Posted July 03, 2025
On a recent summer day, Erica Lasion, program manager at Catholic Charities of Lorain County, guided young participants through a reflective session around a new portable labyrinth at the St. Vincent de Paul site in Elyria.
Thanks to a grant from the Women’s Fund – an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Lorain County – Catholic Charities purchased the labyrinth to use as part of mindfulness exercises. Erica is trained in labyrinth guidance and is facilitating these meditative sessions with participants in Catholic Charities’ teen mentoring program.
In this particular session, Erica introduced participants to the labyrinth by comparing it to a maze. “In a maze, there is only one way in and one way out,” she said. “In a labyrinth, all paths lead to the middle and back out again.” As the students walked slowly on their paths, they were invited to quietly reflect on their abilities, strengths and opportunities. When they reached the center, they each read affirmation statements to consider on their walk back out.
Erica’s vision is that the labyrinth will be staked into the ground outdoors to encourage use from program participants, parishioners and the public. For this instance, Erica used it indoors because of hot weather.
Erica said there is no wrong way to approach the labyrinth, and that by continuing to walk the path with young people, she and participants can learn from one another to create the best possible experience.
We greatly appreciate the support of the Women’s Fund – an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Lorain County – to make this new approach a reality at Catholic Charities Lorain County.
Part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
