Ben McDonald

(MN Missionary Cops at St. Olaf College ’05)

The yellow glow of the sulfur street lamp cut through the blackness of another cold night at St. Olaf College. A handful of sleep-deprived, shivering friends stood with me under this buzzing light to review the final details of our late-night mission. We took to the bulletin boards and sidewalks with posters, chalk, and a message. The title on our signs read “The Culture of Life vs. the Culture of Death: What is Pro-Choice?” Fr. Richard M. Hogan, former president of Priests for Life, speaker and author, would arrive in five days to give a talk on the lies of the term “pro-choice.” By promoting a message of truth, my Saint Paul’s Outreach friends and I set out that cold night to challenge the influence of the culture of death at our school.

Thanks to our advertising efforts and lots of prayer, the pro-life presentation attracted over sixty students. Fr. Hogan’s talk turned out to be a great triumph for the Lord and perked students’ interests in life issues. By promoting the respect of human life, my friends took initiative to share the truth with our fellow students. They took action. This is not unique. Most of the Catholic events and activities on campus can be linked to students from Saint Paul’s Outreach who are eager to live out their faith in a way that will affect others on campus. Zeal for their beliefs influences all they do. St. Olaf had a new Catholic apologetics group started and run by Saint Paul’s Outreach students. What amazes me is the way these students follow through with their beliefs, making Christ evident to other students on campus.

In college, I deal with many challenges I had never encountered before moving away from home. Keeping faith at school requires a lot of personal discipline because most of the influences I encounter contradict what I know to be true. Staying faithful despite these influences inevitably impacts the students around me. I do not have to get up on a table in the cafeteria to preach the gospel; living as a faithful Catholic gets the attention of many more people.

The light of Christ in just one student is such an extreme contrast that it is evident all across campus. Something as simple as refusing to compromise the value of human life quickly gains attention. It’s not convenient or comfortable to roll out of bed after five hours of sleep to walk twenty minutes through biting wind chills for the 7:00am Mass. However, I’m surrounded by students who make the sacrifice on a regular basis. Coming to St. Olaf, I never anticipated the privilege of knowing such wonderful people. They make me want to be a more holy person. Sure, I could be a good Catholic without them, but being in their presence provides immense support and accountability, which makes it much easier to realize more of my potential as a man of God.

Strengthened by the grace I receive from the sacraments, prayer, and encouragement from my friends, I am more able to face the daily challenges to my faith and to reflect Christ’s light in my environment. We Saint Paul’s Outreach students at St. Olaf see real changes resulting from our outreach efforts, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will continue to do what we can to bring Jesus to those around.

Ben McDonald was a member of the SPO-Missionary Core at St. Olaf College in 2005.