Emily Engel, a 19-year-old college student with a joyful faith-filled personality, embodies
a loving zeal for Christ that radiates an infectious intimacy so beautiful that it draws others closer to God.
Her spiritual journey has been enriched by her participation at various Catholic events that promote authentic discipleship and call the faithful into a deeper, self-surrendering relationship with God.
“I always leave these experiences feeling spiritually recharged, strengthened and empowered to be a more joyful witness of our faith in everyday life,” explains Emily.
“I’ve learned all I must do is be receptive to God’s love. While I am still leaning on him and after I have been fed and shaped by his love, I can then go forth to share that love with others,” she adds.
Zeal for Christ
Emily’s zeal for Christ started at a young age. She affectionately recalls, “I started serving at the holy altar at St. Mary Cathedral when I was 10 years old. Over the past nine years, serving has taught me a reverence for life and myself that has led me to receive God’s love more deeply into my heart.”
“I have always had a hunger to be fed. It is the Eucharist that fully satisfies me as Christ enters my heart and has transformed me.”
For Emily, the hunger came to a climax during the COVID-19 shutdowns given the implemented restrictions on Mass attendance.
“I desired Mass to satisfy my hunger, but given the restrictions, I went to adoration. After the restrictions were lifted, I started going multiple times a week; I noticed a strong desire for Christ in the Eucharist.
“During Lent 2022, I went to Mass every day, and this transformed my life. The pinnacle came in June 2022 when I attended a conference at Franciscan University in Steubenville and encountered, for the first time, God intimately desiring my heart,” she informs.
“This conference was such a beautiful experience because I encountered God’s love deep in my heart.
He entered my insecurities and loved me there. I felt empowered by the Holy Spirit and left the conference believing that Christ speaks to me in prayer.”
Emily’s continuous spiritual and self-development has been an evolving process to which she credits the various experiences and witnesses of faith in her life, which includes attendance at various Catholic events that foster testaments to God’s loving grace.
Events Bear God’s Fruit
“In 2023, I attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. Two highlights of World Youth Day were seeing the Gospel come to life and witnessing the supernatural joy everyone carried with them,” Emily reflects.
“I saw over a million people testifying that Christ’s mission to spread the Gospel to every corner of the world is true and alive today.
“I learned that I can do hard things joyfully when I am walking alongside Jesus and his disciples who uplift me,” she adds.
Emily experienced parallel sentiments at this past summer’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
“I was immensely blessed to be among the 60,000 plus Catholics at the Congress. It was powerful to witness people of all ages encountering Christ, each in their own way.”
She continues, “The high point of the pilgrimage was encountering our Lord in adoration. The reverent silence in Lucas Oil Stadium filled with my Christian brothers and sisters on their knees, was breathtaking. "I encountered Christ in the joyful witness of all the speakers who were on fire to proclaim the Gospel. I encountered him in the friends I made with young adults from other U.S. dioceses,” she offers.
“This experience helped prepare me to go forth as a missionary for my Catholic faith at college and beyond.”
When asked about other events that have offered such joy, Emily shares experiences on the Michigan Young Adult Hiking and Rafting Pilgrimage and last autumn’s Pedal and Praise events.
“On the hiking and rafting pilgrimage, I encountered Christ through the kindness of older young adults who talked with me and encouraged me on my journey. Many spirit-filled conversations with my peers fed my soul. The highlight of this pilgrimage was processing with the Eucharist from the Indian River trailhead to Cross in the Woods.
“The Pedal and Praise event was a lot of fun biking with Bishop Walsh and others from around the diocese,” she recalls. “I encountered Christ in the beauty of nature on that warm autumn afternoon. I found him in the joy of biking and his presence in the Eucharist during adoration.”
Bringing God to Others
Emily’s zeal has led her to be an instrument of service to others.
“I began teaching dance at a Christian homeschool group as a freshman in high school in September 2019. The more I surrendered my talents to Christ, the more he blessed and multiplied them.”
“In mid-June 2023, I started teaching professionally at Prodigy Dance Company in Harbor Springs. I get to teach my students how to glorify God with their talents. I can model Christ’s love for them by giving them my full attention and helping them when they struggle,” Emily offers.
“Christ wants to work through your talents. Your talents are practical ways you can live out your call to discipleship. We are each called to be disciples in our unique way. Discipleship will not look the same for everyone, but each person’s talents are necessary.”
She plans to complete her associate of arts degree in psychology at North Central Michigan College this spring.
Messages from the Heart
When reflecting on her spiritual journey, Emily says, “Whatever journey you find yourself on in life right now, whatever destination you are hoping to reach, God is going to get you where he needs you to be. He will surprise you with his love every step of the way.”
She adds, “I encounter Christ every day in the ordinary when I keep my heart and mind open to receiving God’s loving surprises. Attending retreats, conferences, pilgrimages and other Catholic events has helped me grow and deepen my faith.
“Setting aside intentional time to withdraw from the distractions of everyday life has helped me to encounter God more deeply in prayer and grow my trust in him through holy adventures.
“I encourage everyone to take intentional time every year to go on an adventure with Christ. He wants to encounter you and do powerful things in your life,” Emily ends.
