You've just finished your last class. What are you going to do?

Why, go to the end of semester theology gathering for serious snacks and relaxation!

From the email:

It's that time again! Come join us for some food, some fun, and some fellowship.

Who: Theology, PYM, and Religious Education Majors and Minors
What: Christmas Party - conveniently co-occuring with the last
day of classes
Where: The Theology Suite
When: Starting at 4:00 PM, Wednesday, 15 December

Questions go to Dr. Beal.  See you there!

Congrats to Brian Singer-Towns, Winner of National Catholic Youth Ministry Award

At NCCYM this week in New Orleans--

Our friend at Saint Mary's Press, Brian Singer-Towns, will be awarded a national award for publisher/author of the year.  Brian is the editor of the Catholic Youth Bible and the Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth. among other things.  Some of you alums had Brian S-T as a professor in our Youth Ministry seminar.  Congrats, Brian!

Brian's author/editor page on the Saint Mary's Press website is here.

Quotation of the day

Your vocation is to shout the Gospel from the rooftops, not in words, but with your life. 

-Bl. Charles de Foucauld  (whose memorial is today)

Looking for summer work?

Working as a summer missionary at a LifeTeen camp. More information here, and applications are due Jan 31, 2011.

Jobs in pastoral and youth ministry list

A great NATIONAL list you should be checking on a regular basis: find it here.

Some of our students made the New York Times...?

It's true. Some of our majors went to the School of the Americas protest, which is organized every year to protest the teaching and use of torture in past and present military training... and one got snapped by the New York Times, with the SMU shirt on....

Full NYT story here.

Fun Friday: Youth Ministry

More of the sort here, at Inherit the Mirth.

The Winona Catholic Worker

Dan working the CW garden!

Some of you who have volunteered at the Winona Catholic Worker houses may know Dan Wilson, who was profiled in the Winona Daily News today. He gives a nice tip of the hat to the influence of Dorothy Day and Bl. Mother Teresa. Read the story here.

Fun Friday: Sacralizing the Everyday

Enjoy!

Welcome to the prospective majors!

Yes, departmental information sessions were held today.  If you have any questions about the Theology, Pastoral and Youth Ministry, or Religious Education majors--as well as the two minors in Theology or Ministry--please come by and ask us more questions.  The famous candy bowl in SM 223 is chock full of good quality post-Halloween candy....

(And remember!  Sign up for Th 209, your gateway course to the rest of the major!)

Long Term Volunteering Fair: Nov 2nd

Interested in volunteering for a year or two after graduation?  You NEED to be at this fair.  Contact Campus Ministry for more information.

Tuesday, Nov 2 2010

Hall of Fame Room

3-5pm

Stop by and see the many representatives from various volunteer organizations to work after graduation.
Volunteer Organizations that will be here: Lasallian Volunteer Program, Mercy Corps, Winona Catholic Worker, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Catholic Volunteer Corps, Franciscan Community Volunteer, Saint Joseph Worker Program, Franciscan Outreach Program, Saint Vincent Pallotti Center, Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry, Redeemer Ministry Corps, Colorado Vincentian Volunteers....

We knew we were cutting edge, but...

Office for Evangelizing Cyberspace does not have internet access
...at the Vatican.
Yikes.

But..we can help with that, right? ;)

Happy Fall break, everyone!

Good news: Americans Believe In God. Bad News? ....

This is a fascinating article on a new study and book, even if it is limited. Do our images of God directly effect the way we see and act in the world? New evidence, and it is detailed!:

Surveys say about nine out of 10 Americans believe in God, but the way we picture that God reveals our attitudes on economics, justice, social morality, war, natural disasters, science, politics, love and more, say Paul Froese and Christopher Bader, sociologists at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Their new book, America's Four Gods: What We Say About God — And What That Says About Us, examines our diverse visions of the Almighty and why they matter.

Based primarily on national telephone surveys of 1,648 U.S. adults in 2008 and 1,721 in 2006, the book also draws from more than 200 in-depth interviews that, among other things, asked people to respond to a dozen evocative images, such as a wrathful old man slamming the Earth, a loving father's embrace, an accusatory face or a starry universe.

Go look at the whole article....

Lecture: Br. Paul Joslin on Br. James Miller, Servant of God and SMU alum

Thursday, Oct. 7th, Salvi Lecture Hall at 7:30pm

"Witnessing to Non Violence" Presentation by Br. Paul Joslin FSC

Br. Paul will present his first-hand experience story of living and working with Br. James Miller FSC in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. His story of Br. James is very moving and inspiring!

"Br. James Miller took young people from the hills that had no chance and gave them a combination of hope and life. Are we, too, willing to rise up like Br. James to take the young by the hand and lead them to freedom?" --Archbishop Roach, 1982

(I heard him share on this a few years ago, and it was easily one of the most moving experiences I've had at SMU. I encourage everyone to go!)

Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

A retrospective from a few years back. Recognize anyone? Happy Feast of Francis t o you!

An Apologia for Theology at the University (and everywhere else)

The latest Pew Study results in a USA Today article: Americans lack religious knowledge.

Americans are clear on God but foggy on facts about faiths.

The new U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey, released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds that although 86% of us believe in God or a higher power, we don't know our own traditions or those of neighbors across the street or across the globe.

Among 3,412 adults surveyed, only 2% correctly answered at least 29 of 32 questions on the Bible, major religious figures, beliefs and practices. The average score was 16 correct (50%).

FAITH & REASON: Athiests ace 'religious knowledge'

Key findings:

•Doctrines don't grab us. Only 55% of Catholic respondents knew the core teaching that the bread and wine in the Mass become the body and blood of Christ, and are not merely symbols. Just 19% of Protestants knew the basic tenet that salvation is through faith alone, not actions as well.

•Basic Bible eludes us. Just 55% of all respondents knew the Golden Rule isn't one of the Ten Commandments; 45% could name all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

•World religions are a struggle. Fewer than half (47%) knew that the Dalai Lama is a Buddhist; 27% knew most people in Indonesia are Muslims.

Now...what are YOU going to do about this?

Spiritual directors list available

A local (and not exhaustive) list of spiritual directors who expressed willingness to work with Spirituality for the Vineyard students is now available! See Dr. WD in the Theology suite or Lynn S. in Campus Ministry for the list. Thanks!


p.s. The painting above depicts the road to Emmaus narrative, often used as a symbol for spiritual direction.

"Retreat in the real world" opportunity

From the online ministries department at Creighton University, a source of many good resources:

Make a retreat designed for people too busy to make a traditional retreat.

Experience a relationship with God coming alive in the midst of everyday life.

Come to know a freedom and peace too often out of reach in the modern world.

A simple Guide each week places themes, reflections, questions and desires into the background of our busy lives. We learn to find greater focus and to let one week build upon another.

It really works. Any busy person can do this retreat in the background of a very full life. Thousands of others have done so.

Begin any time, but if we begin the week of September 19th, the retreat fits with the Liturgical Year.

Make the commitment alone, with a spiritual director, or form a group to make the retreat together.

If you are "on the fence," read what so many others said after they completed the retreat.

Here's How to Get Started.

See more about the weekly "retreat in the real world" here.

"God has created me to do Him some definite service."

From now Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman:

God has created me to do Him some definite service.

He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work.

I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away.

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.

He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about.

He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me.

Still, He knows what He is about.

"I want a laity...."

“I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men [and women] who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it. I want an intelligent, well-instructed laity – I wish [them] to enlarge [their] knowledge, to cultivate [their] reason, to get an insight into the relation of truth to truth, to learn to view things as they are, to understand how faith and reason stand to each other, what are the bases and principles of Catholicism.’ (Sermon 9, Duties of Catholics towards the Protestant View, 1851)

--John Henry Cardinal Newman (future saint! to be beatified Sept 19, 2010)


To that end--
Remember the inaugural Vineyard Colloquium, 7pm Sunday in the President's Room. See you there!

The Inaugural Vineyard Colloquium: this Sunday evening!

History in the making, everyone. The inaugural speaker of the Vineyard Colloquia presents this Sunday!

Majors (and faculty) should have received an invitation to dinner with Sr. Kate before the lecture. Please RSVP to Dr. Beal by Wednesday (Sept 15).

And everyone come to the lecture/discussion...you can go to the late Mass afterward....

"Opportunities and Challenges in Lay Ministry"
September 19, 2010, 7pm
The President's Room, Toner Center
Sr. Kate Dooley, O.P.

Sister Kate Dooley, O.P. is a Sinsinawa (WI) Dominican Sister who teaches at Dominican University in River Forest, Il. For the past twenty five years she taught in The School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. She holds an M.A. from the Catholic University of America, a M.Th. from Harvard Divinity School, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Dr. Dooley has published widely in catechetical and liturgical journals, and written a number of texts and resource materials for religious education. She is one of the General Editors for the Benziger series, Christ Jesus the Way. Other publications are To Listen and Tell: Commentary on the Introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children (Washington, D.C.: Pastoral Press, 1993); co-edited The Echo Within: Emerging Issues in Religious Education (Allen, Texas: Thomas More, 1997); and is currently working on Be What You Celebrate on liturgical catechesis. She has received numerous national awards, including the National Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Liturgical Life of the American Church (Georgetown Center for Liturgy, 2005) and the Emmaus Award for Excellence in Catechesis (National Catholic Education Association/National Association of Parish Catechetical Leaders, 2005).

On pizza, mind maps, and spiritual formation

The meeting! Finally! Thanks to everyone who came (should have gotten a big group shot, I know, I know)....

Conclusion #1: Goodness, we eat a lot of pizza.

Look at us using computers. How on earth did Thomas Aquinas write his Summa without them....









Concept mapping broke out all over the place.

If you weren't there, we explained this program (on this page) AND showed people how to use the "mind map" (or concept map if you prefer). This is like a digital version of Co-Workers in the Vineyard, a tool to self-assess your formation as a Catholic Christian, and help determine next steps in discerning and growing in your vocation and ministry. More to come....

Have you RSVPed?

Have you RSVP-ed to the big whopping Theology majors orientation to all things SFTV and Mindmap? You know, the one on Thursday Sept 9th from 6-8pm?

(...and if you don't know what I am taking about and want to attend, or at least know what's up...email Professor Laurie Ziliak! Do it now!)

Fun Friday: Youth Ministry

Happy Mass of the Holy Spirit today! And...

Mass of the Holy Spirit: Today, 12:10pm at St. Thomas More Chapel!
Bishop Quinn presiding....

It's also a significant Lasallian day: lightly adapted from Br. Larry Humphries' (our VP for Mission) email:

September 2 is the feast day in the Lasallian world of our Brother martyrs of the French Revolution. These include Blessed Brother Solomon, who was killed on September 2, 1792. On this day we also honor our Brothers (Blessed Brother Roger, Blessed Brother Uldaric, Blessed Brother Léon) who died as prisoners in the "hulk" ships two or three years later.

As the Winona campus celebrates College Convocation Day with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, and the SGPP prepares for the beginning of the fall semester next week, I invite you to also remember with prayerful gratitude the ultimate sacrifice of these Christian Brother martyrs.

"You have to teach the truths of faith to your students . . . To this work you should devote yourself wholeheartedly, and even sacrifice your life if necessary in order to accomplish it properly." (St. John Baptist de La Salle, Meditation 135.2)

Blessed Brothers Solomon, Roger, Uldaric, and Léon ~ Pray for us!
Live Jesus in our hearts ~ Forever!
~Brother Larry

p.s. Sept 9th--6-8pm--save the date! More soon!

What are the "small groups" about?

Another element of the Spirituality for the Vineyard program is the one year participation in a small group devoted to discerning who you are and what God may have in store for you. This is just a pilot this year, and just for majors/minors interested in lay ecclesial ministry.

We asked Laurie Watson, the convener, to introduce herself:

Hello to those considering a small group experience this year as part of the Vineyard Experience! My name is Laurie Watson, and I am anticipating all of us growing in insights and blessings as I facilitate one of the groups this year. Here’s a little information about me ….

I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology and social work at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1976. I obtained my youth ministry certificate from the Center of Ministry Development in 2000. In 2003 I completed a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans. The following year I completed a spiritual direction internship.

My work experiences include being a social worker on the “front lines” for several years, followed by many years of work with adults with developmental disabilities. I especially enjoyed working with folks with autism. Most recently I served as pastoral associate for the Cathedral here in Winona from 2006-2010. This summer I became a full time live-in volunteer at the Winona Catholic Worker.

I am mother of two and grandma to four beautiful grandchildren.

My expectations for the small group experience … first and foremost, a genuine desire to explore one’s unique calling in life … an openness to deep and honest sharing…a commitment to intentional prayer and reflection outside monthly meeting times…possibly some minimal journaling. We’ll gather informally each month around a meal or coffee. The group participants will determine to a large extent the direction the group will take this year. Expect to leave each month with points to ponder as you discern the next step in your vocational journey.

Come learn more about this option at the September 9th gathering!

The Vineyard Colloquia Speakers 2010-11

We are privileged to announce: the first Vineyard Colloquia speakers!

"Opportunities and Challenges in Lay Ministry"
September 19, 2010, 7pm
The President's Room, Toner Center
Sr. Kate Dooley, O.P.

Sister Kate Dooley, O.P. is a Sinsinawa (WI) Dominican Sister who teaches at Dominican University in River Forest, Il. For the past twenty five years she taught in The School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. She holds an M.A. from the Catholic University of America, a M.Th. from Harvard Divinity School, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Dr. Dooley has published widely in catechetical and liturgical journals, and written a number of texts and resource materials for religious education. She is one of the General Editors for the Benziger series, Christ Jesus the Way. Other publications are To Listen and Tell: Commentary on the Introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children (Washington, D.C.: Pastoral Press, 1993); co-edited The Echo Within: Emerging Issues in Religious Education (Allen, Texas: Thomas More, 1997); and is currently working on Be What You Celebrate on liturgical catechesis. She has received numerous national awards, including the National Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Liturgical Life of the American Church (Georgetown Center for Liturgy, 2005) and the Emmaus Award for Excellence in Catechesis (National Catholic Education Association/National Association of Parish Catechetical Leaders, 2005).

"The Lay Vocation to Ecclesial Ministry"
January 25, 2011, 4pm
Todd Graff

Todd Graff currently serves as the Director of the Office of Ministry Formation for the diocese of Winona. Todd received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, and his Master of Arts degree in Theology from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. Previous to coming to the diocese, he served as a campus minister at Creighton University and as a high school religion teacher and campus minister at Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, IL. He came to the Diocese of Winona in August, 1990, to serve as the Coordinator of Social Action Programs for Catholic Charities. In December, 1999, he assumed his present position. Todd is married to Laurie Ziliak and the father of six children - Isaac, Jesse, Nathan, Samuel, Sophia, and Hannah.

"On The Spirituality of Youth Ministry"
March 18, 4pm.
Rich Curran

Rich Curran is a SMU alum (and current student in the Institute for Pastoral Ministries program) who, after being seriously injured sledding down our bluff (really), changed directions with his life and ended up serving for years as the director of youth ministry for the diocese of Green Bay. He has since been doing consulting with parishes, religious and secular organizations, and speaking on a variety of faith-based topics. A video of Rich's work these days is on his site, under "media." He is going to speak to our majors March 18th on the spirituality that is born out of engaging in youth ministry.

A Different Kind of Inspiration

I came, I saw, I latte'd.
Yes, coming this year to Saint Mary's:

MUGBY JUNCTION coffee

Toner Center. Hope they have free trade. See you there.

(By the way, you can mark this news as fantastic below!)

St. Ignatius and Vocation

Go and see a good post on vocational discernment from a Jesuit priest in Massachusetts, Fr. Mark Mossa.

If you are attracted to Ignatian spirituality (or want to find out what on earth it is), one option is to check out Charis Ministries in Chicago, Ignatian spirituality for young discerners. There are also a number of silent Ignatian retreat weekends at Broom Tree Retreat Center in South Dakota (a little south of Sioux Falls).

Welcome back!

If you are what you are meant to be, you will set the whole world on fire.

--St. Catherine of Siena
(1347-1380)

Welcome back! Classes start in one week!

a Co-Workers moment

God calls. We respond. This fundamental, essential pattern in the life of every believer appears throughout salvation history.

--from the opening of Co-Workers in the Vineyard, USCCB, 2005.

What is "the Spirituality for the Vineyard"?

Is there a spirituality--specifically, a formation and discernment process--that is particular to young adults considering pastoral and youth ministry? We think there is. This website is a place for SMU theology, pastoral and youth ministry, religious education majors and minors to learn more about how you could pray, think, and live out your discernment regarding who God is calling you to be. You cannot ignore the need for knowledge and professionalism when you are in leadership...but there are spiritual needs as well.

In order to complete what we call "The Vineyard Experience," we ask you to accomplish the following:

1. Seeing: Encounter your world. Participate in one extended cross-cultural service experience (for example, a SOUL trip or equivalent, verified in advance by your advisor), attending to and learning from the vulnerable in our human family.
2. Learning: The Vineyard Colloquia. Attend three Vineyard Colloquia an academic year, for two years. The Vineyard colloquia offer a chance to hear leaders in our area share their wisdom and experience on the challenges and opportunities of various lay ministries in the Church. There will also be a focus on the spirituality of lay ministry.
3. Exploring: Praxis for ministry: Complete the Pastoral and Youth Ministry internship (waived if you are a Theology major or minor). There are also other volunteer ministries--through SMU and in the local churches and dioceses--that students may count toward this element.
4. Clarifying: Small group support and reflection. Participate in small sharing groups, facilitated by local lay ecclesial leaders. These groups of three or four students meet monthly to share a meal and discuss how issues of life discernment and lay formation are going. Ideally, students in the major should be in one of these groups from the time they declare a major. Regular attendance is expected for at least one academic year.
5. Discerning: Prayer and retreat. Participate in one discernment retreat for majors and interested minors, usually offered in January. Students may attend their junior or senior year (or both years). A time away can help a person recognize and name their vocation, and return to classes with new questions and fresh vigor.

In addition, students in the program are encouraged to seek other methods of formation: spiritual direction, the 19th annotation of the Spiritual Exercises, regular participation in Catholic liturgical life, etc. We can point you in the right direction for all that if you wish. But the five above are a baseline.

Completion of The Vineyard Experience merits recognition of work above and beyond the academic elements of the major, and helps fulfill the spiritual formation elements of the National Standards for Lay and Ecclesial Ministries.

Explore the site or talk to one of the members of the theology department. We're excited--you should be, too!

What are the "National Standards"?

As lay ministry has become a much more common phenomenon in the United States (although present throughout Church History in some degree!), there have recently evolved the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. You can see the standards book in our suite (Saitn Mary's 223), but there is a short overview here as well, which incudes this:

Core Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers
These standards are for all lay ecclesial ministers, including coordinators of youth ministry/youth ministry leaders.

1.Personal and Spiritual Maturity: A lay ecclesial minister demonstrates personal and spiritual maturity in ministry with the people of God.
2.Lay Ecclesial Ministry Identity: A lay ecclesial minister identifies the call to formal and public ministry as a vocation rooted in baptism.
3.Roman Catholic Theology: A lay ecclesial minister integrates knowledge of Roman Catholic faith within ministry.
4.Pastoral Praxis: A lay ecclesial minister engages in pastoral activity that promotes evangelization, faith formation, community, and pastoral care with sensitivity to diverse situations.
5.Professional Practice: A lay ecclesial minister provides effective leadership, administration, and service, in the spirit of collaboration.

This "Spirituality for the Vineyard" program is aimed at helping you self-evaluate your place in the first set of standards (personal and spiritual maturity), and inform the second the fourth group as well.  Much of the third and fifth sections are covered in class study and field work.  Perhaps no one is moved to ministry through certification standards, but it is important to know the increasing expectations of a person who feels led to serve the Church in this manner.  Besides, these standards are helpful in determining which areas of your life need attention and growth.