12.03.17 & 12.10.17

Campus Ministry Bulletin
vol 26 no 14

December 3, 2017 - First Sunday of Advent
+ Isaiah 63: 16-17, 19; 64: 2-7 + 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 + Mark 13:33-37 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm

December 10, 2017 - Second Sunday of Advent
+ Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11 + 2 Peter 3:8-14 + Mark 1:1-8 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm

Mass Intentions:

Sunday	12.03	10:30 am 6:30 pm	For the SAU Community
Monday	12.04	Noon	+ Dr. Thomas Washburn, '52
Tuesday	12.05	4:30 pm	+ Fr. Brian Shepley, '88
Wednesday	12.06	9:15 pm	For Student Intentions
Thursday	12.07	4:30 pm	+ Donald Vaile, '47
Friday	12.08	Noon	+ Howard Mower, '65
Sunday	12.10	10:30 am 6:30 pm	For the SAU Community
Monday	12.11	Noon	+ Fr. Bill Dawson, '50
Tuesday	12.12	9:00 pm	+ Fr. Joe DeFrancisco

This Week's Activities Include:
Sunday (12/03): Feast of St. Ambrose Reception 11:30 am (Gathering Space); RCIA 7:30 pm (Lower Chapel)
Monday (12/04): C.S. Lewis Prayer Group 7 pm (Gathering Space)
Tuesday: Lectio Prayer 8 pm (Gathering Space); Peer Campus Ministers Meeting 8:30 pm (Lower Chapel); Bridge Bible Fellowship 9 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Adoration 8:15 pm (Chapel); 9:15 pm Mass & More + Pencil Blessing 9:15 pm (Chapel)
Thursday: Music Ministry 7 pm (Chapel); Discernment Discussion 8 pm (Gathering Space)
Sunday (12/10): RCIA 7:30 pm (Lower Chapel)
Monday (12/11): Campus Ministry Appreciation Dinner 5 pm (Gathering Space)

Sacrament of Reconciliation Offered Before Every Daily Mass
Monday/Friday - 11:15 am
Tuesday/Thursday - 3:45 pm
Wednesday - 8:30 pm


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.


Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end
This is the last line of the song “Closing Time” by the band Semisonic, which came out in the spring of 1998.  Despite what many think, it is not a song about “last call” at a bar.  Rather, it was written by Dan Wilson with his wife in mind, who was pregnant at the time with their first child, so it is really a song about new birth.  The last line and the general theme of the song seem particularly fitting as we prepare to close out this calendar year and begin a new one.  We have also nearly “turned the corner” on this academic year, as we prepare to conclude this semester and look forward to the next.  It is also a season of new beginnings for our students who will graduate this month, as they finish out their time at St. Ambrose and begin new endeavors.  We have also just concluded the previous liturgical year and we start a new liturgical year with this first Sunday of Advent.  Contrary to popular belief, the word “advent” does not mean “waiting.”  It means “arrival.” And so, while we typically say in this season that we “await the birth of Christ” at Christmas, He is already here!  He came two-thousand years ago.  He comes to us now in word, sacrament, and in the poor.  He will come again in glory when all things will be fulfilled.  The fact is, we live in the time of the “already, but not yet.”  We look to the coming of Christ, even as we believe He is with us now.  We pray “thy kingdom come,” even as we believe that the kingdom of God is already within us and in our midst.  As we stand at the crossroads this year, it seems truer than ever that “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”  May the peace of Christ be with you and all your loved ones in this joyful season. ---Fr. Thom 

•Mass Commemorating the Feast of St. Ambrose and the Presentation of the McMullen Awards
The 10:30am mass on Sunday, December 3 - the First Sunday of Advent - will honor our patron saint, St. Ambrose.  The Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula, 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 Rev. Msgr. Drake Shafer, ‘69, and Daniel Broderick ‘82 and Thomas Mnich.  A reception will follow in the Gathering Space.

•Mass Schedule During Winter Break
Noon mass on Monday, December 11, is the last regular daily mass of the semester.  The daily mass schedule begins again on Wednesday, January 17 with 9:15pm Mass and More.  Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent will be celebrated on Saturday, December 16 at 5:00pm.  There are no Sunday masses December 17 - January 7.  There is a 10:30am mass on Sunday, January 14, and the 10:30am/6:30pm Sunday schedule returns January 21.  A Christmas Eve mass will be celebrated on Sunday, December 24 at 5:00pm for Ambrosians in the area.

•Service on Saturday
Last Service on Saturday for the semester this Saturday, December 2!  We will help at a Holiday Gift Swap at the Sisters of Humility.  They encourage people to bring new or gently used items to regift, set up a store, and allow people to swap gifts as a way to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Sale is 2-4pm, help is needed 1:30-3pm and/or 3:30-5pm.  Let Kaitlin know if you can help at ministry@sau.edu.

•Grad Student Mass and Circle Tap!
Grad students!  Join us for one more time for Mass and community this semester.  Come to the 4:30pm mass on Tuesday, December 5, then follow us over to Circle Tap for ribs, drinks, and discussion.  We’ll see you there!

•Advent Adoration
Join us for a time of Adoration before the last Mass and More on Wednesday, December 6, beginning at 8:15pm in the Chapel.  In the midst of a busy week, take some time out for some calm and join in a bit of Scripture, song, and silence before the Blessed Sacrament.  Stick around for Mass and More right after!

•Blessing of Pencils (And the Students who Use Them)
We will offer a special blessing of students at 9:15 pm Mass Wednesday, December 6th 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 to the Giving Tree
Please be sure to bring back your gift of pajamas, wrapped and with your name tag, to the Gathering Space by Wednesday, December 6.  The gifts will be delivered to the kids at Project Renewal during Finals Week.  Thank you for your generosity!

•Discernment Group
Our Discernment Group is perfect for students who are thinking about life after SAU and what comes next.  Join us Thursday, December 7 at 8pm in the Gathering Space.  Chris Clow from Campus Ministry will be sharing his experiences in discernment with us.

•Immaculate Conception Holy Day on Friday
Friday, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation.  Masses will be Thursday, December 7 at 4:30pm, and Friday, December 8 at 12 noon.

•Winter Break Service Trip
Sign up for our Winter Break service trip to East St. Louis by Friday, December 1!  Service trip is January 10-13, and we will stay at the Hubbard House, serving at an afterschool program, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, a K-8 Catholic school, and a soup kitchen!  You can also sign up for Spring Break service trips (March 10-16th) to Chicago, Grafton IL, and Holly Springs MS.  More information is available in the Chapel Gathering Space - let Kaitlin know at ministry@sau.edu if you have questions.

•Charlie Brown Christmas Celebration
Join the Peer Campus Ministers for a Late Night Charlie Brown Christmas Party at 9 pm in the Beehive, Friday, December 8th.   Hot chocolate, Snoopy chow and Charlie “Brownies” will be served! Wear an ugly Christmas sweater or Charlie Brown apparel and come join the fun.

•Fill the Bowl with the River Bend FoodBank
Help out the River Bend Food Bank at Fill the Bowl: sharing a meal with others in the community, participating in a volunteer event, and learning about how hunger affects over 119,000 in our QC community.  Fill the Bowl is Sunday, December 10 from 11am-3pm.  Volunteers are also needed to serve food in 10:30am-1pm and 1-3:30pm shifts.  Contact Kaitlin at ministry@sau.edu if you’d like to volunteer, or you can go to their website.

•Fill the Stockings with Socks
The peer campus ministers are hosting a sock drive for the Clothing Center at Minnie’s Maison on LeClaire Street.  This organization provides clothes (including socks!) and household items free of charge to people who need them.  Fill the giant red stockings in the Beehive with socks!  We’ll collect socks until Tuesday, Dec. 12th.

•Feeding the Future Bees
A student themed-house is working on a project this coming week: “Feeding the Future Bees.”  Donations of healthy snacks like fruit snacks, granola bars, and crackers are being collected to donate to local kids in snack bags.  The students are collecting the items until Thursday December 7th.  For questions or to donate items, please contact Alex Horton at HortonAlexandriaP@sau.edu.

•Student Candlelight Mass
Mark your calendars for the Student Candlelight Mass: Tuesday, December 12 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 16.  Rehearsal is at 4pm, Mass is at 5pm.  Contact Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to help out.

•BelongChicago.org
Graduating in December and moving to the Chicago area? Check out BelongChicago.org.  Connect with the young adult Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Chicago, find a parish home, meet new friends, continue to serve others and learn about your faith.  Plus, check back weekly for new opportunities and updates on offerings in the area.

•Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations to all who will graduate from St. Ambrose on Saturday, December 16th.  May God grant blessings on all your endeavors and in the best of our SAU tradition, may you be a blessing for the world!

11.26.17

Campus Ministry Bulletin
vol 26 no 13

November 26, 2017 - Solemnity of Christ the King
+ Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 + 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 + Matthew 25:31-46 +
Mass this Sunday at 6:30pm ONLY

Mass Intentions:

Sunday	11.26	6:30 pm	For the SAU Community
Monday	11.27	Noon	+ Robert Merchie, '51
Tuesday	11.28	4:30 pm	+ Julie Daxon, '89
Wednesday	11.29	9:15 pm	For Student Intentions
Thursday	11.30	4:30 pm	+ Paul Collins, '62
Friday	12.01	Noon	+ James Glackin, '85

This Week's Activities Include:
Sunday: RCIA 7:30 pm (Lower Chapel)
Monday: C.S. Lewis Prayer Group 7 pm (Gathering Space); Feast of Ambrose Music Rehearsal 7 pm (Chapel); Stump the Priest 8 pm (Gathering Space)
Tuesday: Communal Penance 7 pm (Chapel); Bridge Bible Fellowship 9 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8 pm (Lower Chapel); 9:15 pm Mass & More (Grotto)
Thursday: Chamber Singers Rehearsal 6:30 pm (Chapel)
Friday: Lessons and Carols 7 pm (Chapel)

Sacrament of Reconciliation Offered Before Every Daily Mass
Monday/Friday - 11:15 am
Tuesday/Thursday - 3:45 pm
Wednesday - 8:30 pm


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.


Allowing Christ to reign in our hearts and in our lives
It hardly seems possible, but this coming Sunday is already the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, designated as the “Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe” (ever since Pope Pius XI named it so in 1925, a relatively recent addition to the universal calendar).  It is also, therefore, the patronal feast of our very own Christ the King Chapel.  As both the calendar year and the liturgical year draw to a close, it is a good time for us to look back and reflect on who or what has sat in the throne of our hearts in this past year.  Have we ceded that place, which properly belongs to Christ, to worldly concerns, to material possessions, to creature comforts, to work, to negative attitudes, to unhealthy habits, etc.?  If so, now is a good time to once again allow Christ to reign in our hearts and in our lives.  Next Sunday is already the first Sunday of Advent, which, given the academic calendar, is always a very short season here at the University.  Nonetheless, I urge you to be vigilant in this season of joyful expectation.  Even as the Christmas parties start up and the holiday commercials make it seem like Christmas is already here, do be not be robbed of your Advent.  Do not be subtly cheated out of this time of prayerful preparation for the many comings of Christ: his first coming among us two-thousand years ago, his coming in glory at the end of time, and his coming daily into our lives.  Rather, let Advent be Advent, to the best of your ability, and I promise that Christmas will be all the more meaningful and joyful for it.  Because the Feast of St. Ambrose (December 7) typically falls midweek and always in Advent, we will observe our patronal feast with the wider community on the first Sunday of Advent, December 3.  Please join us for this beautiful celebration at the 10:30 Mass.  The McMullen Awards will also be presented at this Mass.  These awards (named for our first bishop and founder of St. Ambrose University) honor those who have made a significant contribution to the life and mission of the University through their hard work, generosity, and enthusiastic spirit.  Between Christ the King Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent and the Feast of St. Ambrose, there is certainly plenty to celebrate around here.  As always, let us continue to keep each other in prayer as we enter into the final few weeks of this first semester.  ---Fr. Thom



•Join Us for 6:30pm Mass on Sunday
As you come back to campus from Thanksgiving break, join us for mass on Sunday, November 26 at 6:30pm in the Chapel.  There is no 10:30 am mass this Sunday.  The daily mass schedule resumes with 12 noon mass on Monday, November 27.

•Advent Mass Commemorating the Feast of St. Ambrose and the Presentation of the McMullen Awards
Join us next Sunday, December 3 at 10:30am as we honor our patron saint, St. Ambrose, at mass for the First Sunday of Advent.  The Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula, Bishop of Davenport and Chair of the Board of Trustees, will be the presider and homilist for this special liturgy.  Music for the mass will be led by a combined choir of SAU Chamber Singers and Music Ministry.  The mass also features the presentation of the McMullen Awards to this year’s recipients: Rev. Msgr. Drake Shafer, ‘69, and Daniel Broderick ‘82 and Thomas Mnich.  A reception will follow in the Gathering Space.

•Advent Season Events 
Advent begins next Sunday, December 3.  Advent is a season of preparation for Christmas and a reminder to be constantly vigilant “waiting in joyful hope” for the Lord’s coming.  Here are some ways you can celebrate Advent right here at SAU:
→Pick up a copy of “Expectantly Waiting in Wonder” by Timothy McCormick and Rakhi McCormick.  Pray the excerpts from the daily Mass readings, reflections, illustrations, and suggestions for action, as you expectantly wait for God to reveal his wonders in your life.  The booklets will be available in the Chapel Gathering Space, at the Rogalski Center Post Office, and in the Health Science Building.
→Participate in Daily Mass at Christ the King Chapel. Monday and Fridays at 12:00 pm. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30pm, and Wednesdays at 9:15pm.
→Enjoy a special Lessons and Carols service Friday, December 1 at 7:00pm in the Chapel.  The evening consists of scriptures for the season and music featuring the University Chorale and Chamber Singers.
→Commemorate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation,  by celebrating the vigil mass with us at 4:30pm on Thursday, December 7, or mass on the holy day at 12 noon on Friday, December 8.
→Pray with us at Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday, December 6 in the Chapel before the final Mass and More of the semester.  Adoration will begin at 8:30pm.  Take a break in the middle of a stressful week for a time of quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
→Celebrate the Student Candlelight Mass preceding Midnight Breakfast on Tuesday December 12 at 9:00pm.  In the chapel, filled with light from candles held by students, we celebrate the mystery, the joy, and the hope Christ’s birth has brought to our world.  All are welcome.

•Music Rehearsal for Feast Mass
The final music rehearsal for the Feast of St. Ambrose Mass is Monday, November 27 at 6pm in the Chapel.  All SAU students, faculty, and staff are invited to help lead music.  Email ministry@sau.edu to volunteer!

•Stump the Priest
Students!  Mark your calendars for the Monday night after Thanksgiving Break, November 28 at 8pm in the Gathering Space.  We have a Stump the Priest night with our new chaplain, Fr. Thom Hennen.  Come bring your toughest questions about the Church and Catholic theology as we try to Stump the Priest!

•Communal Reconciliation Service
Join us on Tuesday, November 28 at 7pm in the Chapel for a Communal Reconciliation service.  A simple prayer service is followed by time for individual confession.  A great practice as we prepare for Advent and Christmas!

•Fill the Stockings with Socks
The peer campus ministers are hosting a sock drive for the Clothing Center at Minnie’s Maison on LeClaire Street.  The nonprofit organization provides clothes and household items free of charge to people who need them.  Socks are a constant need.  Please help us fill the giant red stockings (divided into Freshman/Sophomores, Juniors/Seniors, and Faculty/Staff) in the Beehive with socks!  Who can fill their stocking first?  We’ll collect socks until Tuesday, Dec. 12th.

•Project Renewal Giving Tree
If you took a tag from the tree in order to buy a gift of pajamas for a child from Project Renewal, please return the tag with your wrapped gift to the Gathering Space by Wednesday, December 6.  The gifts will be delivered to Project Renewal during Finals Week.  Thank you for your generosity!

•Winter Break Service Trip
Sign up for our Winter Break service trip to East St. Louis by Friday, December 1!  Service trip is January 10-13, and we will stay at the Hubbard House, serving at an afterschool program, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, a K-8 Catholic school, and a soup kitchen!  You can also sign up for Spring Break service trips (March 10-16th) to Chicago, Grafton IL, and Holly Springs MS.  More information is available in the Chapel Gathering Space - let Kaitlin know at ministry@sau.edu if you have questions.

11.12.17 & 11.19.17

Campus Ministry Bulletin
vol 26 no 12

November 12, 2017 - Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
+ Wisdom 6:12-16 + 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 + Matthew 25:1-13 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30pm

November 19, 2017 - Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
+ Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 + 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 + Matthew 25:14-30 +
No Masses This Sunday

Mass Intentions:

Sunday	11.12	10:30 am 6:30 pm	For the SAU Community
Monday	11.13	Noon	For All Veterans
Tuesday	11.14	4:30 pm	For an End to Hunger
Wednesday	11.15	9:15 pm	For Student Intentions
Thursday	11.16	4:30 pm	For Peace
Friday	11.17	Noon	In Thanksgiving for our Families

This Week's Activities Include:
Sunday: RCIA 7:30 pm (Lower Chapel)
Monday: Nurses Christian Fellowship 3 pm (Gathering Space); C.S. Lewis Prayer Group 7 pm (Gathering Space); Feast of Ambrose Music Rehearsal 7 pm (Chapel)
Tuesday: Continuing Faith 8 pm (Gathering Space); Bridge Bible Fellowship 9 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8 pm (Lower Chapel); 9:15 pm Mass & More (Chapel)

Sacrament of Reconciliation Offered Before Every Daily Mass
Monday/Friday - 11:15 am
Tuesday/Thursday - 3:45 pm
Wednesday - 8:30 pm


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.


Transferable and Non-Transferable Faith
There’s something that has always bothered me in “the parable of the wise virgins” that we will hear this Sunday in the Gospel.  As a refresher, this is the parable that Jesus tells about the ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom.  The five wise virgins bring plenty of oil for their lamps to get through the long night of waiting, while the five foolish virgins run out and have to ask to borrow some so that their lamps don’t go out before the bridegroom arrives.  It is the response of the five wise virgins that is so troubling: “No, for there may not be enough for us and you.”  Why wouldn’t they just share?  How rude!  What’s the message that Jesus is trying to get across here?  We need to remember that this is just a parable, not a “real life” situation.  And so, Jesus is not offering a lesson on manners, or the importance of sharing.  Rather, he’s using this parable to teach us something about the “kingdom of heaven,” about faith.  Perhaps, the oil represents faith itself, which in one way is “transferable.”  I can tell you what I believe:  the various statements of the Creed and the other teachings of the Church.  In theology this is called the fides quae, the content or the “what” of our belief.  I can even give you a reasoned explanation for my faith (what we call “apologetics”) or share my personal testimony of how I have encountered God in my life.  But I cannot make you believe or simply transfer my personal faith to you. This pertains to what we call the fides qua, or the act of believing, which is truly “non-transferable.”  In this sense, the “wise virgins” couldn’t simply give some of their “oil” (faith) to those who did not have enough.  It just doesn’t work that way.  This parable reminds us that faith (fides qua) is truly a gift from God.  Why God doesn’t simply give this gift to all people is a good question.  Then again, perhaps it is isn’t that God has failed to offer this gift, but that we have failed to give reason for our hope (cf. 1 Peter 3:15).  Or it could be that despite our efforts and the efforts of so many who have gone before us, there will always be some who stubbornly refuse this gift.  Whatever the reason, we are called as Christians to sustain our own faith, to share our faith (to the degree we can) with others by word and example, and then leave the rest to God.   ---Fr. Thom
         
•Thanksgiving Break Schedule
Due to Thanksgiving break, there will be no Sunday or daily masses celebrated from Sunday, November 19 through Saturday, November 25.  There is also no 10:30am mass on Sunday, November 26.  Regular mass schedule will resume with 6:30pm mass on Sunday, November 26.  Thanksgiving blessings to all!

•Service on Saturday
Our service project this weekend will be with the Butterworth Center in Moline, a historic mansion supporting non-profit groups across the Quad Cities.  We will be helping with outdoor fall clean-up projects on Saturday 11/11, leaving at 12:15pm and returning at 2:45.  Let us know if you can join us at ministry@sau.edu!

•Month of All Souls
In the Catholic Tradition the month of November is a time to pray for our deceased loved ones.  All month we keep a candle at the front of the altar with the names of the deceased loved ones of SAU students, faculty, and staff.  If you would like to add the names of your deceased loved ones, you can still fill out a card in the Gathering Space and place it before the altar.  We will remember them all in our prayers at every Mass.

•Clothes Out Hunger Sale
Ambrosians for Peace and Justice have been busy planning their annual Hunger Week, which will kick off on Monday November 13th with the Clothes Out Hunger clothing sale, from 10am-3pm in lower Cosgrove that day.   Any gently-used clothing donations can be dropped off in the conference room in the Lower Chapel until Sunday evening.  Sale is Monday, and every item is $1.  Proceeds benefit Cafe on Vine, remaining clothes will be donated to Sacred Heart Clothing Closet.  Save the dates to join us!

•Hunger Banquet
Also part of of the Hunger Week activities is a global Hunger Banquet, using materials from Oxfam to learn, experience, and reflect on global hunger.   Join us Tuesday, November 14th from 5-6:30pm, in the faculty/staff dining room of the cafeteria.  Participants should register with Kaitlin at ministry@sau.edu to reserve their spot.  Donations of canned food are encouraged to support local food services.  The Hunger Banquet is sponsored by Ambrosians for Peace & Justice, Triota (Women & Gender Studies), and Sodexo Food Services.

•Music for the Feast of St. Ambrose Mass
The first music rehearsal for the Feast of St. Ambrose Mass is this Monday, November 13 at 7pm in the Chapel.  All SAU students, faculty, and staff are invited to join with Music Ministry and help lead music for the Feast mass on Sunday, December 3 at 10:30am.  Next rehearsal is Monday, November 27 after break.  Contact Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to sign up.

•Continuing the Faith
Tuesday, November 14th at 8 pm in the chapel Gathering Space, Emily Rollins, a career counselor for the SAU Career Center will share personal stories and professional advice with interested students about her transition from college life to the “real world.”  She graduated from Loras University where she was active in campus ministry.  Students of all faiths are welcome.   For more information contact Bizzie Braun or Abby Hammer. 

•Project Renewal Giving Tree
Each year, SAU takes on a giving tree project before Christmas for the kids at Project Renewal.  Project Renewal is an after-school program in Davenport, about a mile south of campus.  Most of the kids come from low-income and/or single-parent families.  A giving tree with tags of gift ideas for each kid at Project Renewal will be in the Chapel Gathering Space starting this weekend.  Please consider taking a tag and buying a Christmas gift for one of these kids!  Gifts should be returned, wrapped, to the tree by Wednesday 12/6 so our student organizers can deliver them during finals week.

•Fill the Stockings with Socks
The peer campus ministers are hosting a sock drive for the Clothing Center at Minnie’s Maison on LeClaire Street.  The nonprofit organization provides clothes and household items free of charge to people who need them.  Socks are a constant need.  Please help us fill the giant red stockings in the Beehive with socks!  We’ll collect socks until Tuesday, Dec. 12th. 

•Stump the Priest
Students!  Mark your calendars for the Monday night after Thanksgiving Break, November 27 at 8pm in the Gathering Space.  We have a Stump the Priest night with our new chaplain, Fr. Thom Hennen.  Come bring your toughest questions about the Church and Catholic theology as we try to Stump the Priest!

•Communal Penance
Join us on Tuesday, November 28 at 7pm in the Chapel for a Communal Reconciliation service.  A simple prayer service is followed by time for individual confession.  A perfect practice before Advent!

•Post-Graduate Service Opportunities
Have you ever thought about a longer service experience?  Long-term volunteering programs (summer, 6-months, a year or longer) are great options to gain experience in a service placement in your area of study or something else you’d like to try!  On Wednesday November 15th, representatives of 4 different faith-based service programs will be visiting campus.  They will visit classrooms throughout the afternoon and also offer an informal opportunity to visit with them over dinner from 5-6:30 on Wednesday evening, November 15th in the side dining room of the cafeteria.  The Catholic Volunteer Network is a great resource for those looking for a faith-based program and start narrowing down options: https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/

•Other Service Opportunities
For those looking to give back with their family or friends as the holiday season approaches, we have a couple other opportunities:  the Festival of Trees is looking for volunteers for various shifts between 11/16 and 11/26.  Volunteers are needed to help with the “reindeer games” activity area, tickets at admissions, and raffles.   Another need in the community is with Humility of Mary Housing - the transitional housing program needs help with cleaning efforts as new families are preparing to move into an apartment, out of the cold.  If you would be interested in either of these opportunities, let Kaitlin know at ministry@sau.edu.

•Announcing Service Trips!
Our Winter Break service trip is January 10-13th to East St. Louis to stay at the Hubbard House.  We will have opportunities to serve at after-school programs, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, a K-8 Catholic school, and prepare meals in a soup kitchen!  Applications for the Winter Break trip are available now and due by December 1st.  Spring Break service trips (March 10-16th) will be heading to Chicago, Grafton IL, and Holly Springs MS.  More information is available in the Chapel Gathering Space - let Kaitlin know at ministry@sau.edu if you have questions.

•Introduction to Catholic Studies Course in Spring 2018
Come learn more about the history, key figures, and the cultural impact of the Catholicism.  In CATH-201-A, Introduction to Catholic Studies, we will look at Catholic history, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and the impact that Catholicism has made on the world.  Contact Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to learn more!

11.05.17

Campus Ministry Bulletin
vol 26 no 11

November 5, 2017 - Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time
+ Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10 + 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13 + Matthew 23:1-12 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30pm

Mass Intentions:

Sunday	11.05	10:30 am 6:30 pm	For the SAU Community
Monday	11.06	Noon	+ Donald Swanson, '82
Tuesday	11.07	4:30 pm	+ John Ryan, '62
Wednesday	11.08	9:15 pm	For Student Intentions
Thursday	11.09	4:30 pm	+ Les Schaefer, '49
Friday	11.10	Noon	+ Rasmo "Rocky" Casini, '67

This Week's Activities Include:
Sunday: RCIA 11:30 am (Lower Chapel)
Monday: C.S. Lewis Prayer Group 7 pm (Gathering Space)
Tuesday: Lectio Divina Prayer 8 pm (Gathering Space); Peer Campus Minister Meeting 8:30 pm (Lower Chapel); Bridge Bible Fellowship 9 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8 pm (Lower Chapel); 9:15 pm Mass & More (Grotto)
Thursday: Music Ministry Rehearsal 7 pm (Chapel)

Sacrament of Reconciliation Offered Before Every Daily Mass
Monday/Friday - 11:15 am
Tuesday/Thursday - 3:45 pm
Wednesday - 8:30 pm


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.


Family Circles
As we celebrate “Family Weekend” here on campus, our thoughts naturally go to our own particular families: mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, etc.  This is all the more the case as we prepare for Thanksgiving, now just a few short weeks away.  I know my own family is making preparations - who’s going where, when everybody’s arriving, when they’re leaving, and what they’re bringing.  My cooking skills are such that I will probably be asked to bring napkins.  In all seriousness, it is a wonderful time for us to reflect on the blessing of family.  They’re far from perfect, but where would we be without them?  Of course, it’s not only with our immediate or blood relatives that we use this word “family.”  We have, in a sense, concentric circles of family.  And so, for example, here at St. Ambrose we frequently speak of our “Ambrose Family,” meaning the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University.  We are indeed like a family, each with our own distinct personalities, gifts, limitations, passions and goals.  And yet, we are drawn together and united under a common name: “Ambrosians.”  This concept of family extends further still as we consider both our local and global community, the wider human family.  This is something we should not lose sight of even as we are privileged to reunite with loved ones and to share what is typically an overabundance of good food.  We can think of the family of the Church as well, in heaven and on earth, those women and men of every nation, language, culture, time and place.  I will never forget a very powerful personal experience of this great “family” of the Church.  As a high school youth attending World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, Colorado I remember waking up the morning of the closing Mass with Pope John Paul II, after having slept out under the stars the night before to secure our spot on the gigantic open field.  I remember looking around in every direction and not being able to see where the people ended.  For the first time in my young Catholic life I realized just how big and diverse my family of faith was.  As we gather with those closest to us this weekend and in the weeks to come, let’s remember and pray for all our families. ---Fr. Thom


•Month of All Souls
In the Catholic Tradition the month of November is a time to pray for our deceased loved ones.  All month we keep a candle at the front of the altar with the names of the deceased loved ones of SAU students, faculty, and staff.  If you would like to add the names of your deceased loved ones, you can still fill out a card in the Gathering Space and place it before the altar.  We will remember them all in our prayers at every Mass.

•Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday
Don’t forget to set your clocks back on Saturday night!  We gain an hour this Sunday, so be sure to adjust your clocks, enjoy an extra hour of sleep, and join us for 10:30am or 6:30pm mass on Sunday!

•Labor Trafficking in America
What is labor trafficking and how does this issue impact us as workers and consumers?  Join us as we find out at a presentation by Attacking Trafficking and the Labor Center of the University of Iowa.  The interactive workshop is on Thursday, November 9th from 6:30-8pm at the UFCW Local 431 Union Hall, 2411 W Central Park Ave, Davenport.  Ambrosians for Peace and Justice will be carpooling there; if you would like to join us, please contact Kaitlin at ministry@sau.edu.

•Service on Saturday
Our service project this weekend will be an early one but a great way to get your steps in for the day!  We’ll join the River Bend Food Bank Backpack program and make packs for food for kids on the weekends. We will carpool on Saturday, meeting at the Rogalski center at 7:45am and returning by 10:15am.   This would be a great activity to do with family members of all ages too, so if your family is here for the weekend and you want to volunteer together, that’s great!  Let us know if you can join us at ministry@sau.edu!

•Antioch Retreat NEXT WEEKEND!
It’s not too late to sign up for the Antioch Retreat - there are a few spots remaining.  Retreat is Friday, Nov 10 - Sunday, Nov 12.  We leave at 6pm on Friday, and are back by 2pm on Sunday.  This is a great chance to get away from campus and reflect on faith and life in the midst of a Christian community.  Open to any SAU student.  Register online at http://tinyurl.com/AntiochFA17 or pick up a registration form in Chapel Gathering Space and return to it Campus Ministry ASAP! For more information contact Joe McCaughey and Grace Cerny.

•Grad Student Night @ Circle Tap
Calling all Graduate Students!  Join us this Tuesday, November 5th for a night of faith and fun!  On the first Tuesday of every month Campus Ministry is inviting all graduate students to come together at 4:30pm daily Mass.  Following mass, we will head over to Circle Tap for a nice, relaxing break at the end of classes and studying.  Feel free to invite your classmates as well!  Please contact the Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant, Paul Burd, via email at burdpaula@sau.edu for more information.  Hope to see you there!

•Introduction to Catholic Studies Course in Spring 2018
Come learn more about the history, key figures, and the cultural impact of the Catholicism.  In CATH-201-A, Introduction to Catholic Studies, we will look at Catholic history, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and the impact that Catholicism has made on the world.  This course will be offered again starting in the Spring semester (Tuesday/Thursday 1:40-2:55pm), taught by Chris Clow from Campus Ministry.  Contact him at ministry@sau.edu to learn more about the course, and ask your advisor about it when preparing to register!

•Music for the Feast of St. Ambrose Mass
Calling all musical Ambrosians!  All SAU students, faculty, and staff are invited to join with Music Ministry and help lead music for the Feast of St. Ambrose Mass on Sunday, December 3 at 10:30am.  People of all skill levels are welcome.  Contact Chris Clow at ministry@sau.edu to sign up.  Rehearsals will be Mondays November 13 & 27 at 7pm in the Chapel.

•Coming Soon: Hunger Week
Ambrosians for Peace and Justice are busy planning their annual Hunger Week, which will kick off on Monday November 13th with the Clothes Out Hunger clothing sale, from 10am-3pm in lower Cosgrove that day.   Any gently-used clothing donations can be dropped off in the conference room in the Lower Chapel.  APJ will also be hosting a Hunger Banquet global simulation on Tuesday, November 14th from 5-6:30 in the cafeteria.  Save the dates to join us! 

•R.C.I.A./Becoming Catholic Sessions
SAU students, faculty and staff interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the Church are invited to contact Tammy Norcross-Reitzler in Campus Ministry ministry@sau.edu or 333-6132 for more information about the process.  Meetings are Sundays after the evening mass in the Lower Chapel.

•Announcing Service Trips!
We’re ready to unveil the locations for our Winter and Spring Break service trips!  January 10-13th, we will offer a trip to East St. Louis to stay at the Hubbard House.  We will have opportunities to serve at after-school programs, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, a K-8 Catholic school, and prepare meals in a soup kitchen!  Applications for the Winter Break trip are available now and due by December 1st.  Spring Break service trips (March 10-16th) will be heading to Chicago, Grafton IL, and Holly Springs MS.  Watch for more information on these soon!