Witnessing Truth

Through Ann Brashares' series entitled The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Ken Kwapis' film of the same title, many young women have been learning what it means to be a "sister" to one another.  From learning about what it means to trust your friends to learning how to continue to invest in each other from across the country, Tibby, Lena, Bridget, and Carmen grow in friendship and sisterhood over the course of the series.  I grew up with these characters and admired their camaraderie; however, I have been learning more and more what their friendship was actually missing.  Their friendship was missing the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. At FOCUS' New Staff Training (NST), we are divided into groups of about eight women or men, called colleges.  This year I was blessed to live and pray alongside seven other women in the College of Saint Catherine of Siena (pictured below).  And it was here that my definition and understanding of sisterhood began to deepe...

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, I would like to present to you Team Ramapo! From left to right: Kevin Shutrop, Steven Piorkowski, Danielle LaPointe, and Ann Gennaro This fun little photo was taken the first night we all came together as a team!  One of the most exciting nights at FOCUS's Summer Training (more fondly referred to as New Staff Training or NST).  All of the first years are asked to gather somewhere--in the cafeteria, or Lewis Lounge, or some other room--for something.  They don't know what until they arrive, but the rumors sure do fly and everyone is asking the older staff members, "What's going on?"  "Are they making placements tonight?"  "Where do you think I'm going?"  The buzz is ceaseless.  The anticipation is amazing!  Finally all of the first years come together and their names are read off and they receive an envelope...in which rests their campus placement for the next year...  Some rip it open immediately...