Encountering Christ through TFE

They endured grueling mornings, chopping their way through thick grass and high weeds at a Baton Rouge cemetery.

They interacted with young babies at a homeless shelter for women, served lunch to homeless men and women and listened to spiritually inspiring discussions, where their voices were not only welcomed but heard.
For six days, 33 high school students participating in The Franciscan Experience were taught the pillars of faith, theology and service. 

And six days later, 33 teenagers who arrived as individuals left as one, forming bonds that for some will endure a lifetime of celebrating with each other the highs and being there to share the lows.

“The week was fantastic,” said Tyler Trahan, director of The Franciscan Experience. “We saw a community that bonded. 

“The young people that attended had a good level of confidence in themselves (develop) during the week.”

A record number 35 high school students registered for The Franciscan Experience (two were unable to attend because of last-minute complications), which was held July 11-16 at the Bishop Robert E. Tracy Center in Baton Rouge. Sponsored by Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the experience is geared toward rising high school juniors and seniors to form a faith-filled community and to be challenged intellectually, physically and spiritualty as they encounter Christ through the heart of St. Francis of Assisi.

Trahan said the shared hope among the TFE team, which includes FranU students and alumni, is to give the students a sense of belonging and community. 

“It gives them an opportunity to open their minds and their hearts on things that they might not have been able to experience before,” Trahan said. 

He added the team also hopes students are able to experience the truth of the church and the truth of what Jesus wants for all and that is the unsurmountable amount of love he is going to give to all.

“We have definitely seen that throughout the week,” Trahan said. 

TFE officials take an integrative approach that includes service to others, lessons in theology and sharing of one’s faith. One of the service projects included spending five mornings mowing and weeding at Sweet Olive Cemetery in Baton Rouge.

They also visited the Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter, served lunch at the dining room of the homeless shelter at St. Vincent de Paul and worked in SVDP’s warehouse, sorting clothes to be distributed to the agency’s thrift stores.

“Whenever we are going out to service to the community, it is two-fold,” Trahan said. “Not only are they able to just experience those things together and sharing in those memories but they are encountering the people who they are serving. There is a larger community at work.”

Engaging the homeless community left an impression on the  youth, he said, adding the students began to understand they met some of the “wisest individuals you will ever meet in your life.

“They have a unique perspective on life and gratitude is one of (their strengths).”

For the first time since TFE was founded in 2017, each student had a prayer sponsor from the FranU community.

“There was a spiritual connectedness that even further forged that community,” he said.

From the faith perspective, the participants were divided into small groups, with each group named after a saint. The students were able to share what was in their hearts and share their own feelings from those connections, Trahan said.

Theologically, the students were able to ask questions of faith that have been thinking about but never had the opportunity to ask.  

The days are structured from morning prayer to individual prayer time to close out the night. Each morning began with a theology lesson designed to set the stage for the rest of the day. 

“All of the theology lessons point toward living a life of goodness, humility, Franciscan poverty and Eucharist, all inspired by St. Francis,” Trahan said.

Mid-mornings were set aside for the various service projects with the focus of the afternoons varying daily, including a visit to FranU. One afternoon was focused on vocations, with the students treated to an entertaining and spiritually inspiring presentation by Father Josh Johnson, director of vocations for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Trahan said at least a couple of the young people are discerning religious life and the priesthood.

“They were able to separate themselves from the world and focus on what could God potentially be calling them to,” Trahan said. “And there a sense of peace, of not having to do this alone.” 

Mass was also celebrated daily.

“Whenever we go into TFE, I tell the staff we have to abandon ourselves and give into the Holy Spirit and go whatever direction he guides us,” Trahan said. “As long as we did that we were in good hands.”

As the time of departure neared, as dusk set on a week filled with spiritual growth, community bonding and deepening relationships, a sense of sadness began to filter through the youth. 

“They are sad to leave,” Trahan said. “They love being together and they love the experience,” Trahan said. “Relationships and the connections they make definitely has an impact.”