She slept through Mass; now Jeanne is wide awake

NET, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, sends groups of young adults, 18-30, across America to proclaim the Gospel and let other young people know how much God loves them.

Jeanne, a member of Sacred Heart parish in Lake George, did not always have a place for God in her life, although her father is very involved with the Church. "[My parents] used to make us go to church, and me and my older brother would race to church -- to get the more comfortable seat to sleep," Jeanne said.

Dad's encouragement

Months later, while on vacation, her father discovered an announcement in the bulletin at St. Francis Cabrini Church in Spring Hill, Florida. The parish was sponsoring a NET retreat, and Mr. Sause wanted his daughter to attend.

"This is my vacation, Dad. I have other things to do," Jeanne said. But he insisted, and the experience would prove to be life-altering.

"I remember leaving that first NET retreat with a fire in my heart," she told The Evangelist. "I don't know that I could ever give back what that team of young adults gave me, but I know I am going to die trying."

Changed person

In ninth grade, she began to put her new spirituality to work by founding a Christian Club at Lake George High School.

In the summer between 11th and 12th grades, Jeanne joined forces with John O'Brien of St. Mary's Church in Glens Falls. After discovering a mutual interest in youth evangelization, they started a summer Catholic youth group at St. Mary's.

Caught in NET

NET applications have to be submitted three to four months prior to recruiting, but Jeanne did not even have one in her possession. However, a dorm-mate at Franciscan, who is a former NET minister, happened to have applications on hand.

Then Jeanne had to finagle a last-minute interview. She begged the recruit leader to plead her case to the NET supervisor. While the recruiter went to speak with her superior, Jeanne waited nervously.

"I sent my friend to the adoration chapel. I said, 'Go pray. I have to do this,'" said Jeanne.

In May, she received notification that she was accepted as a NET minister for 2002/'03.

Open to God

"A lot of people just need to be invited," she said. The NET ministers "challenged me to open my heart to God for the first time, and the moment I did, my life was transformed."

(Jeanne needs to raise $3,000 for her year-long mission. To help her, Council No. 11428 of the Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a ziti and meatball dinner on June 29 after the 4 p.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Lake George.)

(06-20-02) [[In-content Ad]]