Beyond Sunday Fellows Faith and Leadership Encounter 2018

Scholarship Recipients Consider Mental Health Issues

More than 50 Beyond Sunday Fellows (local Catholic high school students receiving Beyond Sunday scholarships) recently had the opportunity to attend a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson and participate in a discussion on a topic of relevance for young people today: mental health.

The annual Beyond Sunday Fellows Faith and Leadership Encounter was held on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Holy Infant Parish in Ballwin. Each year this event, presented by the Roman Catholic Foundation and open to all Beyond Sunday high school scholarship recipients, provides insight into a pertinent topic and offers the opportunity for fellowship and Mass with the Archbishop of St. Louis.

At this year’s Faith and Leadership Encounter, students first enjoyed breakfast and formed new connections with other Beyond Sunday Fellows from Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese. After the breakfast, students heard a panel discussion on leadership. The discussion was guided by Catholic principles and led by professionals in the field. Panelists included a counselor specializing in therapy concerning youth and technology, a St. Louis Counseling social worker and two Catholic high school counselors. Needs and ideas that arose during the panel discussion will inform the service activities the Fellows perform in spring 2019.

To complete this year’s event, students attended a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Carlson. Many students were excited to meet the archbishop, and several even got the chance to pose with him for a photo!

About the Beyond Sunday Fellows Program

The Beyond Sunday Fellows program seeks to provide young Catholics with more than just tuition assistance. While scholarship support is an important component, the Beyond Sunday Fellows program also aims to form young Catholic leaders through faith and community service. Each year, Fellows participate in Roman Catholic Foundation-sponsored service projects and a shared faith experience, helping them build their identity as group of young Catholic leaders. For more information on the Beyond Sunday Fellows program, please visit our Scholarships and Grants page.