We Are a Group of Young People
Who Are United by The Same Goal

Austin

Hello, I’m Austin! I’m a law student who writes creatively in his spare time.

I grew up in the Catholic Church, attending Catholic schools and Mass regularly up through high school. In my twenties, wanting for greater intellectual and spiritual companionship, I drifted into Protestantism, and then I drifted into agnosticism as I searched for meaning and truth through rationalism. Fortunately, during that time, I had a strong Christian role model in my godmother, whose authentic example of a Christ-centered living kept me from flying off the rails into the nihilism with which I flirted.

Eventually, beset by the vicious habits I had dug myself into, I came to the end of my human strength and turned back to God. That’s when I began attending St. John Cantius Church and discovered the Traditional Latin Mass and the Peter & Paul young adult group. At last I have found a community of faith dedicated to following Christ and living His will.

I never thought community was worthwhile or necessary before finding the Peter & Paul group. Now, I think it would be very difficult to keep on the narrow road without a strong church community. Christ said, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20). I have experienced the truth of that promise through the sustaining influence of this group. “As iron sharpens iron . . .” so have the members of this group sharpened and encouraged me on my way to heaven. (Prov. 27:17).

Emily

Hi, I’m Emily! When I’m not at St. Cantius, you can find me taking long walks along the lake, practicing Jiu-Jitsu, or doing something creative like acting, dancing, or painting.

Even though I was baptized Catholic as a baby, I didn’t grow up attending church. About 4 years ago due to various life events, I started going to church regularly. But it wasn’t until 2020 that I had a true conversion of heart. God poured His grace out upon me during the silence of the lockdown, and He led me to St. Cantius, where I was able to receive my First Communion and Confirmation.

God’s power truly “is made perfect in weakness” and He has consistently created a greater good out of all of the pain and stumbles in my life.¹ A very insightful priest at St. Cantius told me during confession once that the root of some of my pride comes from a place of self-protection. I build these walls of pride around myself because I am afraid to be vulnerable, so it is good for me to remember all of the good that God has and does work when I humbly surrender to Him “for when I am weak, then I am strong”. ²

¹ 2 Cor 12:9
² 2 Cor 12:10

Damian

Hello, my name is Damian and I am from Poland, I moved to the USA in 2014. I started attending Latin mass in St. Cantius (Chicago) at the end of 2020 and that is where I found Peter and Paul’s group and felt a real faith. 

Constantly looking for God in my life and working on developing my faith, fighting my weaknesses, and simply trying to be a little better man every day. This group of young people helps me with that and is a true inspiration for me, those people are someone I want to keep up with and I want to give up myself for them. Sharing my successes and struggles helps me to stay on the ground and focus on important things (going to heaven).

Having a full-time job and managing my own clients keeps me busy, but always trying to find time for things that are important in my life, family, friends, and God. Maybe I should say God, family and friends, as I am learning how to put God in the first place and then I can always see how other “pieces of the puzzle” come to the right place. 

I enjoy taking photos and sometimes even shooting videos. Exploring coffee shops in Chicago in my free time! 

Find me on Instagram and feel free to reach out if you want to talk!