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Campus Ministry Reflections
We are one week into Lent and I’ll admit it: I have already messed up on my Lenten promises. Honestly, I’m not too surprised - this is fairly typical for me, and maybe for you as well. When we mess up or forget to pray, give, or fast, we have a choice: we can either beat ourselves up for our failure, or we can use this opportunity to turn to God once more. I am often prone to being self-critical and getting frustrated when I mess up, but this Lent, I'm learning a lesson in humility and realizing how much I must lean on God. Perhaps God knew I (and maybe you) might need a reminder to return to Him, and He gave it to us on day 1 of Lent in the readings from Ash Wednesday: “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning” (Joel 2: 12). Even now, when you have failed. Even now, when you are tired. Even now, in a busy semester. Even now, and especially now, it is not too late to return to our gracious and merciful Lord. -- Lauren
Understanding the Lenten Fast and Abstinence FASTING: Catholics age 18-59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday - only partaking in one full meal. Two other smaller meals (not equaling a full meal) and liquids are permitted. ABSTINENCE: Catholics over 14 years old must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all other Fridays of Lent. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not eggs, milk, or condiments made from animal fat. We are reminded each year that the obligation to do this penance is a serious one, but no one should be scrupulous in this regard; if health reasons or the ability to do one's work is seriously affected, these regulations do not apply.
SAU President Sr. Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, joins the podcast this week! Sr. Joan shares her background with us - how she came to religious life, her proudest achievements during her time at SAU, and the challenges she's overcome during her 14-years at SAU. Check outEpisode #41!
You can now listen on Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Playlists, or iTunes!
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Have a question about a program or event going on in Campus Ministry? Got an idea for something you'd like to see happen? EMAIL US at ministry@sau.edu.
Follow us online for news, events, prayer and spiritual resources, plus much more:
Campus Ministry Reflections
The ashes we received on Wednesday remind us that we are imperfect, but also that the God who created us from dust loves us and wants us to return to HIM with our whole hearts! Poet Jan Richardson has a poem called Blessing the Dust. In it she asks – did you not know what the Holy One can do with dust? Think about that! God can do amazing things with DUST! May our Lenten observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving help us be open to seeing what God can do in our lives during these 40 days. May our prayer open us to renewed possibilities of hearing God’s voice perhaps by attending Adoration, reading Sacred Scripture, or journaling. May our fasting help our priorities match up with God’s priorities. Pope Francis suggested fasting from hurting words, grudges, bitterness, selfishness and other attitudes that keep us from letting God work in our lives. May our sacrificial giving remind us that we are responsible for all members of the Body of Christ. As St. Ambrose himself once said, “if you have two shirts in your closet, one belongs to you and the other to the man with no shirt.” What do you have that someone else may need? Let's see what God can do if we dedicate these 40 days of Lent to opening our hearts to the amazing possibilities. -- Tammy
Understanding the Lenten Fast and Abstinence FASTING: Catholics age 18-59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday - only partaking in one full meal. Two other smaller meals (not equaling a full meal) and liquids are permitted. ABSTINENCE: Catholics over 14 years old must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all other Fridays of Lent. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not eggs, milk, or condiments made from animal fat. We are reminded each year that the obligation to do this penance is a serious one, but no one should be scrupulous in this regard; if health reasons or the ability to do one's work is seriously affected, these regulations do not apply.
A very special guest joins this week's episode of The Faith Awakens - Fr. George McDaniel, PhD, Professor Emeritus of History, at SAU. Fr. McDaniel is here to talk about the past presidents of SAU and the marks they've left on the university.
Have a question about a program or event going on in Campus Ministry? Got an idea for something you'd like to see happen? EMAIL US at ministry@sau.edu.
