Servant Leadership

At the end of Christmas break, some of my student leaders and I traveled to St. Louis, MO for a Catholic leadership conference.  There was a lot of talk about what it means to be a "servant leader," so naturally it has been on my mind lately.

Yesterday, we celebrated the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  His pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement is one that can not easily be forgotten or ignored.  I got to thinking that his life and his model of leadership was one of true service to God and to his nation.  I find it to be fitting, then, that some of his words from The Drum Major Instinct are reflected upon: 


"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve.
You don't have to have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.
You don't have to know Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" to serve.
You don't have to know the Second Theory of Thermal Dynamics in Physics to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace,
     a soul generated by love,
          and you can be that servant."


It is easy, as a leader or as someone who holds a lot of power, to expect the service of others.  I'm sure any king or sultan could attest to the bliss associated with being served.  To be a true leader, however, is to serve and lead by example.  It isn't always easy or perfect, but it is a constant attempt to do as Jesus did and wash the feet of his apostles.  My constant prayer as a Campus Minister is that I follow this model of leadership and realize that true leadership is a result of authentic and self-giving service.  I'm not perfect, nor do I always have all the answers, but please know that I am trying.

And to be honest, I think that this is what Dr. King was getting at in this sermon.  Trying, even if failing, is a better service to your fellow man then doing nothing at all because at least trying shows a genuine love for someone else.  In this respect, everyone can be great because everyone can love.  Very simply, everyone can be great because everyone can know God.

Think about it...

Why March for Life?

On Monday, January 24, 2011, we will be taking a chartered bus to Washington, DC to join in the March for Life.  It is a peaceful, prayerful march that stands up against the injustices of abortion, the death penalty and all other hinderances to a culture of life.  Sign up outside of Catholic Campus Ministry if you are interested in going.  The cost is only $10 and scholarships are available. 

If you can't decide or are hesitant about going, take a few moments to watch this phenomenal message from Bishop David O'Connell.  He is the former President of The Catholic University of America and currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, one of the 15th largest dioceses in the U.S.  It is something worth considering...

Prayers for all of you today as we begin our first full week of classes! 

A New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone.  It is even harder to believe that 2010 - an entire year - is already behind us!  In some regard, I am thankful that it went by so quickly and effortlessly.  At the same time, I don't like to think that I sat idlely by while my life and the gifts God has given me went under used.  If anything, this New Year offers us all a clean slate and an opportunity to really reflect on what God has done and where we can be better disciples of His Gospel message in the future.

2011 holds many unknown challenges and so it is important that we recommit and truly resolve, as Catholics and Christians, to give our faith lives the attention they deserve.  In part for personal gain, but more importantly, out of love for God and love of neighbor.  It is always easier to hear this line, then actually do it, but I think (a) knowing we are not alone in the journey and (b) suffering out of love for others is part and partial to our Catholic identity. 


With these thoughts, I leave you with a video of the student leaders from Catholic Campus Ministry at the National Catholic Student Coalition (NCSC) Conference in St. Louis, MO.  One of the nights they participated in 'Regional Olympics.'  Pitt-Johnstown was well represented and we brought home the gold for the Northeast Region of the U.S.  We dominated this event, which is due, in large part, to the 'duck-duck-goose' game we played at CCC a month and a half prior.  Enjoy!

Prayers during these last few days of Christmas!