Amid the fall foliage of Four JG’s Vineyard, in Colts Neck, young adults from around the Diocese gathered over wine and refreshments for faith-sharing and fellowship – and to listen to Nashville-based singer-songwriter Taylor Tripodi.
“You were made for love … you were made to live wide open,” Tripodi sang on an outdoor stage at Faith Uncorked, a Nov. 9 event sponsored by the Diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and St. Leo the Great Parish.
Tripodi, a mother of two who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, gave her personal testimony interspersed with her original songs, centered around the themes of vocational discernment, faith-centered relationships, and the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Original songs and some with a twist
Tripodi began her set with a trio of well-known pop songs – but with a Catholic twist. She lamented listening to the catchiest tunes on the radio and being disgusted with the egocentric, profane, or suggestive lyrics. So, she turned to her songwriting and musical skills, and she rewrote them with a positive, Christocentric approach.
“I like the way she ‘baptizes’ songs,” said Andrew, a young adult from St. Dominic’s Parish, Brick. “It’s very relatable,” he said, adding that he understood the experience of enjoying a song and disliking the irreverent message.
Tripodi’s set of original songs began with the 2019 single “We Are Alive,” a celebration of the Holy Spirit and a call to “let the Holy Spirit animate every part of you.”
She told the crowd her children inspired her music. “Jesus said let the little ones come close to me/ Little is what I, what I always want to be,” she sang.
For young adults, this message is particularly poignant. “I reverted to Catholicism in college,” said Zoe, a young woman in the Diocese, “and I feel more wonder since I’ve found Christ again – being joyous about the little things, we’re called to do that.”
Finding a vocation
Throughout her performance, Tripodi spoke extensively on the theme of vocational discernment and the temptation to “try too hard” to force a vocation when the timing is not right. She shared her personal testimony of the heartbreak that comes from forcing a relationship that is not meant to be. “I needed healing from trying too hard with my vocation,” she said.
For many young adults in the vocational discernment process, this was comforting to hear.
“A lot of parishes have really robust children’s programs, but when you’re discerning your vocation, it’s so important to have that community, and this really fosters that,” remarked Zoe.
Shannon, a young adult from St. Martha’s Parish in Point Pleasant, said she related to Tripodi’s vocation story. “It’s been on my mind a lot,” she said. “It’s nice to meet young people with your same viewpoints on faith and the world.”
However, Tripodi’s story did not end in confusion or in uncertainty. Her face lit up as she shared the story of how she met her husband and her conviction that the relationship was the work of God. She was struck by the importance of a spouse leading one to Heaven. “That’s the whole point!” she exclaimed.
Building community
Some of the young adults listening to Tripodi’s testimony said a story shared so honestly and humorously was refreshing.
“It can be very lonely,” said Andrew. “It’s a very secular world. It can be hard sometimes to talk about your faith with people.”
For the Diocese, events like Faith Uncorked are opportunities to offer young adults the opportunity to build community and share experiences.
“It’s so important to have a space for them to network but also grow in faith together,” said Laura Cortes, a ministry assistant working in the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.