Young Adult Spotlight: Justin Bytnar
BY BRIAN JACOBSON
Having lived in St. Louis my whole life, the logical next step when choosing a graduate program for physician assistant (PA) school was to remain at St. Louis University. But after waiting for weeks for a response to my application, I reluctantly accepted an offer from UMKC instead, which was also a commitment to long distance with my now fiancée Mia. After this commitment, I finally received an interview invitation from SLU. Surely, I thought, I had made the wrong decision. Unbeknownst to me, God had planned for me to receive much more than a degree in Kansas City.
“I vividly remember the joy and peace I felt in my heart at my first Tuesdays at the Boulevard Mass, surrounded by other young Catholics, where God seemed to say, “Did you think I would ever desert you?”
My time here began a period of longing, searching, and praying for a community of others walking with Christ. By allowing me to long for Catholic community, however, God made His response to my prayer only more beautiful and bountiful. Starting with Sip & Smoke men’s events in June, I was greeted with the hospitality of City on a Hill and the hunger in my heart for Catholic community was finally nourished. I vividly remember the joy and peace I felt in my heart at my first Tuesdays at the Boulevard Mass surrounded by other young Catholics, where God seemed to say, “Did you think I would ever desert you?” What started as something unknown, uncomfortable, and what I thought must be a mistake, blossomed into a warm embrace of Christ, His love, and those who love Him.
Meeting more Catholic young adults through CCS sports like soccer and sand volleyball as well as KC Underground showed me the abundance of life that God offers us when we trust in him and seek friendship rooted in Christ. I was able to form friendships with Catholic men through Band of Brothers and I even started to lead a small group. My fiancée, Mia, found an opportunity working as a theology teacher in Kansas City and we began to attend City on a Hill events together. After recently attending the Leadership Retreat at Prairie Star Ranch, we reflected together on how beautiful it was that by placing our trust in the Lord, he made the seemingly impossible, possible and showed us goodness we never could have imagined. This opportunity for reflection and prayer together undoubtedly reminded us of the many graces we look forward to receiving in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony this June.
By nourishing my faith, City on a Hill has also emphasized the opportunity that I have to be Christ’s hands and feet in union with the ministry of the Church as I strive to bring physical healing and compassion to the patients I encounter during my clinical rotations. As Jesus proclaimed, “I was sick, and you visited me.” This call from Christ for faith in tandem with works has brought new vigor to my studies. I am looking forward to my electives in orthopedic and neurological surgery and I am excited to see where God will lead me next in caring for the sick and vulnerable. Above all, I look forward to bringing others to Christ, the Divine Physician, who alone can heal the soul and bring new life, just as he did for me.
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