CHRISTUS VIVIT IN THE RGV: MICHELLE SALAS

In this section, Raul Cabrera, Associate Director of University Ministry, talks with university/colleges students who accompany young people in missionary discipleship and connect it to Christus Vivit, the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis to young people and to the entire people of God. Below is a conversation with Michelle Salas.




 

Think about it: if someone tells young people to ignore their history, to reject the experiences of their elders, to look down on the past and to look forward to a future that he holds out, doesn’t it then become easy to draw them along so that they only do what he tells them? He needs the young to be shallow, uprooted and distrustful, so that they can trust only in his promises and act according to his plans. That is how various ideologies operate: they destroy (or deconstruct) all differences so that they can reign unopposed. To do so, however, they need young people who have no use for history, who spurn the spiritual and human riches inherited from past generations and are ignorant of everything that came before them. (Christus Vivit #181)

Michelle, can you recall a significant conversation with a fellow university student where your Catholic faith was challenged?
I remember a time when in a casual group conversation, a girl was mocking her grandma and saying how she worshiped the Virgin Mary and the saints. I could have chosen to stay quiet and move on to something else, but I thought to speak up a little bit on my Catholic faith. I was able to kindly explain that our Catholic grandmas don’t worship the Virgin Mary, rather they love our blessed Mother, and they find a way to express that love to her through devotions and prayers. Not that she is God or the savior, but that she is greatly honored for her role in salvation history and for standing at the foot of the crucified Christ – for praying and interceding for us.

You recently took a philosophy class as part of your studies. What was your sense of experience in the current proposition of ideologies as it relates to staying rooted in the Catholic faith?
I did, and at the beginning, I had a sense that my professor was Christian since, to my surprise, we read some works from Aquinas, Pascal, and Anselm, among others. Of course, there were other minds that were either atheist or agnostic, which I was expecting. But the one that really shocked me was my political science class. When the professor was talking on policy issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty, he got really heated up to the point of using foul language if anyone believed contrary to what he believed. I do notice that many students stay quiet on these issues scared of going against the personal beliefs or ideology expressed by some professors – probably afraid of it having a negative impact on their grades. However, if we are dealing with truth, our grades shouldn’t matter. We should not have a university environment where we just let the professor talk some ideologies and students simply go along with it to get the passing grades and move on to the next class. If we Catholics put a little more effort in finding a place to put our faith to practice in not just theology but politics, philosophy, science, we can have an impact on society.

What three words come to your mind when you hear the word ‘Eucharist’ on the university campus?
It is a very foreign word to hear on campus, but what it means to me as a college student is relief, strength, and being accompanied.

What practical opportunities for evangelization do you believe are impactful for university students?
When making friends, evangelization goes with you, it’s part of you. We evangelize not out of our own strength but because we have Jesus, and we want to bring him to others. When we smile and talk with others, ask questions to discover and grow in the faith… that is an authentic way. If we just expect to convert others immediately in each encounter God entrusts us with, then we are doing it to have something in exchange. Not that salvation of souls is not important, but there should be no immediate pressure in trying to get people baptized or converted to look good in numbers but as people. There just needs to be patience and God’s will be done.

What would you say to Catholic parents who are looking to encourage their children in college to stay rooted in the faith?
The challenge might look enormous that they will keep the faith; however, do not give up on your child, even if it is through silent prayer. See where your children need you the most. Sometimes words, invitations, or other materials are not enough. With actions of love, let the virtues of parenthood shine in you. Your child in college will notice, if not now in the future and with perseverance.

What final thought would you like to share with our readers?
There are so many of us Catholics out there in the Valley – reach out and don’t make it hard on each other. There is a role for you to play in all of this. And don’t forget to not only look out there but also within your own families. Be the greatest Catholics ever!

Michelle Salas lives in Brownsville and is a current student at The University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley.