vol 22 no 23
March 23, 2014 - Third Sunday of Lent
+ Exodus 17: 3 - 7 + Romans 5: 1 - 2, 5 - 8 + John 4: 5 - 42 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30am and 6:30pm
Mass Intentions:
| Sunday | 3.23 | 10:30am 6:30pm | + Derrek Drexler 5th Anniversary of death For the SAU Community |
| Monday | 3.24 | Noon | +George Leahy '50 |
| Tuesday | 3.25 | 4:30pm | +Charles A. Smith |
| Wednesday | 3.26 | 9:15pm | Student Intentions |
| Thursday | 3.27 | 4:30pm | +Hugh D McAleer SAC |
| Friday | 3.28 | Noon | Marilyn Evans SAC (Mercy Nurse) |
This Week's Activities Include:
Monday: Music Ministry 7pm (Chapel)
Tuesday: "Joy of the Gospel" Discussion 12 noon (Chapel Gathering Space), College Bible Study 7pm; Bridge Bible Fellowship 9pm (Gathering Space)
Wednesday: Midweek Reflection 12pm (Chapel); Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8pm (Lower Chapel); Sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions) 8:30pm; Mass and More 9:15pm (Chapel)
Thursday: Stations of the Cross 5pm (Chapel); Wilbur Lecture 7pm (Rogalski Center Ballroom)
SAILING BOLDLY AND INCLUSIVELY
One of the greatest blessings of one’s time during college is the opportunity for a student to expand his or her sense of the world in which they live. As opposed to my own days here at St. Ambrose when studying abroad was nearly impossible, today opportunities abound. Plentiful also are the opportunities to come to know and appreciate a classmate from another country, a residence hall member of a different religion, a fellow student with a difference sexual orientation, or a neighbor with a different outlook on life because of their backgrounds and life experience. To not take advantage of and learn from those experiences really is a tragic missed opportunity to build bridges of friendship. At St. Ambrose we proclaim diversity as a core value and the opportunities of Intercultural Week, which begins on Sunday, provide a good place for us to dive-in to experience it. Does fear of something new or of someone different keep us from these experiences? Pope Francis in his post-synodal exhortation, The Gospel of Joy reminds us, “Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort. Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others.” The same sentiment was put into the form of a prayer by explorer Sir Francis Drake and used often by Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. It begins, “Disturb us O Lord when we are too well-pleased with ourselves; when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, because we sailed too close to the shore…”
This multicultural week, let’s dream big. Dream of a world that recognizes the dignity of every member, and may we as a university community dare to sail ever more boldly to make that dream a reality. ---Fr. Chuck
•Busy Student Retreat: Would you like to learn how to find time to pray and reflect with scripture while going about your regular busy schedule? Then the BUSY STUDENT RETREAT – is for you! Registration forms for this semester’s retreat – beginning Sunday evening March 31 and running to Thursday, April 3 – are available in the Gathering Space, from the Campus Ministry Office in the lower chapel or by emailing ministry@sau.edu . The requirements are simple: spend a half hour each of the four days reflecting on the scripture passage provided and schedule another half hour to speak with one of the spiritual guides coming to campus to join us for the week. You set the time to fit into your schedule. Retreat starts next week, so get your applications in! Contact Sheila Deluhery 333 6132 or ministry@sau.edu for more information!
•“The Joy of the Gospel:” Discuss Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, “The Joy of the Gospel.” SAU students, faculty, and staff are welcome to bring their lunch Tuesday at 12 noon and join in this discussion at the Gathering Space. Contact Fr. Chuck at adamcharlesa@sau.edu to get the discussion questions before each Tuesday. The text can be found online here.
•Wednesday Midweek Quiet Reflection: Join us each Wednesday of Lent at 12 noon for a brief, 15 minute prayer service with a Taize song, scripture, and silence - a perfect break in the middle of a busy week!
•College Bible Study: Make studying Scripture a part of your Lenten practice, and spend time in discussion with readings for the upcoming Sunday. Come meet with College Bible Study on Tuesdays at 7pm in the Lower Chapel Conference Room. Email ministry@sau.edu to learn more!
•Multicultural Week: Be sure to take part in all of the events of Multicultural Week, March 23-29. Come join us for a 9:15pm Multicultural Week mass on Wed, March 26, and learn more about all of the events by visiting: http://www.sau.edu/Diversity/Highlighted_Events.html.
•Stations of the Cross: Come prayerfully reflect on the Stations of the Cross, every Thursday at 5pm, directly following daily mass. Also, you can pray along with the stations in your room or at home with our Online Stations, featuring SAU student reflections and the beautiful etchings of the late Fr. Edward Catich: http://saustations.blogspot.com. Make them a part of your Lenten practice!
•Wilbur Symposium: Come and listen as Theology professor Fr. Robert “Bud” Grant leads the 2014 Wilbur Symposium on the Christian Tradition and Non-Violence presentation. Keeping with this year’s theme of Sustainability, Fr. Grant will talk about “Ecocide: Violence and the Environment,” focusing on environmental theology as a core of Catholic Social Teaching, and examining ecological threats through the lenses of natural law and the teachings of our most recent popes: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. All are welcome to take part on Thursday, March 27 at 7pm in the Rogalski Center Ballroom.
•Service on Saturday: Join fellow students Saturday, March 29th from 2pm-4pm for visiting ministry and BINGO at the Kahl Home! Please email koniuszykaitlync@sau.edu to learn more or sign up!
•CRS Rice Bowl Reflection: The Philippines. This week, CRS Rice Bowl invites us to enter into solidarity with the people of the Philippines. We are encouraged to reflect on the Catholic social teaching principle, Option for the Poor, and reminded of Jesus’ words, “Whatever you did for these least of mine, you did for me.” Let us pray this week for our brothers and sisters in the Philippines and all around the world, that we see the Face of Christ in the poor among us. Please continue to donate to CRS through your Rice Bowl. You can make a difference! If you still don’t have a rice bowl for your donations, there are plenty available in the Gathering Space!
•Fast Fest - Week 2: This week, in solidarity with those who do not have enough to eat or who lack clean drinking water, strive to go without those extra sugary treats in the “Sweets Fast.” Give up candy, cookies, and pop, focus on drinking water and eating healthier things instead, and put that money you would have spent on sweets into your Rice Bowl to help those who go hungry around the world!
•Communal Penance Service: A communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held at 7:00pm on Monday, March 31 in the Chapel. A short prayer service and examination of conscience is followed by an opportunity for individual confession from one of several priests who will be present to help us celebrate God’s pardon, peace, and reconciliation with the Christian community.
•Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies: If you’re interested in working in youth ministry, the Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies is for you! Earn your certificate in just two summers - courses offered this summer during June 12-15 and July 10-13. This program is perfect for those who want to work with high school youth, and courses can be taken for Theology credit. Email Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to learn more.
•DUBUQUE’S GOT SISTERS! Are you interested in checking out religious life? An opportunity for women age 19 and older to come together with sisters and other women who are asking how to best serve the people of God is being offered. Join us for prayer, conversation and chance to get to know communities of women who have given their life in service to people on the margins: • Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Dubuque Franciscan Sisters • Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Meals and an overnight stay will be provided – at no charge. The retreat will begin with dinner and prayer on Friday, April 11th at 5:00 and close with dinner on (to conclude by 6:00 pm)Saturday, April 12th. To register or for more info contact Sister Ginny Heldorfer - email: heldorferv@osfdbq.org/ phone: 952-457-5193.
