Important report on Hispanic Catholics, and ministry to them, released

The summary report of the National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry...given that Hispanic/Latino Catholics in the USA constitute 25% of all Catholics, this is a summary well worth reading, with suggestions for pastoral ministry at the end.  This report is the result of an extensive three year research project between CARA and Boston College.  Meet your Church and enjoy!

Save the date: Vineyard Colloquium Oct 15 at 12:15pm with Chris Rogers

Save the date!  It's time for our annual Vineyard Colloquium.  We are delighted to have Mr. Chris Rogers, the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of LaCrosse, coming to speak to the on the ground realities and potential for youth ministry today.  Mr. Rogers is also a new adjunct professor in our theology department.

The 2014 Vineyard Colloquium 

Chris Rogers, Director of Youth Ministry, Diocese of LaCrosse 

Oct. 15, 2014

12:15-1:15pm

Free pizza and drinks!

Room TBA

Theology, Pastoral and Youth Ministry, and Educational Studies (Religious Ed) majors are expected to attend.  Clear your calendar!

Catholic Worker Roundtable, Jan 31: Marshall Dolan on the Four Principles of Nonviolent Communication

The Catholic Worker has a tradition of hosting roundtables: where people gather together for "learning and clarification of thought," according to co-founder Peter Maurin.  There is one this Friday night (Jan 31) that you may be interested in!  Just show up at 7pm, coffee and snacks provided.  Open to the public, and it ends around 8:30pm.

Marshall Dolan: The Four Principles of Nonviolent Communication
CW Roundtable, 7pm on Jan 31
Bethany House, 832 W. Broadway
(507) 454-8094

More about the topic here.

Iconic News Photo from Kiev this week: Orthodox monks as peacemakers

 (Video: Typical evening in Kiev this week.)

And THE photo.

What part does religion play in the "Euromaidan Revolution" in Kiev right now?  An excellent blog called "Get Religion" is written by religion beat journalists, self-critiquing their guild.  They make a great case for why we all need to be more religiously literate in order to be good global citizens.

First article: what's missing in mainstream coverage on Kiev right now.
Second article: supplies more of the faith angle that is missing..

Last weekend for the Saint John's Bible and Sacred Waters exhibits at MMAM

 

If you haven't seen it yourself, try to find your way there this weekend!  Exhibits close Oct 20. Student cost: $3 (with student ID).

Last Call: The Digital Church Conference, Oct 4th

Three of the best known practitioners of Catholicism meets social media for the New Evangelization are coming to Rochester for a great day of brainstorming, information, and inspiration.  If you are considering ministry, being aware of the creativity and potential of this outreach is a wonderful thing to include on your resume.

Lunch is included in the conference and we're going out to eat afterward--with (I am pretty sure) a handful of recent PYM and Theo alums!

Anyone interested in attending the Digital Church conference in Rochester on Oct 4th needs to contact Dr WD asap (end of this week, preferably) so we can arrange transportation.  You need to be registered ahead.  Registration for a select number of SMU students is $10.  Please see Dr WD for relevant registration codes.

More on the conference here.

Cross/Purpose Art Exhibit at Lillian Hogan Art Gallery (Toner Center)

Christ in the Clock, Marc Chagall

This is an amazing exhibit of modern artwork that interprets the cross of Christ at the Hogan gallery until Sept 30.  Of course, it is free: please go see it--the exhibit even includes a work by Marc Chagall, one of the foremost painters of the 20th century.

A great deal more about it here.  This traveling exhibit is sponsored by CIVA, Christians in the Visual Arts.

Lots going on in Campus Ministry

Office of Campus Ministry newsletter!  Check out the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept 5, SOUL India, Activities Fair on Aug 28th, and the Religious Vocations Open House, more....

The Digital Church Conference, 10/4/13, and ...meet our alums?

A great opportunity here--three national leaders in the junction between Church ministry/education and social media are coming to Rochester through the "Digital Church Conference." 

We know you have classes Oct 4th, so consider this carefully, talk with professors, etc.  But if you want to attend...through negotiations with the Diocese and Campus Ministry, the cost of attending this conference only $10 (otherwise it could be $50!).  That includes lunch and snacks.

AND...we're still working on it...we are trying to get a "networking" dinner in Rochester immediately afterward.  As in, meet our Theology and Pastoral and Youth ministry alums attending the conference!  Dinner will be basic (as in pizza at a Rochester restaurant) but free to those attending.

We'll figure out transportation closer to the date--we may want those with cars to offer to carpool some folks.

The $10 registration is open to only the first ten students who want to attend, so please contact Dr. Susan Windley-Daoust asap if interested.  Register through us!

More information here.

Summer Events: Life Teen's Leadership Conference

June 24-18, 2013 at Benedictine College in Kansas. ($475 registration, which is good for room, board, and what you are getting for a week!)  Register now if interested, or call for more info (number at bottom of webpage).

From the website:

LTLC. Inspiring tomorrow’s Church leaders. Today.

At the heart of the Life Teen Leadership Conference is a generation of teens rising up and taking their faith seriously. They no longer want a “feel good” faith; they crave depth and substance. These teens are changing their parishes, their schools, and their families. Because we see this movement happening, our response is the Life Teen Leadership Conference.
We’ve crafted a unique take on leadership training. Yes, we believe in empowering this new generation with practical leadership skills. But not without first teaching them how to serve both God and His people. Plus we recognize that young leaders are only as strong as the community that surrounds them. That’s why we give youth ministers and priests ample time to be with their youth group. The combination of these three elements transforms teens into the leaders that God is calling them to be.

The Works of Mercy in SMU graphic design

SMU senior and graphic arts major Caroline Stringer has crafted a number of digital art pieces based on the Spiritual and Corporal works of mercy.  They are being shown in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries on the Winona campus as part of the senior art show.  I encourage you to go see these art pieces in person--you may even consider buying one!  Her email may be found here, and her website here (but not live until May 3, 2013).

"The Spiritual Works of Mercy."  It is even more impressive close up; there is a lot of detail in this.

This is a photo mosaic of a number of individual stand alone pieces, most representing the corporal works of mercy in Matthew 25.

Introducing Pope Francis

Habemus Papam!

Exciting times....A profile of our new Pope from Sandro Magister, who is seen as the preeminent Vatican reporter in Rome:

 ROME, March 13, 2013 - By electing as pope at the fourth scrutiny the archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the conclave has made a move as surprising as it is brilliant.

Surprising for those - almost everyone - who had not noticed, during the preceding days, the effective appearance of his name in the conversations among the cardinals. His relatively advanced age, 76 years and three months, led him to be classified more among the great electors than among the possible elect.

In the conclave of 2005 the opposite had happened for him. Bergoglio was one of the most decisive supporters of the appointment of Joseph Ratzinger as pope. And instead he found himself voted for, against his own will, precisely by those who wanted to block the appointment of Benedict XVI.

The fact remains that both one and the other became pope. Bergoglio with the unprecedented name of Francis.

A name that reflects his humble life. Having become archbishop of Buenos Aires 1998, he left empty the sumptuous episcopal residence next to the cathedral. He went to live in an apartment a short distance away, together with another elderly bishop. In the evening he was the one who saw to the cooking. He rarely rode in cars, getting around by bus in the cassock of an ordinary priest. [...]

More here.

A Prayer for the Conclave...and the chimney-cam

From the USCCB:

Prayer for the Election of a New Pope

O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

And finally, the new evangelization brings us some interesting developments, including...the Chimney cam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU2w-gTyXBM

Save the date!

The Spring 2013 Vineyard Colloquium speaker is Robert Tereba, Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Winona.  If you ever thought (or never thought!) of ministry as occurring outside parish life, you need to be at this talk!

Monday, March 25th
12:15pm-1:15pm
Light lunch provided

More information to come.

"The U.S. Religious Landscape: Continuities and Some Change"

Lecture tonight (Tuesday, Oct 23rd) by Dr. Clifford Grammich, who will speak on what the United States looks like religiously and the impact for understanding ourselves as a nation.  This lecture is co-sponsored by the departments of History, Political Science, and Theology.  Please come!

"The U.S. Religious Landscape: Continuities and Some Change"

Dr. Clifford Grammich

October 23, 2012

7:00 pm

Common Room of Saint Mary's Hall (3rd floor)

Welcome to the "Year of Faith"!

For your reading pleasure, and keeping up on Church news:

• Some of you working in catechetical roles in local parishes may be especially interested in this, so...a list of resources!
• It's no accident that this Year of Faith was announced at the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council; news on how that event was commemorated in Vatican City here.
• ...AND at the same time there was a synod of bishops focusing on "The New Evangelization" held in Rome.  See all the connections? 

(And welcome back from break as well, especially to the SOUL participants!)

Save the Date!

Our Spirituality for the Vineyard Colloquia resume!

September 17, 2012 evening

Sr. Arlene Flaherty, OP

Catholic Relief Services

More information coming soon.

Do you like the Theology of the Body? Want a summer internship?

...passing this along...

TOB 2012 Summer Internship

Are you a young person who is interested in giving of your time and talent to further the mission of the Theology of the Body Institute? The Theology of the Body Institute has been blessed by thirteen young men and women who have given their time, talents and dedication to furthering our mission. Here are reflections from a few of our interns:

The five courses I attended renewed my understanding of marriage and the priesthood and helped me realize that whether physical or spiritual, God was calling me to be a father. The idea of the priesthood had danced around my head for many years, but I was never ready to say “Yes” to God's call. However, my year with the TOB Institute prepared me for this “Yes,” and I was accepted to the seminary in July 2010.
- Craig

By interacting with other Catholics in the workplace and at the courses, incorporating prayer more into my life, and giving what gifts I can in my work, I have gained confidence in my own person and in God.
- Katie

It has been a privilege to intern at the Theology of the Body Institute. I have been deeply impressed by the hunger for the teaching of Pope John Paul II and the incredible amount of work the Institute undertakes to bring this message to as many people as possible.
- Angela

We are now accepting applications for 2012 summer internships. Please CLICK HERE for more information or contact Jen Settle, Director of Programs at jsettle@tobinstitute.org.

p.s. This is an unpaid internship. You would be doing this for the experience!

I Have A Dream Today

From the famous 1963 March on Washington speech:

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!' "

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Study Abroad in Italy this summer...?

(from the Vatican art museum)

Study Abroad in Italy this summer!
Information Session
Wednesday, January 18th
4:00 - 5:00
Saint Mary's Hall, Room 134

Are you interested in spending time in Rome, Florence, and Venice? Professor Preston Lawing will be leading a three-week course to study the art, culture, and architecture in these three beautiful cities. The class is open to all majors.

WHAT: AR260: Introduction to Italian Art & Culture (3 Credits)

WHERE: Rome, Florence, Venice, and Paderno del Grappa, Italy

**Highlights include The Sistine Chapel, The Vatican, The Uffizi Gallery, The Duomo Cathedral, The Accademia, Venice Pallazzo, & the Chapel Santa Angelo.

WHEN: May 13-June 2, 2012

COST: $4530
Price includes tuition, lodging, local transportation, some meals, and entrance fees.

Additional costs you are responsible for: Passport, airfare, and some meals.

DEADLINE: Program application and $1000 Non-Refundable deposit due by
February 10, 2012.

Balance Due: April 16, 2012

If you have any questions about the program, please contact the Study Abroad Office at vmcdonal@smumn or x6996, or Preston Lawing at plawing@smumn.edu or x1701