Top 12 Moments of 2011

Last year we began a blog tradition of looking back on the top 12 moments of the year at CCM (because 12 is better than 10) :)  So here we are again looking back on another year, another gift from God to look back on with gratitude and awe of His providence.  (Yes, I realize that this is normally done on Dec. 31st or Jan. 1st, but, hey, we're still in the first couple weeks of the year so it still counts.) :) Without further ado, in no particular order, here are the top 12 CCM moments of 2011 (feel free to add your own memorable moments in the combox):

12.  March for Life:  We took 21 students to Washington, D.C.  to be witnesses of the beauty and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.  It was quite the memorable trip as we prayed, laughed, met great people, marched and got stuck in a snowstorm in Kentucky on our way back home.  Thank you to everyone who supported this trip and we look forward to the next one coming up in just 11 days.

11.  Spring Break Mission Trip to Florida:  Thanks to a great number of people both in Missouri and Florida we were able to take a group of students to the Florida panhandle to assist parishes in need of strong backs and willing hearts.  Half the week was spent on the eastern/central time zone dividing line at Holy Family Parish cleaning the grounds and half the week was spent at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish challenging Fr. Eddie to ultimate frisbee games and painting the interior of the parish concluding its renovation.  The group spent the last day at St. George Island to celebrate a great week of hard work, prayer and lots of laughs - and the fact that there were no alligator encounters.

10.  Guest Speakers/Peformers:  CCM welcomed a range of guests this year from Mike Mangione & the Union, who performed their music at the UC in the spring to speakers such as Fr. Oscar Lukefahr, Martha Nolan of Crossroads, the Focolare Movement and Fr. Tony Stephens of the Fathers of Mercy.  What a blessing to be able to welcome such inspiring people and talented artists to our campus!

9.  Retreats: It's been quite a fruitful retreat year with three retreat opportunities available for CCM students.  Last February, we welcomed two priests and one religious sister for the Busy Person's Retreat - all of whom will be here again next month.  Sign up for this year's retreat here.  Then in April, we hosted our second women's retreat with Sr. Miriam James, SOLT and Emily Bissonnette at the Sinai Retreat Center.  This year we look forward to adding our first men's retreat April 20-22.  Registration for that will be available soon.

8. Europe Pilgrimage:  For two weeks this summer several CCM students travelled to France, Spain and Portugal to visit sites of religious and cultural importance.   A busy, yet prayerful and fruitful two weeks allowed the pilgrims to visit such holy sites as the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, Sacre Coeur, Nevers, Mt. St. Michael, Lisieux, Avila, Lourdes and Fatima.  Students were able to pray in the presence of the incorrupt bodies of St. Catherine Laboure, St. Bernadette Soubirous and St. Vincent de Paul.  They were also able to walk on the same ground as many saints or soon-to-be-saints who have gone before us such as St. Anthony of Padua, Bl. Jacinta and Francisco Marto, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Bernadette Soubirous, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis Xavier, St. Therese of Lisieux, Bl. John Paul the Great and Sr. Lucia dos Santos.

7.  New Knights of Columbus Council:  Praise God that the Knights of Columbus have arrived at CCM - this year, thanks to efforts of Grand Knight Allen Kirchner, the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights of Columbus Council #15294 was formed at CCM.  The Knights have already had a strong start by hosting a few pancake breakfasts', assisting at Masses, serving those in need and promoting the defense of life.  Thanks to some local benefactors, the Knights will soon have a regular meeting space in the basement of the Marquette Student Center following some minor renovations.

6.  Formation Events:  The weekly events at CCM are often the most formative events as they provide a regular time of growth and prayer.  Events ranged from men's and women's groups, to Theology of the Body studies, Catholicism 101 and Thursday Night Truth.  The fall semester was especially packed with many opportunities for learning and reflection as we seek to have a deeper relationship with Christ. 

5.  FOCUS:  This fall CCM was able to welcome two FOCUS Missionaries to campus.  FOCUS has had a great start to their time at SEMO with four women's Bible studies and several themed parties.  Reaching out to students with free coffee and hot chocolate on cold mornings and peer-to-peer evangelization, FOCUS is a welcome addition to the CCM family.

4.  Ultimate Chivalry Week:  The young men of CCM hit a homerun this fall with the first Ultimate Chivalry Week in which they made a point to emphasize the dignity of women on campus by dressing well, holding doors open, returning lunch trays, etc. (all of which they all do on a regular basis anyway, but this week it was heavily emphasized) all of which concluded with the 'Dignity Dinner' at the Newman Center.  The gentlemen cooked dinner for the ladies and served them the whole night.  It was a great way to let the ladies on campus know that there are still good and Godly men out there who want to respect them rather than objectify them. 

3.  Eucharistic Procession:  Thanks to the Peer Evangelization Team, CCM hosted the first Eucharistic Procession on campus this fall.  In cooperation with the St. Francis Perpetual Adoration program we were able to welcome Fr. Larry Villone to lead the procession and conclude with Adoration and Confessions followed by a chili lunch provided by the Knights of Columbus.   

2.  Graduation:  We saw nine students who were very active at CCM graduate this fall.  We're very proud of each of them and we know they will go on to serve God and the Church faithfully in making the world a better place in whatever vocation to which they are called.  Please continue to pray for our graduates as they seek God's will for their lives.  They have all been and continue to be a great blessing to us.

1.  Receiving Jesus at Mass:  At every Mass the God of the universe, the very One who caused you to come into existence humbles Himself under the appearance of bread and wine to commune with you in the most intimate way possible on earth because He loves you so much and wants to give you His strength on your journey toward heaven.  The world is starving and He comes to feed us.  Talk about a top moment.

Part of the reason why God has given us the faculty of memory is to remember all the ways He has been faithful to us.  Looking back through 2011 it's undeniably evident that God is with us and guiding us as we go on new adventures, form and maintain friendships, and daily make the choice to recognize Him as the King of our hearts.  May we be open to receive all the many graces He wishes to flood upon us in 2012.