Father Carr would be 82 years old today. We still love to celebrate his birthday at the Place 2B, and we should. He certainly deserves our prayers and homage for the work he did during his time on earth. The best way we can remember Father Carr is by continuing this beautiful ministry he started.
Father Martin Carr thought the world’s most precious natural resource is our youth. He loved spending time with the youth in our community. In its beginning stages, the Place 2B was all about our younger generation. He gave them direction. He kept them busy with both chores and fun & games. The kids that hung around the Place 2B never went hungry. Father Carr was all about feeding them, especially pizza.
We all have concerns about the future of the world, our country, our community. Every day we anguish over the future generation and what it will bring. There are many real life examples to support our questioning and anguish. What we need to do is look at the complete population, our entire younger generation, not just what is reported on the news.
I spent last night in Houghton, MI, with a group of Michigan Tech students. These students were gathered at Saint Albert the Great Catholic University Church. They are all about our Lord and His church. They still have the worries of grades, final exams, and college finances. Some are dealing with addictions, family issues or homesickness. What they are learning is that all these issues can be handed over to our Lord to give them peace. Father Ben Hasse, St. Albert’s Pastor told me student attendance at mass and ministry events is higher than ever. I was there because these students of St. Al’s came to the Place 2B on their spring break to do service work for us. Instead of heading to some warm beach and indulging in who knows what, these MTU students drove 250 miles to do service work for 5 days. These are kids I believe in.
Father Zach Weber is leading a crusade of young believers at the UW Oshkosh Newman Center. It is a vibrant and growing bunch. Other Newman Centers are located across the country in many universities. I listened to Caleb, a UW Platteville student, at Hops & Hope last week. I was totally inspired how much this young man loves Jesus and his faith. Oshkosh’s local parishes continue to work with the middle and high school students to set their hearts on fire for Jesus. SEEK attracted almost 20,000 young men and women to kick off 2024. World Youth Day 2023 recorded an attendance of 1.5 million young disciples. Lifest is celebrating its 25th year, and its all-time attendance stands at 1.3 million. Youth faith camps of other denominations and non-denominational churches are filling up. My point is that a substantial and growing percent of the younger generation is on fire for our Lord.
Nothing warms our hearts and makes us smile more than having young adults at Father Carr’s. We get many. Most come to do service work and also find time to play the many games available to them. We hold class retreats for many high school students. We are still the Place 2B for young adults and we want them to know that. The Community Café is set up with many pizza ovens and cold soft drinks. The only thing our Café does not have is a cash register. Their presence is a gift to us and to the ministry that Father Carr started. I think Father Carr would be encouraged by today’s youth.
Father Carr is having a happy birthday.
Pax Christi,
Jim