Journeying through life with my friend, Michael, is an incredible gift! We were friends long before either of us decided to go into ministry, and now we support each other in our respective vocations: me as a wife, mother, and lay minister in the church, and him as a priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Watching, Michael, live his vocation is a great joy! I have no doubt that he is doing exactly what God called him to do. I am thankful that he is not only one of our best friends and God-father to both of our kids, but also that he and I are colleagues in ministry. We support each other regularly. We read each others’ talks (and his homilies), we listen to each other when one of us is struggling in ministry, and we keep each other grounded through humor and humility!

In December, we were able to visit Michael’s parish on the bayou in Louisiana, and I was able to capture a few shots of the stained glass windows in this 100 year old church. Truly a Mesa Moment for me to see my friend in his space living his vocation!

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.