lovebeginshere2011

Love Begins Here,an apostolate of the

Catholic Diocese of Madison's OEC, works to provide the youth with an

oppotunity to encounter Jesus Christ in a lifechanging way through weeklong, local Mission Trips where they live in Catholic community and continue His

work on earth.

And so here I am talking with you - I want you to f i n d the poor here, right in your own home f i r s t.

And begin love there. Be that good news to your

own people. And f i n d out about your next-door neighbor

- do you know who they are?

Mother Teresa 1979 Noble Peace Prize

Acceptance Speech

a message from the directorThank you for taking the time to become further acquainted with Love Begins Here. It brings me great joy to share the mission of LBH with you, as well as formally announce the schedule for this coming summer.

Thinking back to the morning of June 21, 2009, the day of LBH's first mission trip, I could not have guessed what the program would look like today. To be honest, the Core Team and I did not have much time for imagining that day, as we were busy getting ready for a household of youth and young adults to arrive. As the LBH leadership has said over the past two summers - the Holy Spirit works a lot of overtime during our trips and in the preparation for them. Making all things possible, we have guided nearly 200 young people in beginning love for 3,700 hours in the Madison Diocese.

Alone, those 155+ days of love being poured out is something to marvel at. However, what amazes me more is the ways in which I have witnessed lives changing. Not only in the poor we have served, but in the youth, as well - and, it happens in the small things, just as our inspiration Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta has said. In offering up our work on the mission field, pulling weeds with a smile, making dinner for each other, and living an authentic Catholic prayer life, lives have changed and hearts have turned towards Jesus Christ, having had the opportunity to meet Him raised from the dead. I warmly encourage you to consider allowing your life, and those of who you work with, to be changed on the mission field we call Love Begins Here this summer.

In Christ,Lindsay BecherLindsay BecherLBH Mission Director

While it's nearly impossible to capture a “typical day” in the world of Love Begins Here, here's a sampling of things that happen on an (almost) everyday basis.Wake up. Paint a classroom. Laugh. Pack your lunch. Pray a rosary. Pull weeds. Make a new friend. Have your picture taken a dozen times. Grow closer to Jesus. Sing songs about the work you are doing. Prepare dinner for the rest of the group. Brush your teeth. Take a water break. Celebrate life. Live like a Missionary of Charity. Learn a new card game at the Senior Center. Have epic races in the lake at a local state park. Jam out to good music with your car group. Trim bushes. Play a game of ultimate spoons. Attend Mass. Clean statues. Shower. Scrape paint. Find out something new about yourself. Eat breakfast. Learn how to install flooring. Share where you saw God in your day. Be inspired by those around you. Pray Night Prayer. Fall asleep.

I have learnedthat beginninglove here is not only about

loving others, but also about

loving yourself. - DanielleSt. John the Baptist Waunakee - Wisconsin

My ability to love has grown over this week. It has grown with the understanding of myself and of how to pray more and love God. With His love, I am now able to do more and begin more love than before and that means the world to me. I can't wait to go out into my everyday world and do more for God and love through it all. Love is life. -Khuaten, St. JamesM a d i s o n - W i s c o n s i n

Love Begins Here means this is where you find your Love. - A n d yH o l y R o s a r yDar l ington - Wisconsin

This was the BEST thing I ever did.- Ned Lease2 0 1 0 Core Team M e m b e r

In my opinion, Love Begins Here means that we can't expect someone else to make the first step. We have to take the initiative and start with where we are. By doing this,

we are taking steps towards a better world that knows God.

-LucasS t . J o s e p hBar aboo - Wiscons in

This week has made me feel whole.

Josh - Christ the King - McFarlandIt's about discovering that LOVE that has first been given to you by the source

of LOVE, thenreturning that LOVE to that source through

the other in need. - John Ramthun, 6:8Divine Mercy Parish - Sauk City

What does Love Begins Here mean to Madison Seminarian David Johannes?The experience of Love Begins Here opens the participants heart and eyes to God's love. God initialized the love which calls out in our hearts to love our neighbor and this program responds to just that; I witnessed a joy from the youth that I didn't expect. Love was poured out to one another in this group, to other Catholics, in their homes and through a space designated to encounter Christ in a closer manner. Love was witnessed in the preparing of meals and then delivering them via meals on wheels, love was sweated out in the clearing of homes and conversations with the elderly, love was the compassion to a family with a disabled child needing treatment, love was the witness of the joy of Christ in our hearts to the disbelieved and non-Christian, and love was the friendship amongst brothers and sisters who would have otherwise called each other "stranger".

Love Begins Here is the response of love to the Father who loved us f i r s t and continues to love each of us with an everlasting love.

To see these young people's faith in action, to see their faith works is inspiring for the parishioners as they have stayed with us for the week. They are devout and hardworking and have fun. I firmly believe that they're growing in their love for Christ and the Church through their work.

Father William Vernon is the Pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Verona and Paoli. He hosted the Week 4 of LBH 2010. This photo was taken

during a stop he made to visit the youth working at St. Bridget in Ridgeway.

Father William Vernon

What does Love Begins Here mean to Madison Seminarian David Johannes?The experience of Love Begins Here opens the participants heart and eyes to God's love. God initialized the love which calls out in our hearts to love our neighbor and this program responds to just that; I witnessed a joy from the youth that I didn't expect. Love was poured out to one another in this group, to other Catholics, in their homes and through a space designated to encounter Christ in a closer manner. Love was witnessed in the preparing of meals and then delivering them via meals on wheels, love was sweated out in the clearing of homes and conversations with the elderly, love was the compassion to a family with a disabled child needing treatment, love was the witness of the joy of Christ in our hearts to the disbelieved and non-Christian, and love was the friendship amongst brothers and sisters who would have otherwise called each other "stranger".

Love Begins Here is the response of love to the Father who loved us f i r s t and continues to love each of us with an everlasting love.

Where exactly does Love Begins Here

happen?In a broad sense, everywhere.Try beginning love today by searching out

the poor - physically and spiritually - wherever you call home.

More specifically, LBH has called home to many Madison Diocese Catholic Churches including St. Ignatius (Mount Horeb), St. Ann (Stoughton), St. Mary (Pine Bluff) and St. Andrew (Verona). We are always looking to expand our horizons and serve the poor in new corners of the Diocese. Stay tuned for the exact

2011 Placements!

lovebeginshereis authentically

Catholic .

Daily Celebration of the Holy Mass - Daily Rosary - Reconciliation Praise and Worship - Testimonies and Talks given by the Core Team - Adoration -

Time for Personal Prayer - Dedicated to Building Up the Culture of Life

2011dates

andrates

High School

MissionTrips

$100

June 19-24June 26-31 July 10-15July 24-29

Middle School

MissionTrips

$80

July 5 - 8July 19 - 22

Please visitwww.madisonlovebeginshere.blogspot.com

to learn about our Stockholder Investment Program

and join in the mission of LBH!

love begins here 2011an apostolate of the

office of evangelization and catechesiscatholic diocese of madison

702 s. high point rd.madison, wi 53719