Quote
“The really important thing is to love religious life, to love your own vocation. … (Religious) life isn’t for weirdos. It’s just ordinary. It just happens that the Lord becomes everything to you.”
| Sister Barbara Sweeney, vocations director of the Society of the Sacred Heart, which last year saw three women enter the society in England and Wales as novices after a 15-year drought. The number of people entering religious orders is at its highest level in England and Wales in 17 years. (Catholic News Service)
Profile
Merelyn Lubong
Young adult minister, Holy Trinity Parish
Favorite Scripture quote: John 14:6 — my dad shared this verse as his last wish and farewell as my family gathered around his bedside during his last midnight hours. 
Saint: St. Teresa of Avila
Prayer: Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila
Parable: The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl
Church song: “The Power of Your Love”
Book: The Holy Bible
Movie: “The Passion of the Christ.” This movie is sure to change you in a positive spiritual way
Most memorable priest: Father Gary Secor, our vicar general. He gives the most memorable, hilarious and down-to-earth, for-real homilies. He’s also very enthusiastic in helping to grow our youth and young adult Catholic community.
Saints under 35
Modern martyr
Father Miroslav Bulesic of Croatia, who was beatified Sept. 28, was one of hundreds of Catholic religious who were killed or died in prison after communist rule was established in the nation in 1945. His murder in 1947 amid the anti-church violence was “particularly loathsome,” said Cardinal Angelo Amato during the beatification ceremony.
“Human wickedness was vented on a helpless priest, and the wolf tore the lamb apart,” Cardinal Amato said.
Father Bulesic, who was just 27 when he died, was ordained in Croatia a couple years after World War II began and spoke out against communist abuses as he ministered in several villages. He was in Lanisce for a confirmation service on Aug. 24, 1947, when communist forces entered the parish rectory, pinned Father Bulesic to the ground and stabbed him in the neck.
Father Bulesic’s sainthood cause was opened in 1998. (Catholic News Service)
