Faith in Action—Recently-established Newman Center at Mater Dei, May 18, 2026

Tune into Faith in Action at 9 a.m., Monday, May 18 on Channel 88.1 FM, Siouxland Catholic Radio. Host Joanne Fox interviews Sam Hacker, Madi Aldrich, and Jaylen Burch about Mater Dei Parish's recently-established Newman Center. This program replays at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 23. 

Faith in Action is brought to you by Mary's Choice, a Sioux City Pregnancy Resource Center. 

Previous Faith in Action programs can be found at siouxlandcatholicradio.com, on YouTube, and on several other podcasting platforms. Programming is subject to change.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Hello, listeners of Channel 88.1 FM, KFHC Poncassoo City, and KOIA Storm Lake. Thank you so much for tuning in to Faith in Action. I'm your host, Joanne Fox, and I am so pleased that you are taking time out of your busy schedule to listen to the show and support us. We are so grateful for that. Well, if you uh are just tuning in, um maybe it's Monday at 9 a.m. or maybe it's Saturday at 7 p.m., or maybe you went to our website, Souland Catholic Radio.com, and clicked on Faith in Action and you are listening at your convenience because all of our shows can be found at Siouxland Catholic Radio.com. Also, we are on Spotify and a number of other podcasting platforms, which you just Google and you can find us. That's all due to the generosity of Mary's Choice, a Sioux City Pregnancy Resource Center, which is the exclusive underwriter for this show. So I'm real excited to have three guests in the studio with me today, and we are going to talk about a unique endeavor by Modern Day Parish here in Sioux City. They have instituted a Newman Center, and I can see my listeners go, a Newman Center. I remember that when I was in college at a secular college or university. There was the Newman Center on campus. Well, this is something that Modern Day has started. And it is such a wonderful endeavor and outreach that I invited three individuals who have a connection to it to kind of talk about it. So I want to welcome to the program Sam Hacker, Jalen Birch, and Maddie Aldridge. Welcome to all three of you for showing up today.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_03 1:46

You bet. So I'm sure the listeners would like to know a little bit about yourselves before we kind of get into the whole Newman Center idea. So, Sam, why don't you tell the listeners a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_02 1:58

Well, I'm a native Sioux City and I was born here at the good old St. Vincent's Hospital, which is lots of years ago. I graduated from Bishop Healen. I attended school at Briar Cliff. I thought I needed a big school, went to Iowa City, and couldn't wait to come back home to Sioux City. I have been in ministry for probably 33 years now. I helped start the first youth program out at Modern Day with Father Paul Arts, and it has continued to grow. And a few years ago, I said to Father Repp, we're missing the biggest group of young people in our lives, and that's our college students. So we did start a Bible study back then. John Andreessen, who is now in Lincoln, Nebraska, helped start us out and lead the Bible study. He brought Jalen to us as a convert. Wow. And it was a beautiful, beautiful thing. Last year I was in touch with Patty Stinson at the Newman Center and said, What do we have to do to become a Newman Center? And she said, Work with us and you're on your road. And I am so happy to say that it has helped make us grow. Her ideas that she sends to me every Monday are just fantastic to help. Last Tuesday we had a dinner for our kids for the last part of the year before they go home or leave us. And we had close to 30 young people in that room. So for our first year out, we're doing fairly well. And we have a wonderful, wonderful pastor at Morningside College who works so strong with us, even though he's a Lutheran minister at the Methodist School. He works hard to keep all these kids connected to a faith someplace in Zoo City. That is great to hear. It's wonderful. He's just a wonderful young man.

SPEAKER_03 3:45

Okay, good to know. And we'll talk a little bit more about him because I kind of know who you're talking about. So, um, Maddie, why don't you tell the listeners a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Yeah, um, I'm originally from Colorado Springs. Uh, grew up raised there my whole life, went to Doherty High School, and then I played volleyball, so I got recruited to come play for Morningside University, and I was like, well, I want to do nursing. So, and I heard about the great nursing program at Morningside, so went ahead and committed, um, which honestly was best decision ever. I absolutely love this place. Um, so I graduate here in over a week. Crazy to think about, but I'll graduate with my BSN RN. And then um, I'm gonna go ahead and work in Kansas City as a neuro PCU nurse. So kind of looking forward to that. It's been real busy, a little calm down now that school's over. Just to get a study for the stressful unclex. Oh, yeah. Um, not too bad though. I absolutely love it here. I just recently joined the church, um, went through OSA and now we're going through Mystigoji there. Absolutely love the group, have been in some Bible studies and you know, asked Sam to be my sponsor, not knowing her that much yet through Jalen, and then absolutely been amazing. Um, just building that community through the church and building my faith even more has been awesome. And being with Jalen for the last two years now and getting to see him baptized even before we were together, which it it happened for a reason. I believe God brought us together. So, yeah, it's just a little bit about me. Okay, excellent.

SPEAKER_03 5:14

Well, Jalen, we know now a little bit about you, but tell us a little more about you.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

Um, so uh I'm from Kansas City, Missouri. Uh born and raised there. Uh transition I transitioned and I moved over to like the Kansas side, you know, because people get that confused with Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas. But I moved over there uh and started my high school career over there, went to Bishop E. H. High School and where I played football, uh, did all kind of sports there, and it was a Catholic school, and my faith wasn't really big or anything. I didn't grow up going to church or anything like that. And then I kind of started to it started to touch me more the more I went to a Catholic school, and I got to see the faith and I got to see all the real of it, you know. So um it just made me open my eyes to a lot of stuff, like if it's this like something I want to do, and you know, and then I ended up getting recruited by Morningside for football and saw that as a great opportunity because one of my teammates, Hayden Tilges, he played at Morningside as well, and it was nothing but great things about the school. So I decided to come to Morningside and uh play football at play football, but I wasn't really sure if I wanted to transition over to be a Catholic or not. But I just I wanted to wait my my turn and kind of do it on my timing, you know, because I didn't want to do it just because I was going to a Catholic school and I wanted to be, I wanted to make sure it was sure, I was sure of like when I wanted. So I once I graduated and I was around it as a bunch, my heart was still going to be around it.

SPEAKER_03 7:04

So oh, it's that Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_00 7:06

Yeah, it's kind of poking that yeah. It is, it is, yeah. Um I met John uh during football practice coach Coach Ryan, a lot of people in Su City know him. Um he always announced uh like at the end of a practice uh where everyone going to church at, and like the Catholic people, Sunnybrook, like all over. He named all the churches, and one guy, older guy, kind of leads that, and they all stand up. And uh John took me under his wing, and he showed me a lot about all the Catholic stuff, and I start going to church with John, and uh like Sam said, he started the Bible study and wanted me to be a part of it, and he wanted me to take over it out the words, and really um I look at it as like I'm not the one who's like the leader, it's just all of us as a group of just all of us with good ideals of spreading our word and what we're thinking, you know. So I never say as well, uh like I'm the leader of the Bible study, it's just me, uh, my buddy Jason Balker, uh all of those guys um as part of it, and they're all leaders as well. So yeah, that's just a little bit about me. I play football at Morningside and get ready to graduate uh May 9th, and uh I'm looking forward to my next journey in life. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do, but that's probably God having me waited out and he's gonna bless me with something even better.

SPEAKER_03 8:39

What's your bachelor's degree in?

SPEAKER_00 8:41

Uh business administration.

SPEAKER_03 8:42

Okay. So we like business people.

SPEAKER_00 8:45

Yeah, and I wanna hopefully I can get into sales, you know. At first my mom was closed off on eventually I was gonna go to the Marines, and then I met Maddie. Nothing wrong with that either. Nothing wrong with that. It's just it kind of changed and it wasn't the right path for me right now. So I'm looking in to do some sales and do something else in my life, and I was just looking forward for us to every everything, you know.

SPEAKER_03 9:11

So Okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

That's about me.

SPEAKER_03 9:14

Terrific. Well, Sam, you kind of alluded to the fact, you know, that uh you mentioned to the pastor we're missing a a really important group of young people because Morningside College is Methodist affiliated, and um they they have a a dynamic of a lot of different faiths. And so how how did it come about that that you said a Newman Center and maybe not just hey, come on down, we're gonna have Bible study? How did that kind of evolve?

SPEAKER_02 9:44

Well, when I got to talk to the people at the Newman Center, they had always been sending us names of students because they have what they call a program called Called, and the kids when they leave high school, sign up where they're going to go to college. So that gave me a lot of information to get to these kids and invite them over. And then Patty from the Newman Center kept saying, Let's do it. Let's just name you the Newman Center. We have nothing in Northwest Iowa. We really, really need to do this. So we started with Morningside College. We also have students from Western Iowa Tech coming, and right now I have several members of the 185th coming, and we look forward to, according to Pastor Andy, who's also the chaplain at the 185th now, in sending more of these young men to us for Bible study and just to meet the other young men as they start coming back from overseas. They are worried about the PTSD that could be involved with them overseas. We also have some people who come over from Sao Sioux with us. So this has been wonderful, absolutely wonderful to grow. Last year we sent 15 students to SEC because of the Newman Center working with us. As of this morning, I have 27 kids very interested in going to San Antonio, Texas, January 1st. I told them I'll meet you there. I'm flying, you're on the bus. And they just go. At our age, yes. Yes. We're done, done with the buses, listeners. Done with the buses. And Pastor Andy know at Morningside has a program every August. It's called Faith in Action, kind of what we're here. And he stole from you here. He did. I'll talk to him. He invites all of the churches around the Morningside area to come up on an afternoon, meet the students, they fill out information on what church they'd like to go to. Are they Catholic? Would you like to come to Bible studies and all, you know, different things? And that's where we've picked up a lot of our students. And then being with the Newman Center, they also refer to us many, many students coming in from out of town. That gives me a chance to contact that student before they even get into Sioux City to go to school.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Okay. Well, Maddie, how did you find out about it?

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Um, so originally I kind of was just on my own with my faith. I had those pricks on my heart, you know, and everything. And um I was with Jalen for a while, and I was like, Well, I'm like really drawn to the Catholic faith. And um, so I was like, I'm just gonna go ahead and do OCI OCIA. And I was like, it just I need to take my leap, like I was just being pushed by the Holy Spirit to do it in a way, and um, so I went and joined, I meet with Kara and I had a little interview, and I was like, Yeah, this is for me. So I was just talking about it away, like my faith and everything. I was like, Yeah, that's for me. Um, so I started an OCIA and I asked Sam to be my sponsor, and so started doing that every Sunday, and I was like, Yeah, this I love it learning new things that I never knew about the Catholic Church before, and building a community, and a lot of us M-Side kids were there, and I was like, This is awesome! Like, I never even knew one of our friends, Alex, who's a basketball player, was gonna be there or best, and it was really cool to see that community and how many young people are coming into the church. So then that's what started from there. And in the fall, I was playing volleyball and working and nursing school, so I can only imagine how busy I was. Um so being like invited to the Bible study group, I was like, man, I'm really busy right now, but just let me know what you're talking about so I can kind of catch up and be you know with it. And um, so going from there, but always just kind of being invited and being in that community has been amazing, and even though like it's it has been a short amount of time, but uh starting this year and really being drawn to it and being like invited into a family and volunteering and all that kind of stuff is awesome. And we were just talking about it in class a couple weeks ago, how amazing it is to see how many young people are being baptized or coming into the Catholic Church and getting the education and stuff like that, and it's honestly changed my life for the better, and I'm very blessed and am sad that we are leaving this kind of community, but we definitely will be coming back because we love it so much to see everybody. But yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:52

And Jalen, you mentioned the Bible study uh kind of started you on this path, but you know, there's nothing hanging over your head saying you gotta go to you gotta go to the Bible study, you know, otherwise we're cutting you from the team or some nonsense. But what kind of pushed you over the edge?

SPEAKER_00 14:09

Uh honestly, just going to uh Morningside, you know, uh Coach Ryan, you know, he kind of instilled in all of our head of what type of man he's building, you know, um of just being a man, you know, just of how to be a man, and the number one thing of being a man is putting God first. Like that's the number one thing, you know. So um there's times where you know you're gonna have your ups and downs with it. You're not gonna always uh put God first, but which is not a good thing, you know. You're gonna have your falls and your downs, but um it's great that we got those guys like Coach Ryan and all of those other people around the school, Morningside, Sam, and people like that, and my upper class and my teammates and stuff to push me when I'm lacking or I'm not doing the best or knock me upside the head or whatever, you know. But um it's just um just having the people around you, you know, to push you to keep going. It's like uh it's like you got a lot of people depending on you, you know, so it's like you keep going back, and you know, overall, you know, you're going for a good good cause and you know it's getting you better, you know. And it's like that's the only time, you know, where one of the only times where it's just all man and we talk about everything that normally we we don't like to talk about, you know, we keep to ourselves and you know, so that's another big reason, and then it's just like uh my buddy John Andreessen, um he made a big impact, you know, on all of us, you know, and everybody who was in that Bible study with him, you know, to just keep going back and putting God and constantly showing up, you know, for one and the other, you know, because I I feel like if you stop showing up, you're not only you're not showing up for any of your, you know, the guys that's in the Bible study, and you're not showing up for Sam because she does a lot for us. Uh she makes us a bunch of food. It's delicious. It's great, good food, you know. I'm not surprised. There's so much to it of just wanting to be around good people, you know. Um, so it kind of pushes you to keep coming back every time, you know.

SPEAKER_03 16:26

Because yeah, and it sounds like you had such a great foundation of friends, you know, and other individuals who are supportive of you. But now we gotta be honest. A lot of times when you tell your family or your loved ones, I think I'm gonna join the Catholic Church, they're not running out in the parking lot and doing the dance of joy. Yeah, we know this, you know. Some of them go, mmm, okay. So I'm curious as to Jalen, why don't you start? What was the reaction when you told your your family, your loved ones, maybe grandma?

SPEAKER_00 16:57

So my family, my family is uh they're actually really big Catholics. Like why they're really big Catholics, and my dad uh he goes to Latin Mass.

SPEAKER_03 17:11

Oh my heavens.

SPEAKER_00 17:13

So I bet he was an altar boy growing up. He I I I don't know if he was or not.

SPEAKER_03 17:19

Um if he goes to the Latin Mass, I bet he was an altar boy. He probably was. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

He goes to Latin Mass, and uh my brother and all of them, they all went to Catholic school. My sister, um, mom, all of them, they they were they're all Catholic and stuff, but um I wasn't Catholic yet, you know, because I originally originally uh this is this isn't like my um actual family. I kind of it's like I kind of like got adopted, you know? It's like um they were all Catholic and stuff like that. So when I told them, you know, like they eventually they always wanted me to. When I told them that it was right for me, uh it was like the best thing for them because you know, my dad, he was in the Marines for about 22, 23 years, and he's really big on his faith, you know. And my brother, sister, mom, all of them is really big on their faith, so it was a big deal, and it was really great for them to be able to watch me get confirmed and baptized and finally be able to receive the Eucharist with all of them.

SPEAKER_03 18:21

Oh my heavens, yes.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

It was amazing with them, you know. None of my family, uh, even my uh uh my actual like my blood-related family, then my mom, like they were all happy, you know. Um my grandma, like they always they're all no matter what religion they are, they're they're they all believe in Jesus Christ. And uh I didn't grow up going to church a lot, but they always instilled it in me, you know, of talking about it, you know.

SPEAKER_03 18:48

So Oh, that's a great story, Maddie. You were kind of shaking your head, going, not quite the same for me.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

I have a little bit of different side to it. Um, we didn't grow up in the religion side. Um, I didn't have either of my parents, so my grandma like raised me. Um, but she was baptized Catholic, but definitely fell out of it. Um, all of my family pretty much fell out of it. The only two that have truly been kind of by my side through it and like still within the religion is my aunt and my grandma, and it's been truly awesome to be able to go to them and be like, hey, this is what I'm doing, and um it made my grandma cry. She was like, Finally, like I have someone that truly understands um it like I do and the support. And then when I told my grandma who raises me now, um, my I call her my mom, um, she was like, Oh, are you sure? And I was like, Yeah, I'm really sure. And she was like, Okay, don't do it just to get married. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:54

Thank you, Grandma.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

You're being honest, yes. Um, so kind of just like the stereotype kind of thing, and my sisters not really understanding, and you know, and I'm like, you know, I'm still gonna do it. So it was really cool though, being able to go through the classes and really build my education and my background and learn the history of Catholicism and just really enjoying it so I can like tell my family, like, look, this is what I'm learning, and I'm absolutely loving it, and this is what I want for my family when you know, in the future when I start having kids. This is like what I want as my foundation as I'm caring for patients every day, and I want to pray for them. And this is just like solidifying my beliefs that I didn't fully know I had because I wasn't educated on it yet. So just kind of building that background as I was never I wasn't raised in the religion aspect, we didn't go to church, didn't really have a foundation of a church, and then being at Morningside, I started going to Sunningbrook my sophomore year, because I was like, I'm I'm yearning for him, I'm yearning for the Lord, and um, so I started there and I didn't really have a clue, and then I looked over at my friend, and I was just remembering this the other day, and I was like, I want to be baptized, but I didn't know how yet. It didn't come up yet, and I was like, I want to be baptized. I said out loud and I was like crying already at church, and um, and then Jalen, I was studying in our dorm, in our dorm little halls, and he came up to me. He's like, You want to come to my baptism? And we were just friends at the time, and I was like, Surely I haven't been to a Catholic mass before, and I was and all of my a lot of my really close friends are Catholic as well, which helps. And um, I was like, sure, I'll go. And Abby, one of my best friends at this time, was like, Yeah, let's go. And she's Catholic, so that also helped. And we went and I cried like almost the whole time. And I had crutches at the time. I was all messed up from volleyball, and I was crying, I couldn't kneel, but I absolutely loved it. I really had no idea what the structure was. I was not educated, and I was crying, and he was, you know, getting baptized. And I was like, this is beautiful. Like I absolutely loved it. And like my heart was just drawn to it. And then him and I ended up becoming like we were together and um then talking with his family and his dad, very um structural, very Catholic, and I was like, wow, this is like I don't I need the advice. And I started talking to him about it, and I was yeah, this is amazing. And then we would pray with him every night and stuff like that when we were there, and it was just awesome, touched my heart, and I was like, you know what? We sat down and talked about it. I was like, I should do OCIA. I should become a part of it. And you know, that was just my push because I was like a little, a little anxious at first. I was a little nervous, I didn't know what I was getting into. I was pretty, I was not educated about it yet. I was already so busy. I was like, can I take on another class? Because I already have hours of class. Right. Um, but it it was a blessing. It was just a push, and I was talking to Kara about it at their interviews. I was like, yeah, this is what I needed. Like I have yearned for the Lord for so long after being angry for so long of my past with my family and stuff, and I was like, that's not what I, you know, that's not what I needed, and I needed him. And you know, having that connection to be able to see him baptized, not even knowing a year, a couple years later, he'd be seeing me baptized, and I'm crying the whole time at the church, and we're joking around that I'm lucky I wore water waterproof mascara because I was a little baby. Um, but yeah, I was just oh, I was just brought into it and I had those pricks in my heart, and I don't even know how to explain it. But my a lot of my family not being religious and having that background, I was like, I was really drawn to it, and I'm glad now that I could spread the word to my family and continue on the story when I have we have our own family and grow from there because I do believe it is very important.

SPEAKER_03 23:43

Yes, very important. And listeners, if you're just tuning in, I want to remind you the show is Faith in Action on Siouxland Catholic Radio. I'm your host, Joanne Fox, and I'm talking to three just delightful individuals, um, Mary Sam Hacker and Maddie Aldridge and Jalen Birch. And we're talking kind of about the Newman Center at Modern Day, which is is a new thing and how well it's been received. And again, you know, Sam, as you listen to these two young people talk about almost, you know, being knocked off the horse like Paul on the way to Tarsus, you know. Not quite, but you know, close. This such a remarkable. Is this what you hoped for, or what did you hope for?

SPEAKER_02 24:30

My my hope was that we could start start drawing these young people into or back to the faith. It's hard when you go away to school and you don't really know anybody, and you're in a strange town, and what do I do? Where do I go? I I just don't know what's up, what's down. Um yeah, it's what I hope for, and this year it has taken off a growing leaps and bounds. Um, I have to say I've never seen so many young gentlemen so tied to their faith and wanting to be there. And I know they get a little flack from other people about church, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, go away, go away. This weekend, you know, we had our church dinner, and Jason's mom was there from Illinois and she made me cry. She walked up to me and she gave me this great big hug, and she said, You're Sam, and I said, Yes. She said, When my son left to come to Morningside, I cried. What was going to happen to him and his faith? He told me he met you and he doesn't miss church, and I said, No, he doesn't, because every Sunday he punches me in the arm when he goes to communion, so I know he's there. And she said, I'm glad he found you, and I see him with all these other boys in church, and how I'm happy that makes me. And I said, Me too. And she said, I hear you spoil them very well. And I said, That I do, but they're very easy to spoil, and so are the girls. There's a deep faith there, and they keep bringing more kids and more kids, and that's what we want. And like I've explained to one other young man the other day when he called me, he said, Do I have to be Catholic to come with them? I said, No, it's a Bible study. I want you to come and talk about your faith and what goes on. And I said, after about a half hour, 40 minutes, I can tell they'd like me to go home because they have other things they want to talk about. That's more boy talk, so I say goodbye, you know, lock up the church and I go. If they need me, they'll call me. Sure. And that's what I want. I want them to feel at home. I want them to feel relaxed, and that's exactly how I think they feel. And our parish has just opened their arms to them. It's just been beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 26:31

And that was the next thing, because you must have read my mind, was the reaction of your parish, because this is not associated with a college like when I went to the University of Missouri, we had a Newman Center, and so you know, that's where I kind of went and found like-minded people. But, you know, there isn't a Newman Center as such at Morningside College or Western Iowa Tech or over in South Sioux, there's Northeast Community College. So there's none of those there, but your parish is. And so you kind of alluded to the fact that the parish itself has thought this is great.

SPEAKER_02 27:07

Oh, they do. They have been so supportive of everything that I do. Um it's and I do, and Father Bratt, Father Bratt has been absolutely wonderful on all this and so supportive of what we do. I mean, he comes in and he visits with them and talks to them when he's free. He's a very busy man, but he does get in there and he does talk to them and to the ladies, and he's so proud of these kids. He really is. Um, it's them. I'm there to to kind of lead them, but they do the work. They really do, and that makes me happy. Um, it's very hard now with Newman Centers because so many of them have no place to go. Um, like Wayne, Nebraska used to have one right outside the door. That folded, so it's at their church now. Iowa City or Iowa City just got a brand new Newman Center. Um I told the kids if I won the Powerball, we'd build one. Ames goes across the street to their church. Um, this is where a lot of the Newman Centers are floating to are in churches close to campuses. Okay. And we have to start even growing that way. We're not lucky, like um Vermilion has a beautiful Newman Center. Truth. Um, I have to give the Diocese of Sioux Falls a big pat on the back for helping get that building up and going. But they're kind of going through some growing stages too now, too, with people coming and going. Um, I hope that never happens. I'll tell Father I'll be there till the day they roll me down the aisle if you'll keep me. Um feet first. Yeah, there you go. But it's it's the openness, and and they've been so great. They invite these kids the other night. Um, the Whartons had some of them over for dinner. So it met that means a lot to me that they open their doors to them and invite them into their homes.

SPEAKER_03 28:49

Very important.

SPEAKER_02 28:50

Very important. And like Maddie said, this year, we had numerous kids from Morningside College join the church. It just broke my heart. She cried, I cried, their parents were crying. Yeah, but there were a lot of them that joined, either were baptized or belonged to another faith and were confirmed and received the Eucharist, which was beautiful. And then to see their parents actually come and show up. It it's a tough, tough road when you get told I'm gonna go join the Catholic Church. But the moms were there and like Bessa's whole entire family and and Tyler's entire family, just like these two. They showed up to give them 100% support.

SPEAKER_03 29:28

Okay. I'd be curious, Maddie and Jalen. Okay, so there's this kind of groundswell of interest in joining the Catholic Church. What do you attribute this to? What is going on with young people your age where they see I gotta do something and I see the church as the answer? What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 29:51

Well, I think I mean it's crazy, crazy world we live in now, and with everything going on and social media being insanely huge now, and I feel like even just for me, social media has been like, yeah, it's a downfall and a negative in a way, but also a really positive thing. I feel like we as young people now are coming in and spreading the word more, we're able to, you know, get it out. This is what you can do and make an impact. And I feel like a lot of us now want to make an impact and figuring out ways that we can do that, especially in this crazy world and trying to get any way we can help others, and just being within the nursing program as well, and like we want to touch people's hearts, and how do we do that? And be and being on social media is a big part of that because that's what everyone is on now. So, kind of how can we reach people? And you know, I didn't know I was gonna be joining the Catholic Church, let's say four years ago. I would have never thought that. Right, and even all throughout the program and even before that, I would see things all over social media about you know, people actually taking a stand and wanting to be a part of the church, and even you know, being at Sunnybrook and too before that, and being able to see a lot of young people wanting to spread the word, wanting to do better. And I believe that's just kind of like the crazy times that we're in nowadays, and people trying to look for a new light, and thankfully it's following the Lord that is the new light and wanting to spread the word in that way.

SPEAKER_03 31:17

Yeah, that's great. I think that it everyone is always searching for that light, for the meaning of you know, what does all this mean in my life? Jalen, what what about you? What do you think is going on?

SPEAKER_00 31:30

Um I would say um, so a bunch of like a bunch of young people, you know, um, I feel like when you when you're away from God, like you go do something that's good, let's say, you know, you feel good, you feel great, you know, but when you're not doing all of that stuff, you know, you get down on yourself and you look into everyone else's life, you know, because like Maddie said, it's social media, it's not real life, you know. So it is not, yeah, it's not, you know, and then it's like um you start doing all of those happy things again, and it's like you can feel God again. So, you know, that kind of gives a like a bunch of college kids, you know, who you know, we have a bunch going on, whether it's sports, uh you don't have a lot of good relationships with your friends, classes, you know, uh you went out to a party, you partied all night, all of it, you know, and it's kind of like eventually you get kind of tired of the same trends and the same stuff, you know, and it's like um like what can I do to find God, you know, because that's what makes that that's what makes you makes you better, you know. That's what you start with, you know. Without him, you know, uh there's nothing, you know. So I feel like even just those little tweaks in your life, you know, of me doing it and just other people around because I wasn't the first person. I I seen other people who then got confirmed, baptized, and you know, and it opened your eyes, you know, and it's like man, like look how God is changing that person. I knew that person, but look how that person is changing, you know. And I'm sure it's been like that with other people that's around, maybe her friends, you know, my friends, or anybody who then saw that love that you have for God, whether it's me, Maddie, or Sam or anybody else, you know. Um, I think that that kind of changes their kind of standpoint on it, you know, of just like man, the Catholic Church Church is so beautiful, you know. It's like there's so much to it that I didn't know, you know. It's like I even educate my friends on it now to this day, you know, that stuff they don't know about, they think it's just uh almost like I wouldn't say they think it's bad, but they don't they think it's like boring and there's nothing to it. Like they don't understand it, you know. But once you take them, you know, and they like wow, it's so beautiful, you know. And it's not to knock on any other church, but you know, our church is more like church, you know, it's not like a concert or any of that. I'm not clowning any church or anything.

SPEAKER_03 34:20

I know you're not, but I know what you're saying.

SPEAKER_00 34:22

You know, you can tell the Catholic people, you know, uh it's just when we're in church or wherever, you know, you're serious about your faith, and you can see that all over from uh, you know, a bunch of people around here in Shoe City and all of the people that you come across and stuff, you know. So yeah, that that's probably one of the biggest things that I feel like impacts them, you know, it's just seeing happiness and and wanting that for for themselves down the line, you know, knowing you're not gonna be able to do all the same college stuff, you know, your whole life eventually you gotta grow up, you know, and yeah, so that that's pretty much my take on it.

SPEAKER_03 35:01

Okay. No, that's a good take. So for you, Jalen, what would you say is has been the best part of um this experience with the Newman Center at Modern Day? The best part.

SPEAKER_00 35:14

The best part I would say is definitely just building a relationship with guys you never thought you would have built relationship with, and building a relationship with people you never thought you would build relationships with, you know. So, and just seeing the other side of other people, you know, hearing their points and their views, not just only on God, you know, but also other things that God instilled that He instilled it into them that they're they sh share with us that they probably don't show share with everyone else, you know, but it kind of gets you to thinking and change it get to change your whole viewpoint on a lot of things, you know. And I think the biggest thing for me is just being able to be around new people and you know, people that truly love you, you know, and all of these people that I'm around, I all love each other, you know. So I think that's one of the biggest things, you know. It's just a blessing that I get to be around great people, you know, and I pray that God bless a bunch of people, uh, like he's blessing me with all of these people that's around me, you know. So I say just the people, you know, the people is just great people, good people, and that's not I like there's nothing I wouldn't change about that. So it's the people, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:32

Okay. Maddie, what has been the best part of being associated with the Newman Center at modern day?

SPEAKER_01 36:39

I would say also like the relationships, but also it's a true testament to myself. I feel like I've been able to push myself harder through my faith as I've I've battled mental health for a really long time when I was younger and growing up and not knowing truly what I needed, but it was him. And I feel like now I've grown into such a great, like the better version of myself because of the Lord, and I can hold myself accountable. I can I'm more humble and you know, understanding sin and how I can better myself to help better others. And I feel like I've really learned how to forgive others, even in Bible study when you talk about forgiveness, and I'm like, wow, like I can do better, or this is in a way that I could do better for myself to follow the Lord and how I can grow deeper in that and kind of like how, and I tell myself all the time, like, what would Jesus do? Like, what would Jesus do in this aspect? And it's really changed my point of view. And as I did battle mental health and was very angry for a long time when I was younger and going throughout high school, and now I'm like, I don't need to be angry. Like, what would Jesus do? How would Jesus treat this person in this situation, or how he would forgive my parents and stuff like that, and just really changing and humbling my heart in a way, and I felt like my heart grew ten times bigger, honestly, and um just wanting to also make an impact on other people's lives and my patients that I'll be caring for here soon and already have cared for, and that I want to go home and pray for, and if I can talk to them about the Lord, then let that be. And I ask them all the time to just kind of speak through me and help me impact someone somehow, and I ask them that every day, and then just kind of you know, humbling myself, like Maddie, you need to hold yourself accountable here, or how can you handle a situation better, or how can, you know, I haven't been following the Lord, haven't opened my Bible, you know, kind of just having those pricks on my heart, which I've felt and very blessed for, and I feel like a lot more of us are feeling those pricks on our heart. So just a true, true testament to myself and growing and my faith and helping others in a way because of that.

SPEAKER_03 38:47

Terrific. Well, Sam, this just must be to sit here and listen to these two young people. I mean to cry. Yeah, I'm I mean, it's I'm having a tough time holding it together, but I'm the host of the show, so I have to. But I mean to hear the this testimony is so powerful, and I I'm sure it's what you had hoped for.

SPEAKER_02 39:08

It is what I had hoped for, and it's so nice to sit in and listen to them visit and talk to one another. I've watched Maddie come in, a very quiet little gal, that opened up to her fellow ladies in the Bible study. We do keep them separate so that there is times and they can talk this way. It's the ladies with the ladies, the guys with the guys, and she's opened up so much more coming in there about her past and family, and they all accept, okay? That's fine, Maddie. You learn to forgive, you learn to forget, and they've all helped her. It's the same way with Jalen and coming from a home down in Kansas that he was adopted into, and they sent him to a Catholic school, and God bless him, they showed up for all of his stuff, and they showed up for Maddie on Holy Saturday night, also. So it means a lot. And that's the first thing his dad told me was now if we were down in Kansas City, Sam, we'd be going to an all-Latin Mass on Holy Saturday night and we'd still be there. And I'm going, God, I love Latin Mass, but I'm sure glad we're not there. Right there with you. But it's not, but it's not just these two, it's it's numerous kids that are coming in. And and we've and the young men coming from like the 185th that are talking about, well, we know maybe we could be deployed, maybe this could happen, and we're turning to God now and learning all this so we can talk and we can visit. We had a young man who came in Tuesday night, a little older than these gentlemen, looking to meet other young Catholic young men. And he has some struggles, like they all do at that age. And he called me yesterday and told me he felt so relaxed with you guys, and they made him feel welcomed. And that's what it's all about. You open that door and they're welcome. That's just what the good Lord does to us. He opens that door and he makes us feel welcome.

SPEAKER_03 40:55

Absolutely. Well, this has been absolutely remarkable to hear all of these stories. I am so tickled when I was aware that Modern Day was going to start a Newman Center. I thought, okay, good for you guys. We'll see how it goes. You know, maybe you'll get a couple, three, four people and go from there. And and then to hear through the grapevine how it has grown and thrived. And then these wonderful testimonies of these two young people about how this has impacted their lives. Again, uh, listeners have heard me say this. It is the Holy Spirit working in mysterious ways. It truly is. So that kind of wraps up another edition of Faith in Action. I want to thank my my guests so very much.

SPEAKER_02 41:44

Thank you for having me. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 41:45

You bet Sam Hacker, uh, Maddie Aldridge, and Jalen Birch. We wish you all the best in the future. And maybe, Sam, we can come back next year and have another kind of State of the Newman Center. Very good. Oh, Jalen's waving at me.

SPEAKER_00 42:01

I do got one thing to add, like, if any young people is listening, um, you know, I would say um don't rush your faith either, you know. Um I tell a story about Coach Ryan. Um, so he always gives us this story, you know, that about habits, you know. It's like he put his cup of water, you know, right next to his coffee, coffee mug because he knows he'll get coffee in the morning, but he gotta drink that cup of water first. You know, and it's the same with like reading a book, you know. He always do it for if you read a book for five minutes every day, eventually it'll turn into 10, then 15, then 20, and then 30, and then it'll keep gaining. And I think that's like the same thing with your your faith, you know. Um, just because someone is ahead of you and their faith doesn't mean you gotta rush yours. You know, so I think you take your step, like your faith, and I'm still doing it, you know, like I'm still not where I want to be in my faith. I still gotta get better at things, and I know that, but um just I say all that to say that you don't have to rush your faith. I think you take it one step at a time and uh eventually it'll grow, you know. Like if you read your Bible a little bit at a time, it'll turn in a lot more, you know. You spend some time with God, just a little bit two minutes a day, it'll turn into five, you know. So I think if you constantly keep on, you know, like uh building those habits, you know, they turn into habits, like good habits turn into good habits, and bad habits can also turn into bad habits. But the good habit is that you know, you put an impact and let God be there in your life, and you just take it step by step and you take it slowly. And yeah, you're gonna fall a thousand times, but God will pick you up. And regardless of if you fall, you know, just keep going back, you know, and it's like It's the same thing with businesses in the world, you know. Um all the rich people in today's world, you know, they all you know, some of the biggest people, but I guarantee you it wasn't always just up for them, you know. They had a lot of downs, and it's the same with your faith, you know. So I think you keep going, you know, keep pushing, eventually your faith will be very high, and even though you're gonna have to go through those downs. So yeah, that's what I wanted to tell some young people. So thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_03 44:29

That's great. Yeah, no, that is perfect, you know, to hang in there because um tomorrow it could be a brighter day for you. Yes. So, listeners, again, that kind of wraps up another edition of Faith in Action. Um, hopefully, you have gained some great insights and maybe your faith has been enhanced or you want to take it to the next level. We always hope so. So, um again, thank you so very much, listeners, for tuning in to Faith in Action here on Siouxland Catholic Radio, channel 88.1 FM, KAFHC Poncasoo City, and K O I A Storm Lake. If you tuned in late or um would like to hear this episode again, just go to our website, Siouxlandcatholicradio.com, click on Faith in Action. All of our shows are there. You can listen to them at your convenience. We're also on Spotify and a number of other podcasting platforms. That's all due to the generosity of Mary's Choice, a Susity Pregnancy Resource Center, which is the exclusive underwriter of this show. So, on behalf of myself, I'm your host, Joanne Fox, and my executive producer Ann Reed, I want to remind you a faithful reaction is good, but faith in action, it's so much better. Thanks for listening and God bless.