Inspired by the Notre Dame spiritual group Four:7, a new spiritual group at Saint Mary’s has emerged called Sing Out and Rejoice (SOAR).
Senior group coordinator Sofia Piecuch described SOAR as a praise and worship and fellowship group where students can come together to sing and praise the Lord, hear from a speaker and share about their faith in small groups to learn from one another.
“We are channeling Four:7’s spirit in SOAR,” Piecuch said.
Piecuch had been attending Four:7 at Notre Dame since her freshman year.
“We were all really sad that they ended [the spiritual group] last year,” Piecuch said. “But it was no longer serving the needs of people at Notre Dame.”
Piecuch said in the spring semester, the majority of the group's attendees had been College students, so she hoped to bring a similar group to Saint Mary's campus.
“I was really passionate about starting this because I go to Notre Dame for a lot for faith-related activities,” Piecuch said. “I am excited to create an environment like that for Belles.”
SOAR’s first meeting was Jan. 19 and, “had a great turnout,” Piecuch said.
At the meeting, speaker Jennifer Miller, who has a Master of Divinity from Notre Dame, spoke about her journey in discovering the plans God has for his people.
Group music coordinator first year Katherine Smith, summarized Miller’s talk.
“She told us that as a college student, she was always a worrier — worrying about the plans she had for herself,” Smith said. “But God told her that through everything that happens, all will be well.”
After breaking out in small groups to discuss Miller’s talk, Smith said she thought students were happy to have come.
“People were so excited to be there and were willing to share,” Smith said. “It’s a good way to improve faith life.”
Freshman group officer Haley Coghlan said she supports the mission of the group.
“I hope it’s something that grows so that people feel comfortable in their faith,” Coghlan said. “ ... It was refreshing. It gets you to step away from academics and focus on your faith.”
Group officer freshman Emily Scott said she thinks the group is an essential for Saint Mary’s students to step back from the business of their lives.
“I feel like I get lost in my everyday schedule,” Scott said. “So I don’t get to think about my faith deeply. It was nice to set aside a specific time to go and pray. ... It’s so different than events I’ve organized in the past.”
SOAR’s next meeting will be held this upcoming Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in the Holy Cross Hall Chapel at Saint Mary’s.
