Each Wednesday evening we gather at 6:30 at the Catholic Student Center for a free home-cooked meal, followed by a faith program, which is generally student-led, and lasts until about 8:30.  This week Jessica is cooking beef stew for dinner (just the thing for a cold January evening), and Kat is making a special treat for dessert.  You'll have to come and find out what!  After, instead of a student-led program, we will welcome special guest Jeffrey Tucker who will be joining us.  Jeffrey Tucker is the author of Sing Like a Catholic, and is one of the foremost experts in Catholic liturgical music in America today.  He is the publications editor for the Church Music Association of America, editor of the New Liturgical Movement, and founder of the Chant Cafe blog.  He'll be speaking to us about sacred music and answering questions.  It will be an information conversation, and a great opportunity to learn from an expert, so please come!  (Remember, sacred music is something that impacts the worship experience of all of us, so this is not just for choir members).

The reason we are so privileged to have Jeffrey Tucker join us is that he is also a preeminent economist who is coming to Western to speak as part of the WCU Free Enterprise speaker series.  He'll be giving a presentation entitled "Liberty as a Do-it-yourself Project" Thursday in Forsyth 101 at 4:00pm.  While his talk is not religious in nature, it would be interesting to get a group to attend and then discuss afterwards how his talk relates to Catholic Social Teaching including the principle of subsidiarity, respect for human dignity, etc. 

We offer Mass on campus each Sunday night at 7:30pm in our chapel.  Father Voitus is available for Reconciliation at 7:00.  We also pray the rosary together before Mass starting at 7:00, so please come early if you can.  After Mass each week those interested are invited to join us upstairs for an hour or so of catechesis and discussion with Credo.  We've been taking a tour of the Ten Commandments, and this week we'll be talking about the 5th commandment — it's literally a matter of life or death.  It will be an interesting discussion, as always, so please join us, and please come with your questions.

Our small group scripture studies will resume next week (starting Jan 20).  We have three groups this semester, meeting at the following times and locations.

What goes on in the small groups?  Each small group is led by a student facilitator.  The group reads a passage of scripture, prays with it, and discusses how the lessons of scripture can be integrated into their lives.  It's a great way to grow closer to God through His Word, and to grow closer with your fellow Catholic students.  It's a good introduction to campus ministry, too, so if you haven't been involved in your faith for a while, we encourage you to find a small group to be a part of.  Just pick the day that works best for your schedule.  

We will be offering the opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration regularly throughout the semester.  Generally we will be offering it at least on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the week from noon till 12:30, but this schedule may change.  We post the days Adoration is available on our Facebook Group.   So check that for the latest update. And remember, our chapel is open until 10pm each night, so come by any time you need some quiet prayer.

Give Your Heart Away is our annual Diocesan service experience for college students.  The dates are Feb. 14-16 and the location is once again at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory.  The weekend includes service work at various sites around the Hickory area, prayer, reflection on the meaning of service in a Christian context, and fellowship with other college students from across the diocese.  Cost is $50, with your bed and meals provided.  For more information and to register, please see the link below:

If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact me.  I'd like to end with a reminder to all that the Catholic Student Center is here for your use.  Please feel free to pop by at any time to relax on the couch, watch TV, do your homework, eat lunch, take a nap, pick up a book or magazine for some inspirational reading, chat with me or your fellow students who may be hanging out here, or – most importantly – spend some quality time with Jesus in the chapel.  It's your student center, so use it!

God bless each one of you,

Matt

 

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