Reposted from North Central College's Campus Ministry Page: April 3, 2017NCC Ministry & Service By: Kaylie Rosenkranz, Student, Spring Break Service Trip Participant Community. Prayer. Simplicity. Service. Bethlehem Farm's four pillars couldn't describe the farm's magic more perfectly. Bethlehem Farm was not just a service trip. It was a home. From the very beginning when … Continue reading When a Place Becomes a Home
Category: All posts
Lent & Citizenship, by Colleen
Bethlehem Farm Caretaker and mother extraordinaire Colleen Fitts shares about her Lenten practice this year: I'm not usually into politics, but like many people, I've been listening closely to all the happenings for the past year. In a recent conversation, someone told me that their priest had preached a homily about an executive order. This … Continue reading Lent & Citizenship, by Colleen
Lenten Simplicity Challenge
Youth and adults at Our Lady of Grace parish in Noblesville, IN, are planning a Simplicity Challenge for Lent. Check it out! lent-simplicity-challenge-handout-2017 The registration and raffle are just for OLG parishioners, but anyone can join them in the challenge! OLG parishioner and high school student Sam Bleisch explains why he will be doing the Lenten Simplicity … Continue reading Lenten Simplicity Challenge
Reflection by Jenna
Jenna Steltenpohl of Jasper, IN, spent time with us as a fall servant from September to October, 2016: It was a warm September day when I stepped off of the Amtrak train and onto West Virginia ground. It had been a long trip; I was eager to get some fresh air. However, I have to … Continue reading Reflection by Jenna
Shane Claiborne ruined my life
A book review by caretaker Carly Ann: In the summer of 2013 a young and selfish Carly Ann, dazed, thoughtful, and deeply melancholic, wandered the sidewalks of Sauk City, Wisconsin. Toward the outer limit of this sparsely populated nowhere town, she entered St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. She knew the door all the way to the … Continue reading Shane Claiborne ruined my life
The One Where I Moved to West Virginia
Newest Caretaker Shannon O'Toole reflects on her move to the farm!: As of January 1st, I will have been at Bethlehem Farm for three months. Sometimes, at random moments – maybe when I wake up and see the view from my bedroom of the clothes hanging from the clotheslines on the farmhouse porch, when I'm … Continue reading The One Where I Moved to West Virginia
Happy Holidays from Notre Dame
From Notre Dame student Mary Howard: I just wanted to pass along this photo of our Notre Dame team. We have had biweekly team dinners and concluded the semester with a little Christmas cookie party this Saturday as a finals study break and last hurrah. Bfarm still lives on in our heart and our relationships … Continue reading Happy Holidays from Notre Dame
Serving, Embracing, and Praying
Does the cold weather have you pining for warmer summer days? Let 2016 Summer Servant Jeff Baker take you back . . . “After a somewhat long, but adventurous drive, I rolled up a narrow cork-screw road. As my tires slid on the gravel, I had a strange feeling I was literally in the middle … Continue reading Serving, Embracing, and Praying
Catholic Social Teaching: The best resource for citizenship
A post-election reflection: On Tuesday morning, November 8, 2016, I walked into my polling place, a one-room airport building down in Pence Springs. Election campaign coverage all but monopolized the news in this country for the last year and a half, and somehow, I reacted to the first two names on the ballot with fresh emotion: … Continue reading Catholic Social Teaching: The best resource for citizenship
Remembering the farm back on campus
Emily Okawara spent her fall break at Bethlehem Farm this year with a great group from Notre Dame. After returning to campus, she wrote us a letter reflecting on her time at the farm, sharing the challenges and successes of trying to integrate her experience back at school. Thanks, Emily! Here it is: Today marks a little … Continue reading Remembering the farm back on campus