into the fabric of my past was devotion and servitude to something I couldn't quite grasp; it was something that I found hard to believe and difficult to commit to.

I have experienced character and faith development throughout my life. I have always gone to a Lutheran school, which has helped me grow in my faith. In high school each teacher would read a devotion before they started each lesson. All my teachers have combined their lessons with their faith and have shared the glory of God with me. I am Lucky to have gone to private school because the teachers and students were allowed to freely speak about their beliefs. Unfortunately, for the teachers at public schools they have to hide their faith. During my time at Concordia I was able to do one of my clinical at a St. Johns Lutheran Elementary School. While I was there I got to help the second grade class prepare for their Christmas program. I loved