CatholicTrojan Encounter Christ. Transform Hearts. Make a Difference.
Welcome Home
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CATHOLIC TROJAN CONTRIBUTORS Editors:
Writers:
Abbie Brucelo is the Director of Marketing at OSP CCC.
Carlyn Gilbert ’18 is a senior and Student Executive Board Chair for Community Life & Culture at OSP CCC.
Fr. Greg Vance, S.J. is a priest with the Society of Jesus, Western Province and a Campus Minister at OSP CCC.
Kathleen Hurtt is the VP of Advancement at OSP CCC.
Sr. Jenny Zimmerman, S.N.D. is a sister with the Sisters with Notre Dame and a Campus Minister at OSP CCC.
Nina Gallegos ’17 is a graduate of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and is the Marketing Associate at OSP CCC. Layout Design: Perceptiv, Inc Primary Photography: Abbie Brucelo
Isabella Custino ’19 is a junior at USC Thornton School of Music and OSP CCC’s Intern for Music and Liturgy.
Brian Russell is the Campaign Director at OSP CCC.
Cover caption: Top L to R: Katy Pavy ’20, Patrick Olson ’18, Carole Boulware ’19, Nick Solari ’20, Rebecca Sauer ’18, Isy Guerry ’18, Sarah Wong ’18. Bottom L to R: Carlos Garcia (FOCUS Missionary Team Director), Javier Lugo ’18.
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MISSION STATEMENT
Our vision is to invite the USC community into a transforming relationship with Christ and one another, empowered to make a lasting impact on the world.
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Catholic Center students pose with Pope Francis in their “CC” pocket t-shirts they designed. Pictured top L to R: Javier Lugo ’18, Manika Tolentino ’20, Pope Francis, Joseph Bustamante ’19. Bottom L to R: Monica David ’20, Nora Morales ’18.
IN THIS ISSUE
OSP CCC STAFF
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Finding Community and Discovering Faith
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Sunday SCuppers: Nourishing the Body of Christ
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From the Music Ministry: Universality of Music
Fr. Richard Sunwoo Administrator Joe Bazyouros Director of Music Abbie Brucelo Director of Marketing & Public Relations Jamie Cappetta President Yvette Cardona Business Manager Kevin Corcoran IT Manager
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Call to Discipleship: A Conversation
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Vocations & Spiritual Mentoring
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Campaign Update OSP CCC Staff
Nina Gallegos Marketing Associate Anthony Heim Campus Minister Kathleen Hurtt VP of Advancement Rudy Lowe Manager of Operations & Hospitality Xochitl Nisbet Database Manager Dcn. Paul Pesqueira Parish Deacon Rose Ramirez Executive Assistant to Fr. Richard
Brian Russell Campaign Director Rosie Shawver Director of Campus Ministry Fr. Greg Vance, S.J. Campus Minister Sr. Jenny Zimmerman, SND Campus Minister, Vocations Alive!
844 West 32nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007 Phone: 213-516-3959 info@catholictrojan.org Follow us online: catholictrojan.org Disclaimer: Catholic Trojan is published twice a year for our alumni, parents and friends. Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the entire USC Caruso Catholic Center community.
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F r o m t h e Pa s t o r ’s D e s k Welcome home, Catholic Trojans!
I hope this newsletter finds you all in good health and in the friendship of the Holy Spirit! I desire that every Catholic Trojan know, with certainty, that they are welcome here at Our Savior Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center. Hospitality is an often overlooked virtue until we experience its lack. I pray that everyone who comes through our doors feel authentically welcomed, and that they also encounter the transformative power of feeling wanted. It is this particular power that transforms a stranger to a friend, a sinner to a saint, and a seeker into a disciple! For us, these are not just philosophical or poetic ideas. It is our mission—our purpose. This year in particular, we want to grow in our commitment to Christ through faithful discipleship. Our campus ministry has planned 18 retreats just this year to guide our students through intentional discipleship as a way of life! With the help of our campus ministers and FOCUS missionaries, our students are able to connect and grow in fellowship and prayer. Our liturgy is the largest engagement point for most of our community and the most visible expression of our faith - we grow deeper in our love for Christ through worship. Therefore, improving
the Sunday experience for our community at Mass is a priority. We have begun to integrate visual projectors during Mass to aid in some of the assembly’s prayers and hymns. This expanded use of technology helps especially when a larger part of the gathered community may be unfamiliar with the responses of our liturgy. It is our goal that our community be inspired at our Masses to carry out Christ’s message of hope to their peers. It makes me smile when I catch a student singing a song we sang together at Mass, or see a post on Facebook or Instagram about a message that resonated with them from a homily. You can learn more about our mission in the following pages. As you read, I hope this newsletter will be a source of inspiration for you. All of this cannot be achieved without you and your faithful support, making a difference in the lives of our students every day.
Wishing each of you every good blessing from our loving Father, I am Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Richard Sunwoo, Pastor
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Our Savior Parish & USC Caruso Catholic Center Groundbreaking Mass & Cross Removal, October 2010)
5th Anniversary Mass & Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration DECEMBER 3, 2017 YOU ARE INVITED!
Please join Our Savoir Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center in celebrating the 5th anniversary of the dedication of Our Savior Church. Join students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, donors and prominent Catholic leaders as we celebrate and give thanks for the expansion of Catholic life at USC. A special Mass will be held at 4:30pm, followed by a festive
Christmas concert and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Courtyard. All are welcome to attend! CAN’T MAKE IT IN PERSON?
Go to catholictrojan.org and click LiveStream For more information and a schedule of events, visit catholictrojan.org
#WelcomeHome Trojan Family Weekend Mass, October 2017 Photograph by Guillermo Luna
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While I had grown up in another Christian faith tradition, I had mostly fallen away from my faith in the first year of college. During my sophomore year, I came to a realization that I needed more than to strive for excellence in school. Something deeper was calling me to look for a spiritual home in which I could ground all of my aspirations. I was casually invited to go to Mass at Our Savior by a few friends, and we stayed for the community meal—Sunday SCupper—afterwards. That day, I found the community I had been craving, and a faith life that would take root and grow. Soon I joined bible studies, attended social events, sat in on RCIA classes, and most importantly, established friendships from which I would encounter Christ through the witness of their lives.
Unexpectedly, I didn’t just find a home at Caruso, but also a home in the Catholic Church. With indescribable joy in my heart, I was received into the Church this past Easter! After reflecting upon my gratitude for everything that the Catholic Center has done for me and the role that it has played in shaping my faith life, I knew that I wanted to give back in some way. I decided to apply to the Student Executive Board, above all, to serve the students of USC. I see my position as Community Life and Culture Vice Chair as an opportunity to reach out to students, whether they’re already a part of our community or, like me, searching for a community of faith. From Sunday SCuppers, to the Football Front Row
Squad, to our Moonlight Hike, I hope that students continue to take advantage of the many opportunities to seek and find community at the Catholic Center.
“Welcome Home” is at the center of the Community Life and Culture Committee. We hope to provide programming that will allow students at USC to find a home in the Catholic Center and a family in fellowship with their peers. My favorite part of my position so far has definitely been the opportunity to meet so many new members of our community, especially at Sunday SCuppers. I hope that through these interactions, students feel welcomed and encouraged and know that the Catholic Center is truly a place for them to call home.
Finding Community and Discovering Faith Carlyn Gilbert ’18
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“I FOUND THE COMMUNITY I HAD BEEN CRAVING, AND A FAITH LIFE THAT WOULD TAKE ROOT AND GROW.”
Upper Left: Carlyn Above: “Front Row with the CC” pose for a group picture before heading to the Coliseum Left: Carlyn with Rebecca Sauer ’18 Below: OSP CCC Beach Mass, August 2017
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Sunday SCuppers: Nourishing the Body of Christ BY KATHLEEN HURTT, VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT
Feeding 4,350 students and counting! What began several years ago as monthly donuts and coffee has now become weekly meals after each of the three Sunday Masses. As a result, students are developing a deeper sense of community with fellow church-goers and are willing to invite their friends to come check it out. The Catholic Center has the fortunate opportunity to feed students each week with food that nourishes their soul (the Eucharist) and their body (Sunday
SCuppers)! At a time when young people seem more interested in looking at their cell phones than at one another, the after-Sunday Mass meals known as “Sunday SCuppers” encourage them to engage with one another in a technologyfree setting. The Newman Guild, a women’s organization dedicated to nourishing the faith of the Catholic Trojan Family through food, spirit, and intellect, presented Fr. Richard Sunwoo with a check for $18,700 to help fund 53% of
this ministry. This generosity provided 4,350 meals to students! Newman Guild Leadership Council member, Lynn Busia, shares the impact these meals have had on her family:
“My husband and I were blessed to have identical twin sons. We enjoyed our boys as they were growing up. Like many parents, we wanted them to attend a college or university that would meet their intellectual and spiritual needs. They applied to four Catholic universities and one secular university—
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the University of Southern California. I never thought they would attend USC.
Since the opening of USC Village in August, the Catholic Center is experiencing 20% growth in Mass attendance (and Sunday SCuppers), intensifying the need for more services. This, combined with the increased number of students inviting friends to Mass and a meal, the Center is experiencing another sharp increase in demand. What a great “problem” we have!
My heart sank. It was Good Friday and my kids wanted to go to USC following the USC Admitted Students Day! Was there even a chance for my sons to find God in all things at this university? They did! Because our boys were particularly fond of the Sunday Masses and dinners, they would bring their friends (Catholic and other) and all were welcome at the Center. This very simple event helped our sons stay connected to a faith community that allowed them to grow. Today, our boys are not only proud alumni of USC but also employees of the university. They are living lives of
Members of the Newman Guild present Fr. Richard with a check to help underwrite Sunday SCuppers.
leadership and service, continue to have a dedicated commitment to social justice, and have strong connections to and appreciation for the Catholic Center.”
If you believe, like our Newman Guild, that these meals are an instrumental step in nurturing the faith of students, contact Patti Johnson, Newman Guild President at NewmanGuild@catholictrojan.org or Kathleen Hurtt at 213.516.3977 to learn how you can help.
WHERE CAN YOU COMBINE YOUR LOVE OF YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH AND TROJAN PRIDE? THE USC CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER! As the end of the year approaches please keep us in mind for your charitable tax-deductible gift. Many options are available like: · Traditional: check, credit card, or online at www. catholictrojan.org.
· New: text CATHOLIC to 91999 or using your Venmo account to “catholictrojan.”
· Alternative: your company’s matching gift program, charitable gift annuity or planned gift.
DO YOU WANT YOUR GIFT TO GO FARTHER? CONSIDER DONATING APPRECIATED STOCK! Rather than giving cash, donate your appreciated stock to the Catholic Center and avoid paying capital gains. Then take the cash you were going to give and reinvest it! It’s a win-win for you and the Center!
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Call to Discipleship: A Conversation Transcript Javier Lugo ’18 is a senior and is the current OSP CCC Student Executive Board Chair. Javier started discipleship during his sophomore year. Nick Borquez ’20 and Nick Solari ’20 both started discipleship last year. Grant Barker ’19 also started discipleship last year, and just asked someone else to be his disciple.
Q - What’s your definition of discipleship?
NICK S: In the Gospels, Jesus set up a
framework for spiritual mentorship and
L to R: Nick Borquez ’20, Javier Lugo ’18, Grant Barker ’19
fellowship. Someone with a little more experience is there to help someone else to grow in their faith life. JAVIER: It’s an intimate and deep
mentorship, spiritual in nature, and founded by Jesus as an integral part of growing His kingdom.
Q - What drew you to discipleship? NICK S: I thought it was weird at first
[laughs]. Meeting one-on-one isn’t something I’m used to. But I found discipleship to draw me authentically
into friendship with others.
JAVIER: I realized I could benefit from the
guidance of someone who was willing to meet me where I was in my faith life and who authentically wanted to help me get closer to Christ. NICK B: I saw it as an opportunity to
improve myself. I look at it almost like having a gym partner—you’re working on increasing your strengths and making your weakest links stronger. It’s a continuous process and it needs to happen over and over for results to happen.
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GRANT: Starting college, I enjoyed seeking
opportunities to grow in faith but I realized there’s still a lot I don’t know. I thought it would be a worthwhile journey to be mentored by someone who cared so much about me and was willing to invest in me to be a better steward of God’s grace.
Q - What are some characteristics of a disciple?
NICK B: Desire to grow closer to Christ
and uphold what He stood for, what He died for. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to have the desire and the intent to carry it out. GRANT: Genuine love and care for other
people. To answer the discipleship call, you really have to put yourself out there for other people. NICK S: A willingness to listen to God’s
will and courage to pursue it.
JAVIER: A desire to learn and be better,
and a desire to teach others that they have value and that they really are loved. That’s my hope: that we at the CC, our presence, makes others feel loved.
Q - Is there anything about being in discipleship that has surprised you? JAVIER: I’ve been very involved in the
church all my life and I came here thinking, “I’m ready to bring these guys under my wing, they’re freshman they don’t know anything [laughs]” but it’s surprised me how much they teach me. Their presence and their faith inspires me every day.
Q - What are some things that prevent people on the USC campus from entering into a relationship with Jesus?
NICK B: A lot of students face anxiety—
from tragedies to the everyday stress of classes. It’s hard to form a relationship with Christ when you get caught up in all the worry. But, we take time time to reach out to one another, while we’re still working on ourselves. You don’t have to be perfect to help someone else out on their journey. GRANT: Students can feel apprehensive
when they’re called to give up stuff for God and confront some vices or things that hold them back. It could make them insecure or worried that they won’t have control. That’s so hard for us to do. NICK S: On campus, it’s easy to be sucked
into an idea of love that’s conditional. People believe love is there, but it seems to be a somewhat unattainable version of it. Conditions are always attached in the secular world and college life. Something I’ve found here [at the CC] is the emphasis on unconditional love.
JAVIER: Some feel like they have be super
holy to come to Mass, but what we’re trying to do here, is to emphasize this message of “Come as you are.” We don’t want to use you, we want to love you. Nick Solari ‘20
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Vocations & Spiritual Mentoring SR. JENNY ZIMMERMAN, S.N.D., CAMPUS MINISTER & VOCATIONS ALIVE!
Saint Catherine of Siena is quoted as saying, “Be who you are called to be and you will set the world on fire!” The Vocations Alive team is committed to helping the USC Caruso Catholic Center students learn who God is calling them to be through prayer, decision-making and life/vocational discernment. The 2017 fall semester marks the beginning of the second year of the Vocations Alive program. The goals of this program include teaching students how to pray, helping students integrate God into every part of their lives and inviting religious sisters, priests, brothers and deacons to be a presence for all the students in their journey of faith.
We’re working hard to introduce as many religious communities as possible to our students: The Welcome Back Picnic brought together nearly 30 religious from 12 different communities to interact with and be a presence during the first week of classes, multiple communities have attended the 5:30 pm Sunday liturgy and Sunday SCupper, and we have many religious women and men paired with students for spiritual direction. These types of visits and interactions are starting to have a significant impact on our students. We are currently walking with over 50 students in spiritual mentoring, decision making! Our USC students are positioned to set the world on fire, one vocational decision at a time!
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Introducing
Fr. Greg Vance, S.J., Campus Minister FR. GREG, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A PRIEST?
You would think I would have an easy answer to that question. After 32 years as a Jesuit, and almost 20 years as a priest, you would think I would be ready for that one. But it always takes me a little off guard. Should I talk about my mother, and how her conversion to Catholicism when she was 18 set the stage for my baptism as a Catholic? Should I talk about attending a Jesuit Parish in Missoula, Montana, where young priests I knew growing up seemed so articulate and energetic in living their faith that I couldn’t help wanting something of what they had? Should I talk about my lifelong desire to express something that is in essence inexpressible with mere human words, and so I have always loved ritual and ceremony? Or should I talk about the competitiveness that drives me way down deep, and so when I heard that the Jesuits were the most selective religious order in the Church, that’s precisely what I wanted to be? The truth is that the answer to this simple question encompasses all of these things, as well as many more,
both graced and sinful, in my personality and make-up.
I believe that each one of us is sometimes a confusing jumble of interests, motivations, avoidances, graces and temptations. But God works with all of these varied tugs as well as fears to show us a pathway we might take in life. Ultimately, though, it has to be a matter of exercising our radical freedom to choose this, or another, path. God is much more adaptable than we are, and is fully capable of working with our mistakes and our confusion as much as with our successes and our certainty. I became a priest because I chose to—in the light of what I knew about myself and my God at the time—commit to walking this path. Like every life, my choices have brought me both great pain and great joy. But it is the joy I ultimately pursue. How blessed I am to pursue the joy of my priesthood here with all of you at the Catholic Center.
I have a much more ready answer to another question I get quite a bit. When someone asks me “When did you decide to become a priest?” I usually answer “This morning when I woke up…”
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October 12, 2017 Opening Reception of Christopher Slatoff: New Bronze Age at USC. PHOTOGRAPH BY FLEUR LOBO, PHD STUDENT AT USC LEONARD DAVIS SCHOOL OF GERONTOLOGY
On view from October 12 – November 12 2017, curated by Ana Briz, Grad Student at USC Roski School of Art & Design, and Graduate Curatorial Intern at OSP CCC. Pictured: Christopher Slatoff with “Crucifix on Wood” 2012. bronze and wood. This variation of the crucifix in Our Savior Church was first exhibited at Slatoff’s exhibition at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
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Above the altar at Our Savior Church is a seven-foot bronze Crucifix and oak cross crafted by Christopher Slatoff, depicting Christ before he dies.
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CAMPAIGN PRAYER Blessing of the students at the Rite of Light and Blessing Mass, August 2017
Campaign Update BRIAN RUSSELL, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
On August 15th, 2,600 students moved across the street into USC Village thrusting Our Savior Parish right into the new heart of USC’s campus. Since then, we have seen numbers in our ministries and Sunday Mass attendance. Mass was so full one morning, two of our Catholic USC football players had to sit on the baptismal font. For us, our proximity to USC Village is a unique opportunity to engage more students in ministry and a responsibility to shepherd them as the next generation of Catholic Trojan leaders. Our goal is for these students and thousands more to make Our Savior Parish their spiritual “home away from home.”
That is why this campaign is so very important. We depend on the generosity of our Catholic Trojan Family to support the rapid growth of the parish, and to endow the programs that foster their spiritual growth. As the campaign continues to gain momentum, we look forward to speaking with you individually about your commitment and ask you to pray for the success of the campaign!
Father of Mercy,
Through your generosity you gave us what is most precious, Your beloved Son, Jesus. Thank you for your gift of life and for loving each of us into being.
As loving disciples of Jesus, we lead lives that strive to make a difference in the world. Where there is hatred, we live love; where there is despair, we enliven hope; where there is doubt, we share our faith. You call us to be good stewards of your blessings and unselfish caretakers of the mission you have entrusted to us here at USC. May our faithful and generous hearts bear witness to the love of Christ, your Son, leaving no member of our Catholic Trojan family in doubt of your goodness or mercy. We ask this in the name and love of your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
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From the Music Desk: Universality of Music BY ISABELLA CUSTINO ’19
My greatest connection to the Church and my faith has always been music. Growing up, I was raised in the Catholic tradition. I went to CCD, received my First Communion and Confirmation, went to Catholic high school for 4 years, and even cantored in my home parish. Admittedly, my faith wasn’t something I prioritized in my daily life. Transitioning into college, I only occasionally attended Mass, but was hesitant to get more involved. No matter how long I went without going to church, music has always been the gateway that brings me back. Little did I know that through my studies (I am currently studying to get a BA in Choral Music here at USC Thornton School of Music) God would transform my heart by bridging my passion for music and the Mass. When the opportunity to work as the Music Ministry Intern presented itself
earlier this year, I knew I had to pursue it.
In my role, I am able to explore music that is relevant to my faith, choose the pieces I feel go best with the liturgy and conduct a
Music is a universal language regardless of faith tradition, and I feel truly blessed to be able to integrate my life as a musician with my life of faith. choir of my peers every week at the 9pm Sunday Mass. Through this experience, I’ve gained both confidence in my musical-conducting ability and a deeper appreciation for my faith. I have been given the privilege of creating a unique musical environment within each liturgy and a
platform to share my passion for music with the Church.
I’m most encouraged by the fact that my 9pm choir is uniquely comprised of Catholic AND non-Catholic members! A majority of my choir members are recruited from the Thornton School of Music, and consequently, although many of them may not practice a faith tradition, they have told me that they enjoy singing at Mass every week, and helping to facilitate a musical conversation within the context of prayer. Their passion and appreciation for choral music and their ability to convey God’s message appropriately and effectively each Sunday is a gift that they are bringing to Our Savior Parish every Sunday. Music is a universal language regardless of faith tradition, and I feel truly blessed to be able to integrate my life as a musician with my life of faith.
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SnapShot
USC Football teammates and #CatholicTrojans pose with Fr. Richard in front of Our Savior after Mass. L to R: C Nico Falah ’17, ILB Jordan Iosefa ‘20, TB Vavae Malepeai ’21, Fr. Richard Sunwoo.
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SAVE THE DATE Holy Week at the Catholic Center Join the USC Catholic community for Holy Week. Masses and events will include: Palm Sunday 3/25 10:30 am, 5:30pm & 9pm Holy Thursday Mass 3/29 8pm Good Friday Service 3/30 8pm Easter Vigil Mass 3/31 8pm with reception at 11pm Easter Sunday Mass 4/1 8:30am & 11am Students, parents, alumni and friends during the annual Catholic Trojan Tailgate
STAY CONNECTED BOARD OF ADVISORS
with the USC Caruso Catholic Center
Ex officio: Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles Most Rev. Edward Wm. Clark, Auxiliary Bishop of Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region Rev. Richard Sunwoo, Administrator
Administrator Fr. Richard Sunwoo
Advisory Board: Joseph Boskovich, Sr. ’75 ’77 Yvonne Bogdanovich Rick Caruso ’80 James Childs, Jr. ’61 Thomas Condon Jacqueline Connor ’73 ’76 Michael Felix ’83 Lew Horne ’80 James Low ’04 Willy Marsh ’94
Zee Marzec ’67 ’72 Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan ’57 Nancy Novokmet ’83 Dr. Willa Olsen ’58 ’62 Patrick Pascal ’06 Kevin Shannon ’81 Mary Stump Valerie Villareal Kevin White
Sunday Mass Sundays at 10:30 am, 5:30 pm & 9 pm Daily Mass Monday through Friday at 12:10 pm and 5:30 pm Confessions Monday through Friday 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm For more information, please email info@catholictrojan.org or call: 213.516.3959
PR E SORT E D FIRST CL ASS U. S . P O S TAGE
PA I D
844 west thirty second street los angeles, california 90007 t 213.516.3959 info@catholictrojan.org catholictrojan.org
L OS A NGE L E S , C A PER M I T NO. 2 8 4 2
Encounter Christ. Transform Hearts. Make a Difference.
Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire, and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, presides over Mass, October 2017 Photograph by Guillermo Luna
#TrojansOnFire