COMO NEWMAN
A publication of Catholic Campus Ministry at St. Thomas More Newman Center Spring 2020
Creating Accountability
Collin finds community, challenge at Newman
“T
ruth be told, I am bad about going to church on my own, so I got a job at mass! After my freshman Welcome Mass, I went up to the music director and asked her if I could play. I started playing the guitar at mass the next week!” Junior Collin Jaegers now not only plays at Mass, but is also part of the Ephesians 3 band that plays on Wednesday nights. Outside of music, Collin also has a passion for men’s ministry. “Last semester, we started planning a ministry we’re calling the Frassati Brotherhood. We obviously got a bit derailed by COVID, but were able to spend the whole semester and summer planing, which was great.” Collin and the rest of the planning team have been making constant adaptations to their plans so that they can stay in compliance with health orders and keep their fellow students safe. As they formally kick off this semester, they are focusing on community building and prayer. “We spend time personally inviting guys to Holy Hour. We want to facilitate dialogue - which is sometimes hard for guys - so we have men out on the Quad ready to chat during Holy Hour if someone needs to talk about their prayer time.” Collin is thankful for the community he has found
here at Newman: “I’ve really developed a home here. I felt welcomed very quickly. The relationships I’ve built are going to be a part of my life for a long time.” Thanks to your support, Collin has found more than just a home while at college. “Newman is also a challenge. I’m constantly being challenged to be a better person. I love being here because I learn more about myself and how to self-reflect and be better. When I graduate, I am sure will use what I’ve learned in my local parish.”
Banner photo: Though the retreat looked much different than in the past, your support welcomed 42 freshmen to the Newman community during the Ignite Retreat. This small group of women shared in their small group while in the courtyard. Left: Colin practices for the Welcome Mass this year. Over 200 students attended a sociallydistanced, outdoor mass in the Newman parking lot the Sunday before classes began. Above: Collin (center, green mask) was excited to have the opportunity to lead a small group on the Awakening Retreat this October.
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From the Pastor: A Passion for Connections
I
’m a strange bird. Grew up in the country; studied in Rome. My dad wanted me to farm; I became a priest. I enjoy academics; but never want to be an “egghead.” I love good food; but am completely unwilling to spend much time cooking. I want to be attached only to God; but am often very attached to earthly praise. I could certainly go on, but what I’m finding at Newman is that all of us are a mess of contradictions, and all of us are passionately seeking the connections that will resolve them. What I’m finding is a whole flock of “strange birds,” and actually getting to know our “strangenesses” or quirks is often the best part of getting to know this flock. I was visiting with a student one Wednesday at our E3 praise and worship night. He’s a big Cardinals baseball fan, but what we most laughed about was how he could make fun of his own lack of baseball prowess. And then somehow, we went from Cardinals baseball (and his little league team) to the angelic hierarchy (the day before had been the feast of the holy Archangels). Another day in a conversation with another student, we talked about different flavors of coffee and tea, and then speculated about whether the incarnation involved a “change” in the holy Trinity. At Newman, we birds become well practiced at flying from the secular to the sacred, from the mundane to the marvelous, and from the natural to the supernatural. The students love to test their ideas…which is always another way of testing their level of trust.
Fr. Dan leads benediction at daily Holy Hour. Dozens of students throughout the week come to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. On average, 30 students also join for a weekly “Pour Hour” of prayer. Newman gives our students the chance to speak aloud their own inner contradictions or conflicts, and their own internal silliness. And it’s beautiful to see where they grow from there. New-man gives them the space and the connections to become a new-man and a newwoman. And it’s pretty neat to see. We may be a flock of strange birds, but it’s a wonder how connecting with Christ (working through Newman) helps us soar! Peace and All Good,
The Freshman Experience
Allie finds her faith family through Newman events
F
or freshmen, 2020 has not been a typical college experience. Yet, thanks to your support, freshmen like Allie Santini have been able to find a home in Campus Ministry. "In high school, I went to church every Sunday, but my parish didn't have many youth events for me. I figured that, in college, Newman would be the place for me to get more involved. I went to Newman's Open House my first day on campus. It's crazy that the people I met in those first couple of days have stayed a part of my college experience through the retreats and
Above: Allie (third from right) with her Awakenings small group. Instead of traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks, Awakenings was held at the Newman Center with students sleeping at home. While the retreat looked a bit different, your support allowed the attendees and student staff to hear talks, share in small groups, have fun, and celebrate the sacraments in community!
bible studies here." Allie jumped in to Newman's events, feeling safe and welcomed: "Newman managed to keep safe social distancing activities happening and open." She also joined a freshman girls bible study, led by one of the FOCUS missionaries, and attended both the Freshman Ignite Retreat and Awakenings Retreat. "In my bible study, I've met a lot of friends. We've grown so much closer these past couple of weeks and I have a feeling we're going to continue to grow close this year." Allie is also looking forward to being trained as a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion this fall. With your steadfast support, Allie knows that Mizzou wouldn't be the same without Newman. "I would come to Mizzou just for the Newman Center. It's clearly a community that's strong in its faith and willing to help others - gently and powerfully - by building them up. I'm just really glad to be here. I can't wait until I'm older and can help be a part of the leadership staff to help people like they helped me."
WHY WE GIVE Why parents, Bill & Carol, support Catholic Campus Ministry
“W
here your treasure is, there your heart shall be...” (Mt. 6:22) Supporting Newman’s Catholic Campus Ministry fits right in for us! It is fabulous to have a Catholic Newman Center on campus supporting our students in their faith journeys. We are so grateful for the Newman priests tending that flock and continuing the faith formation of all students in many ways. It is fitting for us to give to Newman because we hope our family and all students attending Newman will remain faithful to the Catholic Church, so rich in love and beauty. Bill & Carol Fay | Columbia, Missouri
Bill and Carol (not pictured) Fay have six children, two of which are Mizzou alumni (pictured - Tom ‘11 and Jack ‘16). Eleanor, their youngest, is now a sophomore at MU on the varsity tennis team.
I’m in! In response to the gifts the Lord has
@comonewman
given me, I want to invest in the students and their faith life while in college! Name: ________________________________ Street: _________________________________ City, State Zip: __________________________ Phone: _______________________ (cell home) Email: __________________________________
My gift of $___________ is enclosed. Please send me more information about supporting the students with a monthly gift.
F20N
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“Whether it’s your first time being in a church in five years or the third time you’ve walked through those doors today, w e l c o m e.” Thank you @jldaubitz for kicking off the first E3 of the school year. Same time next week, bring a friend! *All Campus Ministry and Mizzou CSA events are following City and University policies including mask wearing, social distancing, and sanitization.
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