Thomas Slabon

Thomas Slabon

MA, ’21 Classics, PhD, ’23 Philosophy

What does it mean to be part of CC@S? It means to be part of building God’s Kingdom at Stanford day by day. Every Mass, every new friend made over evening dinner and discussions, every visit to Common Roots farm, every small prayer group meeting, every one of Fr. X’s classes—each and every one of these experiences was one more small connection, one more bond of love and community, through which God weaves the fabric of His Kingdom. Kingdom-building isn’t glamorous, nor is it a matter of grand gestures and big events: it’s the small and simple work of finding God in all things, and of being Christ’s presence to those around us. Everything the CC@S does aims at doing exactly that. And preciously because it isn’t grand or glamorous, the value and impact of this Kingdom-building often goes unnoticed.

But when I reflect on my experiences as part of CC@S, I recognize how transformative a role it played in my life at Stanford. I think of how, in the most isolating days of the pandemic, I would join one of Fr. X’s Zoom classes, or participate in Mass or evening prayer, and know that I was loved and prayed for by members of CC@S scattered across the world. Or I think of my experience as part of the CC@S Synodality leadership team, organizing listening circles and surveys, witnessing the truly diverse array of experiences and perspectives present in our community—but with everyone united in a desire to love and serve God. In such moments, CC@S let me feel part of a genuinely Catholic community: Catholic, because it brought together so diverse an array of voices and experiences; and a Catholic community, because these diverse voices spoke as one when we prayed together, and these diverse perspectives and experiences were all drawn together in the same work of building God’s Kingdom. To be part of CC@S has been to continuously experience the grace-filled gift of Catholic community.