Campus Ministry Family Newsletter

A REFLECTION FOR ADVENT

"God walks into your soul with silent step. God comes to you more than you go to Him.

Never will His coming be what you expect, and yet, never will it disappoint.

The more you respond to His gentle pressure, the greater will be your freedom."

Venerable Fulton Sheen

Happy Advent, everyone! Here is a quick video to share what Advent is really all about from Busted Halo or try this other one here from Father Mike Schmitz. These are brief and make it easy to understand the reason for Advent. I think the quote above from Fulton Sheen sums up Advent. If we really take the time to be still a bit from the hustle and bustle of all that our culture wants this season to be, and be still a bit and in prayer, we will be able to let Jesus take a silent step to enter into our life and we will not be disappointed.

On Dec. 6, Marianist LIFE members will be passing out candy canes during lunches in celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas! Please read below for details about Campus Ministry items, including Mass this Friday, the Hallow app challenge, Adopt-A-Family, Kairos retreats, Prayer and Faith Opportunities during Advent, and an important Mentor Group Mobile Serve Request.

Praying for a blessed, holy, and peaceful Advent and Christmas for all of you and your families!

Campus Ministry is hoping to get a group of at least 10 students who would like to attend CLE 2:16 with St. Vincent-St. Mary. The deadline has been extended, but only for as long as tickets last. The date is Saturday, January 6. If a student is already planning to attend with their youth group that day, that is absolutely fine! The cost is $40 per student. I received some student emails about their desire to attend, but I will need a parent to confirm and also need the cash or check for $40 to make the reservations. I need to be notified of the desire to attend and the ticket money by Friday to sign up our students. If you would like your child to attend and/or are willing to purchase more than your child's ticket, please email Mrs. Goshe.

What is it?

CLE 2:16 is a day-long event sponsored by the Office of Youth Ministry to ignite high school teens in their faith and to gather in fellowship as the young Church. Exploring Luke 2:16, CLE 2:16 will celebrate the parish year of Eucharistic Revival, with a focus on the connection between the Incarnation and the Eucharist – how from the beginning the Lord came to feed us. "So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger."

Saturday, January 6, 2024

10 am - 9 pm

John Carroll University

Learn More About it Here.

Nov 21 -Dec 18 - Adopt-A-Family

Dec 6 - Feast of St. Nicholas - Candy Canes passed out during lunches (early release @1:30pm)

Dec 8 - 7:30 am Rosary in Chapel with Marianist LIFE

Dec 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Whole School Mass at 1:30pm

Dec 12 & 13 - Sacrament of Reconciliation from 8:30am - 2:30pm - sign up on Sign-Up Genius

Dec 15 - 7:30 am Rosary in the Chapel with Marianist LIFE

Dec 18 - Last Day for Adopt-A-Family items

Dec 20 - Advent Prayer Service 1:30pm and Adopt-A-Family Pick Up/Drop Off 1:30

Dec 20 - Marianist LIFE Night 6-8pm LRC/Maker Space

Dec 21 - Last Day before Break, 12 pm dismissal

January 1 - Solemnity of Blessed Mother Mary

January 6 - CLE 2:16 Retreat John Carroll University

January 8 - Classes Resume

• SUPPLY SNACKS for our Campus Ministry Office (granola bars, bags of chips, and fruit snacks are wildly popular). We are always in need of donations for snacks to share with students in Campus Ministry. You send the donations in with your student or you can Venmo the money and mark that it is for Campus Ministry. Our students love snack size chip varieties, granola bars, apple sauce, cheese crackers.
• DONATE CASH OR FOOD ITEMS for Marianist LIFE Night. Email Mrs. McKnight if interested.
• DONATE SOCKS, HATS, GLOVES: Marianist LIFE is collecting donations of socks, hats, and gloves for the Peter Maurin Homeless Shelter. Send anything in, please, or have your student bring to Marianist LIFE Night on December 20.
• WRAP PRESENTS! Come wrap presents this year's Adopt-A-Family. Email Mrs. Goshe if interested.
• CLE 2:16: Donate for students to attend CLE 2.16. Email Mrs. Goshe.
• BUY RAFFLE TICKETS: Click on the button below to buy Car Raffle Tickets to support Campus Ministry!

Marianists believe that Mary is the perfect model of discipleship. She shows us how to love, trust, and follow Jesus better than any other human being. She also encourages us to "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5) We celebrate two big Marian Feast Days in December. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Here is some information and prayers from the Marianists on both of these days.

December 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Dogma of the Catholic Church. It maintains that from the moment when she was conceived, the Blessed Virgin Mary was kept free of “original” sin, and was filled with the sanctifying grace normally conferred during baptism. It is one of the four dogmas in Roman Catholic Mariology. Mary is often called the Immaculata, the “Immaculate One.” The Immaculate Conception should not be confused with the perpetual virginity of Mary or the virgin birth of Jesus. It refers to the conception of Mary, by her mother, St. Anne. This is the patronal feast of the Marianist Sisters, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. We also remember that it was on this day in 1800 that the first men approached Blessed Chaminade to form the first Marianist Sodality. On this day, the first members of the Society of Mary made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Let us pray: Creator God, in your gracious providence You always care for us. The immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary is witness to your plan of salvation. Let the fullness of your grace, which enfolded Mary, kindle in our hearts the light of hope to all with whom we come into contact. Let our lives be lives of praise and service. Let us be leaders of positive change for our Church and for the world. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.

December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In 1531 Mary appeared to Juan Diego near Mexico City. In 1999, Pope John Paul II decreed that Our Lady of Guadalupe to be the Patroness of the Americas.

Let us pray: God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas with the presence of the Virgin Mary. May her prayers help all men and women to accept each other as brothers and sisters. Through your justice present in hearts and in our service to others, may your peace reign in the world. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen. ADVENT Mary, inspired by your readiness to accept all that God would work in you, we offer you our hearts and lives so that we too might bring forth into our world Jesus, the Savior. May we be humble and compassionate and come to say as you did, “Behold the servant of the Lord.” Amen

We also invite you to download the Marianist App for lots of great resources and information.

It is also important to understand why we, as Catholics, hold Mary in high esteem, call her our Mother, and ask for her intercession. This short video with Fr. Mike Schmitz gives a good introduction and explanation to help us to understand our relationship with Mary.

MISSION - Teach, share, support, and live the Mission of St. Vincent- St. Mary and the Marianist Characteristics of Education with an emphasis on invitation and hospitality.

VISION - Every day, every person, every interaction, an encounter with Christ.