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
+ 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!
