Hi all! My name is Fiona Connelly, I am 18 years old, and I live in Chugiak, Alaska. Brr! Yes, believe me, I know! But it just adds to Alaska’s charm and beauty. Currently I attend Chugiak High School as a senior with graduation waiting just around the corner! Then off to a new adventure! I come from a family of 8 (including myself), my dad: Thomas, mom: Claire, brothers: Dylan, T.J., Mark, and Michael (a lot to handle!), and my sister, Annie.
Being born and raised an Alaskan, my family and I were always, and still are, constantly on adventures. From doing push ups in a snow and ice covered river to winter camping in yurts in the middle of “nowhere”, their is never a dull moment… It’s things like this that make Alaska forever my home and my heart.
The World Race is the last thing I ever thought that I, of all people, would ever be doing.
Why me?
Why has God chosen this path for me?
These are two questions that make me want to spend my whole life searching for the answers. Iv’e learned that I’m here to serve the Lord; that my whole life is an opportunity to spread his undying love. Although, this mission allows me to serve the Lord in a way I never thought I could. Not only am I going to spread the Word of the Lord, but I have the opportunity to see his beautiful creations!
Life, laughter, love, the beauty of the Lord is EVERYWHERE!
From this mission I want to grow a stronger relationship with my Catholic faith and to grow a stronger bond with Christ. My faith is my life, it is what defines me. I want to see and feel what hardship is. I want to hear the laughter and see the smiles of the sick, the poor, the hungry, the naked.
In the past I was never very involved or interested in my faith. Why? It is beautiful! It was only a few weeks ago that I truly discovered this. I was invited by a friend to attend a lock in at St. Andrews Parish. At first I was hesitant to go. I thought it would be awkward and I wouldn’t really fit in with people so involved, so I thought, “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. I can say with 100% certainty that not going would be one of my biggest mistakes. Everything changed. I got to spend hours in adoration. To sit there in silence, just me and God. To pray, to think, to find answers and look for a sign. I got to spend hours talking with a friend about the faith and God’s path for me. I stayed up that whole night learning and growing in my faith, and every hour was worth it. Just one night and my life changed. I knew that I needed to go on this mission.
“I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Let me say with Jesus, “Let not my will be done, but yours.” Amen
(Excerpt from Prayer to know my Vocation)
Now I want to return the favor. I want to change the lives of others. I want to help the world feel the joy and love I feel. But it’s not really about what “I want”, it’s about What God wants me to do.
“Ask yourselves, young people, about the love of Christ. Acknowledge His voice resounding in the temple of your heart. Return His bright and penetrating glance which opens the paths of your life to the horizons of the Church’s mission. It is a taxing mission, today more than ever, to teach men the truth about themselves, about their end, their destiny, and to show faithful souls the unspeakable riches of the love of Christ. Do not be afraid of the radicalness of His demands, because Jesus, who loved us first, is prepared to give Himself to you, as well as asking of you. If He asks much of you, it is because He knows you can give much.”
– Pope St.John Paul II
