Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Weekly Update from CCM

Happy Halloween (a couple of days early)!  Which is to say, Happy All Saints Day!  This week we celebrate an important day on the Church calendar, a day set aside to remember all the holy men and women of the Church who do not have their own dedicated feast or memorial.  This practice dates back to the fourth century; the Church had the practice of commemorating martyrs by honoring the on the day of their martyrdom, but eventually the numbers got so high that many had to share a common day.

The date of November 1 comes from the eighth century when Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome to all the saints on that date.  He then extended the date of the celebration to the universal Church.  The choice of the Nov. 1 date, then, had nothing to do with the old Celtic new year celebration of Samhain, which fell on that date.  Pagan belief was that during Samhain, the world of the dead was closest to the world of the living.  So even though these two different traditions are not related, it is fitting that this day be marked as a special time to remember those who have gone before us in faith.  Of course, the saints are not dead but very much alive in Christ, part of the same Body of Christ - the Church - as are we!  

The word "Halloween" comes from an archaic name for All Saints Day - All Hallows Day.  "Hallowed" means "Holy" the same as "Saint."  (We use this word in the Our Father prayer, when we say, "Hallowed by Thy name").  The Vigil of All Saints which takes place the evening before was called All Hallows Eve; this was shortened to Hallowe'en.

WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

Gospel For Today - 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

"The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no favorites."  This is the first line from the first reading today, from Sirach.  The Lord knows no favorites.  Jesus instructs us to call God our Father (Christ used the word Abba, which actually comes closer in meaning to "Daddy" than the more formal "Father").  So we can think of God as the perfect parent, and of course a good parent does not have favorites among his children; he loves them each the same.  In God's case, He loves us each with an infinite love.

We can also think of God having no favorites in a different way. St. Terese of Lisieux, the "Little Flower," is so called because she felt she could not be compared to the great giants of the faith such as St. Terese of Avila or St. John of the Cross (both also members of her Carmelite order).  Those holy people were like giant trees, reaching close to God.  She, on the other hand, was more like the little flower on the forest floor.

But you know what?  The sun shines equally on the giant tree and the little flower.  And so God's grace shines the same on the great and the small alike.  In fact, it is the one who has smallness of spirit, that child-like humility, that can feel and appreciate God's love all the more.  It is the one with child-like humility who recognizes that he or she needs help.  It is the child-like spirit that knows it cannot achieve holiness on its own.  It is the child who looks, with trust and adoration, into his or her father's eyes and says, "Carry me."

The haughty spirit does not ask for help.  And so the haughty do not receive it.  So even though God has no favorites, this is why we read in the scriptures that He especially hears the prayers of the poor, the weak, and the oppressed.  You don't have to be poor, weak or oppressed to be humble before God, but those who are tend to be more inclined to that humility.  They know they need help.  And so they are ready to ask for it.

Today Jesus tells us of two men offering prayers before God.  One, the Pharisee, an intelligent and religious man, even in his prayers of thanksgiving exalts himself by saying how glad he is that he is not like other, weaker and less fortunate men.  Jesus poignantly says the Pharisee "prays to himself."  Even in his prayers, he is self focused.  

But the humble man in Jesus' story prays to God.  And his prayer is simple.  "O God, have mercy on me, a sinner."  It is the prayer of someone who knows he needs help and is not too proud to ask for it.

This is the path to holiness.  This is the path to God.  We are natural creatures with supernatural destinies.  On our own we are not capable of achieving the greatness for which we were made.  Our path to glory begins by asking for help.  God desperately wants to help us to come to Him.  But He is limited by His own respect for us - He will not violate our free will and force Himself on us.  We waits to be invited.  He waits for us to ask Him, "Abba, Daddy... carry me."


--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

Gospel For Today: 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

It's a Friday during Lent and you know you are not supposed to eat meat, but you are riding home from campus with friends who all want to stop at Cook-Out for dinner and there are no non-meat options.  The food smells so good.  Do you eat that burger, or walk across the street to Taco Bell and order a veggie bean burrito?

The school is sponsoring a weekend trip off campus to do a service project.  You'd really like to go, but you look at the itinerary and find out there is no opportunity for you to make it to any Sunday Mass.  You would not be able to fulfill your obligation before God if you went.  But you'd be helping people on the service trip, and God would want that, right?  So what do you choose to do?

Your boyfriend is pushing you to take your relationship in a direction that you know is counter to Catholic morals.  In your head you know it is wrong, but you are afraid of disappointing him.  And a part of you really wants to... it is so easy to forget about your faith.

God knows it is hard.  That is why He enjoins us in the scriptures today to "remain faithful to what you have learned and believed" (2 Tim 3:14).  St. Paul tells us to "be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient."  This is an important reminder for us.  Most of us have no trouble practicing the faith so long as it is convenient.  But as soon as we are challenged, as soon as we face difficulties, or as soon as we are tempted, we falter.  The examples I mentioned above may seem frivolous to some.  But they include some very serious matters.  Attending Mass on Sunday is a serious obligation, and missing Mass for anything less than a serious reason (such as illness) is a grave sin.  Our duty to offer corporate worship as a member of the Body of Christ is a serious duty before God.  Are we too willing to neglect that obligation in favor of a lesser obligation to school, work, or a friend?

Sexual ethics have consequences for us both in this world and in the next.  What the Church teaches carries with it the 2000 year wisdom of the saints as well as natural law moral principles.  We know sex is for building union and for the gift of procreation and so belongs within the context of marriage.  Yet how easy is it to let that go in exchange for temporary satisfaction of our own impulses?

We know in our heads and in our hearts what we ought to do in all these cases.  But we too often lack the will.  We drop the ball, not only in these matters but in so many other ways.  Failing in our faith is so easy.  Staying true to our principles is hard.  Sometimes we may wonder why we bother at all.

We need to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that staying true to the faith is hard.  And that's ok.  That's how it's supposed to be.  Anything truly worth doing comes with some difficulty. Any goal worth achieving has to be earned.  If you want to win that marathon, you need to train.  And you don't just train when you feel like it.  You train every day, rain or shine - when it is convenient and inconvenient.  If you want to earn that degree you need to study, and not just when you feel like studying.  That's a sure way to fail out of college.  You need to study when you absolutely don't feel like doing it.  Developing that discipline is how you get the high GPA.  

The same is true of the faith.  It requires discipline.  It requires persistence.  It is hard work sometimes.  But it is worth it.  Practicing the faith only when it is easy requires no faith at all.  Practicing the faith when it is inconvenient, when it is hard, is a real virtue.  God sees your struggle in these cases.  He understand the uphill climb you may be facing.  And He rewards the effort, even if you stumble and make mistakes.  He knows you are trying and will help you do better the next time you find it inconvenient to stay true to Him.

So stay true to God, not only when it is easy but even and especially when it is hard.  Follow the example of Moses in today's first reading.  He knew that as long as he kept his hands raised, the battle would be won.  But his arms grew so tired.  Thankfully he had Aaron and Hur standing on either side of him, holding up his arms.  With the help of faithful friends, Moses remained persistent.  So too you need to have faithful friends who will lift you up and help you to remain true to God in times when you are tempted to give it all up.  You need to have friends who will "convince, reprimand, and encourage" you, as St. Paul says, with patience and with love.  And you need to be that friend to others.

In this way we can each help the other stay true to our faith.  The gospel reading today gives us the famous line when Jesus asks if He will find any faith at all on earth when He returns.  God knows how easy it is to loose faith.  But it is precisely because the faith can be difficult that it is so rewarding.  It is the chance of failure that makes success so sweet.  

Your life is a contest; one with the highest stakes.  The reward you stand to gain at the end if you live it well is ever so much more than a trophy or a diploma.  It is nothing short of perfect and eternal happiness; unending love and joy in full communion with the God who made the Universe.  This is what you were made for.  So don't screw it up.  Be persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient - and especially when it is inconvenient.  Ask for help if you need it; from good faithful friends who can be your support and encouragement, and most of all from God Himself.  Ask for His strength; He will lend it to you.  Ask for His wisdom; He will teach you.  Ask for His love; you already have it.  And if and when you do fail, ask for His mercy; He will forgive you.  

And then get right back up.  Shake it off.  And go on training to be a saint.  It is your destiny.  

God bless,
Matt

--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

Gospel for Today: 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

Both the Old Testament and the Gospel readings today tell stories of miraculous healing.  In our first reading from 2 Kings, Naaman, a Syrian, was healed of his leprosy by following the prophet Elisha's instructions to plunge himself seven times in the Jordan river.  At that time, among the civilizations in the Middle East, each tribe and nation of people had their own god or gods whom they worshiped.  Gods were thought to be tied to particular regions, so many people perceived the God of Israel to be just one national god among many.  But upon being healed, Naaman proclaimed, "Now I know there is no God in all the earth except in Israel."  Naaman even asked for a cartload of Israeli soil to take with him so that he could continue to give worship to Israel's God when he returned home.

In our Gospel reading today from Luke, another foreigner glorifies God after experiencing a miraculous healing.  Jesus heals ten lepers on His way to Jerusalem.  One of them, a Samaritan (remember, those guys despised by the Jews?) came back to Jesus.  The gospel says he "glorified God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him."  Jesus remarks how He healed ten people, but only "this foreigner" returned to give thanks to God.

This is but one of many healing miracles Jesus performs throughout the gospels, and so He is rightly called the Great Physician.  But healing the sick is really incidental to His ministry.  He did not come to heal mankind of our physical ailments.  He came for a higher purpose, to reconcile sinners to the Father.  Christ miraculously heals the body of some to point to the greater healing of the soul that He offers to all.  Our gospel today reveals the purpose of His healing miracles; to give glory to God, just as Naaman did when he was healed by Elisha.  

Naaman proclaimed, "There is no God in all the earth except [the God of] Israel."  This is the fundamental truth of our faith.  There is one God and one God only.  There is only one God who made all of creation, including you and I.  The one and the same God will be our judge at the end of our lives.  And that one and the same God offers His unceasing love and mercy to us.  Furthermore that one and the same God became Incarnate in space and time and is none other than Jesus the Christ, as evidenced by the many miracles He performed, including the healing proclaimed in the gospel today, and most especially in His resurrection from the dead.

If you are a Christian, this is what you believe.  It is likely something you have been taught as a child, something that has always been part of the background of your life.  But so what?  Do you live your life any differently knowing that Jesus Christ is the one and only God?  Does it make any difference for you?

When Naaman discovered that the God of Israel was the one true God, he wanted to carry loads of dirt from Israel, carted around by donkeys wherever he went, so that he could always honor God.  What are you willing to do?

Listen to the words that St. Paul - who never met Jesus in the flesh - writes to his beloved Timothy from behind the walls of a prison cell.  "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:  such is my gospel [good news] for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.  But the word of God is not chained.  Therefore, I bear with everything... If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him."

In other words, there is nothing Paul would not endure, nothing he would not do, for the singular fact that Jesus Christ is Lord.  This truth is life altering.  It changes everything, or it should for those who comprehend it even a little bit.  If you understand that Jesus Christ is God and know what He did for us, then nothing in your life can ever be the same.

Today is the day to take an honest look at your life.  How is your life different because of Jesus?  And do not answer this question with externals.  It would be a selfish mistake to focus on things like, "Jesus did not help me pass my exam," or "Jesus did not help my dad find a job," or "Jesus did not heal my aunt's cancer," or "Jesus didn't keep that boy from breaking my heart."   Jesus is not a magic genie who grants us wishes if we rub his lamp.  Jesus is God - the only God there is -- the God who died and rose for us and who beckons us to follow Him to eternal life.   If you want to know what Jesus has done for you, you only need look at a crucifix.  Things that seem important to us now pale in comparison to our eternal happiness.  Christ has bigger plans for us.

So I ask again, how is your life different because of Jesus?  And this time look inward.  Reflect on what you have done for Him.  How have you changed your life because of Jesus?  Are you living any differently than the rest of the world?  Do you think about Christ when making important decisions in your life?  Everyday decisions?  

If Naaman was willing to haul cartloads of earth from Israel, if Paul was willing to suffer imprisonment, what are you willing to do?  How about giving up one hour once a week to go to Mass?  That's a start.  

How about saying, "Thank you," to God in a quick prayer every morning?  How about saying, "I'm sorry," to Him at the end of the day when you think back on your failings and then asking Him to help you be a better person?  How about spending some serious time thinking about what it means to be a better person?  

How about learning a little bit about the Church He founded to continue His ministry for us today?  How about spending a little time each week learning about what His Church teaches, and why?  How about letting the Church challenge you, and not shrinking from that challenge?

How about letting go of some things that are standing between you and God?  How about letting God change you into the person He wants you to be, the perfect version of you?  How about trusting Him to know you better than you know yourself?  

How about falling in love with Jesus? How about settling for nothing less?

As the psalmist says today, "The Lord has revealed to the nations His saving power."  God has revealed Himself to us.  He has made His glory known.  How will you respond?

This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with Him
we shall also live with Him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with Him.
But if we deny Him
He will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself.



--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

CCM Bulletin

Life be in your speech
Sense in what you say
The bloom of cherries on your lips
Till you come back again.

The love Christ Jesus gave
Be filling every heart for you,
The love Christ Jesus gave
Fill you for everyone.

Traversing corries, traversing forest,
Traversing valleys long and wild,
The fair white Mary still uphold you,
The Shepherd Jesus be your shield.
                ~ Celtic travelling blessing from the Scottish isles



What is Taizé?

  • Taizé is a village in France, north of Lyon. It is the site of a unique ecumenical monastic community. There are 100 brothers from 30 different countries, Catholic and Protestant, living together as a vowed religious community.
  • The community was founded by Br. Roger Schutz, from Switzerland. When he was 25, after a long struggle with TB, he felt called to form a community of reconciliation. He got on his bicycle and rode from Switzerland to France and set up in an abandoned farm.  It was 1940 and he took in refugees and Jews, helped out by his sister. He had to return to Geneva in 1942 because the Gestapo wanted to arrest him, but he returned in 1944. After the war, he and his sister took in German POWs and war orphans. Other people began to gather with them for prayer and to help with the ministry.
  • In 1949 seven brothers made religious profession. Besides the community in Taizé, some brothers live among the poor in Africa, Asia and South America. Their mission continues “to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and separated peoples.”
  • Hospitality has also remained a central focus of the community. Today, that hospitality is primarily offered to young adults. Every week, hundreds to thousands of young Christians from around the world gather at Taizé for bible study, group discussions on social issues, and prayer three times a day with the brothers. There is also a youth meeting once a year in different countries.
  • Music is at the heart of Taizé worship. The community has developed a distinctive style of music, consisting of short verses (often from scripture) set to simple tunes that are sung over and over in order to foster contemplation. Taizé music allows large numbers of participants from all over the world to join in worship (and not just observe it) because it is multi-lingual and easy to learn. You might be familiar with the song often used in Lent, which goes “Jesus, remember me / when you come into your kingdom.”
  • For more information on Taizé, see their website: www.taize.fr/en.


___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423

at

Weekly Update from CCM

From Theology and Sanity by Frank Sheed:

We are saved or damned according to what we love.  If we love God, we shall ultimately get God: we shall be saved.  If we love self in preference to God, then we shall get self apart from God: we shall be damned.  But though in our relation to God the intellect does not matter as much as the will... it does matter, and as I have said, it is too much neglected - to the great misfortune of the will, for we can never attain a maximum love of God with only a minimum knowledge of God.

For the soul's full functioning, we need a Catholic intellect as well as a Catholic will.  We have a Catholic will when we love God and obey God, love the Church and obey the Church.  We have a Catholic intellect when we live consciously in the presence of the realities that God through His Church has revealed.  A good working test of a Catholic will is that we should do what the Church says.  But for a Catholic intellect, we must also see what the Church sees.  This means that when we look out upon the Universe we see the same Universe that the Church sees; and the enormous advantage of this is that the Universe the Church sees is the real Universe, because she is the Church of God.  Seeing what she sees means seeing what is there.  And just as loving what is good is sanctity, or the health of the will, so seeing what is there is sanity, or the health of the intellect.

from Chapter 1: Religion and the Mind


--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Gospel For Today - 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.  From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace... it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.  (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1302-3)

Life is hard sometimes.  I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that.  If you have not yet experienced hardship and tragedy in your life, it is coming.  That is the human condition.  One of the noble aspects of the Christian faith is that it does not deny this reality.  Our faith embraces it.  Just look at how our first reading today begins, from the opening of the Book of the Prophet Habakkuk.  The prophet is pleading with God, "How long, O Lord?  I cry for help but you do not listen!"

Just look at how he describes his situation: violence, ruin, misery, destruction, strife, clamorous discord.  What a miserable situation he must be in!  And made even more miserable by the feeling the God somehow was not listening to him.  "I cry out to you," the prophet says, "but you do not intervene."

Let us remember, too, that Habakkuk is not some dejected sinner who has rejected God's ways and so gotten himself into a horrible situation.  He is a chosen prophet of God!  He seeks only to do God's bidding!  One is reminded of the prayer of St. Theresa of Avila, who once was thrown from the donkey she was riding while crossing a stream. "Lord," she cried, "if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them."

But God did hear the prayers of Habakkuk.  He did answer them.  His answer was, "Be patient.  Wait."  Our first reading concludes, "For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.  The rash one has no integrity..."  No doubt this was not the kind of answer that Habakkuk was hoping for.  So it is with us. God knows our suffering.  He knows our struggles, our pains, our frustrations.  He hears all our prayers.  And he always answers, even if that answer is often times, "Wait, my child."  

The entrance antiphon for today's Mass is, "Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will.  For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all" (Est 4:17).  The Church reminds us with this antiphon today that God is God and we are not.  He is in charge, and there is nothing on earth or in heaven which is not subject to His will.  This includes our suffering.

Does this mean God is the cause of our suffering?  No.  But He permits it, because He is able to use it for our good.  He is not done with us yet.  In our gospel reading today Jesus speaks of servants who spend their day working the fields.  When they come in, they cannot simply sit down at table to eat.  Their work is not yet done.  They must prepare the meal for their master and see that he is served before serving themselves.  

We may read this and think, "How unfair!"  And on a human level, perhaps it is.  But God has something greater in mind for us.  It is not enough that we simply do "what we were obliged to do" as it says in today's gospel.  Our work is not yet done. God wants more for us.  He wants us to go above and beyond our simple obligation.  He expects more.  

How can we endure?  How can we press on through difficulties and trials?  Is God not asking too much?  Again, perhaps on a mere human level, He is.  But God asks us to endure nothing without also giving us the strength to do so.  We need only to trust and rely on that gift, and perhaps that is the lesson He wishes to teach us.  

St. Paul reminds us today of the gifts God has given that allow us to overcome our trials.  "I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.  So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord... but bear your share of hardship for the gospel" (1 Tim 1:6-8).

St. Paul speaks of "power."  I opened this reflection with a quote from the Catechism about the sacrament of Confirmation.  Did you know that in Confirmation God gives you special powers?  (You didn't know you were a superhero, did you?)  One gift of Confirmation is the power to live a holy life in an unholy world.  No matter what havoc is taking place in your life, no matter what hardships you may have to endure, you have the power to remain close to God, to be a holy person, to rest in God's love and reflect that love to others.  You have that gift.  

The other power of Confirmation is the ability to be a witness of Christ to others; to "spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ... to never be ashamed of the Cross," as the Catechism puts it.  The cross is the symbol of God's love for us, a love expressed through suffering.  Not being ashamed of the cross means not being afraid to suffer on that cross yourself.  "God dd not give us a spirit of cowardice," St. Paul writes.  "Bear your share of hardship for the gospel."

Like a superhero's powers, the powers you receive in Confirmation need to be exercised and developed to be of any use.  Sadly today, many confirmed Catholics have let these powers atrophy.  But that does not have to be the case.  You can use these powers to accomplish wonderful things.  Whenever you face hardship, remember this: God has given you the strength needed to endure it.  And by enduring it for His sake, you come closer in spirit to Christ who endured suffering for you.  You are not alone.  If you live a life of the sacraments, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you.  "Guard this rich trust," St. Paul encourages us.  Foster the life of the Holy Spirit.  Stir up the flame of faith.  Remain close to the sacraments.  Resist sin, and when you do sin, repent and seek reconciliation.  Pray often.  Stay close to God.  Remember you are engaged in spiritual warfare, and the battle will take time.  Trust in God that He has given you the power to endure.

For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;if it delays, wait for it,it will surely come, it will not be late.
The rash one has no integrity;but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

CCM Bulletin week of Sep 30

Fr. Arnsparger recently mentioned “making our morning offering” at mass, and I thought I’d include a sample morning offering prayer. As the Catechism says, “the baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior's grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father.” At the end of this email you’ll find an excerpt about morning prayer by Fr. Romano Guardini, an influential 20th-century German theologian.
My God, I adore You, and I love You with all my heart. I thank you for having created me, made me a Christian, and preserved me this night. I offer You the actions of this day. Grant that all of them may be in accordance with Your holy Will and for Your greater glory. Protect me from sin and from all evil. Let Your grace be always with me and with all my dear ones. Amen.



Quote about…    Sacred Time

Though each hour of the day has its own character, three hours stand out from the rest—morning, evening, and half way between them, noonday, and have an aspect distinctively their own. These three hours the church has consecrated.
Of them all the morning hours wears the most shining face. It possesses the energy and brightness of a beginning. Mysteriously, each morning we are born again. We emerge out of sleep refreshed, renewed, with an invigorating sense of being alive. This newly infused feeling of our existence turns to a prayer of thanksgiving for life to him who gave it. With an impulse to action born of fresh energy we think of the day ahead and of the work to be done in it, and this impulse also becomes a prayer. We begin the day in God’s name and strength and ask him to make our work a work for him…
It is plain how much depends on this first hour. It is the day’s beginning. The day may be started without a beginning. The day may be slipped into without thought or intention. But such a day, without purpose or character, hardly deserves the name. It is no more than a torn-off scrap of time. A day is a journey. One must decide which way one is going. It is also a work, and as such requires to be willed. A single day is the whole of life. The whole of life is like a day. Each day should have its own distinct character.
The morning hour exercises the will, directs the intention, and sets our gaze wholly upon God.

~ Romano Guardini (1885-1968), Sacred Signs

What is Taizé?

  • Taizé is a village in France, north of Lyon. It is the site of a unique ecumenical monastic community. There are 100 brothers from 30 different countries, Catholic and Protestant, living together as a vowed religious community.
  • The community was founded by Br. Roger Schutz, from Switzerland. When he was 25, after a long struggle with TB, he felt called to form a community of reconciliation. He got on his bicycle and rode from Switzerland to France and set up in an abandoned farm.  It was 1940 and he took in refugees and Jews, helped out by his sister. He had to return to Geneva in 1942 because the Gestapo wanted to arrest him, but he returned in 1944. After the war, he and his sister took in German POWs and war orphans. Other people began to gather with them for prayer and to help with the ministry.
  • In 1949 seven brothers made religious profession. Besides the community in Taizé, some brothers live among the poor in Africa, Asia and South America. Their mission continues “to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and separated peoples.”
  • Hospitality has also remained a central focus of the community. Today, that hospitality is primarily offered to young adults. Every week, hundreds to thousands of young Christians from around the world gather at Taizé for bible study, group discussions on social issues, and prayer three times a day with the brothers. There is also a youth meeting once a year in different countries.
  • Music is at the heart of Taizé worship. The community has developed a distinctive style of music, consisting of short verses (often from scripture) set to simple tunes that are sung over and over in order to foster contemplation. Taizé music allows large numbers of participants from all over the world to join in worship (and not just observe it) because it is multi-lingual and easy to learn. You might be familiar with the song often used in Lent, which goes “Jesus, remember me / when you come into your kingdom.”
  • For more information on Taizé, see their website: www.taize.fr/en.

___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423

at

Gospel for Today - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

The gospel reading today from Luke 16:19-31 tells the story of a rich man who lived in the lap of luxury while a poor man, named Lazarus, begged for scraps at his door. When the poor man died "he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham."  When the rich man died, however, he experienced great suffering and torment.  He could see Lazarus and Abraham from where he was being tortured and begged them for help.  Abraham explained that there was a great chasm between them, preventing anyone from crossing from one side to the other.  "My child," Abraham tells the rich man, "remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented."

The message of today's gospel is similar to what we have been hearing these past few weeks.  Things don't work out too well in the end for the rich men in these parables.  The poor are rewarded in the end.  What are we to make of these repeated lessons?  Is wealth bad?  Riches something to be avoided?  After all, doesn't the saying go, "Money is the root of all evil?"

Not quite. That popular saying actually comes from scripture (1 Tim 6:10) but usually people remember it incorrectly.  What St. Paul says in that verse is, "For the love of money is the root of all evil."  (Some translations say "a root of all kinds of evil.")  This is an important distinction.  Money itself is not evil.  Evil does not come from objects.  It comes from within us, in our hearts, and manifests itself in our choices and actions.

To put it simply, wealth is not evil but greed is.  Another name for greed is "avarice," and it is considered one of the seven deadly sins, along with pride, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and sloth.  There are all manner of sins, but all sins have certain things in common.  Every sin is an offense against reason and a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by what the Catechism calls "a perverse attachment to certain goods" (CCC 1849).  In other words, sin is caused by loving something more than God; loving something created more than the Creator.

Greed is caused by the love of money, and that's why St. Paul says love of money is a root of all kinds of other evil.  Tradition identifies these particular seven sins as "deadly" because they tend to lead to other sins.  When one is guilty of the sin of greed, one loves wealth above all else.  This makes it that much easier to commit other sinful acts in order to obtain even more wealth, which one sees as the greatest good.  Injustices, like ignoring the plight of the starving Lazarus at your doorstep, become all too easy for the one guilty of avarice.

Possessing wealth in itself is not evil.  We need a certain amount of material goods merely to survive.  And most of us would prefer to do more than just survive.  We want to be able to enjoy the fruits of this created world, and this is fine as long as we enjoy them for what they are - gifts from the Creator - and do not allow them to overshadow the love of God and neighbor that ought to be first in our hearts.  Just owning wealth is not a sin.  But it can be an occasion of sin.

All of us have a capacity for greed.  It is part of our fallen nature.  We are not immune to temptation.  And, paradoxically, the more wealth one has, the stronger is the temptation to succumb to avarice.  The illusion - the lie - is that wealth can actually satisfy us in some meaningful and lasting way.  It cannot.  But the more we possess, the easier it is for us to believe that lie and the greater our desire to own even more becomes.  This is why Jesus says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven (Mt 19:24).  

Wealth can be for many of us an occasion of sin.  An "occasion of sin" is something that may not itself be sinful, but which can be a trigger for sin in our hearts.  Think of how recovering alcoholics need to be so careful to avoid even that first sip of alcohol.  For most people, having a beer, or enjoying one glass of wine, is not sinful.  But the alcoholic knows that single drink will awaken within them the desire for drunkenness, which is a sin.  Therefore even though one drink is not sinful, they prudently avoid it as if it were.

There are many other examples of occasions of sin.  Each one of us has the capacity for all seven of the deadly sins within our hearts.  As individuals we may be more tempted by one or more of them.  One person may have an especially difficult time resisting lust; another may have a tendency to be prideful, or an inclination for gluttony.  We each have our weaknesses.  The prudent thing is to identify them, and then avoid the occasions of those sins.  Don't put yourself in a situation where you know you will be tempted.

We should also be aware of others around us and their possible struggles.  For example, one person may be able to watch a movie with incidental nudity and not have any lustful thoughts.  But for another person, that same movie may be a great occasion of sin.  Therefore out of prudence and charity, we ought not watch that sort of movie in mixed company.  We don't want to be occasions of sin for others.

Unfortunately, we live in a society today where occasions of sin lie around every corner.  Just think of advertising.  Nearly every advertisement we see is designed to arouse at least one of these sins within us, be it lust or envy, gluttony or pride or sloth.  If we are not careful, merely driving down the highway, turning on the TV, or logging on to Facebook can become occasions of sin.  It's hard for us today.  We have more occasions for sin in our lives now than perhaps any generation in history has had.  And the confessionals are empty.  Occasions for sin are so pervasive, we've become blind to them.   It's the new "normal." 

What is the remedy?  We are in the midst of a spiritual battle.  You are in a competition and the prize is your own soul.  St. Paul exhorts us in today's second reading to "compete well for the faith."  In order to "lay hold of eternal life," he charges us "to keep the commandment," that commandment being love of God and neighbor.

Race horses wear blinders to keep their eyes focused on the track in front of them.  We need to put on spiritual blinders to block out those occasions of sin.  St. Paul tells us to "pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness."  These are our spiritual blinders.  Pursue these things with purpose.  Like any competition, you need to train for this.  You need to prepare yourself through daily prayer and participation in the sacraments.  If you have not been to confession in a while, return to the practice.  

You would not try to run a marathon without first training.  You would not run a marathon without stretching and warming up.  You would take care to prepare.  The competition St. Paul speaks of is far more important, with eternal consequences.  Train for it.  Identify those sins which you know you have trouble resisting.  Learn what occasions of sin you need to especially avoid.  Think of your priest confessor as your personal trainer.  Establish a spiritual regimen of prayer and fasting, just as you would an exercise regimen.  "Compete well for the faith."  Compete to win.



--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

CCM bulletin week of September 23

<![if !vml]><![endif]>
Next Sunday is the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. See the FAQ at the end for more information on them. The following prayer was said at the end of mass between 1886 and 1964 (when it was discontinued).

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.




FAQ….Who are the Archangels?

  • “Archangel” has two meanings in Catholic theology. It’s one of the nine ranks of angels (the medieval mind systematized everything, including categories of angels), but it also means “principal angel.” There are said to be seven archangels in the Catholic tradition, but the feast day recognizes the three primary ones: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
  • Michael, whose name means “Who is like God?” is the Prince of the Seraphim, (that is, the highest ranking angel of all). He is the patron saint of the police and other security forces, and the sick and innumerable hordes of Catholic boys.
  • Gabriel’s name means “God’s strength.” He is the patron saint of diplomats, telecommunications, and the post office (and stamp collectors, for that matter). Why? Because Gabriel was the messenger who announced to Mary that she would bear Jesus.
  • Raphael, “God’s remedy,” is patron saint of travelers and of the blind, because in the book of Tobit he traveled with Tobit and he cured a blind man.
  • The (arch)angels are one of the things Christians, Jews and Muslims hold in common; Michael and Gabriel are both mentioned in the book of Daniel, and Raphael in the book of Tobit. In Islam, they are known as Mikhail, Jibril and Israfel. Mikhail is the archangel of mercy, thunder and rain. Jibril is the archangel who revealed the Quran to Mohammed. Israfel will blow the horn to announce Judgment Day.

___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423

at

Gospel For Today - 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

"...that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  This is good and pleasing to God our savior..."  -1 Tm 2:2-3

This Sunday no doubt many pastors will preach about how we cannot serve both God and mammon (mammon being the personification of wealth and greed).  This is, after all, Jesus' message at the end of our gospel reading today.  Today's gospel from Luke chapter 16 tells the story of the dishonest and unfaithful steward who squanders away his master's property.  When he is called out by his master and is afraid he might lose his position, he looks after his own neck by falsely reducing the amount owed by his master's debtors in an attempt to buy their friendship.

Our first reading from Amos speaks of those who "trample the needy" and "destroy the poor."  They rig their scales to help them cheat. They sell the refuse of the wheat.  They devalue currency.  They desire to do commerce on the Sabbath.  Amos tells us the Lord will never forget a thing these disciples of mammon have done.

And in the middle of these two rather harsh readings, we have this prayer of St. Paul. He prays "that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity."  He says such a life is pleasing to God. And he prays for this life not just for the meek and poor of the realm.  He also prays "for everyone," even (and especially) "for kings and for all in authority."  Are not those with worldly authority the very ones most tempted to serve mammon?

Our first and third readings this Sunday warn us of a sickness.  Our second reading offers the inoculation.

We should strive to lead a quiet and tranquil life, in all devotion and dignity.  This does not mean we should not have any ambition.  This does not mean we should not strive for greatness.  Indeed, Christ sets the bar even higher.  He does not tell us to be great, he tells us to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48).  So we should strive for perfection.  What St. Paul reminds us of today is that there are measures of greatness other than material wealth.

Sometimes our hard work and achievements are rewarded in this life with material wealth.  While this is not necessarily a bad thing, excessive wealth does come with dangers.  The rich man is tempted to make wealth his god (to serve mammon) in ways that the man of more modest means is not.  This is why Jesus warns that "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven" (Mt 19:24, Mk 10:25).

The peace and joy to be found by living a holy life are not dependent upon income level.  The tranquility and dignity St. Paul speaks of are available to prince and pauper alike (or we might say the wealthy CEO or the starving college student).  The trick to leading this sort of life is to realize that while material goods my be nice (we do call them "goods," after all) they are not the ultimate good: that there is a yet higher good, which is God, the source of all that is good.

When we realize this, then we can enjoy the material goods we are blessed with on this earth as they were meant to be enjoyed.  We enjoy them as blessings from the Ultimate Good, and appreciate them in a way that draws us closer to the Ultimate Good.  We realize that these lesser goods may bring us temporary joy, but never lasting joy.  They always leave us wanting something else, something more, something better.  This is why serving mammon is so destructive.   Greed is a bottomless pit.  We can throw all of ourselves into it, and it will never be filled.  

St. Augustine prayed, "Our hearts are restless, O God, until they rest in Thee."  He recognized, with St. Paul, that only God can completely satisfy us.  Living a life of devotion to God is the only way for us to achieve the "quiet and tranquil life" that St. Paul speaks of.  For only in devotion to God will our hearts be truly at rest.

This tranquil life is open to all, regardless of the size of your paycheck or your chosen profession.  The fathers of the Second Vatican Council said in their Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, "Let Christians follow the example of Christ who worked as a craftsman; let them be proud of the opportunity to carry out their earthly activity in such a way as to integrate human, domestic, professional, scientific and technical enterprises with religious values, under whose supreme direction all things are ordered to the glory of God" (GS 43).

The Council Fathers speak of the Church casting "the reflected light of divine life over all the earth... [which] elevates the dignity of the human person, in the way it... endows people's daily activity with a deeper sense and meaning" (GS 40).  Such a life of devotion and dignity can "make the human family and its history still more human," for, "to follow Christ the perfect human is to become more human oneself" (GS 41).

Let us all pray today with St. Paul, that we may lead quiet lives of peace and tranquility, full of devotion to God and the dignity that is only fully realized in Jesus Christ, His only Son.

--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

CCM Bulletin, week of Sept 16

I was thinking about Msgr. Bellow’s homily on Sunday—better to go out and squander your gifts, make mistakes and return home repenting, than to hoard your gifts in stinginess, fear or self-centeredness (that’s my memory, not his exact words). That reminded me of a couple of great quotes (below) from the Pope. And here’s a link to an interview with the Pope that was just published in America magazine: http://www.americamagazine.org/pope-interview. Have a great weekend!
~ Karen

It is true that going out on to the street implies the risk of accidents happening, as they would to any ordinary man or woman. But if the church stays wrapped up in itself, it will age. And if I had to choose between a wounded church that goes out on to the streets and a sick, withdrawn church, I would definitely choose the first one. (Pope Francis)
Ask Jesus what he wants from you, and be brave! (Pope Francis)






___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423

at

Gospel For Today - 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

What a treasure trove this Sunday's readings are!  Today not only do we have  Moses invoking God's mercy and faithfulness; not only do we have the example of St. Paul, once a zealous persecutor of the Church, now turned Apostle of Christ; but in the gospel reading from Luke we have the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the woman looking for her lost coin, and the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Where does one begin?

There is obviously a common thread running through these readings.  One may at first be tempted to say it is repentance.  St. Paul repented of his anti-Christian ways and became a great evangelist and author of most of the New Testament.  The prodigal son repented and was welcomed back into the family by his father.  Surely repentance is key. If there is anything we are doing, any aspect of our lives, that is keeping us separated from Christ, we need to repent of that thing and be reconciled to God.  

But repentance is only half of the story.  I believe there is a deeper thread to be found here.  When a relationship is wounded or broken, true reconciliation requires two things.  The offending party needs to repent and seek forgiveness.  And the one offended needs to forgive.  Only then is reconciliation possible.

What God is telling us through each one of the stories presented today is clear and simple: He forgives.  He forgives readily and willingly.  In fact, He is eager to forgive.  He is like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to run off into the wilderness looking for that one who has gotten lost.  He is like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, scanning the horizon, looking for his lost child from a distance, ready to run and embrace him, clothe him with the finest robe, place a ring on his finger and prepare a feast to welcome him home.  This is our Father in heaven.

It is the deepest desire of our Father to reconcile us to Himself.  He sent His Son to us, to inaugurate this ministry of reconciliation.  His Son established for us a Church that would endure for all time to continue this ministry of reconciliation.  St. Paul says, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.  We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:18-20).

St. John speaks of this ministry of reconciliation being given directly to the Apostles by Christ.  "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (Jn 20:21-23).

This is the purpose of the Incarnation.  This is the purpose of the Church and the underlying reason for all she does - to reconcile us to God.  Everything the Church does, every aspect of her ministry, ultimately is in support of this one goal.  The most direct and visible manifestation of this is the sacrament of Reconciliation.  This sacrament goes by three different names: Confession, Penance, and Reconciliation.  Each refers to a different aspect of this sacrament.  "Confession" refers to our act of verbally confessing our sins.  "Penance" refers to the penitential act the priest prescribes for us as reparation for our sins.  But "Reconciliation" refers to the end of the sacrament, the purpose of its existence and its ultimate effect.

As Catholics, we are often asked by Protestants, "Why can't God forgive you directly without going through a priest?"  The Catholic answer to that is, "Certainly He can!"  We don't put limits on God's mercy!  In fact, the Church teaches that if one is perfectly contrite for one's sins, God's forgiveness is made manifest (CCC 1452).  But here's the thing - how do you know you are "perfectly" contrite?  That means that you are as sorry for your sin as sorry can be and firmly resolve to never sin again.  If that is indeed true, then you have God's forgiveness.  But wouldn't you always have in the back of your mind that nagging doubt that perhaps your contrition was not perfect?  How would you know for certain?  (The Church also teaches that perfect contrition ought to motivate you to seek sacramental confession as soon as possible - perfect contrition does not look for a loop hole).

We have a saying: "God made the sacraments for man, but God Himself is not bound by His sacraments."  This means that we put no limits on God's grace and recognize the many and varied ways God acts outside of the sacraments.  But we also recognize that He established them in the first place (and established a Church to administer them) for our benefit.  The sacrament of Reconciliation is the ordinary means established by God to communicate His forgiveness and mercy to us.  Even if we are only imperfectly contrite, when we bring our sins to the Church in confession, we know with the assurance of faith that our sins are forgiven.  We hear the words spoken by the ordained minister of God, acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), say to us, "through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

What blessed assurance those words bring to the penitent!  What a gift offered to us by God!  And yet we avoid this sacrament as something unpleasant.  It has been compared to going to the doctor, or the dentist.  It is a task that no one relishes.  We are afraid of going to the doctor because we like to think of ourselves as healthy and we are nervous that the doctor may find something wrong with us.  But unlike the doctor's visit, in confession we know going in that we are sick and we have divine assurance that we are going to come out 100% healed.

As I said, reconciliation requires two things: repentance on the part of the offender and forgiveness on the part of the offended.  You can be assured beyond doubt that God forgives.  The second part of that equation is guaranteed.  That's the good news!  All that remains is for you to do your part.  To put it plainly, get up off your butt and get down on your knees!

Here's how to do it:
1. Make a good examination of conscience.  Examine your actions and the way you've been living and see what is incompatible with God's law.  If you need help with this, there are pamphlets available at the Catholic Student Center; many Catholic prayer books include guides.  You can also google "examination of conscience."  
2. Repent of anything that is keeping you from Christ.
3. Come to Mass half an hour early on Sunday evening - you'll find Father in the Confessional.  Or ask Father when you see him before or after Mass and he'll make time for you.  You are not bothering him, I promise.  It's his job - more than that, it's his vocation!  Like your Father in heaven, he is anxious to see you reconciled to God.  It is an occasion of great joy for a priest to be asked to hear your confession.
4. Be forgiven! 

This last part is the easiest because God has already decided to forgive you.  The scriptures today tell us He is desperate to forgive you!  He's scanning the horizon, waiting for your return.  He's got the fattened calf on stand-by.  He's warming up the barbecue.  He's just waiting for you to do your part.  He needs you to do your part.  Because the only sin God cannot forgive is the sin of unrepentance.  It is the sin of refusing God's mercy.  

Our psalm response this Sunday is "I will rise and go to my father."  Rise today, go to your father, and know His mercy and love.

Read more about the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1440-1484.  If you don't have your own copy you can read it online.


--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
  
(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

at

CCM E-bulletin week of September 9th

A prayer for September 11th.

To the Creator of nature and man, of truth and beauty, I pray:
Hear my voice, for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and violence among individuals and nation.
Hear my voice, for it is the voice of all children who suffer and will suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war.
Hear my voice when I beg you to instill into the hearts of all human beings the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice, and the joy of fellowship.
Hear my voice, for I speak for the multitudes in every country and in every period of history who do not want war and are ready to walk the road of peace.
Hear my voice and grant insight and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice to need with the sharing of self, to war with peace.
O God, hear my voice and grant unto the world Your everlasting peace.

                                    ~Blessed John Paul II


FAQ

Why do you ask us for money at church?

  • Welcome to the world of stewardship!—an essential (if often grudging) part of Christian discipleship. No campus ministry program or parish can be sustained without the support of its members, including ours.
  • Part of that support comes in the form of service: as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, Musicians, cross-bearers, collection-takers, gift-bearers, Renew cooks, Bible study leaders, Leadership Team members, retreat planners, envelope stuffers…I say thank you! I most certainly could not do all of that by myself.
  • Part of your support comes from your prayers and moral support. To all of you who take your relationship with God seriously enough to engage in prayer and prayerful conversation and reflection on your faith…I say thank you! To all of you who express your support of CCM with a kind word, an idea for doing things differently, a pep talk to a prospective, positive PR back home, encouragement to a fellow student to attend CCM events…I say thank you!
  • And of course, part of your support comes from your financial contributions. Unlike many programs on campus, CCM’s budget is NOT included in your tuition and fees. Just like your parents drop something in the collection basket each week at your home parish, I rely on you to support YOUR parish, CCM.
  • CCM is generously supported by the Diocese of Charlotte and the College. However, we must still fundraise about $15,000 each year through appeal letters, fundraising, and raffle ticket sales. With the Sunday collection we try to raise about $1,000 each year. If every person who came to mass put $1 every Sunday, we’d have no problem…but alas, that doesn’t happen.
  • I invite you to reflect on what you can give to maintain a Catholic institutional presence and programming on campus—giving not out of your ‘leftover change’ but out of your discretionary funds. Can you give $2 each week? Can you pull $10 out of the ATM the first Sunday of every month? Or maybe $30-50 as a lump sum for the whole semester? I don’t take credit cards or CatCards, but I do take checks, so feel free to write a check for what you’d like to give (make it out to Davidson College CCM).
  • In addition, we always give a portion of our weekly collection to our neighbors in need, as we Christians have been doing since we started gathering together for worship 2000 years ago. We often give to places like Ada Jenkins and the Urban Ministry Center, where many of you volunteer, as well as Catholic Relief Services if there’s been a major disaster somewhere in the world.

Whatever you decide, thanks for your support in the many ways you give it!

___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423

at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)