b"In subsequent years, Andrs served on various coor-PHOTO: ROBIN JERSTADdinating teams for LIFE, including 2018 when his oldestdaughter, Amayah, participated as a student leader an event in which he saw his life come full circle.I was formed by the program as a young man,Andrs says. It gave me confidence, opened myhorizons to new ideas, people, and a new way to cel-ebrate my faith and connect with God. In addition to his job as campus minister, Andrsassists with his schools LIFE group. Earlier this year,he produced a LIFE 50th Anniversary video honoringthat sense of community we maintain long after theLIFE summer program is over.Paul Combest, director of operations at CentralCatholic High School in San Antonio, a Marianist-sponsored school, recalls his first encounter with LIFEmore than three decades ago. After I graduated fromSt. Marys University in 1988, then-Brother, now-FatherOscar Vasquez, who was in charge of the LIFE programin the south region, asked me if I could serve as assis-tant for temporalities at the Marianist retreat centerat Tecaboca, says Paul. I spent a hot but wonderfulsummer at the camp and fell in love with it. Paul, who is from Wylie, Texas, hadnt heard ofthe Marianists until he arrived at St. Marys as anundergraduate. He says that LIFE teaches youngminds how to be presentwhich then helps themdevelop into stronger leaders once back at home. Through workshops, music and prayer, LIFEempowers youth, letting them know theyre not justthe future of the Church, butrather we need yourvoice and witness right now. Part of Marianist livingis being an active member in your parish. Its a goodbasis on which to build church, to build a life.Golden future In an age when the Catholic Church is witnessing Opposite page: Scenes fromAt its core, LIFE is a spiritual leadership incubator historic decline, especially among young adults, Erica various LIFE summer programs;through which, after a seven-day commitment from says that for LIFEas well as the Marianiststo Above: Paul Combest, directorof operations at Central Catholicyouth and 10 days from adult moderators, you create prosper another 50 years and beyond, they will need High School, San Antoniogenuine, long-lasting community, says Erica.to focus on relational skills. We need to become lessErica taught English at Nolan Catholic High School me-centered and more we-centered.in Fort Worth prior to taking on responsibilities as That starts with this first goal: As a Christian, acoordinator. LIFE helped form both my husband, Marianist, a LIFEr, we need to look at people andGabriel, and me in the Marianist charism, she says. truly see themtheir worth, their dignity, the HolyIt inspired us to make our faith our own, which has Spirit within them, she says.had a lasting, positive impact on each of us as Catholiceducators. (Gabriel is the principal of a Catholic K-8 Alex Salinas is associate director of communications at school in San Antonio.) St. Mary's University.To view the LIFE 50th Anniversary video, go to: marianist.com/life-50th-anniversary. For more about the Marianist LIFE program, visit marianist.com/life.marianist.com/donate 17"