Pope Francis!!!

History was made last week: the first Jesuit pope who also happens to be the first pope from Latin America was elected. Jorge Mario Bergoglio now Pope Francis was elected as the 266^th Bishop of Rome. Our pope chose the name Francis not after St. Francis Xavier as some have thought, but rather after St. Francis of Assisi who as we know here at Viterbo is known for his simple lifestyle and commitment to the poor. It is exciting to see a Jesuit pope choosing a Franciscan name and gives us a glimpse into the beautiful heart of our new leader.

The first thing our Pope did when appearing before the crowds of Rome was ask for our prayers for Emeritus Bishop Benedict XVI and then also for himself: what humility we are shown right away by this inspiring man.

As the days have progressed since his election, Pope Francis has already begun to set himself apart as a simple man who wishes to continue promoting advocacy for the poor as well as continuation of the great works of his predecessors especially John Paul II and Benedict XVI. There have also been stories of his extreme humility and even his glimpses of humor. The picture below shows him kissing the head of a man with severe disability while going through the crowds of Rome. It is also shared that instead of riding in a private car after his election, he rode on the bus with the other cardinals back to the hotel.

It is exciting to see this amazingly humble man already have such beautiful acts attributed to his name. It will be great to see what happens throughout the rest of his papacy.

LENT

When you think of Lent, it is common to think of deserts, sacrifice and suffering. We also tend to think of giving up those sweets or sometimes Facebook or the like. But Lent is more than just giving up that time we spend surfing the web.  Lent is a time of renewal. It is a time to refocus ourselves and remember all that Christ has done for us. To quote Father Conrad, we need to look at PFC:

 

P-Prayer

Prayer is a necessity in our lives. It is what gives us the motivation to continue onwards in our journeys, our caminos if you will.

Some practical changes we can make in relation to prayer this Lenten journey include:

• Attending the Mass
  • Masses are held at San Damiano Chapel at noon every weekday and at 11 am and 6 pm on Sundays. Come worship and celebrate the Lord with us.
• Eucharistic Adoration
  • Adoration is a beautiful tradition where we can spend time with the Lord in silent reflection. We will be having adoration at San Damiano Chapel every Wednesday throughout Lent from 12:30 until 5:15. Come and spend time in the quiet of the chapel.
• Reading the Bible
  • The Word of God holds so much richness and beauty within it. If you are in need of help on where to start reading the Bible or plans there are Lent reflection books located in San Damiano chapel and in the Campus Ministry office (Murphy 340). They are free for your personal use.
• Attending Taize prayer
  • This Lent we will be having Taize prayer two nights a week: Sundays (7 p.m.) and Thursdays (9 p.m.). We invite you to come and join us in this time of reflection, prayer and meditation.

F-Fasting

What exactly does fasting entail? The ‘official’ definition of fasting is to have one meal and two smaller meals that do not total the first meal. However, there are many different forms of fasting. The Catholic Church also asks us to abstain from meat on Fridays throughout Lent as well as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is a great opportunity to help us to remember our spiritual needs and help us to better control our physical needs.

C-Acts of Charity (Almsgiving)

Many times we think of almsgiving as a monetary donation. While this is one way to give alms; there are other ways that we can ‘give alms’ or participate in acts of charity. Some of these include:

• Volunteering at Place of Grace
• Volunteering with the Warming Center

Any time we sacrifice, whether it is our “time” or even giving up that coffee you get every Friday and giving that time or money to someone else, it is an example of participating in an act of charity and giving alms.

I hope that as you start this Lenten journey you remember PFC and how it is not just things we have to do, but things we want to do in order to bring us closer to our Loving God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy Lent!

Finding God in Stressful Situations

Here we are, wrapping up the end of our first semester of the 2012-2013 school year.  I have to say that for being my first year here, this time has gone very fast! This constant rush of life, from school to work to extracurricular activities, has really made me think about where I put God in my life.  Now, I feel that I have been faithful; attending mass every weekend, sometimes going to noon masses when my schedule coordinates, and being a part of many Campus Ministry events.  I say my prayers every night, before meals, and at times during the day when I feel that I need a little help or God deserves thanks. When I get stressed, however, I sometimes find that God is not the first friend I turn too. This poses a question in my mind at the end of this semester: where have we put God during our difficult times?

Have we not been taught in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ who give us strength?  Why, then, do we turn away from Him when our lives get rough? I feel that we sometimes get so independent in solving our problems that we forget that God is there holding us through the entire struggle. I can admit that I am the type of person who does this. Sometimes, though, as I say my goodnight prayers, I remember how God has helped me on my journey thus far, and I need to rely on Him more. “God alone is my rock and my salvation, my secure height; I shall not fall. My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge. Trust God at all times, my people! Pour out your hearts to God our refuge!”-Psalms 62:7-9.

As we await the coming of Christ, we must remember what Jesus told us about building our foundations. The man who builds his house on sand will be washed away when the storm comes, but the one who builds his house on rock will be fine. No matter what our storm may be (finals, a death, job loss, etc.), we must place our trust in God and know that if He brings us to it, He will bring us through it.

God Bless all of you during this time of Advent! Good luck on finals or any other struggles, and have a Merry Christmas!

By: Kalene Weber

All Saints Day

November 1^st marks All Saints Day, a feast day and Holy Day of Obligation, in the Roman Catholic Church along with many other churches across the world. All Saints Day has a long history and ultimately was conceived in the light of having a day to recognize all people who have helped and influenced the faith in some way. With All Saints Day, we are recognizing to All Saints who may not have a feast day recognized elsewhere and all Saints we may not know either. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize all the amazing people who have done incredible things for the faith throughout all of history.

The USCCB has encouraged the study of 10 Saints in conjunction with both All Saints Day and the Year of Faith:

1. Sts. Peter and Paul –Peter and Paul laid the foundations of the early Church and are among the most venerated saints. Peter was the first to profess that Jesus is the Son of God, and the papacy is built on his witness. Paul’s mission trips expanded the reach of the young Church, and his writings articulate our faith. Both men were willing to bear witness to the point of death, and both were martyred in Rome.

2. St. Jerome – A Fourth Century Doctor of the Church, Jerome made the Bible more accessible to everyday people when he translated it into Latin from its original Hebrew and Greek. St. Jerome is famous for saying, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” We can follow in Jerome’s evangelizing footsteps by loving the Word of God.

3. St. Augustine – Bishop of Hippo, a contemporary of Jerome, and another Doctor of the Church, Augustine was notorious for his life of sinful indulgence prior to his conversion. He continues to inspire people, not only because of his conversion, but also with the brilliance of his writings—most famously his Confessions—which have had a profound impact on Christian thought down to the present day.

4. St. Patrick – As the Fifth Century Apostle of Ireland, Patrick exemplifies how Christian witness can have a pervasive, lasting impact on a culture. Following the example of Jesus, who taught with imagery, St. Patrick is known for using the image of the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity, making a great mystery of God accessible to all people.

5. St. Francis of Assisi – One of the most beloved saints, Francis of Assisi lived the Gospel by identifying himself with the poor, embracing outcasts and enemies, andcelebrating the goodness of God present in all creation. His witness revitalized a Church that had “fallen into ruin,” and his influence today goes beyond the order he founded and even beyond the Catholic Church. When the last two popes held interreligious gatherings to pray for peace, they met not in Rome, but in Assisi.

6. St. Ignatius of Loyola – Founder of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola was a former soldier from Spain. He founded the Jesuits in 1540 as an effort to counter the effects of the Protestant Reformation by the promotion and defense of the teachings and authority of theChurch across Europe. Ignatius also developed his Spiritual Exercises, a model of prayer still used today.

7. St. Francis Xavier – A close friend of St. Ignatius and one of the first Jesuits, Francis Xavier was a great missionary to Asia, visiting India, Indonesia, Japan and other countries. He was named the patron of Catholic missions by Pope Pius XI.

8. St. Juan Diego – The peasant to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared Juan Diego is essentially the evangelizer of an entire hemisphere. Blessed Pope John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americas in 1999 and canonized Juan Diego in 2002. He is the first indigenous Mexican saint.

9. St. Daniel Comboni – Another great missionary in the history of the Church, Daniel Comboni traveled from his native Italy to Central Africa and founded the Comboni Missionaries and the Comboni Missionary Sisters in 1867 and 1872, respectively. He spent nearly all of his priesthood in Africa and was named a bishop and apostolic vicar to Africa in 1877. He died in 1881 and was canonized in 2003.

10. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus – Also known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the Little Flower, Thérèse was a French Carmelite in the late 1800s. She is best known for pursuing the “little way” to holiness, serving God in every little action of daily life, before dying of tuberculosis at the age of 24 in 1897. She was named the patroness of Catholic missions by Pope Pius XI because of her devotion of praying for missionaries. She was named a Doctor of the Church (the third woman and youngest person ever to receive this honor) by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1997.

12 Ways to Live the Year of Faith

So now that we are a few days into the Year of Faith, many people are wondering what can they do to fully participate in this special year. Thanks to the Diocese of La Crosse, I have inserted below some of the ideas they suggest. Enjoy!

 

 

Pope Benedict XVI has announced a special Year of Faith that begins Oct. 11, 2012- The 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council as well as the 20^th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church—and concludes Nov. 24, 2013—the feast of Christ the King. During this Year of Faith, it is his hope that Catholics enter into deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through re-opening the “door of faith” (see acts 14:27).

12 Ways to Live the Year of Faith

1. Bring a friend to Sunday Mass
2. Be committed to daily prayer
3. Place a crucifix or holy picture in your home
4. Study the Faith in a group
5. Go to confession
6. Volunteer in the parish
7. Participate in a Bible study
8. Pray the Act of Faith each day
9. Help a neighbor in need
10. Read the documents of Vatican II
11. Read the life of a saint or another Catholic book
12. Take ten minutes each day to read from one of the Gospels

Happy Year of Faith!

Throughout the next year we will be diving into the meaning of the Year of Faith. It will be a time for all Christians to look at their relationship with God and ask themselves, “Have I seen the Face of Jesus?” What will this next year bring for you?

Reflection below provided by student Mandy Jo Mlsna

This past weekend I had the blessing and privilege to go to Mass at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral with Bishop Callahan. It was the Opening Mass to the Year of Faith that Pope Benedict has declared starting this October until November 2013.  The Year of Faith is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei, Benedict XVI).  The Knights of Columbus led the procession followed by an assortment of priests and servers and finally our dear Bishop.

In the front of the Cathedral were a couple hundred crosses inscribed with A Year of Faith and the year 2012-2013. Each cross though similar was unique and different and one was sent to each parish. The parishes can then have families pass the cross from home to home. These crosses were blessed and kissed by the Bishop. It is a unique symbol to be able to keep in the parishes.

This is all great to know and to have those reminders, but what does a Year of Faith really entail? What are we called to do and participate in? The Bishop, in his homily, discussed the fact that we as a people need to decide what we stand for. This statement really hit home with me. As Christians, we need to make the conscious decision to follow Christ not just in word, but in all that we do. We are called to active participation and not just passive observation. This is a good reminder for all of us as we go about the crazy busyness that is our technology filled life, we still need to take that time for our Lord and Creator who is the reason we are able to live this craziness we call life!

Our Prayer for Life! (Forty Days For Life)

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 marks the beginning of the 40 Days For Life campaign for the 2012 year. 40 Days For Life is a campaign where people pray to end abortion, show others the consequences of abortion, and keep people aware of God’s plan for all of us. The 40 days symbolizes the many cases in the Bible in which people were saved in a 40 day period through God.

There are three parts to this campaign: prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach. Prayer and fasting can be done on our own, but the other two parts require more people skills and courage. The constant vigil takes place outside of a place where children are aborted, such as a Planned Parenthood, abortion center, and some hospitals.

What can you do to help? First, you can simply fast and pray on your own time. Pray for people considering abortion, for those fighting against it, and for an end to abortion. You can also attend the prayer vigils or other activities going on. God said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Let’s give all life a chance to give glory to God.

Please visit http://www.40daysforlife.com/lacrosse/ for more information.

Adoration-What is it?

Eucharistic Adoration is a common practice within the Catholic Church. But you may be asking: What exactly is Eucharistic Adoration?
Eucharistic Adoration is where the Eucharist is exposed in the monstrance (the gold sun-like object above) for a period of time. During this time people may come and pray in front of the Eucharist. Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the true body of Christ and that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Adoration is derived from Latin meaning “love given with deep affection”. Thus time of Adoration is a time of love that we are sharing and giving to God.
Because of the nature of Adoration, many people find it to be a soothing atmosphere and a great atmosphere for prayer and reflection. People journal, read their bibles and other prayer books during this time. Others pray the rosary, or participate in Lectio Divina.
Although often done in silence, sometimes soft, reflective music can accompany a time of Eucharistic Adoration and help to provide another form of prayer for those participating. Perhaps you are not Catholic or don’t have the same belief that the Eucharist is the body of Christ. Please come and join us for this unique prayer time. It is open to all! It can be good for us to take a few moments out of our busy lives to sit in the quiet of the chapel and focus on the bigger picture and take some time just for ourselves to be.
Adoration is held from 7:30-8:30 pm every Wednesday at San Damiano Chapel. Hope to see you there!

A New Place – A New Community – A New Calling

The cross of San Damiano has a lot of history in the Franciscan tradition. It was the cross that spoke to St. Francis and inspired him with a new calling – a new calling to change and restore the Catholic Church.

We’ve all had those moments – the times when we are in desperate need for something more. The moments where we look at our own lives and we wonder what our purpose is and what we were meant to do.

St. Francis had that moment. He heard it well. But, it took him some time to understand his call.

As we approach the Feast of St. Francis, let us gather our own thoughts and reflect on God’s plan for us. He tells us “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope…” Jeremiah 29:11.

Let us sit in God’s presence and ask Him to give us peace, understanding, love, joy… Let us say, “I trust in you.” Let us give Him glory and praise for all that he have. Let us know His love, feel His love, and share His love to all…

In the meantime…Freshman Kalene Weber has graciously shared a reflection on the new place and community she was called to.

So this is it, freshman year of college. I had been anticipating this all summer, longing to leave my small hometown of Park Falls, WI. I have to admit, the day before I left, I bawled my eyes out while saying goodbye to my family and close friends.  However, I knew that I was making the right choice. Viterbo made me feel welcome the first time I visited. In fact, I didn’t even visit any other colleges because I knew I wanted to be here! Finally, the time had come for me to call Viterbo my home.

After my parents left that Friday or orientation, I had no need to cry or feel homesick. All of the Orientation Leaders made me feel welcome, and the entire orientation weekend kept me busy! I love walking around this beautiful campus. It makes me feel safe in the surrounding area, I feel welcomed by all of the people here, and even the cafeteria food is good! My favorite part about this campus, though, is how so many people love God.  The first Sunday I spent here, I went to the 11 o’clock mass in San Damiano Chapel, and I was actually shocked to see so many college kids there! I have heard that many kids fall away from God and the Church when they don’t have their parents making them go anymore. It made me feel really at home to be surrounded with people who share the same interests as me, especially in church!

The first 3 weeks of school have gone great thus far, and I am looking forward to the rest of the year and all of the challenges it will bring.  I know in my heart that if I keep God first, keep my studies up, and have some fun, I will be okay (:

The Start to a New Beginning

The time has finally arrived for new beginnings here at Viterbo University. As the Freshmen (and everyone else) begin their college experiences, many of us can relate to the craziness and excitement one may feel with the start of something new.

Just like the Freshmen, Campus Ministry is starting something new as well. With a new class of students coming in, there also new buildings, new faces, new classes, but also a new Campus Minister (Emilio Alvarez) with a relatively (not really) new Campus Chaplain (Fr. Conrad Targonski).

Though many will say “Out with the old and in with the new!”, I would like to embrace the old and the new and bring them together in a Franciscan spirit. This blog’s purpose is to do just that.

Over the course of the school year, this blog will be an opportunity for Campus Ministry to present to you insights on saints, feasts, events, experiences, etc… Hopefully everyone will be able to read something here that will offers some insight, inspirations, excitement, comfort, etc…

Too begin our first Post, Senior nursing student Mandy Jo has offered a reflection that offers some prayerful insights to this blog’s title, Viterbo Sandal Prints: Franciscan Footsteps Towards Christ. Enjoy!

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene he noticed two set of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, & the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back, at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of his life, there were only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Almost all of us are familiar with the above setting, in some way, shape or form we have grown up with it present in our lives. But how many times have we stopped to actually ponder what this poem truly means? How many times do we realize the times the Lord is with us, even if perhaps we feel abandoned and alone? Or those times when we have so much to do that we believe there is no way possible we can accomplish it all?

This can be especially true when one is in college. There are those weeks where it is a challenge to get everything accomplished and it seems as if it is impossible to get everything done. However, at those points, those times when we have 18 credits, a job, tutoring, extracurricular activities, studying, along with attempting to maintain some semblance of a social life and keep in contact with our family, it is then that the Lord is with us and carries us through it all. Even if we don’t feel His presence or realize it, He is there. How else would we make it through those crazy, hectic parts of life?

As we start a new school year, my prayer is that we all make an effort to make time for God, for whether we know it or not, He will always be there and when we need him most, that is when He will carry us.