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Outside The Box

Catholics On Call Participant Profile—Megan Mio

Currently residing in Chicago, Megan C. Mio is originally from Berkley, Michigan. Megan attended the Catholics on Call Young Adults Conference in August 2007.

When you were eight years old, what did you dream of being “when you grew up?” How does the dream differ now? How is it similar?

When I was eight years old I certainly did not think I would grow up to be a minister. I have been through lots of dreams in my life: veterinarian, cinematographer and author to name a few. I think that being a veterinarian was my first dream, the one that you make based on an immature understanding of what is necessary to have success. We never even had any pets when I was growing up. I just loved animals and I wanted to do good in the world. As a teenager, I loved going to the movies. So, I dreamed of working backstage. This dream at least had a distinct interest attached to it. Still, I had no idea what it would take to be a moviemaker. Finally it hit me in high school that I loved reading and writing very much. I had written for my own amusement for years. I even started giving pieces to my friends. Being an author was a serious ambition, though the process was still a mystery. When I got to college I realized how much motivation and dedication it took to be a writer. I also realized that I didn’t have that dedication. Fortunately my education had started to point me in a new direction. Since my first years in college I have wanted to be a minister. By far this dream is much more mature. I know now better than ever how much dedication and motivation it takes. I also know I have a great love and determination to do this work. I have studied for many years. I am now in the process of being certified. Yet, all this is just the beginning. I am not disturbed by that; I am resolved. Still, my dream to be a veterinarian was not a false dream, I believe. Back then I wanted to do good and help people. That part of my dream hasn’t changed, it has just become more complex. Now I recognize my own skills and abilities. I know what I am good at and what I enjoy. Today that is definitely ministry.

What is your favorite liturgical season?

My favorite season is definitely Lent! When I was a kid I was an altar server. I have distinct memories of my mom making me and my brother serve all the time. We even had to serve at the Stations of the Cross during Lent. Please! I had better things to do on a Friday night! Still, that experience formed me. I have a very deep spiritual understanding of the Passion of Christ, in part thanks to those Friday nights. During Lent we commemorate the last days of Jesus’ life. What I love about Lent is the preparation. Throughout the season we relive over and over the Passion and death of Jesus. We focus on turning our lives around and uniting ourselves with the suffering of Christ. I guess I have always been attracted to challenge and conflict. Human beings are not black and white. We are complex beings who sin and are sorry. Life is messy. So is Lent. The mystery of our faith is focused in Good Friday and Easter. Lent holds both of these events in mind for forty days. We live with them both for a season as we prepare to ritually experience them a new in the Triduum.

Where do you fall in birth order in your family? Is this significant to you?

I am the youngest sister of brothers. I have always thought that this was significant. I love to analyze my personality and psychology. I really think that being the only girl has partly made me who I am. I have taken it to be a challenge. I was the smallest, weakest and youngest. Yet I would fight for attention in my family. I am thinking perhaps of the story of David, the youngest in his family and the smallest. Yet he was the only one brave and “strong” enough to defeat Goliath. I know I can hear older siblings saying that because I was the youngest I was spoiled. Yes, I realize that too. I was lucky to have experienced parents. They gave me more because they had more. They dote on me and I hope this has made me generous. I am now thinking of Joseph who was one of the youngest and easily the favorite son in his family. His brothers were jealous of him. I know my brothers and I had different experiences. Still, this doesn’t mean we don’t get along. My brothers taught me to be tough mentally and physically. Being the only girl among boys also made me a tomboy. I have always taken male role models (David and Joseph for example). Yet, I was always a “feminist” as well. I have tried to prove my worth among men many times. See how much you can get out of such a simple question?!

What have you learned about yourself by attending at CoC conference?

I learned that I have a very deep spiritual and prayer life. I learned that I am sure about my desire to be a lay minister. I did explore possibilities at the conference. But in the end I felt empowered by the conference to do what I really feel called to and what I am good at! Often times the Church doesn’t communicate well, with the young people in particular. Still I have felt that God wanted something special for me. I only recently began to discover what exactly that was. The conference put it all in perspective and solidified my decisions. I felt greater certainly and strength for my ministry and vocation.

What has been the most difficult decision life has presented to you?

I am not certain that this is “the most” difficult but it seems to me to be at least one of the most. While I was in school my vocation began to come into focus, in a way I had never before imagined. I was thankful for all the sacrifices that my parents and grandparents had made before me, which made my own opportunities possible. For example, my grandfather was an immigrant to this country from Italy. As a young man he left his family (all of whom stayed in Italy and are still there) and came to a country where he did not speak the language, nor was he accustomed to the culture. He had no particular skills except the will to live and work. He had an amazing work-ethic, which must have been the only thing that protected him from failure. Such a “difficult decision” as this could also be considered a sacrifice, for not only his own good (his future) but the good and future of his children and grandchildren. I am lucky to have been born and to have grown up in a free country. I am also lucky to have parents and grandparents who worked very hard, from humble beginnings, to make my education and career a possibility. As I came to the end of my schooling I realized that it was time to begin my career. I was offered a position away from home, my family in a city I had only just come to know. This meant living in a “new” home. This meant leaving almost all that I know behind and starting a new life away. It was a difficult decision because I so wanted the job, I so wanted the opportunity. But I also so wanted to be near my family, near all I have known from childhood. But in the end I chose the new home. I think my Nonno (grandfather) would be proud. In fact, I am certain of it.

What have you found challenging about discerning a relationship with God in the 21st century?

I have found it challenging to find good models and outlets. I don’t mean to say that there are no good Christians or Catholics out there. What I mean is that it is hard to find a model who I have something in common with. Hey, the Catholic Church is huge. There are all sorts of believers out there who have different styles of worship, prayer, spirituality, ecclesiology, etc. We are quite diverse! Even if you just think about ethnicity and culture, in the U.S. there are all sorts of Catholics. When I was growing up there was a youth group at my church but I never felt like I fit in there. They were not my style. Then in college I again felt uneasy about immediately buying into Christian campus groups. I have come to understand this challenge as the challenge of “being discerning.” I don’t just want any faith, I want a good faith, MY faith. Part of the challenge is to find out what that means and the other part is finding others like you. Outlets for faith can come from outside the church as well as within it. It has also been difficult to find good “secular” outlets as well. Our culture is overrun by reality TV and consumerism. I have done my best to find places where the Church can connect to American culture even in a small way. This is difficult. I have found recently that it is satisfying to get involved in the “organic movement” and fair trade products. If you can find something in the “secular culture” that could be a Christian outlet- GO FOR IT!

Compiled by Katie Cranor, 2007-08 Bernardin Scholar.

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