By the Diocesan Office of Catechesis
Special to The Message
The Diocese of Evansville Office of Catechesis is introducing readers to Catholics from across our 12 counties for whom sharing the beauty of the Catholic Faith is a joy.
This month, we meet Grace Soellner of Jasper.
How and where do you experience God?
I experience God anywhere and everywhere! I go to everything I can to get closer to Him. I share my stories and my faith to the groups that I am a part of.
Why is your faith important to you?
My faith is important to me because it is my go-to. If I feel down, I pick up my bible and read; if I am overly ecstatic, I share my faith; if I’m angry, I pray to be calm. Faith is my solution to everything.
How do you nurture your faith life?
I nurture my faith life by going to everything I can to strengthen my faith. I go to Mass, religion, bible studies and many other things.
How does your Catholic faith shape the way you live?
I have a whole different life since Christ has walked in. I have Christ in the center of my life, and I don’t remember what it felt like when He wasn’t. Christ has brought me close to the people that I need in my life to strengthen my faith rather than pull me away from it.
How do you share your faith with others?
I share my faith by talking to everyone about it. There are many people that come up to me and ask me what I believe and I start out with the basics and then they ask questions. I get stumped a few times, but I always find an answer from my amazing mentors!
Grace interns at St. Joseph Parish in Jasper through a program at Jasper High School. She visits St. Joseph twice a week and goes to the St. John Bosco Youth Ministry in Jasper a few days a week. Through Bosco, she helps lead an early morning middle school faith/bible study at the public school and at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Jasper. Grace also serves as a secretary for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, peer mentors, YoungLife and WyldLife. She serves as an assistant catechist for 6th grade and is also a children's liturgy of the word leader at St. Joseph Parish.