Let Us Cross to the Other Side

A CCM student encounters the living Christ - a guest post:

A couple of weekends ago, I had the great opportunity to attend a FOCUS Conference. The theme for this year’s conference was “Answer the Call.” Mass on Saturday was celebrated by the bishop of my diocese, Bishop Johnston. The homily Bishop Johnston gave for the Gospel reading was incredible, and he really broke down the Gospel in such a practical manner that it hit me in a number of ways. I will share the biggest way the Gospel and his homily impacted me after you read the actual passage.

Mark 4:35-41: On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?"

Bishop Johnston broke down this passage by diving into the three things Jesus says during this episode. First, Bishop Johnston talks about how Mark notes that “evening drew on.” Mark makes the point that it is dark. People normally only travel on water during the day. It’s dangerous to get on a boat on the water at night. Yet, Jesus says to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”

It is quite perplexing that Jesus would ask them to cross to the other side over night. I’m sure many disciples were questioning to themselves, “Why not wait until morning when there is light?” However, the disciples show trust in Jesus by leaving the crowd and getting on the boat.

Bishop Johnston relates this part of the passage to our own lives. There are going to be many different points in our lives when Jesus calls out to us saying, “Let us cross to the other side.” Jesus might ask us to leave the comfort and normalcy of where we are in our lives and ask us to do something more challenging and unfamiliar. He might ask us to go out into the dark and unknown with him, as he did with his disciples. When Jesus calls out to us in this manner, it is important to have faith and get on the boat with him so to speak. Bishop Johnston went on relating this quote to many different examples. He kept repeating the words of Jesus, “Let us cross to the other side.” It really struck a chord with me each time he repeated it. … “Let us cross to the other side.”

Moving on to the second quote, Bishop Johnston talks about how the disciples start getting worried that they are perishing in this great storm. Jesus is actually sleeping through the storm they are frightened of, so they wake him up and tell him of their peril. Jesus wakes up and says to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”

Bishop Johnston went on to say that if we relate the storm the disciples were experiencing to unrest and worries in our hearts, or the storms of our hearts, we can take much from what Jesus says. When things start getting crazy, we freak out. We worry. We lose faith. However, during these times Jesus comes to our hearts and tells our fears and doubts, “Quiet! Be still!” Jesus calms the storms and unrest in our hearts.

The last thing Jesus says in this passage is, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” We should be able to see all that God has done for us and have faith in Christ that he will never forsake us. It was Jesus that asked us to cross to other side in the first place. He is not going to abandon us on that journey. It is vital to remember that Christ is always with us.

So after I heard Bishop Johnston give that homily, for the rest of the conference and then on into the following week I had those words Jesus spoke to his disciples running through my head – “Let us cross to the other side.” I kept thinking about the homily and those words in particular over and over again, and I kept feeling this pull at my heart. I knew what it was that Jesus was calling me to start doing after that homily. It just took a few days to soak in and build up enough courage to go out and start doing what I felt Jesus was asking of me. This is the call I heard. This is what Jesus was asking me to cross to the other side for.

Evangelization – Talking about my faith

I have been very blessed. My family is great. I have been privileged to grow up in a strong Catholic family. My mom and dad have been together for 30+ years now. I have two older brothers that have always been incredible role models, and I have a younger sister that has the heart of a champion.

I remember very vividly when I was young, maybe 4 or 5, praying together with my mom and my two older brothers at night before I went to bed. Yet as we got older, things got busy, and I don’t recollect praying together with them once I got into elementary school. Everyone had homework. My brothers started playing basketball and baseball almost year around. Life just got busy at the Van de Ven household. We always had places to be and things to do, and we still do. That is they way everything has been since I was young.

As for our faith lives, we always went to Mass together on Sundays as a family (very important!), and we always prayed together before meals. Other than those two events, we did not pray or read the Bible together as a family. I am not at all trying to say that my parents didn’t do enough for me. My parents did a remarkable job raising all of us. They showed by example how to live out our faith and be virtuous. My mother cares and loves us unconditionally and has always done the best for us. And my father has been the best example I have of a husband laying down his life for his wife and family day in and day out. He has always been self-less. I am just pointing out that our lives got busy, and praying together outside of mass wasn’t something we were familiar with. Growing up we still had a lot of religious instruction, it was just on our own. During elementary school and all the way through high school, I had religion class two days a week and daily mass three days a week.

However, even though I had religion class and daily mass so often, they became just two more things in my busy schedule. Growing up from elementary to high school, my Catholic faith became just another thing that I did. Along with basketball practice, homework, and hanging out with friends on weekends, my faith was just another thing to do. I pulled it out when I needed to (religion class, church, youth group, and youth conferences), and then put it back when I was done with it for the time being. It wasn’t much different than any other subject in school. Like history or math, I learned about my faith, did my homework, passed the tests (confirmation), and went on with my life.

About four years ago, though, before my junior year of high school, I had my first true encounter with Christ at a Steubenville youth conference during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. My faith became much more real than I had ever known it to be. I felt a pull at my heart to develop a deeper relationship with the person of Christ. I had always learned about my faith, but that first encounter made my faith much more intimate and real. Since that conference, I have been steadily coming into a greater understanding and appreciation that my Catholic faith and my relationship with Jesus Christ isn’t another thing that I do, but instead it is literally who I am. My faith is a part of me, just as much as my heart or arm or any other part of my body. It is who I am. My faith defines my being.

Yet, even over the last four years and all the growth I have had in my faith life, it has always been something I have kept to myself. It has all been very internal. I don’t have any experience talking about my faith to other people, not even my family or friends. I try to live my life in such a way that they are able to see how God has changed me, yet I have never articulated how having this deep, personal relationship with Christ affects me.

My Catholic faith has become a part of me that I am very passionate about. All of the other things I am passionate about in my life, whether it be my family, basketball, a TV show, etc., I have absolutely no problem talking about with other people. I can talk about everything I am passionate about very easily, except for my Catholic faith and my relationship with Christ. I suppose that I attribute that to not openly talking about my faith with my family and friends growing up. It has always been a personal thing.

That brings me back to Bishop Johnston’s homily. “Let us cross to the other side.” Since that homily, I have felt his pull at my heart that it is time to start reaching out and talking about my faith openly with others. This is how Jesus is asking me to cross to the other side. It is an unknown path, much like the dark waters the disciples were asked to cross, but I have faith that Jesus will not abandon me.

My whole faith life has been building up to this point. Over the last four years and the last year especially, I have become so much more in tune with the fact that Jesus Christ is a real person. God came down from heaven! The second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, came down to Earth to be a man among us to show us how to truly live and how to be completely self-giving! But He didn’t stop there. Christ died on a cross for my sin so that I may have life! This is real! This isn’t some story book fairy tale. This happened 2,000 years ago. Curtis Martin lays out a great argument on the reality of Jesus in his book Made for More. I suggest reading it. I don’t have the time to go into details here, but it laid everything out for me in such manner that I couldn’t debate it. Jesus Christ is real, and he died for me. WHAT GREATER THING IS THERE TO TALK ABOUT?

Yet in our society, it is taboo to talk about your faith to other people. You can’t offend people, and if you tell others what you believe you might offend someone. But what greater thing is there to talk about than our salvation!? What greater thing is there to talk about and tell others than the fact that my self-worth is the Son of God dying on a cross! WOW! People talk about other things they are passionate about all the time, but those things truly don’t stack up to God’s tremendous love. Everything is so secondary to God. It is like comparing the sun to a grain of sand, and that still doesn’t express the magnitude.

For me then, it came down to this. Curtis Martin opened up a talk I listened to with this phrase. Do you really believe that what you believe is really real? Do you really believe .. that what you believe … is really real? Think about it. Because if what you really believe is really real, it should blow you away, and it should change you down to the very core of your being.

That is where I am in my faith. I could put my faith life into an analogy with a train. It is as if my whole life I learned about this train. All my religion teachers gave me this long history of this train, yet I never saw the train or even heard the train. All I ever saw were the tracks. The tracks showed the history and future of where the train had been and where it was going to go, but yet I never saw or heard this train. The tracks didn’t make the train real, but it was a nice thing to believe in. The idea of the train seemed nice and seemed to make sense with the tracks, but I could not tell you whether the train was real or not. Then about four years ago, I heard the train whistle way off in the distance, and that sound reverberated through my entire being. “Woah! Maybe this train is actually real!” I thought to myself. So I kept with the history and future of the tracks and tried to learn more about the actual train. All the while over the last four years, I would hear the train as I searched for it, and it always sounded as if it were getting closer. The train whistle was louder. Yet there were times when I got distracted with other noises and didn’t hear the train any more, and so there were times I thought that the train whistle I heard might have been something else. However, I would keep the faith that what I heard was the train whistle, and then I would hear the whistle again, louder and clearer than ever before. Over the last year, through more tireless searching, the train has come even closer. I could very distinctly hear the train whistle and know it was a train whistle, and I even began to hear the rumbling of the train on the tracks in the distance. So through faith I knew the train had to be real, even though I still hadn’t seen it. But now in my life, I can very much attest that the train is real. It is rushing past me as I stand along the tracks. I can not only see the train, but I can feel the immense power of the train as it rushes past me. I no longer have any doubt the train is real. Just as I no longer have any doubt that my faith is real, that Jesus is a real person that walked on this Earth and died for my sin so that I might have life.

So that is where I am. And now I must go forth from here and not only live out my faith but tell people that God is real and is near to each of us. I have seen the train and felt its power, so to speak, and need to let others know about the train. I felt as if during that Saturday Mass, Jesus was speaking to me through that Gospel to cross to the other side of my faith, and to not let it just be an internal thing but to make it an external thing. It might be a dark, stormy trip, but I have courage and faith that Jesus will calm the worries, doubts, and storms of my heart and lead me to the other side. One thing I have learned through my faith is that my life isn’t about me and has never been about me, but instead is about what Christ can do through me. So I have to let go of all the worries and inhibitions I may have about crossing to the other side so that I can get on the boat and go.

I hope my story may give you courage to cross to the other side of whatever Jesus is calling you to!

 This is a great witness that Christ is real and his love and mercy can truly transform our hearts.

St. Josephine Bakhita, ora pro nobis

Today is the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of Sudan.  There is a nice article about her over on the Word on Fire blog - be sure to check it out.  She is a great saint of modern times!  The article describes her as:

...a Sudanese woman who was sold into brutal and abusive slavery as a young girl in the Darfur region of Africa, eventually transported to Italy to work for a friend of her owner’s family, and, when she resisted returning to Africa in favor of joining the religious order who taught the young daughter of the family for whom she worked, was set free because of the dictates of Italian law. After professing eternal vows, she lived out the remainder of her life as a Canossian Sister of the Institute of Catechumens in Venice, Italy.

Read more here.

Hear Fr. James Kubicki of the Apostleship of Prayer share her story here in this video:

Website for Pope John Paul the Great's Cause

This website is dedicated to the cause for canonization for Pope John Paul II the Great - it's really good - includes a live web cam of his tomb in St. Peter's. 
Hats off to Marcel.

Crossroads at CCM

If you missed tonight's presentation about Crossroads, an organization that leads college students in walking across the country every summer for the pro-life cause, you can check out the following video about it and visit http://www.crossroadswalk.org/ to find out more:

Prayer for Martin Linch and Elissa Self-Braun

The Missouri Catholic Conference has the following posted on their website:

This week, religious leaders of the state, including the Catholic bishops, submitted a clemency application to Gov. Jay Nixon on behalf of Martin Link, who is scheduled to be executed on Feb. 9 for the murder of Elissa Self-Braun.  The religious leaders noted their opposition to capital punishment because it disregards the sanctity and dignity of human life. 

Link's attorneys still have two motions before the federal western district court.  One motion is based on the Ringo litigation of lethal injection and the new protocol.  The other motion asks for a stay to determine a neutral decision maker in clemency.  It could be Monday before the court rules on these motions. 

Vigils are being held for the families of Martin Link and Elissa Self-Braun in Savannah, Springfield, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis and Columbia. 

The vigil in our county will be at the Cape County Courthouse in Jackson at 7p.m. on Tuesday.  Please call Gov. Nixon's office at 573-751-3222 to request that he commute Link's sentence from execution to life in prison. 

Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267 says:

Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm—without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself—the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent."

To read more of the Catechism on this issue click here.

Also, in 2006, the bishops of the Missouri Catholic Conference published a statement which can be read in full here.  Here are some excerpts:

Catholic teaching begins with the recognition that the dignity of the human person applies to both victims and offenders.  It affirms our commitment to comfort and support victims and their families, while acknowledging the God-given dignity of every human life, even those who do great harm. For some left behind, a death sentence offers the illusion of closure and vindication; but no act, even an execution, can bring back a loved one or heal terrible wounds.  The pain and loss of one death cannot be wiped away by another death...

...In his Encyclical Letter, The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II told us that we have the "inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life."  Our efforts to end the use of the death penalty in our state help us to reject the culture of death and to build a culture of life.  May we always remember the imperative which our Lord Himself gives us in Deuteronomy 30:19:  "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live."

St. Paul & the Mission of the Church

Holding Hands During the 'Our Father'?

To Be a "Living Example of Discipleship"

This great article by Fr. Damian Ference really hits the nail on the head about encouraging young people to answer the call of Christ in their lives.  Here is an excerpt:

For a parish youth group to be what it is supposed to be, the first priority of the group must be to make disciples of young people who do not know Jesus, and to make stronger disciples of the ones who already know him. Such a suggestion seems quite basic and even simplistic at first glance, but this is precisely the point. Far too often we as a Church have failed with the most basic principle of discipleship while loading up on service projects and social activities, and the parish youth group becomes just one more line on a young person’s college résumé, without ever calling that young person to real conversion. 

Read the rest here.

I completely agree with Fr. Ference's diagnosis.  The first priority must be to help people fall in love with Jesus.  The most successful activities at CCM have been the ones that show students the mercy and love of God for them through prayer and catechesis.  Young people (and not so young people for that matter) need an encounter with the living Christ!  This is what really matters!  As Fr. Ference points out, "It is true that young people tend to stay out of trouble while socializing with peers from the parish, and that service projects help build character and allow young people to move beyond themselves, but without being disciples, such activities never allow for true transformation and human flourishing."  Young people need role models who are on fire with the love of God - disciples.  They need people to take a vested interest in them and who will teach the fullness of truth.  If given opportunities to encounter Christ, then things like service and social activities will naturally flow from that, but on their own they are empty time-fillers.  Vocations increase when people are given the opportunity to fall in love with Jesus and experience his mercy and love.  When we allow Jesus to transform our own hearts, the love and mercy of God will show forth with power throughout the world.   Thank you Fr. Ference for this amazing article and reminder.

Hats off to Emily Bissonnette for the link.

Two Big Events at CCM Next Week - Tell All Your Friends!

First, on Monday, February 7th at 7 p.m., Martha Nolan of Crossroads will be at the Newman Center to talk about this unique way to spread the Gospel of Life across our country.  Crossroads was founded by a Franciscan University of Steubenville graduate in 1995 and has been going strong ever since as a powerful way to defend the weakest among us. If you're interested in finding out how you can get involved in Crossroads, particularly if you want to know more about their summer walks across the country please be sure to attend this event.  But even if you're not planning on spending your summer walking across the country, you're still highly encouraged to attend to learn about this great organization.  Everyone is welcome. 

Next, on Tuesday, February 8th at 7 p.m. in the Chapel, CCM will welcome Fr. Oscar Lukefahr who will be speaking on the Catholic Church and her teachings.  Fr. Lukefahr is a well-respected priest, author and emeritus director of the Catholic Home Scripture Study and we are very much looking forward to his talk.  Please invite lots of friends!  We want to see the Chapel full for this exciting event.  Fr. Lukefahr last spoke at CCM in 2007- we are expecting another large crowd. 

And don't forget to sign up for the Busy Person's Retreat happening Feb. 20-24!

Statement of Bishop Johnston on Beatification of JPII the Great

Obviously I'm posting this a little late, but it's still good:

Pope Benedict's February Prayer Intentions

Family:  That all may respect the family and recognize its unmatched contribution to the advancement of society.


Those Suffering from Disease: That the Christian communities may witness to the presence of Christ in serving those who suffer from disease in those mission territories where the fight against disease is most urgent.
 
http://www.apostleshipofprayer.org/

March for Life 2011

Wow, there is so much to catch up on.   Blogging has been really slow the past couple of weeks because there has been so much going on around CCM that I just haven't been able to fit blogging in like I usually do.  Of course, the most notable event that has taken place over that time is the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  Twenty-one CCM students attended and the long drive was well worth the trip. Here's the low down on how it all went:
Saturday, January 22 (the actual date of the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade) we all met at the Newman Center by 5:30am for a 6am departure.  Thanks to the generosity of our community members we were able to rent vehicles for the trip and by the time we made it to the bridge crossing into Illinois many of the students were already asleep - although I hear one van was so eager to make it to D.C. that they were awake the whole drive.   Saturday was basically low-key; just driving and driving and driving some more 'til we made it to Virginia.  Leaving at 6am central time and arriving at 10pm eastern time, we pulled into the parking lot of St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax, VA to be greeted by the awesome pastor, Fr. Whitestone and the parish's amazing respect life coordinator Marisol.  We are so blessed for the gracious hospitality St. Leo's showed us!  Thank you all so much! 

The next morning we rose to attend the 7:30am Mass at St. Leo's followed by a quick breakfast before making our way to the metro where we headed to Arlington National Cemetery.  There we witnessed the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The engraving on the tomb I always find to be a profound statement especially when viewed during the March for Life weekend.  The reality that this person is 'known but to God' is a reminder that when a child in the womb is lost, those of us here who remain will not have the opportunity to get to know him or her - they are now known but to God.

After a somber morning of praying for all those put to rest at Arlington, we went to visit some museums followed by a tour at the Franciscan Monastery.  I find this to be one of the hidden gems of the D.C. area - there is so much going on in D.C. but when you step onto the grounds of the Monastery you find a peaceful place in the midst of all the busyness.  The Monastery is a beautiful place to pray and reflect on the reason for our trip.  You are reminded of the love and mercy of God in this sacred place.  On touring the crypt of the Monastery you are reminded of the passion and love of the martyrs including St. Benignus, St. Sebastian, and St. Cecilia.  Also in the crypt are the remains of St. Innocent, a small child who lived his life for Christ and went to be with him at such a young age, again a powerful reminder of our purpose in being in Washington.  Of course, the presence of the Blessed Mother was strongly felt as well as an example of her heroic humility in bearing the Lord.  St. Joseph, also, was referred to often as a strong and committed foster father of Jesus. To end the day, we arrived back at St. Leo's for a wonderful pizza dinner provided by our new friends.  The next day we were to have an early rising so off to sleep we went as soon as possible.

After rising at 4:30am we enjoyed a quick breakfast provided by the dear parishioners of St. Leo's.  Then we attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  I have to say that this is probably my favorite Basilica in the U.S.  It so so beautiful and has a lot of fond memories for me so I always enjoy being there.  The 7:30am Mass for Life was celebrated by Bishop William Lori of the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT and the Basilica was full as usual.  Masses were being celebrated throughout the region all morning including a youth rally and Mass at the Verizon Center and the D.C. Armory.  Attending Mass was a special opportunity for us to pray for those lost to abortion and for those who are in pain as a result of an abortion.  It was the perfect way to help us prepare for the big event later in the day.  Following Mass we remained at the Basilica for a while before departing for the White House and ultimately the March for Life.

Upon arriving at our metro stop we walked to the White House to pray a decade of the Rosary for our president and all elected officials that they would enact laws that respect the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death.  We then made our way to the National Mall for the March for Life rally.  We were among the first to arrive but as we made our way closer to the stage we still weren't close enough to see the speakers although we could hear what they were saying. As the afternoon moved along more and more people began to crowd the Mall and soon it was time for the March to begin.  It probably took us half an hour or more just to make it to the street because the crowd was so large.  It probably took us an hour and a half to get from the Mall to the Supreme Court.  I've heard a crowd estimate of around 400,000.  There were many people there - priests, religious, lay people; Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc.; young and not so young.  One thing that always stands out though is the fact that so many young people are in attendance every year.  These generations have been profoundly impacted by this issue - missing brothers, sisters and friends - and the numbers of those in attendance just keeps growing. 

The March for Life is always a bittersweet experience - bitter because we are there to mourn the loss of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and because of the pain that so many men and women are now coping with as a result - we come to show that we're here to help them heal; sweet because we are thankful for the gift of life and can together witness to the fact that life is a precious gift. We ended the day with Vespers at the Dominican House of Studies which is always a treat.  We actually began the March near the Dominicans and were very blessed to be able to join them for prayer in the evening.

After a long weekend we packed up, bid farewell to our new friends at St. Leo's and headed back to Missouri.  We ran into some rain through Tennessee and just about when we were passing into Kentucky the snow started to fall - as we continued it began to be too much to continue driving safely so we had to stop for the night about two and half hours away from Cape Girardeau.  The snow was fun for the students to play around in before getting a good night's sleep.  The next day, once we made it out of the snow-covered area, the weather was great and we made it safely back to Cape in time for students to attend their afternoon classes. 

Praise be to God for a safe and fruitful trip!  We thank all our benefactors and St. Leo the Great Parish for making this trip possible.  I know the students made memories they will always remember and experienced a renewed passion for defending life and lending support to those who are in need of assistance as well as helping those who are in pain as the result of this issue heal.  Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, may God grant all hearts the grace of welcoming life into the world and protecting the dignity of every person from conception until natural death. 

Check out this video to get an idea of the March for Life crowd:

Pope Benedict's General Audience Address - January 19

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, all the Lord’s followers are asked to implore the gift of full communion. This year’s theme – “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42) – invites us to reflect on four pillars of unity found in the life of the early Church. The first is fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed by the Apostles. The second is fraternal communion, a contemporary expression of which is seen in the growing ecumenical friendship among Christians. The third is the breaking of the bread; although the inability of separated Christians to share the same Eucharistic table is a reminder that we are still far from the unity which Christ wills for his disciples, it is also an incentive to greater efforts to remove every obstacle to that unity. Finally, prayer itself helps us realize that we are children of the one heavenly Father, called to forgiveness and reconciliation. During this Week, let us pray that all Christians will grow in fidelity to the Gospel, in fraternal unity and in missionary zeal, in order to draw all men and women into the saving unity of Christ’s Church.

Patrons of World Youth Day 2011

Eucharistic Congress in St. Louis June 24-26

A New Year, A New Semester...

Today is the start of the spring semester at Southeast Missouri State University where our humble ministry is located.  We have a LOT planned for this semester at CCM, so I hope all you students are ready for four months of awesome prayer, learning, service and fellowship!  Here's a preview of what you can look forward to as we kick off the new semester:

Mass, Adoration, Confession - communing with Jesus - whoo!
Trips:  March for Life, FOCUS Conference, Spring Break Mission Trip, day trips, Church Teaches Forum 2011 (in the summer)
Continued Theology of the Body Study
Bible Study
St. Therese Women's Group
St. Augustine Men's Group
Guest Speakers:  Fr. Oscar Lukefahr on Feb. 8th; Martha Nolan of Crossroads on Feb 7th; Dr. Michael Wulfers and Joyce Gibbar on April 5th, Fr. Harold Fisher on Feb. 24th, etc.
Thursday Night Truth
Retreats:  Busy Person's Retreat Feb. 20-24; Women's Retreat April 1-3; Men's Retreat April 29-May 1
Catholicism 101
Various service, social, evangelization and spiritual life events planned by the Newman Council throughout the semester

As you can see CCM will be a very busy place from now through May 14!  Be sure to join in!

American Priest Continues on the Road to Sainthood

Fr. Nelson Baker of the Diocese of Buffalo, NY who died in 1936 has been declared "Venerable" by Pope Benedict the same day Pope John Paul II's beatification was announced. 

EWTN News Reports the following:

Pope Benedict officially recognized the heroic virtues of 20th century American priest Fr. Nelson Baker, which moves the beloved champion for the poor further along in the process towards sainthood.

Fr. Baker – who was born in Buffalo, New York in 1842 – lived to be 95 years old and is heralded for building what's been called a “city of charity” in Lackawana, New York. By the time of his death in 1936, his initiatives for the poor included a minor basilica, an infant home, a home for unwed mothers, a boys' orphanage, a hospital, a nurses' home, and an elementary and high school.

Continue reading here.

Statue Worship? I think not...

What is the Anglican Ordinariate?

Some of you may have heard about the Anglican Ordinariate that Pope Benedict has established.  Some of you are also probably confused about it and what it means.  Marcel has a good explanation here so check it out if you're interested. 

What is an auxiliary and titular bishop?

In previous posts we've mentioned the ordination of Bishop Edward Rice.  Bishop Rice's titles are Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis and Titular Bishop of Sufes.  What does this mean?
An auxiliary bishop is a bishop without canonical jurisdiction as mentioned here - this basically means that he is not the ordinary of a diocese.  An auxiliary bishop provides assistance to the ordinary bishop, who in this case is Archbishop Robert Carlson.  So, as stated on the Archdiocesan website, Auxiliary Bishop Rice "assists Archbishop Carlson in his many responsibilities for the Archdiocese, and represents the Archbishop in overseeing the parishes and several Archdiocesan agencies and ministries". 
A titular bishop is a bishop who basically is the bishop of a suppressed diocese only in title, hence the word "titular".  Catholic Encyclopedia defines it as follows: "Titular bishops are those who have been appointed by the Holy See to a see or diocese which, in former times, had been canonically established and possessed cathedral church, clergy and laity, but at present, on account of pagan occupation and government, has neither clergy nor people. It is essential that the titular diocese did once exist, and did cease to exist through death or defection of clergy and faithful, or pagan settlement and government."  The Catholic Encyclopedia also states, "According to the present ecclesiastical discipline no bishop can be consecrated without title to a certain and distinct diocese which he governs either actually or potentially. Actual government requires residence, potential does not."

Vote for Life!

Thomas Peters has some info and action items regarding pro-life bills being brought up in the House - this is all quite timely with the March for Life coming up in a little over a week.  HR 217, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, would deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood.  And HR 51111 tackles the problems with the health care law regarding funding for abortion facilities.  Go here to learn more and find out how you can contact your representative to encourage them to get on board and protect all human life. 

Bishop Rice Ordained Yesterday

 

Photo by Lisa Johnston

Yesterday was a day of much celebration as six CCM students, myself and Fr. Patrick travelled to St. Louis for the Ordination Mass for Bishop Edward Rice.  It was a beautiful Mass and the Archdiocese is very blessed with the addition of Bishop Rice to the episcopate.  The Cathedral Basilica was packed and there were many bishops, priests, seminarians and religious in attendance as well - which is always a great sight to see! 



CCM students with Bishop Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

 Of course, all of the Missouri bishops were in attendance including our own Bishop James Johnston and our Bishop Emeritus John Leibrecht.  Raymond Cardinal Burke was there and we're always thrilled to see him.  Archbishop Carlson was the principal consecrator along with Bishop John Gaydos of Jefferson City and Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville. 

Following the Mass, Bishop Rice quoted Pope John Paul II speaking of the role of the bishop in carrying the cross and embracing and offering up his sufferings.  He then said:


Two CCM students were able to
greet Bishop Rice at the reception
following Mass.

 "When I read that quote I paused, and then I panicked. It was not what I wanted to read; dying to self, suffering, taking up the Cross. And yet, at the same time, a conviction came over me – God is faithful, He will not abandon me – He has poured out the fullness of His Spirit upon me, so do not be afraid.  The ring I now wear signifies that I am wedded to the Church. The Gospel elevated over my head signifies my commitment to preaching and teaching the Good News. The crosier bespeaks my commitment to the flock, the miter, my pursuit of holiness. Scripture tells us that the Shepherd carries the lost sheep on his shoulders. The Shepherd leads the flock to green pastures. The Shepherd gathers and protects the sheep from danger.The Shepherd is willing to "lay down his life for the sheep." As I look out at all of you, I realize that is the type of bishop you deserve. And so, with God's grace, the strength of the Holy Spirit, and with your prayers, that is the type of Bishop I will strive to be." 
Read his full statement here at the Archdiocesan website.

Congratulations, Bishop Rice.  CCM is so happy for you and we know you will fulfill your new role as bishop with great love and humility!  We are praying for you!

Bl. JPII the Great! Yippee!

According to Vatican Radio, Pope John Paul II will be beatified on May 1, 2011!  Pope Benedict signed the decree today.  Oh, boy, I need to start looking up plane tickets to Rome!

The process of beatification and canonization:

What To Do This Summer

Some students are already thinking about what their summers are going to be like - maybe some will work, some will takes classes, some will veg out, but why not spend your summer doing something for someone else?  When I was in college I spent two summers doing pro-life work and they were totally the best summers of my life giving me memories that I will never forget, developing friendships that I will always have, making a gift of self to those in need and growing in relationship with God intensely.  Pray about it, and if you can, consider giving your summer to Christ and his people.  Here is just a sample of some ways that you could do that:

Crossroads:


Counselor at Camp Wojtyla:


Catholic Urban Project:


These are just a small sample of ways that you can give of yourself this summer.  I'll probably post some other opportunities as the weeks roll on.

Preach it, Archbishop Dolan!

Archbishop Dolan has posted his speech from the 4th Annual Respect Life Week in Yonkers, NY on his  blog and I have to say that I love listening to, or reading as it were, his speeches because you can just feel his passion and conviction for the topic.  When I read the following it made me think of the upcoming March for Life which CCM will be attending:

"...we unite as Americans this afternoon eager to restore this premier civil right [the right to life]; we come together as friends and neighbors sincere in our love and respect for struggling moms and their unborn babies, so eager to assist them; we gather as no one’s enemy, with no threats, simply believing the truth will set us free, that this great nation will recover its birthright as a guardian, not a taker, of innocent life;
we assemble in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, that towering woman promising a welcome, a new life, to those threatened, conscious that those who are most threatened today are babies in the womb;
and we unite recalling the words of Mother Teresa, at the White House, before a president and guests who blushed at her remark that, 'the greatest poverty of all is for a nation to take the life of an innocent unborn baby so we could live as we want.'"

Brief Review of Beatification and Canonization

With the news about Pope John Paul II's possible beatification occurring this year many may be wondering about the process of being beatified and canonized.   Here is a brief overview of the process from our Bishop:

Pope Benedict's General Audience Address - January 12

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today deals with Saint Catherine of Genoa, a fifteenth-century saint best known for her vision of purgatory. Married at an early age, some ten years later Catherine had a powerful experience of conversion; Jesus, carrying his cross, appeared to her, revealing both her own sinfulness and God’s immense love. A woman of great humility, she combined constant prayer and mystical union with a life of charitable service to those in need, above all in her work as the director of the largest hospital in Genoa. Catherine’s writings on purgatory contain no specific revelations, but convey her understanding of purgatory as an interior fire purifying the soul in preparation for full communion with God. Conscious of God’s infinite love and justice, the soul is pained by its inadequate response, even as the divine love purifies it from the remnants of sin. To describe this purifying power of God’s love, Catherine uses the image of a golden chain which draws the soul to abandon itself to the divine will. By her life and teaching, Saint Catherine of Genoa reminds us of the importance of prayer for the faithful departed, and invites us to devote ourselves more fully to prayer and to works of practical charity.

Successor of the Apostles

Never Too Early to Start Planning for a Great Event!

CCM will once again be attending the Church Teaches Forum 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky July 15-16th.  If you are interested in attending with us please contact Kristen.  Here is some info on the weekend:
The theme is "Restoring the Sacred Liturgy, the Summit of the Church's Life".  Speakers are as follows:
Francis Cardinal Arinze: The Centrality of the Sacred Liturgy in the Evangelizing Mission of the Church
Raymond Cardinal Burke:  Reform of the Reform
Bishop Daniel Thomas: Christ and His Church: The Mystery of This Dialogue in the Roman Missal
Fr. Roger Arnsparger:  Restoring the Sacred Liturgy: Building a Culture of Holiness and Salvation
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz and Fr. Edmund McCaffrey will also be present. 
For those wishing to attend on your own, you may contact the apostolate hosting the forum, Eternal Life, at 1-800-842-2871.

Dominican Sisters Continue to Encourage Vocations to Religious Life

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have another discernment retreat coming up February 12-13th.  Contact Sr. Joseph Andrew at their website if you're interested in finding out how you can attend.

Bishops of Missouri Ask Governor to Stop Scheduled Execution

The Bishops in Missouri have urged Gov. Nixon to stop the scheduled execution of Rick Clay who was convicted of capital murder in 1994.  According to this press release from the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, questions remain about Clay's guilt or innocence.  The press release states: "The bishops and other religious leaders of the state have joined in the effort to stop the execution of Mr. Clay by submitting a clemency application to Gov. Nixon, asking him to halt the execution and call for an independent review of the case to ensure that all the facts are made known."

The Bishops ask the following:

Action Requested

1.Contact Governor Nixon's office immediately at 573-751-3222 or at constitservices@mo.gov and urge him to stop the execution set for Jan. 12 and convene a board of inquiry to re-examine the case.

2.Call the Board of Probation and Parole at 573-751-8488. They will be making a recommendation to Gov. Nixon on the case.

The Message
Please spare the life of Rick Clay and do not execute him. The jury in his murder trial did not receive evidence that could have cleared him of this crime. The state of Missouri should take a second look before they execute a man who may be innocent. A board of inquiry should be established to re-examine Rick Clay's case.


Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about capital punishment (my emphasis in bold):

CCC 2267: Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm—without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself—the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent".


Quotes from Pope John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae regarding capital punishment:

"Modern society in fact has the means of effectively suppressing crime by rendering criminals harmless without definitively denying them the chance to reform."

"Public authority must redress the violation of personal and social rights by imposing on the offender an adequate punishment for the crime, as a condition for the offender to regain the exercise of his or her freedom. In this way authority also fulfils the purpose of defending public order and ensuring people's safety, while at the same time offering the offender an incentive and help to change his or her behaviour and be rehabilitated.

It is clear that, for these purposes to be achieved, the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent."

**UPDATE**  As of Monday, January 10th, Gov. Nixon has commuted Clay's sentence.  Clay will not be executed, but rather has been given a sentence of life without parole.

An Exciting Week in St. Louis!

 According to the website for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Raymond Cardinal Burke will be celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis this Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at Rosati-Cain across the street.  If you're in St. Louis this would be a great opportunity to give thanks to God for this holy man who has dedicated himself so faithfully to serving the Church.

Secondly, of course, as mentioned in a previous post, Bishop-elect Rice's episcopal consecration will be taking place January 13th at 2 p.m. also at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and we are planning on attending.  If you would like to attend with CCM please email me here.  If you're unable to attend you can watch the Mass online here.

Short Video Contests

The Ruth Institute is hosting a video contest about the theme "Is life-long love possible?"  The winner will receive a prize of $2000 with runners-up receiving $1500 and $1000.  To find out more click here.

Goodness Reigns is hosting a video contest about the Catholic faith with the grand prize being four trips to World Youth Day or a production prize package.  Act fast on this one though because entries are due by Monday!  Click here for more info.

Abby Johnson Shares Her Story in New Book: unPlanned

If you haven't yet heard Abby Johnson's amazing story, here is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know her.  unPlanned is the book chronicling Abby's journey from working as a director at a Texas Planned Parenthood clinic to having a conversion and quitting her position at Planned Parenthood to speaking all over the country about her courageous decision to become pro-life.  When Abby was working at Planned Parenthood she was asked to assist in an abortion.  During the abortion an ultrasound was used and Abby watched as the little baby in the womb fought against the item that was being used to take the child's life.  That was the straw that broke the camel's back and Abby realized that she couldn't participate in the culture of death any longer.

Abby will be having a live webcast to give a preview of her new book on Monday, January 10th and if you would like to be a part of it you can sign up here.  Limited space is available and I hear over 4,000 people have already signed up, so act fast!  Learn more about Abby's heroic story by visiting her website. 
Also, hear her tell her story in these videos:

40 Days for Life- Abby Johnson story from David on Vimeo.

Veni Si Amas! - Come If You Love!

Attention all young women! Mark your calendars to join the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St.George at their Veni Si Amas Retreat February 11-13th.  The Sisters are awesome!  To sign up for the Veni Si Amas Retreat contact the sisters at http://www.altonfranciscans.org/.

Pope Benedict's General Audience Address - January 5th

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In this first Audience of the New Year, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, I offer my prayerful best wishes to you and your families. The Church’s celebration of these days of Christmas is not only a remembrance of things past, but a joyful experience of Christ’s enduring presence in our lives and in our world. In Jesus, the Word Incarnate, our salvation is accomplished in the flesh. Jesus’ humbling of himself, beginning with his conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary, will find its fullest expression in the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection. Our appreciation of the deep bond uniting the Incarnation and the Redemption naturally draws us from the contemplation of the Child Jesus in the Crib to the adoration of his real presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The liturgical celebrations of this holy season, from Christmas through the Epiphany to the Baptism of the Lord, challenge us to be completely transformed by the Son of God who became man so that we might attain our ultimate human fulfilment by sharing in his glorious divine life.

JPII Beatification?

Well, it's been slow-blogging the last couple of weeks with Christmas and New Year's celebrations in full swing, but now that things are winding down blogging should be back to a regular schedule.  What better way to get back to our usual blogging schedule in the new year than with some good news about our beloved JPII!?  According to news reports and several other blogs, the beatification of Servant of God Pope John Paul II the Great could take place later this year.  You may remember a few years ago when a French nun reported a miracle contributed to the intercession of JPII when she was healed from Parkinson's disease.  This report has been under investigation and has been approved by both theologians and medical experts.  It should soon go to the desk of Pope Benedict for recoginition and, pending approval, we may see a beatification this year. Read more from CNA.
Ioannes Paulus II, ora pro nobis!

**UPDATE** The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has approved the miracle and the paperwork is headed to Pope Benedict's desk!  I'll, of course, post about this when he signs it and announces a beatification date!

Top 12 CCM Moments of 2010

Well, here we are on New Year's Eve and the Eve of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and I can't help but reflect on all the crazy and wonderful happenings at CCM over the past year.  Some of the events seem so long ago and some of them feel like they just happened this morning, but nevertheless, 2010 has come and is now saying goodbye, so let's take a look at the Top 12 CCM Moments of 2010 (hey, why limit ourselves to a Top 10?):

1. The Human Experience Comes to SEMO - CCM, along with Student Government and RHA, brought Grassroots Film's latest release to our area for the first showing of the movie in Missouri.  We were thrilled with the turnout:  600-700 people came to the SEMO campus to see this uplifting story and many came to both showings to see it twice!  It was a great way to end the Spring 2010 semester and we hope to have many other events like this one in the future.  If you want to purchase the DVD of the Human Experience click here.

2.  CCM Appears on EWTN's Life on the Rock:  In July, Fr. Patrick and I, along with three CCM students, travelled to Irondale, Alabama to tape an episode of Life on the Rock which aired in August.  It was an honor for our little ministry to be featured on this hour long international television show.  Thanks to everyone who tuned in and expressed their support following the airing. We pray this opportunity continues to bear fruit.  If you would like to watch the show click here.

3.  Spring Break Mission Trip to Chicago:  Fr. Patrick, myself and 11 students traversed up to the windy city for about a week to serve the poor and assist Fr. Bob Lombardo, CFR renovate an old convent as they work on renovating the property of Our Lady of the Angels.  It was a trip filled with much, much laughter, little sleep, lots of painting, lots of praying, many graces and great hope.  Spending time with Fr. Bob, Kate, Eric, Alecia and Dorothy was fabulous.  It was a great experience and we continue to pray for Fr. Bob and his ministry.

4.  First CCM March for Life Trip:  The 14 hour long drive to D.C. was worth it to take five students to witness to the dignity of all human life at the 2010 March for Life.  While CCM students may have joined up with other groups to attend the March in the past, I think this was the first time CCM has organized a trip on our own to attend - and this year we are following up with a group of 23 students planning to attend the 2011 CCM March for Life Trip! 

5.  Awakening 2010:  This year we had 39 students participate in our annual Awakening Retreat!  The students who planned the retreat prayed and worked hard for months for a successful retreat!  It was an exciting weekend filled with growth in students' relationships with Christ and each other. The theme was "He is Mighty to Save - Eph. 6: 10" and the theme really came through as students experienced the saving power of God through the weekend.

6.  Studies and regular events: We've definitely been keeping students busy learning about the Catholic faith in these regular events.  Our two Theology of the Body studies saw over 25 students learning about the Church's teachings on the human person; Catholicism 101 covered a range of topics from saints to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; TNT was very well-attended giving students an opportunity to pray together and discuss their relationship with God; the fall semester saw the advent of the St. Augustine Men's Group which has proven to be quite successful; and we have five individuals currently going through our RCIA class.  Wow, God is good. 

7.  Guest Speakers:  We really enjoy inviting guest speakers to share the faith with our students and this year we had the blessing of welcoming Fr. Brian Fischer of the Office of Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Sr. Maria Pio and Sr. Mary Catherine of the Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother located in Toronto, Ohio to CCM.  Fr. Brian was here in the spring semester and presented a great meditation on Jesus.  The TOR Sisters were here in the fall and gave a fabulous talk on discernment leading into a Spirit-filled Holy Hour in the Chapel.  We're so grateful for the gift of each of our guests!

8.  Fall Semester Opening Events:  This semester we were ecstatic to see such a great turnout at our opening events - our Karoke & BBQ night saw around 70 students in attendance and we ran out of BBQ!  The Coffeehouse saw similar numbers and we had a lot of fun listening to the talent of our students and even Fr. Patrick and Fr. William took the stage at the end.  And, of course, we had, as always, an incredible night of Adoration/Praise & Worship in the Chapel.  It's a wonderful blessing to see so many students gather to worship Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

9.  CCM Gives Back:  Our students work hard to heed the call of the Lord to love God and neighbor and this year saw several events where students gave back in service to the community.  The fall brought the beginning of a weekly trip to a nursing home to pray the Rosary and visit with alzheimer's patients.  Many students visited Mr. Anderson regularly before his passing this year as well - requiem in pace.  Students spent an evening raking a community member's yard in September and again another yard in December.  Service events ranging from writing letters to prisoners to assisting the elderly are common occurrences at CCM.

10.  Fundraisers:  Boy, does CCM know how to put the 'fun' in fundraiser!  In the spring we held our annual Wine & Live Music fundraiser and this event proves to be a night of fun and laughter every year!  Two new fundraisers appeared in the fall with a Trivia Night in August and our 1st Annual Living Hope 5K Run/Walk in October which saw participation of over 60 people!  And we can't forget our annual Joy of Christmas concert in December.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all our supporters and benefactors!

11.  Day Trips & Conferences:  CCM took students to hear such speakers as Christopher West, Fr. John Corapi and Tony Melendez in the spring and fall.  Students also attended conferences such as the FOCUS Conference in January and the Church Teaches Forum in July where we were pleased to see Archbishop (now Cardinal) Raymond Burke.

12. Family Weekend:  Our annual Family Weekend Mass on the Terraces and Luncheon again saw a large crowd of over 400 students, families and community members.  We were so happy to see such a large group of students become involved in music ministry for this weekend as well. 

There were many great moments, events and activities at CCM this year.  Another highlight of the year is the addition of a much-needed sound system in our Chapel (just installed last week) which will help us to enter into prayer more deeply as we will be able to hear the Scriptures better.  These are all just some of the many highlights.  Do you have a CCM memory from 2010 that you would like to share?  Tell us about it in the comments!

Happy New Year to you all and we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for 2011!