From the Hip: Michaela Peine, Nativity Parishioner & NET Missionary

Dear parishioners and friends,
 
I am pleased to announce that another one of Nativity’s own, Michaela Peine, will be serving with NET Ministries this upcoming school year.  I’ve asked her to tell a little bit about her story so the rest of the parish will know about her work and can support her in her mission.  May God bless you, Michaela, as well as your fellow NETters as you proclaim the Gospel to young people.
 
May God bless your week!

-Fr. Patrick
 
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Hi, my name is Michaela Peine!

I'm eighteen years old and a life-long parishioner here at Nativity.  I'm writing to you today about my upcoming opportunities with NET Ministries.  I've just graduated high school from Trinity School in Eagan, and through my senior year as I thought about my upcoming plans for the future, I felt that I was being called to take a year before college to serve with a Catholic ministry.

This is where NET comes in.  NET (National Evangelization Teams) is a nonprofit Catholic organization working to share the gospel with 6-12 ^th graders around the country through retreat, parish, and school ministry.  It is headquartered in West Saint Paul and it one of the largest and most successful Catholic youth ministries in our nation.  My first opportunity to go on a NET retreat was here at Nativity in Steiner Hall, at an annual retreat NET puts on to prepare Nativity confirmation students.

Last winter, I went through the interview process and was accepted to serve as one of the 150 young missionaries who will help reach more than 80,000 young people.  For nine months I will be traveling from diocese to diocese to put on retreats, much like the one many Nativity 8 ^th graders have participated in.

To help cover the cost of training, room and board, healthcare, and transportation, each NET missionary is asked to raise a minimum of $5,000.  If possible, I would like to have my fundraising complete by August so I can focus on my mission, and this is also a great opportunity for you to support NET Ministry's outreach to the youth.  If you feel called and are able to help me in this mission, I would greatly appreciate any amount of financial support.  This can be achieved by going to The NET website at www.netusa.org/donate and entering my name, Michaela Peine, when asked if you would like to support a missionary.

If you would like to know more or have any questions I would love to talk with you, I'll be in the back of the church after the 11:00 mass on July 17.  Thank you so much for your time, and please keep me and NET Ministries in your prayers.

This article was published in the July 17 parish bulletin.