Posted by admin on February 26, 2010 under 5. TGIF! | 
Student Leadership Survey
Rosie Chinea of the Aquinas Newman Center at University of New Mexico is searching for campus ministers to complete the following survey regarding student leadership teams. Please click on the link below and participate in the survey. Rosie will be sharing the results of her survey in the coming months. For more information, please contact Rosie at aquinasnewmancenter@gmail.com.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fs%2FSL9DJZZ&h=1481b4ff2429809930c60e39b551cd06
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), University Programs Advisor
CRS, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, is now accepting applicants for its University Programs Advisor position. This significant position plays a central role in the design, development and distribution of global poverty education materials and programs reaching U.S. higher education. For more information and to find a complete job description, please visit the CRS website at https://sh.webhire.com/servlet/av/jd?ai=495&ji=2430186&sn=I
Renew Your Membership Today!
Annual membership invoices have been mailed. Send in your renewal form today and be sure to update all your ministry information. Deadline for renewal is June 1 to be included in the 2010-2011 Catholic Campus Ministry Directory! Membership rates stay the same at: $125 for Individual members, $105 for Team and Diocesan members, $55 for Associate members, and $150 and $250 for Corporate non-profit and for-profit members. Contact Michelle Gundrum at gundrum@ccmanet.org for more information and to join or renew your CCMA membership!
Posted by admin on February 25, 2010 under 4. Thursday's Spiritual Smoothie |
Two important feasts are celebrated by our Muslim and Jewish sisters and brothers this week: the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, and the feast of Purim. As a campus minister on a Catholic campus our primary outreach is to our Catholic community, but our mission is to support all members of our University community in deepening their relationship with God. This, of course, translates into helping our non-Catholic students attend services in their local tradition, supporting Hillel and our Muslim student group, and other small ways of living out our Catholic identity in a spirit of hospitality, welcome, and openness to the multiplicity of ways that God becomes known in the lives of others.
Today I invite you to pray “For Unity Among Peoples of Different Faiths,” a prayer written by Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz who served as the Executive Director of The Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding here at Sacred Heart. It’s a good reminder that it is we are at our best when we celebrate the dignity and worth of every person.
Almighty God,
grant us the wisdom and humility to acknowledge you as
the Creator and supreme power of the Universe.
You have fashioned us in your image.
You have breathed life into us and into all living things.
Give us the strength to be a source of goodness and kindness
for all that you have brought into existence.
It is your will that we should be many peoples and cultures.
Unite all your children in the desire to do your will.
May each one of us contribute to the best of our ability
to making this a better world for all humanity.
May peace of mind, peace of spirit
and world peace reign soon.
Amen.
Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Posted by admin on February 23, 2010 under 2. Fat Tuesday |
For this Sunday’s gospel, we are given a transfigured Christ and a transfiguring message: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” The Church places the Transfiguration narrative on the Second Sunday of Lent more because this is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Up to this point, he has been experiencing great success in his Galilean ministry. The signs of the kingdom have accompanied his preaching. After this experience during the day of prayer on the mountain, Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and “his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.”
Though it is only the Second Sunday of Lent, we are heading soon to Holy Week and to our celebration of Christ’s Exodus, our own Passover. Many of our campuses have Lent interrupted by Spring Break. The opportunities of Lent are fleeting.
Amid the hubub of Peter’s activity on the mountain, the command is clear: “listen to him.” This Sunday is a good opportunity to encourage students to stop and listen during Lent. Suggest an “unplugged day,” much like a meatless Friday, to give oneself a chance to listen to Christ. As T.S. Eliot wrote in “Ash Wednesday” only in stillness can the Word be heard:
Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
For those who walk in darkness
Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not here
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny
the voice.
We need his prayer to become ours this Lent:
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
Posted by admin on February 21, 2010 under 1. Media Monday |
We have entered once again in the Lenten wilderness and if you are like me you are looking for some meaningful way to mark the season. Last year my husband and I gave up disposable packaging for Lent. Aside from toting a mug around to all my favorite coffee shops, it also challenged us to eat in more, buy in bulk bins for items like cereal and to forgo the unnecessary packaging many of our favorite items come in. In short, it was a long Lent, but a meaningful Lent. (We also gave up caffeine one year but we have both agreed not to speak of that again!)
Lent is a powerful season made more so by the way in which we choose to mark it. Once again this year our friends at Busted Halo have given us some great food for thought with their Lenten calendar.
From the site … “But instead of chocolate, alcohol or tobacco, what if people thought of fasting, prayer and almsgiving in a broader context? What if those disciplines involved practices like reducing your dependence on electronic devices for 24 hours (fast); contemplating the 1.6 billion people in the world who have no access to electricity for a few moments (pray); and spending the extra time you’ve saved on personal interaction with someone important to you (give)? Or what if people reduced their carbon footprint for a day by using less energy (fast); then reflected for two minutes on the magnificent gift our natural environment is (pray); and finally placed $1 in a bowl they’ve set aside to collect money to be given away to a favorite charity — perhaps one that plants trees — at the end of Lent (give).”
Check out the site at http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give-2010/ and chime in below with a comment about how you are marking Lent this year!
Kathleen A. Byrnes is an Assistant Chaplain at Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University.
Posted by admin on February 19, 2010 under 5. TGIF! |
Have you had enough snow yet? It seems once we clear out the drifts and ice, more snow follows. It’s been difficult to get out of the driveway and around town and at times I feel like I’m snowbound!
But, I truly love the snow! When it’s on the ground, sparkling like diamonds and glass, covering tree branches. It reminds me of those beautiful winter scenes in the Currier and Ives prints. It also reminds me of all the times my parents would load my sister and me into the car, along with all of our skiing gear, and trek across the country to various mountains and resorts for skiing vacations. We passed the time looking out the window and seeing the beautiful countryside, the trees and snow-covered mountains. Then, we’d finally get to our destination, ready to get a shot at those hills. Standing at the top of the mountain I would survey the scene and plan my attack; what fun it was to put on those skis and head down the mountain at top speed! I found myself thinking and saying that this view is “Awesome” and then down the hill I’d go, taking it all in and not wanting the run to ever end. Looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now, and that even though I expressed my feelings about the view, I wish I would have been able to appreciate the work of God and seize the opportunity to say thank you.
Snow is also very peaceful to me. When it’s on the ground en masse, I look around at God’s gift and it happily forces me to take a few moments to relax and reflect on whatever topic is troubling me or making me happy.
Maybe being snowbound isn’t so bad when you reflect on its beauty and who provides it. But I can’t help laugh (and agree) at an email my sister sent me with a photo of a church sign that read, “Whoever is praying for snow, please quit!” Here’s hoping you have a blessed and snow-less weekend!
ACCU Announces New President
The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities has selected Michael Galligan-Stierle as its next president, the group announced at its annual meeting on Sunday. Mr. Galligan-Stierle, currently the group’s vice president, will replace Richard A. Yanikoski, who is retiring as president in August. Congratulations to Michael! Send your kind regards to mgs@accunet.org.
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Sponsor Contest to Win Mission Trip to Africa
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers announce their second Explore My Mission contest. Catholic young people, ages 18 to 35, with a passion for living the Gospel by helping others can win an opportunity to experience another culture and live the world of mission in another country.
Two grand prize winners will be awarded a two-week, short-term mission trip to Tanzania, East Africa. They will work along side the Maryknoll East Africa Mission Community in their service among the poor in rural and urban settings near Lake Victoria and will be accompanied by veteran Maryknoll missioners, Father Dennis Moorman and Brother Tim Raible, and other Maryknoll staff.
“With last year’s contest winners, we had a wonderful experience of mission in Brazil and shared so much with the Brazilian people,” said Father Moorman. “I’m psyched for this year’s trip to East Africa! Tanzania is a great country with amazing people! We are going to have a fantastic experience of mission and learning with the Tanzanian people.”
Assignment: Create a video, three minutes or less, featuring you, the service or ministry with which you are involved, and the reason you would be a good choice for this mission project. Amateur videos are welcome.
Deadline: Video entries may be uploaded to the official contest website, www.ExploreMyMission.org, by April 9, 2010. Complete instructions are available at the website. Contest winners will be notified by May 18, 2010. Winners will be in Tanzania the first two weeks of July 2010.
Chrysta Bolinger is CCMA’s Director, Member Services and Communication.
Posted by admin on February 18, 2010 under 4. Thursday's Spiritual Smoothie |
As Lent begins, I wanted to share a beautiful prayer from Henri Nouwen that focuses on hope. Yesterday we were reminded to rend our hearts, not our garments, and to return to God with our whole heart–God who is full of mercy and compassion. May this Lent be a season in which we increase our hope and deepen our relationship with God and those around us as we prepare for the joyful celebration of Christ’s Resurrection at Easter!
I hope that I will always be for each person
what he or she needs me to be.
I hope that each person’s death will diminish me,
but that fear of my own will never diminish my joy of life.
I hope that my love for those whom I like will never lessen
my love for those whom I do not.
I hope that another person’s love for me will never
be a measure of my love for him or her.
I hope that everybody will accept me as I am,
but that I never will.
I hope that I will always ask for forgiveness from others,
but will never need to be asked for my own . . .
I hope that I will always recognize my limitations,
but that I will construct none.
I hope that loving will always be my goal,
but that love will never be my idol.
I hope that everyone will always have hope.
-Henri Nouwen
Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Posted by admin on February 16, 2010 under 2. Fat Tuesday |
Mardi Gras offers us one way of dealing with temptations in our lives. This celebration of excess concurs with the oft-quoted Oscar Wilde’s observation that “the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” This Sunday’s gospel offers a very different approach. The temptations presented to Jesus in Luke’s gospel offer him false ways of exercising his ministry as Messiah. Instead of self-sacrifice, Jesus is tempted with self-fulfillment. In response to these temptations, Jesus offers words of scripture, which deflate the bloated promises of the devil.
I’m often amazed at how hungry students are for Ash Wednesday in particular and the season of Lent in general. Where some Catholics might find ways around the demands of fasting (”well, it’s only half a cheese pizza, so that doesn’t equal a full meal”) younger Catholics take on the rigors of fasting enthusiastically. They snap up our Lenten prayer books faster than we can replace them. They ask for more resources for spiritual reading or to discover aspects of the Catholic tradition that previous generations jettisoned. While they often enjoy Mardi Gras, they also want Septuagesima.
A great resource to check out is Word on Fire, a multimedia-rich website from Fr. Robert Barron and the Archdiocese of Chicago. Of course, if you borrow some ideas from his already posted homily for this Sunday, make sure you give credit!
Fr. Peter Walsh, CSC is an assistant chaplain at Saint Thomas More, the Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University
Posted by admin on February 14, 2010 under 1. Media Monday |
Often in a life of prayer one needs a “jumpstart” - a way of discovering anew that which nurtures and inspires you.
I have been gifted to know an amazing woman of song and for Valentine’s Day this year she sent me (and her closest Facebook friends!) a free musical card. I was inspired to think about the ways in which we share our gifts with one another and wanted to “regift” if you will, the gift she has given to me.
The woman is Sr. Kathleen Deignan and her group, Schola Ministries (www.scholaministries.org), is an outlet for her amazing gifts of music, prayer and poetry.
From the website … “Theologian, poet, and musician, Sister Kathleen has translated the depths of the Christian mystical tradition into a vibrant new repertoire of sacred song. Her original compositions give voice to a fresh experience of the divine, resonant with the lyricism of her Celtic soul and echoing the deep wisdom of masters of the spiritual life.”
Her music can be heard for free on the site but I strongly encourage you to delve deeper and purchase this music as a gift for yourself this Lent. You will not be disappointed!
Katie Byrnes is an Assistant Chaplain at Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University.
Posted by admin on February 12, 2010 under 5. TGIF! |
CCMA Membership for 2010-2011
CCMA would like to take this opportunity to thank all members for their continued support and prayers through the past year and national convention. You all are such a blessing to us! Annual membership renewals invoices are being mailed in the next several weeks. Renewal and new membership rates remain the same:
Individual Membership: $125 per year
Team Membership (four or more campus ministers at the same campus ministry site): $105 each
Diocesan Membership (four or more campus ministers from the same diocese): $105 each
Associate Membership: $55 per year
Corporate Non Profit Membership: $150 per year
Corporate For Profit Membership: $250 per year
Membership term begins July 1 and ends June 30. In order to be included in the 2010-2011 annual directory, please renew membership by June 1, 2010. Please contact Michelle Gundrum at Gundrum@ccmanet.org or 888.714.6631, Ext. 17, for more information or to renew or join CCMA.
Evangelical Catholic Accepting Applications for Interns
Next fall, Evangelical Catholic will be accepting two moreparticipants in their 2-year Evangelization Training Program. The first year is a huge success and the two participants are excited about the second year of the program where they will return to their home campuses in order to help build up the ministries with the skills they’ve learned in the program. Do you have graduating seniors who may be interested in being trained more thoroughly in the work of evangleization? If so, please contact Jason Simon at jsimon@evangelicalcatholic.org for more information about this amazing program!
Award winning Documentary is part of ‘The Big Picture’
Life is a Calling. And every call can be both thrilling and daunting. The Calling explores the nature of belief, the bonds of family, and being brave enough to ask: Who am I? Putting flesh and blood on issues that are often viewed too piously or abstractly, the film delves into the fundamental and enduring questions that provide meaning and value to our lives.
Recent winner of the Best International Documentary award at the 7th annual Queens International Film Festival; an Official Selection of the 29th Breckenridge Festival of Film and of the upcoming 2010 Gasparilla International Film Festival (March 18-22), as well as the 26th Chicago Latino Film Festival (April 16-29) - this deeply personal glimpse into religious life will be part of The Big Picture: A Documentary Series for Faith and Culture on March 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Presented by Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Religion and Spirituality, in association with Mount St. Mary’s College, this is a year-round documentary exhibition focusing on religion and spirituality, cultural heritage, social teaching and justice. To learn more visit: http://www.lmu.edu/academics/extension/crs/events/documentary.htm.
Chrysta Bolinger is the Director of Member Services and Communication at CCMA.
Posted by admin on February 11, 2010 under 4. Thursday's Spiritual Smoothie |
Today the Church celebrates Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick. Since tomorrow marks one month since the tragic earthquake in Haiti, I thought I would share some reflections on how we might continue to support the Haitian community during this time. Please feel free to share your own thoughts and programs in the comments!
Like many others, I knew people living and working in Haiti on January 12th, and have come in contact with many members of our University community who have similar connections or are themselves Haitian. The most recent estimates include 220,000 dead, with countless more injured, homeless, and hungry. And yet, in the midst of it all, people have been praising God in the streets, continuing to gather as a community of faith, and caring for one another.
There has been a generous outpouring from the people and nations of the world through prayer, donations, and relief efforts. For Christians, this is nothing more than our responsibility. We will continue to remember our brothers and sisters; within our local community by supporting those who are coping with the loss and devastation of family, friends, and homeland, and as an international community through works of charity and justice.
I conclude with a prayer available in A World on Its Knees, an online resource compiled by Pauline Books & Media.
Une Priere Pour Haiti
Cher Seigneur, je te remercie d’avoir sauvegarder la vie ma familie en Haiti,
especialemente ma chère mère.
Mais, il y a tant d’autres qui on besoin ton secours.
Nous tous sont en grand de peine maintenant.
Mais nous savons tous,
avec notre foi et notre croyance en toi seigneur,
nous serons delivrès de cette tragèdie
qui a engloutie notre chère capitale. Amen.
~Someone praying in Boston whose mother is in Haiti
Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
