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Christian accompaniment is best understood through the Gospel story of the Road to Emmaus. If Emmaus is Heaven, each of us is on our own journey: afraid, confused, and attempting to make sense of the joy of the Resurrection. Each of us needs someone to walk beside, someone who will minister to us by simply listening, then understanding, and advising.…
Read MoreOn my campus, about 62% of the undergraduate population are Hispanic. I believe there is an identity crisis among our Hispanic young adults that requires immediate attention. I feel compelled to be a catalyst for such outreach. I am a Catholic campus minister at a small Catholic University in San Antonio, Texas. I am Mexican-American, a Hispanic, and with the growth of Hispanics in the United States Catholic church today, am concerned for the Hispanic young adult Catholics…
Read MoreWith the fall semester is in full swing, it is time to pause, breathe and reflect on the campus ministry in light of the mission of education. Catholic campus ministry, which is uniquely situated at the crossroads of Church and higher education, has a vital role to play in the formation of the men and women who come to the university…
Read MoreFrom the Greek syneidesis (“with knowledge”), the word “conscience” has been in the English language since the 12th century. Many of us were taught as children that we should know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. The right actions bring about good consequences and the wrong actions bring about the bad (or evil) consequences. Yet, we seldom consider what it means to have a Christian conscience. Often, while growing up, I wrote off my conscience as the most basic moral standard required to live in society. This wasn’t my error. My error lied in the fact that I never called myself to a higher standard to follow my Christian faith…
Read MoreI’ve been teaching a lot about discernment lately, encouraging students to include prayer in their decision-making, listening for God’s voice in the choice. Of course, we all know that decisions are easier if there is a positive and negative or pro and con. But, efforts for prayerful discernment are required when we have two good choices and only one can be chosen…
Read MoreThere was a time when I was struggling with anxiety, my past, love, and resentment. These themes plagued me continuously, so much so that I suddenly announced in my thoughts, Lord I am weak. It is hard to express the amount of peace that overwhelmed me…
Read MoreThis summer I had the opportunity to attend the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Lay Ecclesial Ministry Summit, which convened on the 10th anniversary of the bishops’ pastoral statement on lay ecclesial ministry, “Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord.” The summit gathered bishops, pastoral leaders, and academics to explore the challenges and opportunities facing the field of lay ecclesial ministry…
Read MoreWithin the Catholic Church, we have been blessed to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life this past year. Pope Francis named the year beginning November 30, 2014, to February 2, 2016, as a year to remember and honor the gifts that men and women religious have given to the Church…
Read MoreAbby (pseudonym) is a third-year college student who first encountered depression as a freshman after losing several significant people in her life within a short period of time. Her family physician, noticing her lack of energy, did a quick depression scale in the office and suggested that medication might alleviate her symptoms…
Read MoreWhen you head off to college people say, “You'll have the time of your life. You'll make lifelong friendships. You'll find yourself…”
Read MoreOur Interfaith Center recently hosted a discussion called, “When I was a stranger…” A Discussion of Refugee Resettlement in Louisville…
Read MoreCharlie, as an eager freshman, couldn’t wait to get to college and have new experiences. When the quarter ended, he was joyful about going home for the holiday...
Read MoreWhat is the ultimate goal in life? For Christians, it is to one day join our Lord in His heavenly kingdom…
Read MoreAs our college campuses begin to stir with the flurry of activity that signals the end of the semester, the Church will ring in the Jubilee Year of Mercy, calling us to give and receive the abundant blessings of God’s merciful love…
Read MoreThanksgiving is this week, and we’re sure that everyone is looking forward to spending the long holiday weekend relaxing with family and taking a break from the stresses of school and work. This will be our second Thanksgiving together, and while some students from our campus have to travel hours back home and separate from their significant other for the weekend, we are very fortunate in that our hometowns are only thirty minutes apart…
Read MoreMy memory of first encountering homelessness seems like a trivial moment in my childhood. It was brief with seemingly little significance, but I mentally replay it with vivid detail…
Read MoreJustice is defined as “just behavior or treatment.” However, a simple sentence cannot capture the magnitude of importance the word possesses…
Read MoreAttending the University of Dayton, a Catholic institution, has provided me with many opportunities to practice and grow in my faith. One such opportunity was attending the Papal Mass on September 27 in Philadelphia...
Read More“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me…”
Read MoreOn my campus, about 62% of the undergraduate population are Hispanic. I believe there is an identity crisis among our Hispanic young adults that requires immediate attention. I feel compelled to be a catalyst for such outreach…
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