vol 26 no 6
September 24, 2017 - Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
+ Isaha 55:6-9 + Philippians 1:20-24, 27 + Matthew 20:1-16 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30pm
Mass Intentions:
| Sunday | 09.24 | 10:30 am 6:30 pm | For the SAU Community |
| Monday | 09.25 | Noon | + Robert Gugerty, '62 |
| Tuesday | 09.26 | 4:30 pm | + Vivian Berrent, '80 |
| Wednesday | 09.27 | 9:15 pm | For Student Intentions |
| Thursday | 09.28 | 4:30 pm | + Rev. Robert Kem, '42 |
| Friday | 09.29 | Noon | Deceased Alumni |
This Week's Activities Include:
Monday: Nurses Christian Fellowship 3 pm (Gathering Space)
Tuesday: Peer Campus Ministers 8:30 pm (Lower Chapel); Bridge Bible Fellowship 9 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8 pm (Lower Chapel); Reconciliation 8:30 pm (Chapel); 9:15 pm Mass & More (Grotto)
Thursday: Music Ministry Rehearsal 7 pm (Chapel)
Friday: Dedication of Wellness and Recreation Center 5:30 pm (WRC)
Campus Ministry Offices - Lower Chapel
333-6132 or ministry@sau.edu
Twitter: @SAUCampusMin
Fr. Thom Hennen, Chaplain
Chris Clow, Director of Music and Liturgy
Kaitlin Depuydt, Director of Service and Social Justice
Tammy Norcross-Reitzler, Director of Faith Formation
Paul Burd, Grad Assistant
Prayer Ministry - send intentions to BeesKnees@sau.edu.
Sign Up for Campus Ministry Events any time during the year! Go to: www.tinyurl.com/campusmin2017.
God’s Mercy and the World’s “Justice”
This past Wednesday, along with about 150 students, faculty and staff, I took part in the Refugee Simulation put on by Ambrosians for Peace and Justice. It only took 20 or 30 minutes to go through, and I know that, in the safety and comfort of the Rogalski Ballroom, this was a far cry from the real experiences of so many in our world who are fleeing violence or other intolerable conditions in their home countries. Still, it was a moving experience. Pretending to go through the wilderness on foot, getting on a train to anywhere, trying to avoid the various dangers along the way, only to end up before a judge who didn’t speak my language and placed in a detention center to wait indefinitely, gave me at least a glimpse what this ordeal must be like. There was a pervasive sense of randomness to it all, as if nothing was within my control. One moment I felt jealousy for the person ahead of me who seemed to skate through, but then the next moment I felt both relief and guilt because someone else had it worse than I did. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. In reflecting on this experience later in juxtaposition to the Gospel for this Sunday, I discovered an odd parallel between the two. On the one hand, there is that “randomness,” even capriciousness of the world’s “justice” as I experienced it in a tiny way through the simulation. On the other hand, in the Gospel, there is an almost scandalous universality to God’s mercy, as the laborers who arrived at the end of the day are paid the same as those who “bore the day’s burden and heat.” Of course, Jesus isn’t telling us how to run a business or an economy in this parable. If that were the case, we would rightly call him out for promoting wage theft. Rather, he is describing the kingdom of heaven, in which God looks on all of his children, “early arrivals” and “latecomers” alike, with a wonderfully consistent love. In the economy of grace, God is free to do as he pleases, but are we jealous because God is generous? ---Fr. Thom
•Collecting for Those Affected by Natural Disasters
It seems that there is a new crisis in our world almost every day, and it can be easy to tune them out in the midst of our busy lives. But we, as Ambrosians, are called to remember the needs of our brothers and sisters, no matter how far, and to try and provide for them. Campus Ministry is collecting donations to go to Catholic Charities (the local giving arm of the USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (the international arm of Catholic giving). Both organizations are on the ground in affected areas in such as Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean, and others. Donations can be sent to Campus Ministry through campus mail (memo: Relief) or in the collection basket during Sunday masses, and will be split between the two agencies. You can also donate online at catholiccharitiesusa.org and crs.org. Please give generously! A little bit makes a world of difference!
•View Fr. Thom’s Homilies Online
Did you know you can view Fr. Thom’s Sunday homilies online after mass? Great for when you are looking for some inspiration during your week. Find them here: https://sauhomilies.blogspot.com/
•Sacrament of Reconciliation Hours Next Week
Fr. Thom will be gone all of next week, so the Sacrament of Reconciliation will only be offered on Wednesday at 8:30pm before Mass and More. Fr. Ross Epping from St. John Vianney parish will be on hand for confessions and mass that evening.
•Service on Saturday
Lots of Ambrosians join in the NAMI Walk each September - NAMI is the National Alliance for Mental Illness. The 5K walk raises awareness and funds for services for people living a mental illness. We'll join in the walk as our Service on Saturday project this weekend. The Ambrose team will meet to take a photo and hear announcements at 9am, so the group will meet to carpool at 8:45am. We should be back by 11am at the latest. If you can join us, let me know by emailing ministry@sau.edu and then also sign up with the "Join our team" button for the NAMI Walk Ambrose team Here.
•Other Service Opportunities
We received a note that Project Renewal’s after-school Youth Program is in need of some help this semester. Project Renewal is an after-school program here in Davenport. Kids come everyday after school for help with homework and reading, a snack, and privileges to play computer games, board games, and outside at their park. The after school program is Monday-Friday from 2:30-5:30. If you’re interested in helping out, even for an hour or two, please let us know at ministry@sau.edu and we’ll get you more information.
A literacy program in Rock Island at the Church of Peace is looking for volunteers with their adult English education classes, for the ESL classes and with childcare during the class times. Many of the adults in their program are refugees learning English, so they would appreciate your help as experts in the language. Volunteers are needed between 9-noon Monday-Thursdays as you are available. Please let us know if you are interested at ministry@sau.edu and we’ll get you more information.
•Music Ministry
Love to sing or play an instrument? Music Ministry is looking for you! Open to all SAU students, regardless of ability or faith, Music Ministry leads music for Sunday and weekday liturgies in Christ the King Chapel. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7pm. Interested? Contact Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to learn more!
•Wellness and Recreation Center Dedication
On Friday, September 29, at 5:30pm St. Ambrose University will have a Blessing, Dedication, and Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for the new Wellness and Recreation Center. The Most Rev. Bishop Thomas Zinkula, Bishop of Davenport and Chair of the Board of Trustees, will lead the blessing. Tours and light refreshments will follow.
•Eucharistic Minister Training
A training session for new and experienced EMs will be Tuesday, October 3rd at 7 pm. If you are interested in serving in this important ministry please plan to attend. This ministry is reserved for practicing, confirmed Catholics. To sign up to be a Eucharistic Minister here on campus, fill out the online interest form at www.tinyurl.com/campusmin2017 or please contact us at ministry@sau.edu for more information.
•Lectors Needed
There are lots of opportunities for interested students to be Lectors at mass, whether it’s at daily mass, Wednesday night Mass and More, or at both masses on Sundays. We are seeking new and returning students to volunteer as lectors. We will give you a brief training, and get a schedule for the rest of the semester. Contact Tammy Norcross-Reitzler at ministry@sau.edu to learn more and to sign up!
•R.C.I.A./Sacramental Prep./Learning More about the Catholic Church
If you are interested in becoming Catholic, preparing for First Communion or Confirmation, or simply want to learn more about the Catholic Church, contact Tammy by emailing ministry@sau.edu. A group will be forming soon.
•Pizza with Padre
Attention students: sign up for free pizza and a casual conversation with our new University Chaplain, Fr. Thom Hennen! There are six different dates, starting in October, and eight slots for each date. We will meet from 6:30-7:30 on each of the dates in the Lower Chapel Conference Room. You can sign up as an individual and meet some new people or sign up as a group (friends, team, floormates, club, etc.). Fr. Thom will provide the pizza. You can let him know what kind of pizza you would like on sign-up sheet. This is an opportunity for Fr. Thom to get know you and for you to get to know him as he begins this new ministry. It will be fun, low-key and done in an hour. The sign-up sheet is posted on Fr. Thom’s office door, Lower Chapel 103.
•Pacem in Terris Award Announcement
The Pacem in Terris peace and freedom award will be given on Sunday, October 22nd at 2pm in Christ the King Chapel. Pacem in Terris is an award with national recognition, has been given 43 times since 1964. The 44th award recipient will be Dr. Widad Akreyi, a Danish health expert, author and human rights activist of Kurdish ancestry who cofounded the human rights organization, Defend International. Past recipients of the award which honors champions of peace and social justice from around the world, include Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Martin Luther King, President John F. Kennedy, Dorothy Day, Sister Helen Prejean, Lech Walesa, and Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez.
