Spring 2022 CoMoNewman Newsletter

NEW FACES AT NEWMAN

From the Pastor

It only takes a spark. One personal invitation to accompany you to a faith event, one word of sharing what the faith means to you, one example of sincere prayer. It’s good for us as a Church not to be about numbers, but about people, one person at a time. As Christians, how well have we nourished our faith, let ourselves be formed by the Church, sought out healing from wounds of the past and present? These are some of the things that transform us into being sparks for the lives of others around us. Being such a witness or spark for another is not something a Christian only does as a side gig, it’s constitutive of being Christian. As a homilist, I’m always striving to learn something new about the Word, about the faith, that gets me excited, and that makes me excited to share it with others in the homily or in

conversations. One Sunday after Mass, a young man walked up to me (I admire him simply for the courage it took to initiate a conversation!). He said that he often felt disconnected at Mass and had a hard time understanding what was said or what was going on. But suddenly it was making sense to him, and he wanted to thank me for that. And then he asked when he could come for confession.

It only takes a spark to light a fire in another. Are you searching for your spark each week? A spark can transform our lives…and change another’s!

Peace and All Good,

Save the Date!

Join us during Mizzou’s Family Weekend, Sunday, September 17 for a “Taste of Columbia”. Students and their families are invited to join us after 11 a.m. mass for lunch and some Tiger Stripe ice cream as we wrap up weekend festivities at Mizzou. Be on the lookout for emails to hit your inbox this summer. Questions? Contact Lori Benson (lori@comonewman.org).

New Faces at Newman

MEET GINA

My name is Gina McGinnis and I am honored to be invited to the role of Assistant Director of Campus Ministry serving Mizzou, Stephen’s and Columbia College.

I moved to Columbia after Graduate School where I spent 3 years as Assistant Director of Green Meadows Preschool where I was able to combine my background in Business and Education as I welcomed new families to the school, provided continued education to the teachers and helped the center run smoothly. My path then led to Veterans United where I worked on the Real Estate end of the business for 7 years coordinating potential home buyers, real estate agents and loan officers to successfully make sure the team ended at the closing table. I spent the last two years at VU coaching and consulting which opened up doors to discern where I might be able to use these skills working with others in their faith journey.

Accepting this invitation has meant growing in faith and dependence on God. For many years a desire of my heart has been to walk with others in their faith journey and God has provided this opportunity at this time. When I first saw the open position and felt the Holy Spirit drawing me to apply it came as a surprise that God might be leading me to saying yes.

I am answering that call to accompany and walk with young people as they discern their vocational paths. Perfect for campus ministry! I was involved in campus ministry and served as president during my undergraduate studies at Northwest Missouri State from 2007-2008. (GO BEARCATS!) I have my undergraduate degree in business management and marketing and a Master’s in Education from the Loyola Chicago Teaching Service Program. I was involved with Newman’s Catholic Young Adults about eight years ago and served as Communications Coordinator. I look forward to this new capacity as the Assistant Director.

Some of my favorite things: black bean crunchwrap from Taco Bell, walking on the MKT Trail and Turtle Power from Logboat!

MEET PAUL

Paul is from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and has an undergraduate degree from the University of Dallas, and a graduate degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville, both in Theology. He has served as a US Army Chaplain’s Assistant, a Catholic Charities Director of Parish Relations, and a parish Director of Religious Education, before landing in Missouri. A long-time Knight of Columbus and volunteer catechist, he loves to share the Faith. He has a deep devotion to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and Our Mother of Perpetual Help via the Rosary. Paul has been married to his lovely (and native Missourian) wife, Carrie, since 2012. Apart from ministry, he loves to cook, read, and spend as much time in nature as possible.

SEEK22....

At SEEK22 I had a profound experience with the Lord’s mercy in Eucharistic Adoration. The room was set up so that there was a red spotlight on the left and a blue spotlight on the right. At first, I was confused why they were displaying KU colors (ha!), but then the Lord gently invited me to realize that I was sitting in a real life depiction of the Divine Mercy image. With the red on the left, Jesus exposed in the center, and the blue on the right, I entered into a heavenly stillness and received his abundant love and mercy. Praise God for using our environments to draw us closer to Him!

- Clare Campbell, Sophomore

My experience at SEEK22 led my heart into deep adoration for our Blessed Lord. Being surrounded by holy men and women helped rejuvenate me to reciprocate the love that the Father has for each of us. SEEK inspired me to live out the Gospel and to joyfully proclaim his beauty.

-Will Dionesotes, Senior

This year, Mizzou paired with a few other schools to create an in-person SEEK experience. We met in Kansas City where we listened to talks, participated in small groups, received the sacraments, and had a ton of fun. It was such a gift to be back in person and experience the love of the Father with so many other college students. One of the biggest take aways I got from the weekend was the simplicity yet the magnitude of the Gospel — Jesus died to make us new and we get choose every single day whether we want to enter into that invitation and claim our identity at beloved sons and daughters. I am so thankful for the weekend and excited to enter deeper into the Lord’s invitation as the semester continues.

- Jordan Layton, Alumni

SEEK is a Catholic Conference for college students to hear from some of our most renowned Catholic speakers, while connecting with other students from campuses across the country. Activites include small groups, mass, adoration, opportunites for the sacraments and in the end... fostering an even deeper relationship with Christ. Here’s a few experiences from students and missionaries.

SEEK22 was an incredible experience that reminded me of the love the Father has for me, the students, and others in my life. I was able to spend a weekend remaining in the goodness of God and come back to campus with renewed fervor and zeal to live my life for Jesus and bring others into His Church!

-Kara Conley, FOCUS Missionary

As a missionary, there is no greater joy than getting to witness others encounter Christ, and SEEK22 provided just that experience! Getting to serve our students at SEEK this year and see and hear stories unfold of people coming to know Christ, even for the first time, at this event was a true gift. Praying before the Blessed Sacrament alongside over 300 college students was beautiful to say the least. It is exciting to begin seeing the fruits of people’s encounters with Christ already, and I am eager to see what else the Lord will reveal in time.

- Emma Crippen, FOCUS Missionary

Praying on prayer teams at SEEK allowed me to be inches away from witnessing the Lord encounter His child before my eyes - watching walls break down, mercy flow, and hearts be renewed. It reminded me that by going on mission I am more deeply invited into my own personal relationship with the Lord!

-McKenna Kukla, FOCUS Team Director

Igniting sparks of justice!

Dust doesn't settle on these students as they delve into Service and Justice at Mizzou over many different levels. Serving on boards for change, hands on volunteering and donating.

Emily Niehaus and Ashley Freiburger serve on the Martha Trauth Social Justice Education Endowment Board, Mady Washington and Erin Johlie lead the way as Mentors for Refugee Children. Because of you, Newman continues to guide students through their faith and formation as well as enriching their lives in Catholic Social teaching, realizing their impact at home and around the world.

We have many goals for students at Newman, where volunteering matters and advocating for unheard voices is paramont.

Service & Justice at Student Mentors

To me, service and justice means recognizing that all people are created in God's image and are deserving of respect, dignity and basic human rights. We are called to care for our brothers and sisters to stand in solidarity with them as together we battle the causes of human suffering.

-Ashley Freiburger, Sophomore

M.A.R.K. – Mentors Aiding Refugee Kids – meets each Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church as a partnership with Catholic Charities of Central Northeast Missouri to provide one-on-one mentorship between youth participants and volunteer mentors. Each week the participants engage in activities to develop interpersonal skills, learn and form relationships. The program allows volunteers to go back to the Columbia Community and spend time with their peers. Kids and mentors connect as MARK participants and their mentors share friendship, support and fun!

- Mady Washington, Junior

I love MARK because it gives me the opportunity to connect with other students as well as spend time with kids who always put a smile on my face.

- Erin Johlie, Sophomore

Newman Campus Ministry Emily's Take

Justice without actions of service can lack purpose, and service without justice can lack passion. Supplement both of them with faith and learn what it is like to serve Jesus. - Emily Niehaus, Senior

The best way to get involved with service and justice is to start by pursuing the things you are most passionate about. If that is learning from pro-life ministries or serving at a food bank, there is guaranteed to be a community there that needs you and wants to learn with you.

My passion for service and justice began with learning about Catholic social teaching. The seven CSTs are rooted in scripture and teach Catholics how to live in the world in a way that commits us to others, particularly the poor. I first learned Catholic social teaching in high school and have since dedicated myself to service and justice. The most important part of service and justice is the way they depend on one another. Justice without actions of service can lack purpose and service without justice can lack passion. Supplement both of them with faith and learn what it is like to serve Jesus. Justice gives my faith some direction. It gives me something to take to prayer and challenges me to engage with the secular world. The more I learn, the more I want to share with others. I read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson last year and would talk to anyone who would listen to me about the death penalty. A few weeks ago, I saw a girl on my shuttle reading the same book for class and struck up a conversation about the topic. By the end of our short ride to campus, we were both outraged by the various injustices outlined in the book and felt the strong pull to do something about it. I slipped some of my favorite CSTs into conversation, passionately talking about the life and dignity of the human person, rights and responsibilities, the option for the poor and vulnerable, and solidarity. It didn’t just fuel my desire to create social change but deepened my faith as well. When I feel so on fire with my faith like I did walking off of the bus, service gives me an outlet and a purpose. Creating change is not an abstract concept. It doesn’t need to be pondered or grappled with, it is real and tangible. Service gives me the opportunity to care for God’s creation, to promote the dignity of work and the rights of workers, and support family, community, and participation. Serving with the CSTs in my mind humbles me so much and shows me how to serve like Jesus. Whenever I feel my devotion to Him waver, I turn to service to remind myself how important it is to see Him in everything I do. The two ministries go hand in hand, complementing one another in a way that only faith-focused activities can. They are trans-formative, not only in prayer and in faith, but to the entire person as well.

The Cor Ad Cor Circle recognizes those who have made an investment in the future of Newman Parish by including a gift to Newman in their will or trust, naming Newman as a beneficiary of retirement assets or life insurance, or some other type of planned gift. If you have included Newman in your will or are interested in doing so, contact the Development Office at 573.449.5424 x205 or email lori@comonewman.org.

Knights of Columbus Council 7231

Proudly serving St. Thomas More Newman Center since 1979

Our Faith Our Mission

Thanks to your support of our activities, in 2020-21 the Mizzou Knights Council gifted over $7,200 to 11 causes, including: Catholic Campus Ministry The Food Bank

Meet Life Campaign CPS-Coats for Kids Military Chaplain Scholarships

Seminarian Support Special Olympics & More!

THANK YOU for your generous support! mizzouknights.org | mizzouknights@gmail.com