April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
GENERATION LIFE
Young Catholic spreads pro-life message
It wasn't an easy sell - but instead of being nervous, she was excited.
"A lot of what we do with Generation Life is trial by fire, but I was ramped up," Ms. Mastroianni said. "I was excited to share with these kids the truth of how and why our bodies were created."
Generation Life is a Philadelphia-based pro-life organization that gives talks at high schools across the country on chastity and the sacredness of life.
Founder Mike McMonagle realized 11 years ago that his city wasn't doing enough to support young people in being pro-life. He recruited other young pro-lifers at nearby Villanova University; since then, the Generation Life ministry has grown to reach more than 25,000 students every year.
Young adult volunteers travel to high schools and college campuses in New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania and beyond, sharing the core message that chastity will end abortion. They also speak on vocations, other pro-life issues, modesty and the unique roles of men and women.
Speaking out
Ms. Mastroianni, a 24-year-old Rotterdam native, is one of those volunteers. She's worked for Generation Life for three years, since the year after she graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.
"We do everything we can, go everywhere we can - and we are constantly humbled by the reaction we get from the teens," she remarked.
Ms. Mastroianni told The Evangelist that, in her work, there's really no such thing as an "average week." She might speak at a school one day and do office work the next.
"It is a challenge," she said, "and sometimes it's hard to sustain that energy. Sometimes I just have to stand before the Lord and say, 'I've got nothing,' but He gives all of us the grace to be here. We're definitely fighting a battle."
Ms. Mastroianni, a parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Schenectady, remembered when she first came to understand pro-life issues as a teenager. Eucharistic adoration and a community of peers in the parish youth group had helped her faith - but then the youth minister took the teens to pray outside of an abortion clinic.
"I began thinking, 'Maybe this isn't right,'" she told The Evangelist. "And God allotted me that experience to relate to those who don't believe in what we're teaching, because I've been there."
Joining in
Ms. Mastroianni first heard about Generation Life when she was growing up from her sister-in-law, a volunteer for many years; but it wasn't until her sophomore year of college, when she heard her sister-in-law speak at a conference, that she saw herself in the same ministry.
"The Holy Spirit spoke to me at that conference and convinced me. I thought, 'Here is where the culture is thirsting the most. They're thirsting to find who they are and what they were made for, and our sexuality is a huge part of that.'"
Although the life of a young missionary does present challenges, Ms. Mastroianni told The Evangelist that her age is a help, not a hurdle.
"All of the volunteers are young, thankfully. We look around the same age as the teens, so we're able to totally relate, which is a huge advantage," she said. "We're completely in-tune with their culture and that helps. Plus, the teachers love it, because there are touchy issues that we can address so they don't have to."
Ms. Mastroianni told The Evangelist about an email she just received from a girl who had heard her speak more than a year ago: "She wrote to tell me how the chaste lifestyle has changed her life and how she's been going to confession since she heard me speak, saying she's so thankful to Generation Life. It was so powerful."
Moving forward
Now, Generation Life hopes to double their numbers of both staff and the students to whom they minister. Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York asked the organization to open a new branch in New York City, where they will work together with the archdiocese on pro-life education and promoting chastity.
After three years on the road and in front of an audience, Ms. Mastroianni still holds the same passion for her work and the message Generation Life shares.
"It's awesome to be in different places and meeting people from all over the world," she said, "and I'm still learning. I can't even begin to explain what I've learned and the way God has stretched me through this ministry."[[In-content Ad]]
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
Events
250 X 250 AD
Comments:
You must login to comment.