In a couple of days classes end and then we are into finals. Hopefully everyone is maintaining their focus and will be able to finish the year well, but there is also life after finals. Along with all your plans for the summer there is also planning for the next academic year. If there is anything you would like to continue, increase, try something new, etc. let us know or even contact us over the summer. Alecia and I will be around most of the summer getting ready for the fall. Even if you don’t have any earth shattering ideas feel free to just say hi. May the joy of Christ be with you this summer and always.
We have had quite a full week. Not only did many of us get to attend the Mass at Nationals stadium, many other events took place near us; White House reception, CUA meeting, popemobile routes, so many of the students saw the Pope several times. One of our students even got to be a gift bearer at the Mass. In addition to seeing we also had an opportunity to listen to the Pope’s message. That is major role of his office, to preach and teach. Now that the Pope has done his part as teacher, it is now time for the students to do their part, to appropriate the knowledge given and to put it into action in their lives and their world. We are a church of saints and sinners. We are all sinners, and we are all called to be saints. Will you answer the call to be holy?
Our allotment for CUA lawn tickets is all gone. Sorry for those missed out.
If you are on the list to go to the papal mass you can see me at the Newman center this week to get your ticket or be here at the Newman Center at 7am on Thursday when group heads down. For those going to the CUA lawn that afternoon we will leave the center at 4:15pm. If you are free on Wednesday at noon a group is meeting at the center at 11:15am and then going to Pennsylvania Ave to greet the pope as he goes by.
Apart from our chance to particpate in an uncommon event, this is also a chance for us to reflect on and strengthen our bonds with the universal church. It is not good for us to be alone, so gives us Himself and each other. In the Church we can fully particpate in giving ourselves back to God and one another.
During this Easter season we read through the Acts of the Apostles in the liturgy. We are called to meditate on life in the early church. At the end we find that story is not over. Peter has had to flee Jerusalem for elsewhere and Paul is in Rome awaiting trial and still preaching to people, some who accept the Word and some who don’t. I think Luke ends the account here on purpose. The Christian reader knows what happened to Peter and Paul. The story is not done because the reader’s generation has to live out its story of coming to know the hope of the resurrection and of spreading it to others. The visit of the Holy Father reminds us of our connection to the worldwide church and to the apostolic history of the church. Scripture tells us that we are to enter that story. We are all called to holiness, and added to the history of the church is where we are called to live that out.
Later this week I will post when and where to get tickets for the Papal Mass. I will also get with some students about organizing a group to leave from here that morning. For anyone around the center tomorrow for Tuesday night dinner we can start planning there. Everyone is of course invited to come to our campus ministry Eucharistic Congress in College Park this Saturday. The activities of the next two weeks provide an opportunity for us to deeper our connection to the wider church. Understanding and being conscious of our unity with all the members of the church can help us to be more consciuos of our solidarity with all people. I hope that this time will increase our awareness of our relationships that extent beyond our local area, and to them also one of our concerns.
The drawing for the Papal Mass tickets is done, if you won you should get an email from us at whatever address we have for you. I also have received tickets for the lawn at CUA for when the popemobile drives through about 5:30 pm on Apr 17. Those I am giving out those on a first come first get basis. The tickets for the Mass I will give out at a later time.