vol 25 no 14
December 4, 2016 - Second Sunday of Advent
+ Isaiah 11:1-10 + Romans 15:4-9 + Matthew 3:1-12 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm
December 11, 2016 - Third Sunday of Advent
+ Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 + James 5:7-10 + Matthew 11:2-11 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm
+ Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 + James 5:7-10 + Matthew 11:2-11 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm
Mass Intentions:
| Sunday | 12.4 | 10:30 am 6:30 pm | For the SAU Community |
| Monday | 12.5 | Noon | + Joann Fritz, '57 |
| Tuesday | 12.6 | 4:30 pm | + John "Jack" Ward, '57 |
| Wednesday | 12.7 | 9:15 pm | For Student Intentions |
| Thursday | 12.8 | 4:30pm | + Msgr. Michael Morrissey, '61 |
| Friday | 12.9 | Noon | 10th Anniversary of Chapel Dedication |
| Sunday | 12.11 | 10:30 am 6:30 pm | For the SAU Community |
| Monday | 12.12 | Noon | + Fr. Bill Dawson, '50 |
| Tuesday | 12.13 | 9:00 pm | For Student Intentions |
| Saturday | 12.17 | 5:00 pm | + Deceased SAU faculty/staff |
This Week's Activities Include:
Sunday: RCIA 11:30am (Lower Chapel)
Monday: Communal Penance Service 7 pm (Chapel)
Tuesday: Viewing of "An Eye for an Eye" 7 pm (Chapel Gathering Space); Bridge Bible Fellowship 9 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8 pm (Lower Chapel); Sacrament of Reconciliation 8:30 pm (Chapel); Mass and More with Blessing of Pencils for Finals 9:15 pm (Chapel)
Thursday: Music Ministry Rehearsal 6 pm (Chapel); Campus Ministry Appreciation Party 8:15 pm (Gathering Space); Adoration 9 pm (Chapel)
Campus Ministry Offices - Lower Chapel
333-6132 or ministry@sau.edu
Twitter: @FrChuckAdam
Fr. Chuck Adam, Chaplain
Chris Clow, Director of Music and Liturgy
Kaitlin Depuydt, Director of Service and Social Justice
Tammy Norcross-Reitzler, Director of Faith Formation
Tom Prior, Grad Assistant
Prayer Ministry - send intentions to BeesKnees@sau.edu.
Sign Up for Campus Ministry Events any time during the year! Go to: http://tinyurl.com/SAUministryinterest16.
The Light Darkness Cannot Overcome
There is a TV advertisement circulating the web these days that originated in England. Although it is meant to promote Amazon Prime, it promotes something ever so much more. The ad shows the friendship between a Catholic priest and a Muslim Imam. As the two share a cup of tea, they rise from their chairs to discover they also share a common problem--bad knees--which prompts a gift of knee pads, ordered and sent one to the other through the online company being advertised. The message carries a beautiful sentiment so desperately needed today. For example, after all the ugly political rhetoric leading up to the presidential election in our country and after the Brexit vote in Great Britain, Dictionary.com revealed recently that they word chosen to best summarize 2016 is xenophobia (defined as a fear of, or hatred of, foreigners or of that which is foreign or strange). Because of the factions that have been exposed in our world, it might be especially important this year as we tell the Christmas story not to leave out the part in Matthew's gospel where visitors to the newborn Christ child include the magi, a mysterious class of gentile foreigners and practitioners of a peculiarly different religion from the one the inhabitants of the land they were visiting practiced. Yes, the magi teach us at Christmastime that everyone is welcome in God's Kingdom. They symbolize our need to learn that God excludes no-one and neither should we. While darkness is real in our world, the advertisement I mentioned and the witness of so many who generously serve the less fortunate, remind us that because of Christmas, it will never get so dark that you can't see the light. So as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, may the Light coming into our world renew us in the work of peace for all---for our Muslim, our Jewish, our fellow Christian brothers and sisters; for those of all religious traditions and for those of none. Together may we learn to find common solutions to our problems through the gift of membership in God's family. It is, after all, the true meaning of Christmas. God is now brother to us in Christ Jesus and are we are now brothers and sisters to each other. Congratulations to our graduates. A blessed season of peace to all! ---Fr. Chuck
•Advent Mass Commemorating the Feast of St. Ambrose and the Presentation of the McMullen Awards
The 10:30am mass on Sunday, December 4 will honor our patron saint, St. Ambrose. The Most Rev. Martin Amos, Bishop of Davenport, will be the presider and homilist, and the music will be led by a combined choir of SAU Chamber Singers and Music Ministry. The McMullen Awards will also be presented to Bernie Hardiek and Dr. Thomas and Mary Ann Stoffel. A reception will follow in the Gathering Space. All are welcome!
•Mass Schedule During Winter Break
Noon mass on Monday, December 12, is the last regular daily mass of the semester. The daily mass schedule begins again on Wednesday, January 18 with 9:15pm Mass and More. Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent will be celebrated on Saturday, December 16 at 5:00pm. There are no Sunday masses December 17 - January 8. There is a 10:30am mass on Sunday, January 15, and the 10:30am/6:30pm Sunday schedule returns January 22. A Christmas Eve mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 24 at 5:00pm for Ambrosians in the area.
•Service on Saturday, December 3rd
There’s a service opportunity this Saturday with the River Bend FoodBank, building backpack meals for the weekends for area children from 10:00am-1:00pm. Join us by emailing ministry@sau.edu.
•Saint Ambrose of Milan Lecture
Sr. Maria M. Kiely, OSB, a Benedictine nun from the Congregation of Solesmes, is presenting the annual Saint Ambrose of Milan lecture Sunday, December 4 at 4:00pm in the Chapel. To learn more, contact Ethan Gannaway (GannawayEthanB@sau.edu).
•Winter Break Service Trip - SIGN UP BY WEDNESDAY
Come on our Winter Break service trip to Mississippi from January 9-14. We’ll be repairing homes and preparing meals at the Sacred Heart Southern Missions. Applications are available in the chapel and due this Wednesday, December 7. Spend the end of your break doing good! Email ministry@sau.edu to sign up!
•Advent Communal Reconciliation
Join us on Monday, December 5 at 7:00pm in the Chapel for a Communal Reconciliation service. A simple prayer service is followed by individual confession. Make it a part of your Advent practice this year!
•Video Documentary “An Eye for an Eye”
Come watch the documentary “An Eye for an Eye” - exploring themes of xenophobia and forgiveness in the tale of the killer Mark Stroman and one of his best defenders, Rais Bhuiyan, the sole survivor of his attack. Movie, discussion, and treats on Tuesday, December 6 at 7:00pm in the Gathering Space.
•Blessing of Pencils (And More importantly the Students who Use Them)
At the request of two RA’s, we will offer a special blessing of students after the 9:15 pm Mass Wednesday, December 7th by blessing their pencils. It’s a way to ask God to help you be more centered as you study for final exams. Bring your own pencil or obtain one available from campus ministry.
•Bring Back Your Gifts/Ornaments to the Giving Tree
All of the ornaments from the tree have been taken! Please be sure to bring back your book and/or board game, along with the ornament, to the Gathering Space by Wednesday, December 7. The gifts will be delivered to Project Renewal during Finals Week. Thank you for your generosity!
•Immaculate Conception Holy Day on Thursday
This Thursday, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation. Masses will be Wednesday, December 7 at 9:15pm, and Thursday, December 8 at 4:30pm.
•Campus Ministry Appreciation Party
Please join us Thursday, December 8 at 8:15pm in the Gathering Space for a holiday treat: chocolate brownies with Whitey’s peppermint ice cream. We in Campus Ministry are so grateful for everything that you, our students, have done this semester, and we’d like to say thank you. All SAU students are welcome!
•Advent Adoration
Join us for a half-hour late night Adoration prayer service on Thursday, December 8 at 9:00pm in the Chapel. Take a break and join for a bit of Scripture, song, and silence before the Blessed Sacrament.
•Student Candlelight Mass
Mark your calendars for the Student Candlelight Mass: Tuesday, December 13 at 9:00pm. In the Chapel, filled with light from candles held by students, we celebrate the joy and the hope Christ’s birth has brought to our world. Students are invited to sing with Music Ministry for the mass. Email ministry@sau.edu to learn more.
•Faculty/Staff Christmas Mass
SAU faculty and staff are invited to help lead music for the Mass preceding the Christmas party on Saturday, December 17. Rehearsal is at 4pm, Mass is at 5. Contact Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to help out.
•Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations to all who will graduate from St. Ambrose on Saturday, December 17th. May God grant blessings on all your endeavors and in the best of our SAU tradition, may you be a blessing for the world!
