Follow us online for news, events, prayer and spiritual resources, plus much more:
Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to be included? I am incredibly grateful for the warm welcome I have received here at Saint Ambrose University in the last month. As the new Service & Justice Coordinator, I am blessed to be able to connect with inspirational students, faculty and staff here on campus, along with our wider Quad Cities nonprofit community, while being able to freely share my faith and respect for those of different faith traditions. I feel free to be myself, do work I am passionate about and be part of an organization I believe in – what could be better?
As I am basking in the glow of feeling so welcome here, I wince to recognize that globally 26 million people are not even welcome in their own home or country. We’ve all seen the news about the recent crisis in Afghanistan and recognize it is part of an overwhelmingly vast refugee crisis across the globe. The plight of people, who flee their homes under threat of violence, persecution or natural disaster is far beyond any sense of unwelcome I have experienced - just to imagine it breaks my heart wide open.
This year, Pope Francis declared the theme of World Day of Migrants & Refugees “Toward an Ever Wider ‘We,’” calling on each of us to be part of a culture of encounter as we welcome, protect, integrate and promote immigrants and refugees in our midst. I am in awe of how many Ambrosians have already answered that call as individuals and hope upcoming events and service opportunities we've centered around the refugee crisis can help us form a stronger sense of community around the cause here on campus.
Please feel free to reach out if you're interested in getting involved with refugee outreach or other service and justice initiatives through Campus Ministry.
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.
