By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 31, 2003

SPENCER - A young adult from Spencer recently completed about 10 weeks of service this summer serving the Catholic Church as she continues to discern how she is being called by God.

Danika Boever, 20, volunteered as a Young Disciple to spread the word of God to children in parishes of a nearby diocese.

"The Young Disciples is a group of 12 young adults - on three separate teams - who travel across the Diocese of Fargo in North Dakota. We give weeklong Bible camps to elementary students," explained Danika. She personally tries to convey "how awesome God is and that the Catholic Church is a great church."

This is the third summer that the Diocese of Fargo has offered the Young Disciples program. And like Danika, many of the Young Disciples come from other states - Michigan, California, New Mexico and Texas to name a few.

Children that attend camp generally are kindergarten through sixth-grade.

A former student at Iowa Lakes Community College in Spencer, Danika worked in the Young Disciples program from May 15 through July 29.

The lessons at the Bible camps focused on the Luminous Mysteries, the new mysteries recently announced by Pope John Paul II. These mysteries focus on major events in the life of Jesus - Baptism in the Jordon, Wedding at Cana, Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist.

Lessons include such activities as Bible stories, songs, activities and saint skits. Along with Bible lessons centered on the Luminous Mysteries, the Bible camps include daily Mass and daily rosary. Depending on the parish, the Young Disciples sometimes organize special teen nights, adult nights and family nights.

"It is all Catholic-based - all through Catholic teachings," noted Danika, who is a former catechist at Sacred Heart in Spencer. "We also focus on the P.A.L. prayer method. It stands for praise, ask and listen."

Most of the time Danika works with first- and second-graders. Together with the students, she encourages them to thank God for their parents, the beautiful weather and so forth. They will ask for such things as health for their grandparents and help in behaving in church.

"Then we will ask them to close their eyes and listen - see if God is talking to them or if they think of anything," she said.

The Spencer native also gives the students tours of the church during Bible camp.

"I point out the stained glass windows, the statues, the votive candles, crucifix and altar. My main focus - when I do the Mass tour - is the tabernacle. I let the children know that Jesus is present in tabernacle and in the body of Christ," said Danika, the daughter of Frank and Janee Boever of Spencer.

She pointed out that it was her own desire to follow God's call that led her to this service opportunity.

"For six years, through prayer, I have felt a strong call to youth ministry," she explained. "In November I happened to go to New Jersey for a discernment weekend with the Salesian sisters and I met a girl who had done the Young Disciples for the last two years."

Danika prayed about it and then applied.

"I am going to do another youth ministry program with this diocese for a year right after this. I will be in a youth ministry office volunteering for a year at an Indian reservation," she noted.

In the future, Danika can see herself coming back to serve in the Diocese of Sioux City. She would love to help out with a parish youth group here and possible pursue additional theology classes.

"I am open to wherever God leads me," she said. "Whatever God's will is for me, I will go. If it's sisterhood - I'll go; if it's being a mother or youth minister, I'll do that. I am open to religious life if that is part of God's will."

Along with involvement in her parish at Spencer, for additional youth group involvement Danika was part of a group at Spirit Lake.

"The parishes are amazed with the youth being on fire. They think it is a great program," she said. "This experience has strengthened my faith quite intensively. I had a strong faith before this, but this is a summer I will never forget - seeing the kids on fire for God."