Editor’s note: The following is part two of a two-part series on graduates.

LAKELAND  |  Two Santa Fe Catholic High School graduates, Violet Hammen and David “D.J.” Flores, share how their families’ strong faith has infused them with love for the Lord.

Hammen grew up in a devout family. She recalled from an early age being impressed by the wall of rosaries in her home.

She is the youngest of three. One older brother is studying at a seminary for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and the other is working with St. Paul’s Outreach ministry.

“When we’re together as a family my mom will want to say a rosary,” Hammen said, adding she appreciates the tradition and continues to pray it when something in her life troubles her. It has brought her close to the Blessed Mother.

As a peer minister at Santa Fe, she enjoyed planning retreats and service projects.

“It’s a way to be leaders at our school, showing our faith as an example,” she said. “The best thing I liked was I got to see how the freshman retreat went. Then I got to help lead it. It was cool to see how all the different classes reacted to the different prompts.”

The prompt on humility had a big impact on her own life. During her freshman year, they did a skit about caring for the poor. It showed “how we need to be humble and help out people who are struggling,” she said.

Her family and high school education helped her live that service. From serving at a homeless soup kitchen to assisting at The Mission serving at Thanksgiving and making time to talk and listen to those she serves; her experiences help her put faith into practice.

“It’s important to be a good person and know the right thing to do,” she said. “Seeing my brothers and my parents do that has helped shape me into the person I am today.”

Being able to talk about faith at school is also a contributing factor in her faith development and spiritual life. The school gave her the confidence to evangelize others. Serving as a sacristan and altar server for school Masses also strengthens her faith.

“If I was at a public school (faith) would not be as much at the center of my life as it is at Catholic school,” she said.

Attending San Pedro Summer Camp every summer while in high school and going on a Life Teen summer retreat deepened her relationship with Christ. She learned to pray with Lectio Divina and found that type of scriptural meditation impactful.

“I also like to go to Adoration,” she said finding “peace being there with Jesus.” Seeing how her family remained hopeful in difficult times has also fortified this young woman. She recalled when her uncle died her freshman year.

“Just seeing the way all of his friends at his church and all of our family got together to praise the Lord throughout that — even though he passed away,” made a difference. “Seeing the joy we still had in knowing God was with us definitely had a big impact,” she said.

Hammen plans to attend Florida State University in the fall to study psychology. She will live in diocesan housing with three other young women, all active in the Catholic Student Union. “It’s an answer to prayer,” she said.

Coming from a large charter school, David “D.J.” Flores relished discovering a small, close-knit community at Santa Fe. “It’s more like family,” he said. “We’re a very tight community. When we share Mass together, or Adoration, or prayer services — seeing everybody together as one, participating and worshipping God is an amazing experience. I feel like that’s helped me grow spiritually and as a human being — being able to see moral values and making sure I’m better as a person.”

Like Hammen, attending Santa Fe helped deepen his beliefs.

“Having access to prayer before class, the religion classes, Mass on Tuesdays really helped me grow in my faith and stay connected. It made sure I was always doing something that involved my faith,” he said.

A member of several honor societies, he found serving as a peer minister especially fulfilling. He loved spending time with other students and helping them “engage with Christ.”

A parishioner at Resurrection Parish in Lakeland, he’s been an altar server since fourth grade, serving this year as head altar server.

“I love teaching the new kids and I feel more engaged in the Mass – seeing the priests, understanding the Mass as I’m watching everything unfold,” he explained. “It helps me connect with other people too because I can be an example of Christ to other people, sharing love and using my faith to connect with them. … It makes my connection with God grow, which is awesome to me.”

The middle child of three brothers, Flores described himself as “outgoing.”

“I always want to talk to people, to uplift people. I want to make people feel comfortable. I don’t want to put anybody down. I feel like that’s one good thing I do to try and share my faith,” he said.

Truly in love with his faith since a young age, he credited his parents’ constant involvement in church. They taught him how to pray and grow in his faith. “I just fell in love with it, going to Masses and seeing the priests and the deacons come together as one is something that was very attractive to me. I felt it was welcoming,” he said.His mother, Rita, is another reason why he believes so fervently. She is a catechist at Resurrection.

“Seeing her being involved, and with our ups and downs in life – seeing her trust in Him is one thing that’s helping me. If she can do it and set such a great example, I know I can have that and trust in Him.”

But it is Christ in the Eucharist that takes his breath away.

“Being connected to Him and able to receive Him is lifechanging. I know it’s something we do every week or even daily, but it’s really lifechanging to be able to have Jesus in front of you and have Him present within you. It’s something you can’t really describe. It’s why I love the Catholic Church, why I love the Catholic faith,” he said.

A few people have mentioned a possible vocation to the priesthood, but he does not see it. Humbly he responded, “It’s amazing that somebody can see me doing that. I appreciate it, but I’m not sure yet. It’s something I’m praying on.” His sights are currently set on his baseball scholarship to Southeastern University in Lakeland where he plans to study finance. He’s also considering becoming a deacon, and assures he will do “whatever the Lord’s puts in front of (him).”