Need Relief from the Heat?

Some might say it is a little too early to begin promoting a program for the Fall.  With the record heat this week, the delivery of our newly designed cups and the release of the Pitt-Johnstown "New Student Orientation" schedule, we figured it made total sense to get the word out!

Join Campus Ministry at the New Student Orientation Ice Cream Social on Saturday, August 27, 2011.   Stop by the Student Union (outside of the Tuck Shop) at 9:00p.m. for some free Ice Cream in a free Catholic Campus Ministry novelty cup!  Not convinced?  Here is a sneak peek at the cup:

 

We know.  We're excited too!  Can't wait to see you there!

Community is Communion

I had the privilege of attending a wedding a couple of weeks ago in Summit, NJ.  Two of my old community members (from different years) got married in an unbelievably beautiful and heartfelt ceremony.  Needless to say, it was a weekend for the books!

What stands out to me the most, however, was the community present.  When I was in school, I lived in three separate communities over the course of three years.  We would pray, laugh, cry, fight and even prank one another on a daily basis.  It was a ministry to our peers, but it was also an opportunity to build authentic communion with one another and bring the love of Christ we experienced, to those we encountered.  Seeing and spending time with so many members of my previous communities was nothing short of amazing.

I share this with you because as I sit in my office on a rather warm Johnstown day, I am excited for the time when some of you - the student leaders, students and friends of our program - reunite with old friends after being away from one other; a time when you look back at your involvement in our Campus Ministry community with fondness and gratitude.

I have no doubt that every student, when reconnecting with former classmates, shares great memories and wonderful experiences of their college days.  I would say, however, that the connection and authentic communion that is established in Campus Ministry is unique.  When you gather regularly to celebrate the Eucharist, you not only celebrate what you believe, but you become a part of that mystery.  Naturally, community develops from communion and even more beautifully, you take an active part in God's authentic love.  How else do you expect to bring people closer to God?

To really drive home this point, I'll share one last story.  During my first year of ministry, during community prayer, one of my community members related each of us to a piece of glass.  He said that we were all cut in different ways and our color was unique to who we are.  Some of us had weak spots in our piece of glass, others were stubborn and refused to break.  He would say that living in our community was what bound all of us together, like the metal ribbing found in a stained glass window.  Together, our weaknesses and our imperfections seemed less noticeable and definitely less critically important when they were linked together.  What really brought about our full potential, however, was the light that showed through and illuminated each piece of glass.  When connected, that warmth and light created a complete and unified reflection.

That light is the presence of God, shining through each of us.  Together, unified and complete, our community was better able to give witness to God's authentic love.  The same is true for all communities, whether they are a parish, a Campus Ministry program, a family or a group of friends.  Together, unified and brought to life by the light of Christ, you become more fully alive.

So, who is your community and how are you letting God shine through it?  Better yet, what are you doing now to harvest community for the future?  Think about it.

Keep relaxing and take some time to enjoy the summer heat!  You and your community are in my prayers.

Communication and Technology

I was at a conference a couple of weeks ago, where the concept of "googling God" and the benefits of social media were discussed.  It was very well done and I appreciated the information and ideas that were shared.  This conversation, plus the recent revival of our Campus Ministry Twitter account and the establishment of a live Mass feed for St. Patrick Church in Moxham, has gotten me to think about how reliant we are on technology today.  Less than 5 years ago, most people scoffed at the idea of a Facebook account and yet, over 500 million active users exist today.  The same can be said for Twitter, blogs and every other type of social media that continues to surface.

The role and importance of technology has changed the way that most people in our, or younger, generations communicate today.  I remember when AIM was big and I would message my brother sitting in the same room, on a different computer.  We laugh or get disgusted at the impersonal nature of such "discussions," but the reality is, a lot of people rely on their text messages or Facebook walls to communicate any more.


I share all of this because as a campus minister, there is a fine line and a necessary balance that should be established between meeting students where they're at through social media and meeting them where they're at in person.  I cannot dream (nor would I ever wish) of the day that we can "fully and actively" participate in the sacrifice of the Mass by individual webcams.  A ministry of presence should exist where the people are at, but I don't think we can discount the reality that people, our community, exists in places other than the internet too.  While social media has grown rapidly, it has not, nor should it ever, replace the living person.

If we think about the sacraments, they are all communal and sensory by nature.  We feel and smell and hear and see how all created reality is capable of manifesting God.  How are we living as Christ and embracing the transcendent if we are limiting ourselves to technological communication?  Don't get me wrong, it is necessary and a beautiful witness to the progress of humanity and society, but it should not be our only great testament.

I would encourage you to e-mail a friend today and then visit a neighbor in person.  By building authentic discussion in chat rooms and in person, I have no doubt we will continue to discover God among us, both at home and on campus.  Amen.

New Evangelization

There has been a lot of talk as of late (within Catholic circles) about the necessity and importance of "New Evangelization."  In fact, Pope Benedict XVI created a new pontifical council that focuses on proclaiming a new evangelization to countries that have become overly secularized since they first heard and accepted the Gospel message.  In essence, the question has become, why are so many Catholics unaware of what the Church actually teaches?

This question has been around for a while (both Blessed John Paul II and the current Pope have written and spoken about this for at least the past 10 years).  With the development of the new council, there seems to be a renewed movement, though, focused on bringing the lost sheep back into the fold.

Naturally this poses an interesting question for college students and the Campus Ministry programs that they are a part of.  How do we join in this effort to reach friends, students and other young adults who are in need of a new evangelization?  I think the best answer comes from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, currently Pope Benedict XVI, and his address to Catholic catechists and religion teachers (2000).  He says,


"We ourselves cannot gather men. We must acquire them by God for God. All methods are empty without the foundation of prayer. The word of the announcement must always be drenched in an intense life of prayer."


He very clearly expresses the need, not for new or exciting methods, but for "an intense life of prayer."  My college Campus Minister and Chaplain used to always say, "we must pray for a conversion of heart!"  It's the idea that we must reach people through the constant invitation of prayer; one that invites them to go deeper into a relationship with God and His Church.

All too often, we get caught up in the numbers game.  In our secular world, strength and success are derived from the popularity and growth of a program or event.  The more people you have involved, the more successful and strong your organization or program is.  I am guilty of thinking this all too often and charging my student leaders to reach more people and grow our numbers.  The test, however, is one of patience.  Ratzinger reminds us that:


"Yet another temptation lies hidden beneath this—the temptation of impatience, the temptation of immediately finding the great success, in finding large numbers. But this is not God's way. For the Kingdom of God as well as for evangelization, the instrument and vehicle of the Kingdom of God, the parable of the grain of mustard seed is always valid (see Mark 4:31-32).

The Kingdom of God always starts anew under this sign. New evangelization cannot mean: immediately attracting the large masses that have distanced themselves from the Church by using new and more refined methods. No—this is not what new evangelization promises.

New evangelization means: never being satisfied with the fact that from the grain of mustard seed, the great tree of the Universal Church grew; never thinking that the fact that different birds may find place among its branches can suffice—rather, it means to dare, once again and with the humility of the small grain, to leave up to God the when and how it will grow (Mark 4:26-29)." 


It is important to remember and remind ourselves, that although there is a lot we hope to achieve and build, it is for God alone and His glory that we began the work in the first place.  Rooting our lives in intense prayer will give us the ability to convert hearts, find the patience we need, but most importantly, work for God's glory, not our own.  If this isn't "New Evangelization," I don't know what is!

So, as we continue to build God's kingdom here at Pitt-Johnstown, my prayer is for all of our students, but also for God's will - that I may be patient enough to seek it and ready enough to do it!  Amen?  Amen! 

Solid Rock

There is so much that has happened in these past few months.  We hosted our first off-campus retreat.  We celebrated Lent, the Paschal Triduum and the beginning of Easter.  We fully initiated 2 members of our Pitt-Johnstown community into the Catholic Church.  We celebrated commencement on campus and sent the Class of 2011 on their way.  We welcomed our new bishop to this diocese.  So many wonderful, memorable events took place for our Catholic and University community in these past few weeks.  There is much to be grateful for... something that a lot of people aren't feeling these days.  It is important that we pray in thanksgiving for these gifts, but also for those people who are struggling on a daily basis to understand how God is working in their lives.  Amen?

Not only have these past few months been eventful, but this entire academic year has been one of great memories and wonderful progress.  I am confident that the relationships we are building, not only on campus, but with God, will continue to bear much fruit in the coming days, weeks and years ahead.  Matthew's Gospel reminds us that the house set solidly on rock will be able to buffet the winds, storms and rains.  After this first year, I truly believe that we are building our programs and relationships on solid rock: Jesus Christ.

My hope is, that as we progress through the summer, I will be able to more regularly update this blog for those of you who continue to read it.  Until my next post, I leave you with the video that was made for our New Catholic Student Orientation Day and Family Day this past semester.  It was well attended by our student leader's families and there was a sprinkling of incoming freshmen... so much to be thankful for!

Promised prayers as we continue this wonderful season of Easter!

The Beginning of Lent

I am a little biased, but I think that this message by Bishop David O'Connell of the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey is wonderful!  Give it a listen and be assured of my prayers for all of you as we near the end of the semester.

Scheduling

Every Sunday before our University Mass, the student and professional staff of Catholic Campus Ministry meet to discuss our plans for the upcoming week.  It provides a great opportunity for us to get organized and spend some time making sure we are offering the very best for our small, but dedicated contingency of Catholics on campus.

As of late, I have been trying to compile different schedules and lists for all the opportunities and programs that we will be offering before the end of the semester.  Between five different student leaders and two professional staff members, though, it can get a little chaotic.

At yesterday's meeting, I felt a little guilty as we went through the schedule for the rest of the semester.  Like most weeks, the student staff and I will be seeing each other every day, but as the end of the semester approaches, our daily encounters will become more frequent.  At one point, I found myself being relieved to discover an entire day in the midst of Lent when we weren't meeting or programming.  It isn't that I don't love spending time with these students or that I am burdened by them.  Quite the opposite.  The success of this year and of our campus ministry program is a direct result of their tireless and selfless effort to give.  Simply put, I wish I could give them more time to themselves and more opportunities to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

With all of this on my mind, I was touched by Fr. Matthew's homily at Mass.  He said that anxiety and anxiousness are not really of God.  If we are constantly worrying about tomorrow or how we are going to accomplish our plans in the future, we miss out on seeing God now; present among us today.  I think that his words are very encouraging, but also very challenging.  As I continue to schedule or as I continue to plan for the rest of the semester, it is hard not to get anxious about the workload ahead.

Throughout the course of this year, I have come to the realization that, quite truthfully, the students are the ones who best understand the need to enjoy the present and seek God throughout each day.  Unplanned visits, concerns, worries, joys, prayers, messages and moments that I share with the students day in and day out are wonderful reminders that there is plenty to thank God for.  My sincere hope is that they too are recognizing God in these moments.

So, my encouragement to anyone and everyone reading this, is simple: live each and every day with God in your mind and on your heart.  Leave the worries and anxieties of the future where they belong: your desk calendar!  I am confident that if we work towards this together, then these next few months will be a joyful and wonderful witness to the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Amen?  Amen!