Pilgrimage

Through watching The Way, I have learned a lot about what a pilgrimage really is. It is not only a spiritual journey, but also a very emotional one too. In the film, Yoost, Sarah, Jack, and Tom all go on the pilgrimage for different reasons; however, they come together in the end. They help each other along but learning about each other's weaknesses and helping each other deal with them. The film inspired me. I'd love to one day be able to go on a pilgrimage, but there are ways I can apply its lessons now. The Way taught me to always work to be the best version of myself. It also showed me to never leave people alone, even when they ask me too. I can give them their space, but still let them know that I am there for them. In this class, I've also learned important lessons.Through our discussions about family, I learned about what I hope my family to be one day. WHile analyzing the stages of love and making our love story projects, I saw the kind of love I hope to have one day. I want a love that lasts for 50 years like in the stories told by our class. It shows that if two people are meant to be, they can work through any hardship. I hope to carry this dedication with me as I grow up and have a family of my own

IVF

IVF is beneficial because it gives men and women who have difficulty conceiving another option to have biological children.Unfortunately, it has very serious medical risks that can threaten the life of the mother and the baby. The Church disapproves of IVF because it is an unnatural form of procreation that does not involve sexual intercourse. I disagree with the Church. I think IVF allows devoted couples to start their own biological families, fulfilling the role of procreation in their marriage.IVF is extremely expensive but I don't think the cost affects the morality. Just because it is expensive does not make it wrong. Each couple considering IVF must decide if the financial burden is worth having biological children or if they would rather adopt.

Abortion

I was shocked when I found out about Gosnell's case for the first time in VHS. Performing late term abortions is cruel. Besides this, at least 7 babies were alive when delivered then killed by Gosnell. I think the story has not gotten much media attention because of abortion being a hot button topic. No media source wants to rock the boat. Also, Gosnell's practice was in a poorer section of Philadelphia, where the clinic may not have been evaluated as often as it should have been. Practices on the mainline are much more subject to lawsuits because its patients can afford the legal fees. Gosnell's patients probably could not afford to go against him. I also think there is a stigma about poorer parts of the country. Some people tend to look over the bad things that happen there in ways they would not if it happened in wealthier parts; however, because this case is so big, I doubt it will be overlooked much longer.

The Changing Face of Marriage

My mom has been the "domestic church" for me. I cannot even remember when she first taught me about God and she taught me to thank God through prayer every night. Because of her, I was able to develop my relationship with God. Families have been changing for years. Before a family was only a family if it included a husband and a wife and most likely children. Today we see same sex couples starting families as well as single parents. This new family structure acts very much like the old. The parental figures must still act as a domestic church. The Catholic Church often discourages these types of families because they are not traditional; however, I believe these families can be as good as or better than traditional families. I come from a single parent household and I do not feel that I am less close to God because of it. As long as the family is morally good than it can still act as a domestic church no matter what form it is. When I marry, I hope to marry forever. I want to find the person that I am supposed to be with. I think this statistic about college educated people staying married longer is partly because people are waiting longer to marry. For many, by the time they marry, each person is financially secure, has a job, and is ready for the commitment that marriage requires. I plan to be in this position myself before I marry. When I get married and have children, I want to set up a domestic church in my household. I want my children to experience God and religion as I have, as well as give them the opportunity to build their own unique relationship with God.

New Pope

As the Catholic Church is picking a new Pope, it is important to consider what we as Catholics want in a new Pope. I think there are many issues that the next Pope must address. I would like the Pope to address the sex abuse scandal and take responsibility for the scandal by removing those that are guilty in order to preserve the ideals and reputation of the Church. Next, I also think the next Pope needs to reach out to younger Catholics and make them feel like they are an important part of the Church. I also think that the new Pope must be open to adaptation and change and help the Catholic Church adjust to our changing society. The Church has taken a hard hit recently, so it needs someone who can restore and rebuild it. The new Pope will face many challenges while trying to do this because it is such a difficult feat. The Pope may have difficulty gaining respect at first because he is new. If the Pope has radical ideas, he may also have trouble getting people to come around to his views. Being a woman in the Church can be frustrating at times. I think women need to have the opportunity for leadership roles in the Church. If men and women were created equal in God's eyes, then why aren't they equal in the Church? If I could change one thing in the Church, I would want the Church to practice more equally among men, women, and homosexuals. I do not think the Church should turn any one away who wants to participate in the Church based on gender or sexual preference. I think that the Church must change in order to implement democracy. The way the Church currently is does not leave very much room for the voice of the people to come through. The Holy Spirit helps the leadership to make good decisions and gives the people the strength to follow the leaders.

Let Your Life Speak

Success and vocation are very subjective. Success is defined differently for every person who attempts to accomplish it. For some, success is having an important job and a lot of money. For others. it is finding the right person and living happily ever after. For me, success will be living a life that I am proud of and makes me happy.I hope to find a vocation that enables me to live this happy life. I think vocation is answering you calling, but sometimes it is not easy to know what this calling is. Unlike Parker, I think success and vocation are about more than who you are. I think they are also about who you are becoming. Personally, I know that I have a lot more personal growth ahead of me before I reach success. I do agree that success depends on who you are when you are reaching for it. I know that to be successful in high school, I must utilize the best qualities I currently have.; however, to be successful in my future, I have to continue to grow as a person. I agree with Parker in that I should focus on strengthening the qualities I already have. I do not think I need to become someone else, but there are some qualities I still hope to develop later in life. For me, my success will depend on becoming the best version of my current self, while simultaneously incorporating new qualities to better myself.

Mission Statement

My mission in life is to be happy. For me, being happy means always being exactly who I am. I vow to never let anyone tear me down. I promise to only allow others to change me when I am changing for the better and to only spend time with those who lift me up. I hope to be the kind of person that lifts other people up and contributes to their happiness. I will always remain the outgoing, determined, stubborn, passionate, loud and silly person that I am. I will fully accept all of the qualities that make up who I am, both positive and negative, because I am proud of the woman that I am becoming. I promise to never lose sight of who I am, and if I do, to return to my roots because my roots will guide me home.