“Each of us has a soul, but we forget to value it. We don’t remember that we are creatures made in the image of God. We don’t understand the great secrets hidden inside of us.”
- St. Teresa of Avila
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Spotlight: a Q&A with Vanessa Napoli
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| Vanessa Napoli photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Vanessa Napoli
Class Year:
Class of 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s):
Physics
Current on-campus activities:
Renew leader, Physics Club, Live Out Love Formation Leader
Past on-campus activities:
House minister, little sisters of the poor volunteer
Past off-campus activities:
Working at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Where is God present in your everyday life?:
God is present in this [CUA] community. The witness of Christ on campus is so powerful that sometimes I am still in awe. The people I have met and my interactions with them everyday remind me of His love and grace.
How do you take time to notice God's presence in your life?:
God is found through prayer and with so many chapels, masses and opportunities for communal worship, God is found everywhere!
In regards to current and past, on and off campus activities, what initially moved you to get involved? What were the feelings that moved you to serve in the way you have and do?:
It was my House ministers and other older students that I looked up to that initially got my involved in the faith life on campus. Their presence and joy was so strong that I wanted to be like them because I saw that they were happy.
As baptized Catholics, when we serve others we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and extend (and express) agape. By "being" love we are moving beyond ourselves and honoring the dignity of all human beings. What ways have you invited others to encounter Christ?:
An encounter requires an invitation; whether that is an invitation to mass, to prayer, or to a conversation. Our role is not to give encounters of Christ to others but to let Christ work through us so he can personally encounter each person. “We must decrease, so He may increase” so I try to let Christ work in me, through me and all around me so he can reach His children.
As a young adult in the Catholic Church what challenges have you come across? How have you overcome them?:
There are many controversial issues being discussed currently, both political and moral. It is a challenge to discern what is true and then to stand by it, even if it is not a view that is as socially accepted. But truth is truth and must be proclaimed at all times.
How often do you truly look in and examine your inner self?
I try to do this often as it is only through self-examination that we can learn and grow and become more the person who God made us to be.
Did you attend private or public school prior to college? (If private, Catholic school?):
Public
What advantages do you see with a private (secular or religious) education? What disadvantages? What advantages do you see with public education? What disadvantages? [Can you expand on your own personal experience]:
I enjoyed public school because there was so much diversity and I heard a lot of different perspectives on issues. The disadvantage was my faith was tested and it definitely wavered because it was so easy to not stand firm in something that not too many others believed in.
Why did you choose to attend a private non-secular institution for your higher education? What are the advantages and disadvantages with attending a university like CUA versus a secular private or public institution?:
I came to CUA because my siblings came here and I couldn’t be happier I made that choice. CUA has helped me discover who I am because of the vibrant community of living faith. This university has been such a positive experience for me but I could see how it would be hard to integrate into this campus if you were not Catholic. We should all work more so that everyone can find a home at CUA.
Hispanic & Catholic
Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, doubling from 1980 to 2000, and projected to more than double between 2000 and 2020, according to Pew Researchers.
68 percent of Hispanics are Catholic which is a very different picture than that of non-Hispanic Americans, where the largest grouping of Catholics is 20 percent.
I think with the continual rise of Hispanics in the United States, especially among the first and second American-born generations, the question that the Catholic Church needs to address is - are they as a institution adapting to Hispanics? Or is the question - do we as Hispanics need to adapt to the institution. This topic, raises mix feelings - but I think if anything there should be a blending of the two. Throughout childhood, taking C.C.D. classes every Sunday the blend was evident in our text books that were bilingual.
But sometimes there's fallout. 13 percent of all Hispanics in the United States were once Catholic and left the Church. Hispanics born in the United States are more likely to convert than are foreign-born immigrants. That type of "fall out" I'm assuming can be a credited to culture assimilation and a search for community.
At the end of the day though the majority of Hispanics in the United States remain very Catholic and that is attributed to the strong connection between culture and spirituality. I am so blessed to be a Hispanic Catholic, I find solace in the ability to worship in either spanish or english.
68 percent of Hispanics are Catholic which is a very different picture than that of non-Hispanic Americans, where the largest grouping of Catholics is 20 percent.
About one-third of Catholics in the United States are now Hispanic.According to a study, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public life, two-thirds of Hispanic Catholics choose to worship in "ethnic congregations" that have Hispanic clergymen and spanish-language services, and where a majority of congregants are Hispanic. As a Hispanic and as a first generation American I can relate to these facts. Growing up, religion wasn't separate from culture - it was the everyday. I feel as a Hispanic Catholic having had the opportunity to worship in both spanish and english there is a much different dynamic rather than being a non-Hispanic Catholic. I feel as a Hispanic and being American-born I am stuck in the in between - of different beliefs, practices, language and culture - but none the less - I remain very Catholic.
I think with the continual rise of Hispanics in the United States, especially among the first and second American-born generations, the question that the Catholic Church needs to address is - are they as a institution adapting to Hispanics? Or is the question - do we as Hispanics need to adapt to the institution. This topic, raises mix feelings - but I think if anything there should be a blending of the two. Throughout childhood, taking C.C.D. classes every Sunday the blend was evident in our text books that were bilingual.
But sometimes there's fallout. 13 percent of all Hispanics in the United States were once Catholic and left the Church. Hispanics born in the United States are more likely to convert than are foreign-born immigrants. That type of "fall out" I'm assuming can be a credited to culture assimilation and a search for community.
At the end of the day though the majority of Hispanics in the United States remain very Catholic and that is attributed to the strong connection between culture and spirituality. I am so blessed to be a Hispanic Catholic, I find solace in the ability to worship in either spanish or english.
Spotlight: a Q&A with Alyssa Pellegrino
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| Alyssa Pellegrino photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Alyssa Marie Pellegrino
Class Year:
Class of 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s):
Nursing
Current on-campus activities:
Kappa Tau Gamma Social-Service Sorority, Office of Campus Activities, Orientation Advisor, Servant Leadership Lunches
Past on-campus activities:
Chapel Choir, DC-Reads
Where is God present in your everyday life?:
God is present in my everyday life through my environment and the people I interact with. I constantly have moments when I feel the presence of God in everything from the shining sun to a friend's smile.
How do you take time to notice God's presence in your life?:
Although I find God throughout all parts of my life, sometimes it is important to really focus on where He has been. I like to reflect on my day in prayer each night before going to sleep, noticing where God was in my life. Also, on those days when I am really in need of reflection and focus, I may go for a walk around the Basilica or get up and go to daily mass.
In regards to current and past, on and off campus activities, what initially moved you to get involved? What were the feelings that moved you to serve in the way you have and do?:
I think the main thing that moves me to get involved is a love for others. I have always enjoyed helping others and giving back. That is why many of the organizations and activities that I am involved in center around service and giving back to my community. Another thing that has moved me to get involved is my love for CUA. I truly love the CUA community and I want to work to continue it and make it better.
As baptized Catholics, when we serve others we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and extend (and express) agape. By "being" love we are moving beyond ourselves and honoring the dignity of all human beings. What ways have you invited others to encounter Christ?:
I have always believed that the best way to bring others to Christ is to show them how great it is to be loved by Him. If I live my life every day, following the example of Christ and I am happy and others see that, they are going to want what I have--Christ. So by loving others as Jesus would and leading a faithful life, I will draw others toward Christ, inviting them to share in His love.
As a young adult in the Catholic Church what challenges have you come across? How have you overcome them?:
The main challenge I face is living out my faith and my beliefs in such a tempting society. Many of today's "norms" go against the beliefs we share as Catholics. So, one of the hardest things has been standing strong in those beliefs in the face of the typical college temptations. I work hard to overcome these challenges through not only prayer, mass, adoration, and the sacraments, but also finding friends and others who are going through the same challenges. They say, strength in numbers, and I believe that is very true because the support you can receive from friends is incredible.
How often do you truly look in and examine your inner self?:
Throughout my time at CUA, I have used Wednesday night worship and praise adoration as my "me" time. During the hour I spend there each week, I allow myself to get lost in song and praise while looking in at who I am and what I have going on. This has proven to be a good tool for me. I do not miss adoration ever, and it is because I enjoy it so much and I know that I need that time.
Did you attend private or public school prior to college? (If private, Catholic school?)
What advantages do you see with a private (secular or religious) education? What disadvantages? What advantages do you see with public education? What disadvantages? [Can you expand on your own personal experience]:
Why did you choose to attend a private non-secular institution for your higher education? What are the advantages and disadvantages with attending a university like CUA versus a secular private or public institution?:
(Combined Answer): I have received a Catholic education my entire life, from Kindergarten until now, and I have truly loved it. Although most of the credit goes to my parents, I think that part of why I have the values and faith that I have today is from Catholic education. Growing up in a setting where most of my friends were being raised Catholic and most of my friends went to youth group and Church, I found it easy to make friends who shared my morals and values. Not to say that everyone was or is the same, but it is comforting to be surrounded by people with whom you have something in common almost automatically. It has truly shaped me into who I am. However, there are definitely advantages to a public/secular private education as well. Many public schools are large with plentiful resources and they create environments which shape independent individuals who have friends of different values, religions, ethnicities, and backgrounds. I think when it comes to deciding, public/secular private or Catholic, it has to do with the individual and the desires of the family. I love God and my faith and spirituality, and I chose CUA because it has a strong Catholic identity, which I wanted to be surrounded by every day.
Spotlight: a Q&A with Andrew Finley
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| Andrew Finley photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Andrew Finley
Class Year:
Class of 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s):
Philosophy Prelaw / Psychology
Current on-campus activities:
Student Ministry, Campus Ministry, Esto Vir
Past on-campus activities:
Intramural sports, Rugby, Retreats, Chastity Outreach, CUA Service
Where is God present in your everyday life?:
God is present within all of the people I interact with throughout the day. He is present in each of my experiences, whether they are good or bad. Also, I always feel as though God is present within my heart and mind. I often feel as though God and I are always conversing with each other, even though I may not always be paying attention to what he is saying.
How do you take time to notice God's presence in your life?:
I try as much as I can to take time to sit and reflect on the passed day, or meditate/contemplate about God and let him speak to me. I want to always be sure to thank God for the gift that each day is.
In regards to current and past, on and off campus activities, what initially moved you to get involved? What were the feelings that moved you to serve in the way you have and do?:
I think that my desire to be around people initially got me involved. And whether it is sports or service that I am involved in I enjoy pushing myself to get stronger physically or work harder at making our community a little better for the people in it. God gave me gifts and I wish to use these gifts in these ways.
As baptized Catholics, when we serve others we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and extend (and express) agape. By "being" love we are moving beyond ourselves and honoring the dignity of all human beings. What ways have you invited others to encounter Christ?:
Inviting people to mass has been one way in which I have tried to help others encounter Christ, since he is fully present there. Another way, and sometimes a more relatable way for most people is challenging people to get involved in service by taking a service trip or doing outreach within our community at CUA and in DC.
As a young adult in the Catholic Church what challenges have you come across? How have you overcome them?:
Popular culture is definitely a challenge. It feeds us a message contrary to that of our faith at times and it is difficult to deal with these conflicting messages. It is also difficult because many people are searching for something or reaching for something meaningful, but they reject what is already there within our faith, or overlook it and think that someone else has a better idea. I often feel like the world has forgotten about God or has decided that he just doesn’t matter right now and that they are going to live their life the way they want because they know what is best for them. I deal with all of this by praying. It is the only way I guess that I will ever be able to overcome it all.
How often do you truly look in and examine your inner self?:
As I said earlier, I try to do it every day or even several times a day. It is hard because of the business of my life, but I can usually find a few minutes every day to look into myself.
Did you attend private or public school prior to college? (If private, Catholic school?) What advantages do you see with a private (secular or religious) education? What disadvantages? What advantages do you see with public education? What disadvantages? [Can you expand on your own personal experience]:
I have gone to Catholic School my entire life, except for kindergarten, but that barely counts. I definitely think that the education I received was better than the education that some of my friends received at a public school. I can remember friends of mine in high school who were at least a year behind in some subjects and did not understand as much about some topics as I did. Part of that I think is because catholic schools are generally smaller and the teachers are able to work one on one with more students. I also think that greater emphasis is put on the education of the student on the whole from parents, teachers, and administrators. Something has been invested in the child. I also found it beneficial to have religion classes. They were helpful in the formation of my individual spirituality and my feelings of giving to the community and treating each person with dignity and humanity.
Why did you choose to attend a private non-secular institution for your higher education? What are the advantages and disadvantages with attending a university like CUA versus a secular private or public institution?:
I chose to attend CUA because when I visited here as a senior in High school I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. I visited CUA and suddenly felt this strong attraction to this place. I felt a strong sense of peace and hope, hope that this would be the place where I would be able to become the person I wanted to be because this is a university that not only focuses heavily on the quality of work that students do and their academic achievements, but also their personal achievements and the quality of person that they become.
Spotlight: a Q&A with Steven Serafin
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| Steven Serafin photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Steven Serafin
Class Year:
Class of 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s):
Theology Major; Business Minor
Current on-campus activities:
Student Ministry, Knights of Columbus, Luaupalooza, Advent Committee, Renew Group Leader, Freshman Retreat, Junior Retreat
Past on-campus activities:
Student Ministry, Mission Jamaica, DC-Reads, Lenten Committee, House events, Retreats
Current off-campus activities:
Creating and designing off-campus retreats, working in my diocese chancery office, assistant wrestling coach, golf
Past off-campus activities:
Worked in a movie theater, wrestling
Where is God present in your everyday life?:
You can see God all around you, especially in the random acts of kindness I see happening around campus. I can see him in the path that he has for me, and the people I am with.
How do you take time to notice God's presence in your life?:
I try to find some time to my self to reflect upon my day. Looking back on where I can see Him playing out in my life. Sometimes we miss when God is at work in our life, but being able to stop and take a deep look at my life really helps.
In regards to current and past, on and off campus activities, what initially moved you to get involved? What were the feelings that moved you to serve in the way you have and do?:
In High School I did not get involved till my senior year. I was not very confident in myself so I really kept to myself and did activities not involving many people. My senior year I began to gain this confidence and had so much fun getting involved that I told myself that in college I immediately would want to get involved. I was introduced to everything Campus Ministry had to offer and wanted to do as much as I could; to help serve, make friends and grow in my faith.
As baptized Catholics, when we serve others we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and extend (and express) agape. By "being" love we are moving beyond ourselves and honoring the dignity of all human beings. What ways have you invited others to encounter Christ?:
My favorite way to do this is to let Christ work through me, by just living the life I was given at baptism. I try to bring people the word through my actions and the way I live. I never have to be the first to question others, they ask me why I act the way I do and it sparks a conversation about faith. Once people get a glimpse of Christ, it begins to spread fast, I like helping them find that glimpse.
As a young adult in the Catholic Church what challenges have you come across? How have you overcome them?:
As any young adult I have come across many different challenges throughout my life. I think the most important question is how to overcome them? How I got to where I am now is through all of the amazing people who helped me when I faced these challenges. Finding good friends to help me with my struggles that were always there to hold me accountable and hold me to more has helped me overcome.
How often do you truly look in and examine your inner self?:
In the business of life I sometimes forget or I lose track of myself. I would love to look at my inner self at least once a day but realistically I try to do it twice a week.
Did you attend private or public school prior to college? (If private, Catholic school?):
What advantages do you see with a private (secular or religious) education? What disadvantages? What advantages do you see with public education? What disadvantages? [Can you expand on your own personal experience]:
I attended a private Catholic high school. I loved my high school it really taught me how to be a young adult. Teaching me discipline, the correct way to dress, how to talk to others, and what is important in life. My classes were smaller and I really like that type of dynamic. There were many different types of opportunities that I was able to get involved in.
Why did you choose to attend a private non-secular institution for your higher education? What are the advantages and disadvantages with attending a university like CUA versus a secular private or public institution?:
Honestly I came here because it felt like where I was suppose to go. I’m not into partying or having what people view as the normal college life experience. I thought by coming here I would meet people who had the same views and beliefs I had and help me learn how to live them out. I feel like attending a school like this you really learn the concept of community and are taught a lot more on the personal level how to live out your life. Schools like this really get you ready for the real world and teach you how to be yourself. The disadvantage would be that - it is a small school and it may not have what you want to study. I really feel that it is the person’s preference where they would feel they can be him or herself.
Faith and Politics
True Life: I am Catholic. I am a Politics Major.
Being from the Catholic tradition and being a student of politics - I more than anyone else - understand how personal morals and politics isn't a black and white thing.I believe there is nothing wrong with faith being intertwined with politics. In politics, it's all about public service and uniting for the common good; which goes along with the universal call to holiness.
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| photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
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| photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Our fundamental right is the right to life and with that we cannot just pick and chose who has that right. Which brings me back to faith interweaving with politics. As citizens of earth let alone the United States we should be thinking of each other not just ourselves. We are not unattached individuals from society and that's why its important to offer ourselves through our work to serve God. In order for us to live together we must agree on the absolute minimum and as a student of politics I understand my responsibility as a American citizen and as a daughter of Christ - that I need to make sure that government is preserving peace among people, which in turn preserves our government.
A Product of Two Worlds: Public vs. Catholic Education
Public School versus Catholic Schools… the age old, question – which is better?
Many believe that Catholic schools offer an overall better education than compared to public schools but from personal experience I think the same quality of education that people regard Catholic schools to provide, can be received in public schools. I think a quality education depends on the student and the student’s motivation to succeed. There are many stereotypical pros and cons to attending a Catholic school versus a public school.
Not everyone has had the experience of going through the Catholic school system, and I for one am one of those people. Attending The Catholic University of America has been the most major Catholic schooling experience that I have had to date. Nothing, not even 8 years of C.C.D. classes could have prepared me for this experience.
I do not regret going to public school, where I was fortunate to attend the best magnet public schools in Miami-Dade County. Though sometimes I wish I would have had the experience of attending a Catholic school prior to college. I can get frustrated when I am not as well versed in my faith as my peers who went to Catholic school. I decided to make the jump into Catholic school for my higher education – to be able to have the opportunity to grow into and develop my faith. It has been interesting to be surrounded by so many of my peers who live out God’s message. During my first two years at CUA I didn’t do much exploring into my faith out of intimidation. Finally, though this past year – my junior year where in addition to attending weekly university mass on Sundays, is where I really have taken the opportunity to explore my faith and the unique offerings that CUA has to offer. I started to attend weekly Praise and Worship Adoration and daily mass in addition to making time for self reflection in the 24 hour chapel. Being in the presence of God with my peers has really taught me some valuable lessons. I see Christ in the faces of my fellow students. I see Christ in the love expressed through the undergraduate student body. As much as I can be a advocate for the public school system, attending a Catholic university has been one of my best life decisions to date. If it wasn’t for the opportunities that are unique to a Catholic university such as Campus Ministry – among the many examples – I would have had a very different experience than the one I am so grateful and blessed to have.
Many believe that Catholic schools offer an overall better education than compared to public schools but from personal experience I think the same quality of education that people regard Catholic schools to provide, can be received in public schools. I think a quality education depends on the student and the student’s motivation to succeed. There are many stereotypical pros and cons to attending a Catholic school versus a public school.
Not everyone has had the experience of going through the Catholic school system, and I for one am one of those people. Attending The Catholic University of America has been the most major Catholic schooling experience that I have had to date. Nothing, not even 8 years of C.C.D. classes could have prepared me for this experience.
I do not regret going to public school, where I was fortunate to attend the best magnet public schools in Miami-Dade County. Though sometimes I wish I would have had the experience of attending a Catholic school prior to college. I can get frustrated when I am not as well versed in my faith as my peers who went to Catholic school. I decided to make the jump into Catholic school for my higher education – to be able to have the opportunity to grow into and develop my faith. It has been interesting to be surrounded by so many of my peers who live out God’s message. During my first two years at CUA I didn’t do much exploring into my faith out of intimidation. Finally, though this past year – my junior year where in addition to attending weekly university mass on Sundays, is where I really have taken the opportunity to explore my faith and the unique offerings that CUA has to offer. I started to attend weekly Praise and Worship Adoration and daily mass in addition to making time for self reflection in the 24 hour chapel. Being in the presence of God with my peers has really taught me some valuable lessons. I see Christ in the faces of my fellow students. I see Christ in the love expressed through the undergraduate student body. As much as I can be a advocate for the public school system, attending a Catholic university has been one of my best life decisions to date. If it wasn’t for the opportunities that are unique to a Catholic university such as Campus Ministry – among the many examples – I would have had a very different experience than the one I am so grateful and blessed to have.
Spotlight: a Q&A with Sarah Ault
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| Sarah Ault photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Sarah Ault
Class Year:
Class of 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s):
Theology Major with a concentration in Pastoral Ministry; Minor in Philosophy
Current on-campus activities:
Student Minister, Redline A Cappella, Music Minister (Coordinator of Retreat Music, student organizer of adoration, musician at mass)
Past on-campus activities:
Jumpstart Corps member (2008-2009) and team leader (2009-2010)
(Jumpstart is an organization that works with emergent reading, writing, and social skills in 3-5 year olds and requires a commitment of 300 hours a school year. "Jumpstart is working toward the day that every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.")
Current off-campus activities:
Intern, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
Past off-campus activities:
Babysitter for family friends off-campus
Where is God present in your everyday life?:
I think that God is most present in my everyday life in the people around me. I try to see God in everyone. Also, a recent development in my life is finding God in the present moment a.k.a. really trying to be present in the moment and not be anxious about what lies ahead.
How do you take time to notice God's presence in your life?:
In relationship to the prior question, I try to notice God's presence in my life through the people around me. I try to really be present to them when we are talking, whether it is through a short encounter walking to class or through a long conversation. I also find God through music, whether it is Christian or secular (Obviously, being a musician, music speaks to my heart in a very special way. Sorry that was so cheesy)
In regards to current and past, on and off campus activities, what initially moved you to get involved? What were the feelings that moved you to serve in the way you have and do?:
I was so blessed to have a high school that really instilled the value of service in its students. Through all of high school, we were required to do 45 minutes of service every year. In doing that service, I realized how important it is to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. I think seeing the smiles on people's faces after I would do service for them was the motivation to continue to do service after graduation. Also, service is what we are called to do as Christians; as Theresa of Avila says, "Christ has no hands, no feet but yours." We are called to be Christ's face in this world, and a really good way to do that is through service.
As baptized Catholics, when we serve others we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and extend (and express) agape. By "being" love we are moving beyond ourselves and honoring the dignity of all human beings. What ways have you invited others to encounter Christ?:
I probably should have read this question before answering the previous one haha. The biggest way I try to invite others to encounter Christ is through the way that I live my life. One of my favorite quotes is "your life may be the only Bible some people read," and I really try to live by this. I have learned, especially in ministry, that the best way for people to encounter Christ is not through discussions or moments of teaching; it is through witnessing how I live my life. And this is by no means an easy task, nor am I the perfect model of it. But I do try. And I think that is what makes all the difference. We are called to be Christ to others, as you have said, and the best way to do that is through living our own lives after Christ.
As a young adult in the Catholic Church what challenges have you come across? How have you overcome them?:
I am at a point in my life where my biggest struggle is finding a way to translate the faith I had as a teenager to my young adult life. Along with this, being a busy college student causes me to constantly need to reevaluate my priorities and make sure that God is at the top of my list. I like to say that my problem is that I do a really great job of living with God, but not always a good job of living in God. What I mean by this is that it is so easy to acknowledge God's presence all around me, but actually relying on Him for everything is a different story. I have overcome these obstacles, I am overcoming these obstacles, by being diligent in trying to find solutions. Great answer, right? But I mean that I am still trying to work out the best way to make my faith "grown up." So far, the best way for me to overcome them is by playing music whenever I can. Also, I have begun to enjoy reading books about growing my faith and contemplating their meaning.
How often do you truly look in and examine your inner self?:
Lately, I have been examining my inner self a lot. I think it comes with the end of the semester and this point in our lives. But I tend to consider myself a pretty reflective person. I think because my life is so crazy all the time, contemplative prayer has become a very welcomed thing to me.
Did you attend private or public school prior to college? (If private, Catholic school?):
Private, all girls Catholic school from 5th-12th grade. (coed Catholic school prior to that)
What advantages do you see with a private (secular or religious) education? What disadvantages? What advantages do you see with public education? What disadvantages? [Can you expand on your own personal experience]:
In New Orleans, public school is not even an option if you want a good education. People go to Catholic school for a good education and not necessarily for the faith formation (though that was a big factor of why I wanted to go to Catholic school). As this is my experience, I am probably not the most qualified person to answer this question ;)
Why did you choose to attend a private non-secular institution for your higher education? What are the advantages and disadvantages with attending a university like CUA versus a secular private or public institution?:
Coming to a Catholic college was really important to me, especially since I knew that theology was a possibility (and now a reality) for a major. It was also important to me to come to a Catholic school so I could continue to grow my faith in a new way. For me, there aren't really any advantages to going to a secular school, since my major does not exist at a secular institution. I could see, however, for others, that being in a Catholic school could cause one to be in a bubble and disconnected from the "real world." Being in a secular school could put one's faith to the test and cause you to see how your faith would be outside of the Catholic school bubble (assuming that this person went to Catholic school prior to college).
Spotlight: a Q&A with Erin Flynn
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| Erin Flynn photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
Name:
Erin Flynn
Class Year:
Class of 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s):
Theology and Religious Studies Major
Current on-campus activities:
President of Best Buddies (2009-2011), Relay For Life Co-Chair, Catholic Daughters of the Americas CUA Court Regent, CUAlternative, ELP Mentor, Cardinal Ambassador
Past on-campus activities:
Relay For Life food and beverage committee chair
Current off-campus activities:
Girl Scout, member of the Handbell Choir, Eucharistic Minister, Lector
Past off-campus activities:
Mercy Mentor, Leaders Club Officer (captain), JV/Varsity Volleyball and Softball, Liturgy Committee, Sacristan
Where is God present in your everyday life?:
I see God in my life in many situations but the place I see Him the most is in the face and spirits of the members of Best Buddies, both the students and the buddies themselves.
How do you take time to notice God's presence in your life?:
Everyday, I take 30 minutes and reserve that for “me time”, this normally consists of prayer, reflection, and or just walking around by myself to be grateful for everything I have.
In regards to current and past, on and off campus activities, what initially moved you to get involved? What were the feelings that moved you to serve in the way you have and do?:
To be honest, the main reason I got involved was because my older sister was doing it, so naturally I wanted to be involved. I stayed in the organizations because of the look on the face of the people you are serving after the fact. The look is there for only a few seconds and if you blink you could miss it. But in the look, you see gratitude and thanks. A gratitude for being there with them in solidarity and thanks for showing them the dignity they deserve.
As baptized Catholics, when we serve others we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and extend (and express) agape. By "being" love we are moving beyond ourselves and honoring the dignity of all human beings. What ways have you invited others to encounter Christ?:
I believe that I have invited people to encounter Christ through Best Buddies. I believe that everyone has a piece of Christ in them but working with someone who has special needs puts the piece right in front of your face and says "look at me!" People with special needs have unconditional love for other people and accept them for who they are – not for what you might be or what you have done. I have personally experienced the life change effects “the buddies” have had on me and other people and I believe, that in the past 3 years, they have brought me closer to Christ.
As a young adult in the Catholic Church what challenges have you come across? How have you overcome them?
One challenge I have come across is the being what I consider a “liberal catholic." I like rock masses, don’t enjoy Latin in masses and firmly believe that in order for the Catholic Church to move forward, the older generations (in my parish it is classified as the Altar Rosary Society) have to step aside and allow for younger members of the church to hold leadership.
How often do you truly look in and examine your inner self?
In my life I don’t do this consistently. It normally happens after major events or life altering situations that I step back and think about who I am, what have I become, and where I want my life and faith to go in the next few years.
Did you attend private or public school prior to college? (If private, Catholic school?):
Private; I went to Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, NY (all girls school - woot woot!!)
What advantages do you see with a private (secular or religious) education? What disadvantages? What advantages do you see with public education? What disadvantages? [Can you expand on your own personal experience]:
Ok so I have been in catholic school my entire life so I honestly can’t comment on the difference in education I would have received if I was in public school. But I can tell you that attending a school where faith and service was central was amazing. I loved being able to walk into school and sit in the chapel and pray before classes and that every morning, no matter what, the student body president would come across the loudspeaker and lead a prayer for the whole school. Also at my school a point was made to make sure we learned about our faith and our personal spirituality but also commented on the importance of other religions. So we not only grew as a local community, we grew as a global community.
Why did you choose to attend a private non-secular institution for your higher education? What are the advantages and disadvantages with attending a university like CUA versus a secular private or public institution?
As I said before, I went to a Catholic grammar school so going to a catholic college was an easy decision. Attending a non-secular school allows people to find themselves and their faith throughout class and clubs. Most importantly, if provides a structure of hundreds of other students going through the same thing so they can walk on the journey together with you.
Hand in Hand: Service & Agape
Love is more than an emotion; it’s the knowing and being with God – the one source at the root of all lives. As baptized children of Christ when we serve others we have the opportunity to appreciate their worth. Showing a gesture of love is like offering a portion of God. Other people are mirrors of our own love. In solidarity through charity we perceive only love, express only love and by doing so are only love. By being only love we are moving beyond ourselves. “The dignity of the person is the most precious possession of an individual. As a result, the value of one person transcends all the material world” (Christifideles Laici, 37). It is important that as citizens of earth and children of God that we show dignity to others because “in effect the acknowledgment of the personal dignity of every human being demands the respect, the defence and the promotion of the rights of the human person” (Christifideles Laici, 38). Everything is done in, through, and with Christ. We as human beings respond imperfectly to God’s love but According to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), “being a Christian [simply] means having love; it means achieving the Copernican revolution in our existence, by which we cease to make ourselves the center of the universe, with everyone else revolving around us.” Anything opposite to the love of God is non-existent.
Through the love of God we as Christians are able to engage with others, and by that engagement we as Christians our able to give ourselves to others. It is important as children of God we promote justice because when we in solidarity can unite for the good of all we can bring upon peace and human development. Our mission to love and to serve is not just for a few but, for everyone – no matter – race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and or class status. We cannot think of ourselves as unattached individuals. We need to embrace our call to holiness by constantly trying to build up not tearing down others.
Ultimately “the point is not that [we] love [our] brothers and sisters for Jesus’ sake, but simply that [we] love [our] brothers and sisters” (Michael Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, 51). And that expression of love – the divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love can also be described as Agape. Agape can be seen simply as an intentional response by Christians to promote human well-being in the face of despair and tragedy. Agape is a consuming love that grants us as humans the ability to grow and to experience joy, where “the will of God is agape, constant and perfect and eternal, and it bears all our wills with it” (Michael Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, 56).
To be able to experience God we need to live out agape because whatever the motive, the issue is to give ourself away as completely, fully and richly as possible. As a baptized daughter of Christ I am concerned with taking care of others and trying to devout my life to serving my brothers and sisters.
One of the many ways I try to live out agape is through the “service project” Relay for Life. Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event. Although the main objective of Relay is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, the event is held to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite a community in the fight against cancer. I am fortunate to be part of an amazing group of fellow young adults who make up the Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) chapter at the Catholic University of America (CUA). Through CAC, I am able to help initiate and support programs of the American Cancer Society at CUA. I participate with Relay for Life at CUA because I want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer. I want to be able to show love towards those who face adversity because in turn I cannot experience God unless I love my brothers and sisters, and I cannot love my brothers and sisters without experiencing God.
By choosing to fight for the lives of existing and future patients by voluntarily donating my time and money so the American Cancer Society can continue to find new treatment that fight cancer cells and improve the quality of life for those living with cancer is one of the ways I’m experiencing God. Placing the dignity of others before my own is what Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) says to be “the sublime and liberating message of love, as being the sole and sufficient content of Christianity.”
Through the love of God we as Christians are able to engage with others, and by that engagement we as Christians our able to give ourselves to others. It is important as children of God we promote justice because when we in solidarity can unite for the good of all we can bring upon peace and human development. Our mission to love and to serve is not just for a few but, for everyone – no matter – race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and or class status. We cannot think of ourselves as unattached individuals. We need to embrace our call to holiness by constantly trying to build up not tearing down others.
Ultimately “the point is not that [we] love [our] brothers and sisters for Jesus’ sake, but simply that [we] love [our] brothers and sisters” (Michael Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, 51). And that expression of love – the divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love can also be described as Agape. Agape can be seen simply as an intentional response by Christians to promote human well-being in the face of despair and tragedy. Agape is a consuming love that grants us as humans the ability to grow and to experience joy, where “the will of God is agape, constant and perfect and eternal, and it bears all our wills with it” (Michael Himes, Doing the Truth in Love, 56).
To be able to experience God we need to live out agape because whatever the motive, the issue is to give ourself away as completely, fully and richly as possible. As a baptized daughter of Christ I am concerned with taking care of others and trying to devout my life to serving my brothers and sisters.
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| photo by: me, Katrina Marie |
By choosing to fight for the lives of existing and future patients by voluntarily donating my time and money so the American Cancer Society can continue to find new treatment that fight cancer cells and improve the quality of life for those living with cancer is one of the ways I’m experiencing God. Placing the dignity of others before my own is what Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) says to be “the sublime and liberating message of love, as being the sole and sufficient content of Christianity.”
New Evangelization
The contemporary world we live in creates new challenges for the mission of the church. In response to those challenges and as an approach to re-direct and re-focus the Church’s priorities, the concept of New Evangelization has flourished. But the concept of New Evangelization should not be confused as a new message. As Blessed John Paul II once proclaimed “Evangelization cannot be new in its content since its very theme is always the one gospel given in Jesus Christ.”
In the Church’s writings about Evangelization it means most fundamentally the proclamation of the basic Christian message: salvation through Jesus Christ.
According to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) “To evangelize means: to show this path—to teach the art of living. At the beginning of his public life Jesus says: I have come to evangelize the poor (Luke 4:18); this means: I have the response to your fundamental question; I will show you the path of life, the path toward happiness—rather: I am that path.”
It is our call, our commitment to live out that path. We must be promoting a culture more deeply grounded in the Gospel. But most importantly we cannot keep it to ourselves. We must proclaim Christ. We should not be afraid of the joy in the message that we have received because if not we will end up imprisoned by fear.
Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington firmly proclaims that New Evangelization is not a program. Archbishop Cardinal Wuerl says it is an outlook on life and a personal invitation to rediscover Christ and his message.
Archbishop Cardinal Wuerl asks that Catholics reflect together on how we can renew the Gospel message and Christ’s love, first in our own hearts and then, having grown in our faith, by inviting others to hear once again, maybe all over again for the first time, the exciting invitation of Jesus: “Come, follow me.”
Interestingly, many lay Catholics still think evangelization is a task just for priests and religious. But honestly it is a task for every baptized Christian. Nowadays, with a decreased number of priests and religious, it’s especially important that lay Catholics get involved in spreading the faith. As a lay Catholic of the church I think the method of “Believe – Share – Transform” is one method that is most effective for evangelization. Sharing is key to conversion and transformation. Taking that time to just even show an act of kindness expresses God’s message. Living out grace and keeping faith is a process but to the same affect it is important that we as baptized Christians, children in image and likeness of God have patience for one another. We should be building each other up not down. Believing and sharing God with others is key to sharing the message of the Good News.
In the Church’s writings about Evangelization it means most fundamentally the proclamation of the basic Christian message: salvation through Jesus Christ.
According to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) “To evangelize means: to show this path—to teach the art of living. At the beginning of his public life Jesus says: I have come to evangelize the poor (Luke 4:18); this means: I have the response to your fundamental question; I will show you the path of life, the path toward happiness—rather: I am that path.”
It is our call, our commitment to live out that path. We must be promoting a culture more deeply grounded in the Gospel. But most importantly we cannot keep it to ourselves. We must proclaim Christ. We should not be afraid of the joy in the message that we have received because if not we will end up imprisoned by fear.
Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington firmly proclaims that New Evangelization is not a program. Archbishop Cardinal Wuerl says it is an outlook on life and a personal invitation to rediscover Christ and his message.
Archbishop Cardinal Wuerl asks that Catholics reflect together on how we can renew the Gospel message and Christ’s love, first in our own hearts and then, having grown in our faith, by inviting others to hear once again, maybe all over again for the first time, the exciting invitation of Jesus: “Come, follow me.”
Interestingly, many lay Catholics still think evangelization is a task just for priests and religious. But honestly it is a task for every baptized Christian. Nowadays, with a decreased number of priests and religious, it’s especially important that lay Catholics get involved in spreading the faith. As a lay Catholic of the church I think the method of “Believe – Share – Transform” is one method that is most effective for evangelization. Sharing is key to conversion and transformation. Taking that time to just even show an act of kindness expresses God’s message. Living out grace and keeping faith is a process but to the same affect it is important that we as baptized Christians, children in image and likeness of God have patience for one another. We should be building each other up not down. Believing and sharing God with others is key to sharing the message of the Good News.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Quote: "Dear young people..."
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| Photo taken in the Founder's Chapel in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Washington, D.C. Photo taken and edited by: me, Katrina Marie |
Welcome!
Hello! Welcome to my blog, "The Call of a Modern Catholic."
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| Me, Katrina Marie Avila |
One of the courses I had the pleasure of taking this semester was "TRS 355: Mission of the Contemporary Catholic." This course discussed how today's Catholics fulfill the mission of witnessing, evangelizing, and sanctifying the world as they practice the faith once delivered to the saints. One of the things touched upon in class was how part of the Catholic identity is the call to be a missionary to the world, both in word and service. The overarching theme of the course was how might the human life appear when it is lived entirely under the horizon of faith in God. Throughout the semester we consistently discussed "the call to holiness" and what it means and entails to be a layperson of the church.
Instead of a final exam we have been required to come up with a final project that illustrates what we have learned in the course. In response to Pope Benedict XVI's call for ministers in the church to use forms of social media to share the message of the Good News, I will be "Blogging for Jesus" as my final project.
This blog, will consist of various posts addressing the reality and the difficulties of being a layperson in the church. The posts will touch upon a range of issues, from service and agape, to Hispanic Catholics and Catholic education. These posts will be reflections on how I interpret the different themes and topics I have chosen to discuss. Throughout this blog I will also be spotlighting a few of my peers from CUA’s Class of 2012. These spotlights are Q&A’s that I conducted via email with friends that I consider to be role models. The interviews will help put into perspective the possibility that it is possible to live out “the call to holiness” even at the college age.
Hope you enjoy the reflections and spotlights!
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