This week we celebrate All Saint’s Day, which also means Halloween is celebrated. Many people enjoy dressing up in costumes on Halloween, often as beings or people very different from themselves. We love to play at being something we are not. On Thursday we will have an All Saints party and ask people to come dressed as your favorite saint. Again someone who we are not, but with a difference. They are who we could become like in what is most important, holiness. We are called to put on Christ. If we truly do, He is not just a garment or covering, but transforms us into holy people, people who are truly Christ-like.
Last saturday we took a trip to Harper’s Ferry. We celebrated Mass in the historic St. Peter’s church, toured the town, and climbed Maryland Heights on the other side of the Potomac. Along the trail there were several good views, but the best is at a location called Overlook. I have always loved being up on mountains. Outside of the Eucharist, it is the easiest place for me to feel in the presence of God. From the clifftop we could see the two rivers, surrounding hills, the town, railroad, highway, etc., all types of examples of God’s wonders. The greatest wonder though is the one that is easiest to forget, the image and likeness of God in you and the person next to you. may we always show our appreciation for that gift.
I just wanted to thank all those who helped with our parent’s weekend events and all those who came to visit us and joined us for our events. People come because they are connected to some individual associated with GWU. Such events hope to establish a feeling of connection between such people and the wider community here at GWU. At the Newman Center we also hope to work that effect in the other direction, so that our students will feel a connection to the wider church and world beyond their personal connections. What in theology we call the principle of solidarity. Being concerned for others begins with those we know best, may it never end there.
Hello everyone out there. As we start our blog, I find that GWU is making plenty of news in blogs and elsewhere this week, not in the best way. These events highlight the excess that comes from the passions and appetites of college students. I hope that our students never lose their passion, but develop an appetite for what is truly valuable, what is truly worthy of our passionate love. What is scandalous tends to be deemed the most newsworthy so it gives a skewed vision of GWU. Would it not be wonderful if, in spite of that fact, our students did something so excessively good that it made news. Passionate love is part of youth. Youthful passion can last a lifetime if you the object of that love is the eternal good.
It’s been a busy week at Caught Up In Faith. Over the last seven days, we have been writing articles, editing photos, and folding newsletters as we prepare to send out more than 400 copies of our first issue of the year. It has been especially exciting because we have added three pages of content to our newsletter, as well as this new online blog.
Highlights of this issue of the newsletter include coverage of this year’s First Timer’s retreat themed “Voyagers” by freshman Annie Hiatt, as well as reflections on our recent Coffee House speaker and community service trip. Father Peter introduces himself to the Newman Center family in this issue, and we offer a preview of our Alternative Winter Break service trip to Charleston, South Carolina.
Check back regularly to our blog to catch up on recent events, as well as reflections posted by our chaplain, campus minister, and students. We are hoping to use this online presence to continue to expand our outreach and ministry. God bless!
Click here to download Volume 3 Issue 1.