Author Archives: Mark Bocinsky

We MUST Serve the Poor

By | April 8, 2013

While visiting my family in Melbourne, FL for Easter, I was compelled to spend a couple of days serving the hungry at a soup kitchen called The Daily Bread. I met a woman named Shay who has three children of age 10, 9 and 6.  Shay is working towards becoming a pharmacist.  The Dad is no longer in the picture and she is at risk of losing her kids to the court due to lack of funds to take care of them.  She told me, “Maybe if I can figure out how to be forgiven, then God will hear me and

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You are not a Butt Munch, You are Beloved

By | March 17, 2013

Have you ever seen a man digging through a trash can to find leftover food for dinner?  It’s a sad sight.  Many of us let it be only that, a sad sight.  We are moved to pity and then let it be what it is.  A bold few say a prayer.  A bolder few offer their pocket change. Saturday, March 9th 2013, I spent the whole day on a retreat with teenagers who are just learning the basics of the faith.  Inner-city teens who are hearing, maybe for the first time, that they are sons and daughters of

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LifeTeen.com Blog

The Game Changer: How Becoming a Summer Missionary Changed My Life

By | February 19, 2013

2013-02_LTMission-GameChanger

Looking back at the timeline of our life, there are certain events that stand out as life-changing. These events changed something about us; we became more aware of who we were; we gained new confidence in our gifts and talents; we fostered a new relationship that completely transformed our perspective on life. When I accepted the position to be a Summer Missionary at Camp Covecrest in Tiger, Georgia for six weeks of Catholic youth summer camp during the summer of 2010, I had no idea that

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Why You Should Pray Scripture Every Day

By | February 5, 2013

For some reason, when I started Middle School I decided to try out for the basketball team.  I was horrible at basketball.  I tried out in 7th and 8th grade with no success. As a Freshman in High School, I continued my pursuit of a basketball career.  Finally, I made the team, but it wasn’t because of my skill, it was because I worked the hardest in conditioning and wanted to be on the team more than anybody.  The coach saw something special in me and gave me the last spot on the team. How

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We Cannot Give What We Have Not Received

By | October 16, 2012

Just recently, I was being overwhelmed by fears of failure and inadequacy. Past insecurities were rising up inside of me.  When I was faced with various obstacles, it was hard to stay grounded in peace and see things clearly; my emotions were uncontrollable. It was like I was back in junior high! I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I was doing, and I felt as though I had nothing left to love my community, my girlfriend, or the people I was ministering to. It got to the point where I seriously

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Being in College Football but Not Belonging to College Football

By | September 10, 2012

I vividly remember my first College Football game day as a Freshman at the University of Florida. My dorm building happened to be the closest to the football stadium. It was also the closest to the Catholic Church. I woke up around 11:30am, and the first thing I did was look out my window. Cars were parked everywhere. People were walking, tailgating, drinking, singing, shouting… I had a huge smile on my face, and I moved quickly to get ready for the day so I wouldn’t miss anything. Within fifteen

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Experience the Glory

By | June 27, 2012

In 2005, my sophomore year in high school, I attended my second Steubenville Atlanta Catholic Youth Conference. The theme of this conference was Experience the Glory. As I think back on this conference, I don’t remember who gave the talks. I don’t remember any information that was shared in the talks. I don’t even remember exactly who the band was. (I assume it was Matt Maher.) I don’t remember what happened. What I do remember, is who it happened with. I remember the joy that came from a full

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The Empty Tomb

By | May 9, 2012

Part of the mission for our first year as Life Teen missionaries can be very difficult. Almost every Friday, different parishes of teens arrive at Camp Covecrest (our home for Life Teen Missions year one) to go on retreat with their respective youth groups. Our mission is to Lead Teens Closer to Christ. Christ basically brings teens to us in order for us to lead them to Him. How much easier can it get?!? We don’t even have to leave home. The mission comes to us. So Mark… if the mission comes to

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Missionary Inception

By | March 26, 2012

From the movie Inception… Saito: Inception. Is it possible? Arthur: Of course not. Saito: If you can steal an idea, why can’t you plant one there instead. Arthur: Okay, this is me, planting an idea in your mind. I say: don’t think about elephants. What are you thinking about? Saito: Elephants Arthur: Right, but it’s not your idea. The dreamer can always remember the genesis of the idea. True inspiration is impossible to fake. Cobb: No, it’s not. As a man, I

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Pray Without Ceasing

By | February 22, 2012

After 3 hours of laying sod in 40 degree weather, I was more than ready for a hot shower. As I was walking back to my cabin, I realized I still needed to pray my daily rosary. I knew I wouldn’t have any time later that evening, so I decided to pray while I cleaned up from work projects and prepared for dinner. It was a profound time of prayer. I prayed the first decade of the Luminous Mysteries, the Baptism of Jesus, while showering. As the hot water thawed out my freezing fingers and toes and

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