vol 26 no 20
February 25, 2018 - Second Sunday of Lent
+ Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 + Romans 8:31-34 + Mark 9:2-10 +
Masses this Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm
Mass Intentions:
| Sunday | 2.25 | 10:30 am 6:30 pm | For the SAU Community |
| Monday | 2.26 | Noon | + Gerald Kraus, '53 |
| Tuesday | 2.27 | 4:30 pm | + Braddock Shovlain |
| Wednesday | 2.28 | 9:15 pm | For Student Intentions |
| Thursday | 3.01 | 4:30 pm | + Fr. Joseph Hratz, '38 |
| Friday | 3.02 | Noon | + Larry Weldon |
This Week's Activities Include:
Sunday: Lenten Small Group for Guys 2 pm (Gathering Space); Antioch Team Meeting 3 pm (Lower Chapel); Adoration 7:15 pm (Chapel); RCIA 7:15 pm (Lower Chapel); Lenten Small Group 7:30 pm (Gathering Space)
Tuesday: Bridge Bible Fellowship 8:30 pm (Chapel)
Wednesday: Ambrosians for Peace and Justice 8 pm (Lower Chapel); Rosary 8:50 pm (Chapel); Mass & More 9:15 pm (Chapel/Gathering Space)
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.
God, I don’t think I heard you correctly. You want what?
The first reading for this Second Sunday of Lent recounts for us what has to be one of the all-time most perplexing episodes in the Bible. God “put[s] Abraham to the test,” by asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Now remember, this is the same son that God promised to Abraham for his faithfulness, despite Abraham and Sarah’s advanced age. In fact, Sarah laughed when Abraham told her that they would have a son, and so, fittingly, the child was given the name “Isaac,” which means, “He will laugh.” And now God wants Abraham to do what? What’s worse is that God lets Abraham get as far as raising the knife before He sends His messenger to intervene. What kind of psychological torture is this? First, Abraham and Sarah can’t have children, then they’re told they will have a son in their old age, then God is going to ask them to give up their son...but not really. We have to remember that while Sacred Scripture is truly the inspired Word of God, it is also our best, human (and therefore limited) attempt at making sense of very complicated situations. I think this episode of the sacrifice of Isaac reflects the very real human experiences of desire, disappointment, fulfillment, loss and, finally, peace. How often have families throughout history felt exactly what Sarah and Abraham must have felt in the events captured here? Taking a step back from it all, we find that at the core of this passage is the theme of faith. And faith can’t be given in half measures, as though to say to God, “I believe in you...up to a point.” And so, this story is not really about a capricious or manipulative God, but about our need to trust God totally. One older commentary I remember reading on this passage also made the point that God could not, in the end, ask of Abraham and Sarah what He had not yet offered up Himself, namely His only Son. I don’t know that this answer satisfies all of my questions, but it is certainly a point worth considering. As we enter this second full week of Lent, perhaps a good question to ask ourselves is: Where do I hold back from God? Or, in what circumstances of my life do I say to God, “I love you and trust you, but…?” Let us keep each other in prayer in this holy seasons, that we may possess the faith of Abraham and Sarah. ---Fr. Thom
•Antioch Retreat Registrations Due MONDAY!
It’s not too late to sign up for the Antioch retreat! Get your applications in by Monday, February 26. This retreat is a great opportunity for students to spend time away from campus reflecting on faith and life in the midst of a Christian community. Open to any SAU student. Retreat is next weekend, leaving at 6pm Friday, March 2 and returning at 2pm, Sunday, March 4. Contact the co-leaders of the retreat, Bizzie Braun and Matt Filipski, to learn more. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/AntiochSP18 or pick up a registration form in Chapel Gathering Space and return to it Campus Ministry ASAP!!!
•Online Stations of the Cross
Newly updated for 2018 with student reflections, be sure to make our Online Stations of the Cross part of your Lenten experience this season! Featuring the beautiful stations from Fr. Edward Catich, and reflections for each station from current SAU students, this is a great way to enhance your Lenten practice: saustations.blogspot.com.
•Ambrosian Lenten Reflections
Follow along with the weekly readings all throughout Lent, along with reflections from SAU faculty and staff on the readings. New reflections every weekday! Find them at saulent.blogspot.com.
•Eucharistic Adoration After 6:30pm Mass
Take time for some quiet reflection before starting your week every Sunday night of Lent. Directly after the Sunday evening mass we’ll expose the Blessed Sacrament for a couple hours for Eucharistic Adoration. Feel free to come and go as you desire. We’ll conclude the evening with Benediction at 9:30 pm.
•Rosary Before Mass & More
Come early for Mass & More on Wednesday evenings and pray the Rosary with us at 8:50pm in the Chapel. We’ll pray the Rosary every week during Lent.
•Volunteers Needed at TobyMac Concert
On Saturday night, February 24 from 5:30-10pm, there is a TobyMac concert at the TaxSlayer center in Moline. We have an opportunity for students to volunteer at the concert and go for free! Volunteers are needed to help pass out information mid-concert about sponsoring a child. You'd be assigned to a particular aisle of the TaxSlayer center and distribute the info. In exchange for the help, you can stay for the concert for free! If you are interested, please send Kaitlin the following info at ministry@sau.edu by noon on Friday, Feburary 23. Your name, email, phone #, age and if you could drive other students as part of the carpool.
•Volunteers needed during Spring Break
Volunteers are needed at Project Renewal in March, during SAU’s Spring Break, March 12-16. Volunteers help the kids with homework, reading and play games at the Afterschool Program. Approximately 4-5 volunteers each day would be helpful. Could you help during any of these times? Monday, March 12 = 2:35 – 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 13 = 2:35 – 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 14 = 1:35 – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 15 = 2:35 – 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 16 = 12:35 – 3:30 p.m. If you could help, please contact Ann at Project Renewal at 563-324-0800.
•Fast Fest
The students in Ambrosians for Peace & Justice invited you to take part in a different fast every week of Lent! This year’s theme is ZERO, and the next week challenges you to create Zero Waste. To participate and get a motivating email from the group each week, you can sign up by emailing ministry@sau.edu.
•CRS Rice Bowl
Let your Lent make a difference in the lives of others, and support Catholic Relief Services through the Rice Bowl. It’s simple - 1) pick up a Rice Bowl at Sunday, take it to your room, floor, or home, 2) donate money from your Lenten sacrifices all season long, and 3) bring the Rice Bowl back to the Chapel during Holy Week (March 25-29). Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more, and get the CRS Rice Bowl app for your smartphone!
•24 Hours For the Lord
The Holy Father has requested that in each diocese at least one church would remain open for 24 consecutive hours offering an opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic Adoration. In 2018, inspired by the words of Psalm 130:4, “With you is forgiveness,” this will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 E. 10th St., from 4:00 pm Friday March 9th to 4:00 pm Saturday, March 10th. All parishes in the Davenport Deanery are encouraged, invited and welcome to attend.
•Calling all college students!
Looking to build your faith life while teaching others? Totus Tuus 2018 in the Diocese of Davenport is just around the corner! Seeking enthusiastic, creative, caring, Christ-centered college students to teach elementary, middle and high school students about the faith! This is a paid summer position for a potential of 7 weeks plus two weeks of (paid) training and formation. Travel around the Diocese with the team of 2 men and 2 women is necessary, with food and lodging provided. For questions, please contact Colleen Darland in the Office of Vocations at 563-888-4378. More information and applications can be found at the following website: http://www.davenportdiocese.org/totus-tuus. Applications are due March 1st, but may be accepted later if necessary. Past teachers have considered this to be one of the most rewarding summers of their lives. We look forward to having you on our team!
