Pilgrimage to England for Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman     Pope Benedict XVI announced he will preside at the beatification ceremony of John Henry Cardinal Newman in Birmingham, England, September 19, 2010. On behalf of The Very Reverend Dennis Corrado, C.O., American Delegate to the Permanent Deputation and member of the Brooklyn Oratory in New York, we extend a special invitation to join a pilgrimage of North Americans to celebrate with our Holy Father the life and ministry of Cardinal Newman.Â
    Newman was one of the great intellectual and pastoral leaders of the 19th century. Prior to his conversion to the Roman Catholic Church, he had been a prominent member of the Oxford Movement, a group who advocated a return of the Church of England to its Catholic heritage. After being ordained in Rome, Newman returned to England as an Oratorian. He founded the Birmingham Oratory and was his beloved home throughout his long life. With Fr. Frederick Faber he helped establish the Oratory in London known universally now as the Brompton Oratory. Various ecclesiastical difficulties hindered his work in Ireland and England. He sought to establish an oratory at Oxford where eventually a Catholic organization was founded and, in 1888, was renamed the Oxford University Newman Society. Many Catholic campus ministries in the United States are called “Newman Centers” in recognition of Newman’s influence in supporting the spiritual formation of Catholic young people at non-Catholic colleges and universities. Eventually, in 1993, an Oratory was founded in Oxford.Â
    Illume collaborates with pastoral leaders to create journeys to places of great historical and religious significance, places conducive to reflecting on our heritage, nurturing faith formation, building community and broadening perspectives. Travel to places where visionary men and women forged new traditions inspires world citizenship and greater understanding of other lands and peoples, leading to more compassionate ways of life.Â
    We hope you will join our global community of family and friends for this special event!
    Details of the pilgrimage and information about registration can be found at  www.travelillume.com/trc/ckh
Evangelical Catholic Offers Training Camps
    Evangelical Catholic is offering Evangelization Training Camps this spring! Evangelization training camps lay the spiritual and ministerial foundations for students and staff to unify around a common vision of ministry outreach and formation. They envision integrating existing programs with new programs to accomplish their outreach and formation goals. Students learn practical ministry skills to help them truly become co-laborers with staff. Staffs gain practical frameworks to bring focus to their widespread and consuming ministry responsibilities.Â
May 9-14
ETC Southern regional in North Carolina
Fort Caswell Coastal Conference Center
May 16 - 21
ETC New England regional in Massachusetts
Betania II Retreat Center, Medway
Co-sponsored by Archdiocese of Boston Office of Campus Ministry
August 4 - 8Â
ETC Great Lakes and Midwest Regions in Wisconsin
St. Joseph’s Retreat Center, Bailey’s Harbor, Door County (outer arm of peninsula that extends into Lake Michigan)
Co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Catholic Student Center and Diocese of Green Bay Office for Vocations.
Our gospel reading this Sunday is taken from the Last Supper discourse in John’s Gospel. Having just washed his disciples’ feet and after dismissing Judas, Jesus gives his disciples a “new commandment” to love. This context is helpful for us to understand what is “new” about this commandment and why this love is to be the emblem of discipleship. How are we to love? We are to love others not only as we love ourselves. We are commanded to love one another as Jesus loves us. It is by this sacrificial love, by our loving service, that we will be known as disciples.
Last week I had a conversation with one of the professors here who is well known for his rapport with students. He told me that the best advice he got when starting out was from an older professor: “just love the kids.” Every year brings with it some disappointments. We make mistakes. We struggle with the task of having to communicate a decision that some won’t like. We have to give students the bad news that the idea they have for a program doesn’t fit in the budget or can’t be done the way they want it. In spite of these challenges, the one thing that will remain with them is our love for them.
In these remaining days, before students make their own departures, may we be challenged by this new commandment and take advantage of every opportunity for charity.
Fr. Peter Walsh, CSC is an assistant chaplain at Saint Thomas More, the Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University.
Before you were even formed, God knew you.
While you were still in your mother’s womb,
God named you.
At your birth,
God’s breath filled you with life.
Today, we celebrate what you have
become at this moment in time.
And so we pray…
God of our beginnings,
We thank you for the gifts of these graduates;
their excitement, their awesome wonder and curiosity,
their open speech and encouraging words.
Their contributions have blessed and challenged us,
and we have become a richer and more diverse community
because of them.
As they step forward into the world that awaits,
comfort their fears with the full knowledge of your divine presence.
Strengthen their resolve to walk in the footsteps of Jesus
as modern-day disciples in a world that needs their spirit.
Guide their feet as they move through life,
protecting them from the pitfalls of darkness
while they help to lead future generations
into the warmth and promise of your light.
 We ask this blessing upon each of them,
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Life After DeSales: A Starter Kit for Graduates At the annual “Thank You ” dinner for all those involved with Campus Ministry, the Seniors are given the Life After DeSales Starter Kit. The “kit” is a small gift bag, labeled “Life After DeSales Starter Kit” It is filled with the following items which reflect the University’s Salesian spirituality and reminds them of our ministry to and with them over the past four years. The items in the bag can easily be changed to reflect your school or ministry’s charism.
1.) Bee or a small letter “B”—a small figure found at any craft store
2.) Mirror
3.) Small container of honey
4.) Salt
5.) Matches
6.) Clown Noses or “Groucho” glasses
Each senior is called up by name and a brief listing of their contribution to campus ministry over the four years is read. They are each given a kit and asked not to open their kit until all have received theirs and returned to their seats. Then the following explanation (also found in the kit) is read:
“Bee“—A reminder to “Be who you are and be that well so as to give praise to the Divine Artisan whose work of art you are.”
“Honey“—DeSales explains that a bee has to work on the bitter pollen she collects to transform it into honey that is both sweet and nourishing. The devout life calls us to bring our faith and love to the ordinary and difficult demands of life. By doing so, we can transform those demands from bitter to sweet, from barren to fruitful, from ordinary to divine, from God-less to God-filled.
“Mirror”—A call to humility-to see yourself as you truly are and to recognize who and whose you are.
“Salt”—DeSales tells us that love is seeking the good in another and choosing and acting to draw that goodness out and make it grow. Just as salt draws out the goodness in food, so may our love towards others do the same.
“Matches”—”I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49) The devout life calls us to imitate Jesus’ burning passion to do the Father’s will. We will do this by doing the ordinary, extraordinarily passionately well.
-Clown Noses or Groucho glasses with moustache—a truly humble person, according to DeSales, takes life seriously but not himself seriously. The clown nose (Groucho glasses) also reminds us that an optimistic, happy character draws more people to God.
When the reading of the description is finished, the seniors are asked to put on their clown noses (Groucho glasses) and assemble for a group picture. If possible, we send them a copy of the picture before they leave campus. We also frame one of the copies and hang it in the Campus Ministry Office area as a way to remember that class.
Submitted by Rev. John Hanley, OSFS, Director of Campus Ministry at DeSales University.
Welcome to Media Monday and to the beginning of the end of the semester! Here at Yale we have begun “Reading Week”, the week of study (and revelry) between the end of classes and the beginning of exams. We have also begun the series of send off events for seniors and graduate students that carries us through the end of May.
We have begun adding to each of these send off events a book where they can add their contact information and an invitation to stay in touch through mail, email and Facebook. Rather than being put off by another potential solicitation, the seniors have embrace the opportunity to become casual observers in the community they once called home. Status updates, newsletters (virtual and paper) and regular emails have begun to knit a new kind of community for us.
How have you kept in contact with your seniors? SHARE BELOW!
Katie Byrnes is an Assistant Chaplain at Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University.
Time is running out to renew your membership!
    The June 1, 2010 deadline to renew your membership and to be included in the 2010 Catholic Campus Ministry Directory is fast approaching!
    If you would like to renew your membership and be included in the directory but are unable to pay your membership dues by June 1, please contact Michelle at the national office to make arrangements to defer your payment until after July 1.
Benefits of membership include:
A national network of fellow Catholic campus ministers.
Practical ideas and information for use in your ministry
Crossroads, CCMA’s official publication, focusing on issues facing today’s campus ministers, students and the Church.
The annual Catholic Campus Ministry Directory, listing campus ministers and diocesan directors of campus ministry throughout the country.
CCMA-L, an electronic discussion group providing instant ministry ideas and feedback.
The association website, including several “members only” sections.
Conferences, gatherings and institutes designed to renew, enrich and educate.
Recognition of exemplary campus ministry programs at the annual bishops’ reception in Washington, DC.
Eligibility for Certification, which demonstrates accreditation and professionalism in your role as a campus minister.
A clearinghouse of relevant information and resources available to Catholic campus ministers nationally.
The Matthew Kelly Foundation set a hefty goal to distribute 1,000,000 editions of Rediscovering Catholicism in 2010. For the cost of shipping and processing, you can get your own copy, and possibly snag a few for your students and colleagues. Parishes and other organizations may purchase large quantities for $2 per copy. Visit www.DynamicCatholic.org for your free copy and more information!
Scholarship and Internship Opportunity
Loyola University New Orleans’ Ignatius Chapel Community (ICC) and the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM) invite applications to the Pastoral Ministry Internship program. The successful applicant will participate in the worship life of ICC and, as an intern, contribute to its community life. In exchange, she/he will receive a full graduate tuition scholarship over the course of three years towards an MRE or MPS through LIM. For more information, please see http://www.lim.vloyno.edu/iccscholarship.html. Questions? Please contact Servando Mendez of ICC at servandomendez@bellsouth.net or Tom Ryan of LIM at tfryan@loyno.edu/504-865-2069.
Â
Advice for new campus ministers?
     Think back to your first day on the job. Did you feel overwhelmed? Were you unsure of what to do first? Did you wish that you had someone to offer you great advice on how to get started? We’ve all been there at one time or another!Â
     The New Campus Minister Support Network wants to know what you wish you had known when you were a new campus minister. And if you received helpful advice from anyone when you were new to campus ministry?
     If you would like more information about the New Campus Minister Support Network or to get involved, visit the Members section of CCMA’s webpage, www.ccmanet.org.
Â
Chrysta Bolinger is CCMA’s Director of Member Services and Communication.
Welcome to Media Monday!
During Holy Week we hosted a screening of a new documentary entitled, “A Village Called Versailles”. The film features a parish community in New Orleans post Katrina. It tells the story of how “a tight-knit group of Vietnamese Americans overcame obstacles to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, only to have their homes threatened by a new government-imposed toxic landfill. A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES is the empowering story of how the Versailles people, who have already suffered so much in their lifetime, turn a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance for a better future.”
We screened the film here with the director and prefaced it with a smaller discussion with students and the pastor. Fr. Vien was wonderful about articulating the journey of this community and their call to action on behalf of the homes and lives. The story touched many of the students who were a part of the event and has been a topic of conversation these last few weeks. If you are looking for ways to incorporate new media into your ministry consider hosting this film which will have its national television broadcast on PBS in May 2010. The website for the project can be found at http://avillagecalledversailles.com/.
Katie Byrnes is an Assistant Chaplain at Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University.
Novena for Pope Benedict XVI
The Supreme Council is organizing an international effort to pray for Pope Benedict XVI and his pastoral mission leading the Church, that the Holy Father may be strengthened and uplifted at this time of considerable challenge. All Knights are encouraged to participate in this special novena for Pope Benedict XVI, beginning on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11th, and concluding on Monday, April 19th, the fifth anniversary of the Holy Father’s election to the papacy.
 Additional details and resources are available at www.kofc.org, including .pdf files of a special prayer card that will enable you to print copies locally.
 Throughout the Church’s history, whenever challenges have come, faithful Catholics have gathered in prayer, offering their supplications and sacrifices to God for specific intentions. Now we are called to unite our prayers for our Holy Father.
 Thank you in advance for helping to spread the word about this novena, and for taking part in it yourself. Please pass along this message to other Knights and Catholics in your area. Â
Alleluia! Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!  Especially within this Easter season I am reminded of that oft-repeated maxim from St. Augustine that singing is praying twice.  There is something about the joy of this season that simply compels us to raise our voices in song to the Lord.
I confess the Easter Vigil is my favorite liturgy of the entire Church year, in part because I love the Easter Exsultet. Â And because I think it’s so beautiful, below is a link to the Exsultet as sung at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC. At the end of this busy week, I hope it serves as a wonderful reminder of the beauty of our communal prayer!
Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Our first reading has the apostles leaving the Sanhedrin “rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” What an amazing approach to persecution that they are displaying! They are living the beatitude “blessed are you when men revile and hate you because of me.” For most of us, we need some distance from difficult times to the point when we see something good coming out of them.
A year with many challenges is coming to a close. Our campuses have been troubled by budget concerns; our ministries have tried to respond to any number of crises. We have prayed in support of campuses that have suffered the death of students, some by suicide. Our Church has been called to account again for a history of abuse. Perhaps it is too soon to try to draw out something good from these experiences of suffering. But we know that it is the paschal mystery to do just that.
In our gospel this Sunday, Jesus is able to transform the three fold denial by Peter into an affirmation of Peter’s love. In doing so, he gives us a model of redemption. It is not that in redemption, we lose the experiences or tendencies that have led us to failure. Rather, they are themselves brought into grace.
Shakespeare, in his play “As You Like It” has these great lines about the hope that we may expeirence triumph out of adversity:
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.
I would not change it.
Fr. Peter Walsh, CSC is an assistant chaplain at Saint Thomas More, the Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University
As campus ministry professionals we face many challenges - sometimes even taking the forms of the plagues! But communication with our communities may be one of the most treacherous.
Faceboook, Twitter and MySpace before it, have changed the ways in which we keep track of our students. Giving us a unique insight into their lives and perhaps challenging us to be vigilant about that boundary between peer and minister.
A few weeks back I received a question about how we respond to posts students make that may seem to be more than just a rant. When do you contact students or their friends? How do you discern what is meant for you and what is meant for their “friends”. Post below and let us know how you maintain boundaries and stay present in this virtual world.
Katie Byrnes is an Assistant Chaplain at Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University.
Be the First to Comment