Job Seeker

A young adult in the CSC community is offering the following to any parents in the area:

"Babysitting on Tuesdays & Thursdays & Fridays. I canusually be anywhere by 3:45/4 pm for pick

up. I can also cook any meals and do any cleaning / ironing /etc. I can do some weekends."

If you'd like to get in touch with this person, please first contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org. If you're looking for a job or have a job opportunity, you can contact him with that info as well.

WUSTL 101: Do’s and Don’ts for Surviving Your First Year

Whether you are a first-year or transfer student, it can be difficult adjusting to a new place, new

lifestyle and new people. I hope this list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” will help make that transition

easier, and allow you to enjoy and thrive during your time at Washington University in St. Louis.

Do:

--Make a difference. Are you a total tree hugger? Do you enjoy tutoring or mentoring children?

Research shows that volunteering improves health and self-esteem, so pick that issue or cause

that means the most to you and get involved with it. The Wash U Community Service Office

offers a wide variety of programs to choose from, and there are many clubs that raise awareness

of issues, such as the CSC’s Pax Christi or Wash U’s Environmental Justice Initiative for

grad students. In addition, these programs and clubs provide another way for you to meet

people who share the same goals and ideals as you. CSC extra: Contact Cynthia Enghauser at

enghauser@washucsc.org to find out about service and social justice opportunities available

through the CSC.

--Budget your time and money. Without Mom and Dad constantly nagging you to get your

homework done, it is easy to fall behind and perhaps lose that scholarship you need. While

you are supposed to enjoy college, it is important to remember that the main reason you are

here is to receive an education and prepare for the future. A great way to stay on-track is to set

up a rewards system: if I read fifty pages from my English novel, I can watch half an hour of

television. The same system works for budgeting money: if I do not eat out this week, I can rent

that DVD I wanted to see. If you have a reward or treat to look forward to, it makes it much

easier to save that money or get that homework done.

--Find a “study buddy” in every class. Sometime during the semester, the inevitable will

happen when you will, for whatever reason, be unable to make it to class. This is where

the “study buddy” comes in handy: at the beginning of each class, find out the name of that nice

girl or guy who sits beside you, and add them as a friend on Facebook. Then, when you cannot

make it to class, you can easily get the notes or homework assignment from your “study buddy”

instead of needing to contact or track-down the teacher. CSC extra: The CSC offers a ton of

great rooms for study session groups, including our library and dining room. The building is

accessible 24/7 with the key code (contact a staff member) and has free Wi-Fi.

Don’t:

--Put yourself on overload. Going to college is like traveling to another country: there are

so many things to see and to do, and you want to experience and participate in all of them.

Unfortunately, this can get you over-committed and cause you much un-needed stress. Do not

join every club or sorority that solicits you; attend a meeting or activity of all the clubs or groups

you are interested in and then decide which most excite you. Make sure you understand the

time and work commitment expected of you in each activity, and figure out how that will fit it

with homework, job and class commitments. Finally, make sure you save room for “me” time

and relaxing: you are not an asset to anyone else if you are completely frazzled from being on

overload. CSC extra: Relax with us! The CSC offers Mass on Sundays at 11am and 9pm in the

CSC Chapel, as well as Adoration on Wednesdays from 8-9pm.

--Hesitate to contact your teachers. Do you have some kind of mental or health condition that

may interfere with class somehow? Be straight from day one: send all your teachers an e-mail

describing your condition (I have diabetes, which is this, and means I have to do this) or conflict

in your life (my parents are getting a divorce, my grandpa is dying) and how it may interfere

with the class. If you let the teacher know ahead of time what issues you might be facing, it

makes it easier for them to understand if you do need to miss class and lets them know that you

are not lazy or “skipping.” Always let your teacher know if you are going to miss class, and try

to get the homework ahead of time if possible. If you are having trouble understanding a concept,

set up a time with your teacher to explain it: believe it or not, but the majority of them do not

want you to flunk their class.

--Stereotype others. High school has an uncanny ability to put labels on people and organize

them into groups. There are the jocks, the nerds, the preps, etc. Leave those high school

stereotypes behind, and look at each person as an individual, not a member of a group. If you

do not limit others, they will not limit you, and you are much more likely to discover true

friendships than if you stick with your specified group. College gives everyone a new beginning,

and by broadening your horizons you may discover a side of yourself that you never knew you

had.

--Skimp on sleep. Research shows that sleep deprivation negatively affects mood and decreases ability to pay attention and retain information. You might have a great time making a midnight Taco Bell run with your friends one evening, but when you have to wake up at 8 A.M. the

following morning it can negatively affect your entire day. Always plan what time you need to

go to bed in order to get the recommended eight hours of sleep you need each night. Include

plenty of time to get ready for bed, fall asleep, and get ready in the morning. Arrange midnight

rendezvous with your friends when you do not have class early the next morning. If you

do have to stay up late one night, schedule time on the following day for a 30 to 45 minute

nap, and make sure you can get to bed on time that night. For more information, check out

www.sleepfoundation.org.

Overall, college is about balance. Learn how to prioritize and organize your commitments

now—it will help you succeed both in college and in the work force.

On behalf of the Catholic Student Center staff, welcome to Wash U!

Job Opportunity

Young couple in the community looking for full-time daycare in someone's home for their newborn starting in February.

Contact Jamey (stegmaier@washucsc.org) if you'd like to be put in touch with the couple.

Job Opportunity

Family looking for after school care for their two boys (5 and 7). They live in Kirkwood. 3pm-6pm ideally M-F.

Contact Jamey for more info at stegmaier@washucsc.org.

Job Seeker

From a recent grad and community member:

"I have a Bachelors degree in Classics and would like to get a Masters in Social Work. To better direct my future studies, I would like a job at a local social service agency where I can gain hands-on experience in the field. Since I am interested in pursuing clinical social work, I would prefer any work that would allow me to work directly with clients. I am open to all populations, but I work best one-on-one with adults."

If you have a job connection for this community member, please contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org and he'll put you two in touch!

The Renovated Kitchen

Through the amazing generosity of Mike Beck, community member, RCIA sponsor, and co-owner of Beck/Allen Cabinetry, the CSC was able to renovate the house kitchen this summer. Mike took care of the cabinets and countertops, and past CSC residents chipped in to pay for the updated electricity, appliances, lighting, and flooring.

Why the house kitchen? One former resident, Terry Quinn, says it so well here:

Do you remember how much life at the CSC revolved around the kitchen? Think of how Gary’s high-pitched laugh would fill the room in the late morning when he came down for coffee. Or think of late-night conversations with people you bumped into on your way home—and how you suddenly didn’t feel as tired as you thought you were and stayed up even later into the night. Do you remember the impromptu feasts made up of leftovers from catered campus events or giant boxes of whatever was on sale at Sam’s that week? Did you ever meet someone in that kitchen—a student or some passing-through guest of another resident—that you felt immediately connected to?

If you've ever spent much time at the CSC, you know that the answer to those questions is a resounding YES.

There are several other parties to thank for their time, talent, and discounts. :)

Yvonne Sloan of Y Designs: Thank you for coordinating so many components of the kitchen. If you're looking for home or commercial designer, call Yvonne at 432-1081.

Jose Fernandez: Thank you for installing so many components of the kitchen. If you need someone to do pretty much any kind of work at your house, call Jose at 636-485-9974.

Schaeffer Electric: Thank you for providing such incredible service for the multitude of installations we asked you to do.

Francis Leisure, TMI: Thank you for taking the time to remove and reinstall the fan-coil units in the kitchen so we could completely redo the floors.

Now for some photos:

Before

After

Before

After

Employment Opportunity

A community member is looking for an after school nanny in University City. She has 2 girls (6th & 9th grade). Job involves driving home from school (your car), homework help, light housekeeping, starting some dinners or occasional meals for girls. Hours 2-6 pm. For additional pay, inclusion of laundry & ironing services preferred.

Please contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org if you're interested.

If community members and students have job opportunities or jobs they're looking for within the CSC community, please e-mail a short description to Jamey.

Amos

Community member Frank Freeman contributed this entry to the CSC blog.

Amos’s role in history was to elevate the religion of Israel. Israel had ceased to be

religious; it had become a commercial people. Amos had an axe to grind. But we

may be surprised at the vehement force of his attack on the religion of Israel. At

the time, the name “Israel” referred to a region which was traditionally Jewish, but

no longer used that name. Amos was Jewish. He had a religion that he believed;

but why care that way about another country. What made Amos into “Amos?”

Amos, the Lover of Our Lady Wisdom

exploring the metamorphosis of Amos

There may be a reason why a Jewish boy, a young Amos, might have been attracted

to Israel. Amos was personally a wise man, a quality he shared with his Edomite

neighbors. There is nothing territorial about Our Lady Wisdom. She can flourish in any

culture. Amos clearly loved her; and just as clearly had other equally religious needs.

We see him first in a country in which his religious needs went unsatisfied. He was

vulnerable. In the flush of first love, the love of Our Lady Wisdom, he found himself

religiously lacking. The leadership of Judah was religiously weak. The “Law” was not

established in the heart. It was verbalized, but it had no emotional force to it. The name

for this region, the Southern part of the traditional Jewish region, was “Judah.”

Judah had a priesthood; but the priests were too weak to exert social force. Instead of

having a potent religion, they had weak one with tyrants for their leaders. The priests

went through the motions mechanically; they had no social force; they were being used.

Northern Israel, the geographic northernmost part of the Northern Kingdom, would

mean a distant place to Amos. Northern Israel, lying geographically close to Assyria,

was a place of social and religious ferment. The ferment did not travel south. The

southern part was complacent.

The Southern border to the kingdom to the north of Judah, was the nearby Kingdom of

Israel. It was in walking distance from Amos’s home. One may imagine Amos being

able to see the capital city (in his mind’s eye, of course) from his front door on the hill

top where he lived.

What we are driving at here is that in the very furthest Northern part of the Kingdom

of Israel the Levites, a non-priestly order charged explicitly with teaching, like our

Christian order of deacons, had produced a written work of the Jewish Law. This book,

which we may still have today, was the original form of the Book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy is the highest book of the Law of Israel; it is the place where it is affirmed

that we are to love our God with our whole heart and our whole soul and our neighbor

as ourself.

Amos would not have read those exact words. The book in his time was a primitive one,

suited to the needs of the teachers whose job it was to draw out the social implications

of the Law. Amos bit and was captured and captivated by it. Nothing in his experience

was anything like this work. It shaped his life; and he became an activist in the Southern

part of the Northern Kingdom. He made it his job to tell them what the Law meant. In

Amos, Our Lady Wisdom meets the force of the Law and wins it over. Through Amos

we learn what it really means to love God. It has its roots in Our Lady Wisdom and for

its sake we put wisdom above the Law.

The book that we call Deuteronomy was written in the Persian period. Many hundreds

of years would pass before the book we have took the shape in which we find it. Amos

become one of the many commentators whose life work turns up in this book of the

Law. But before Amos could impact the book, it had to do its work on him. He had to

become it; to eat it; and to learn to preach it.

The metamorphoses of Amos was a spiritual journey from Wisdom to Law, a new

kind of Law that developed and is governed by Wisdom. Wisdom is like

commonsense. It all took place in the southern region of a kingdom that could

not have cared less. They were a commercial people for whom religion was a

simple duty, something that one performed in a sacred place specially reserved

for worship. Any social impact was only because it is supposed to be good idea

to think like that and to try to live up to one’s social duties in life. Amos’s brand

of faith was foreign to them. He preached it in their temple and they were very

reluctant to silence him because it was apparent that he had the authority to do

so. They asked him to leave; they tried to convince him that he had no realistic

vocation. It only made him try harder. We can perceive the fanaticism that

gripped him. It would be a sad mistake to suppose that he ever really lost his first

love for Our Lady Wisdom.

Your Vision of the CSC

Last week, the CSC hosted its first-ever (to my knowledge) visioning day (which was actually two days). The event was led by the CSC's consultant, John Flynn, and his assistant, Jody Schrandt, and was attended by over 40 community members, parents, students, alumni, staff, clergy, and Wash U faculty. Through lectures, discussions, and brainstorming sessions, the group determined that the following five areas are the most important for the CSC to consider as it moves forward:

1. Build relationship between students and non-student community
2. Help new graduates transition to other communities
3. Create a residential community
4. Strong Leadership Team and Succession Planning
5. Catholic Intellectual Thought and Theology Courses

I collected a few thoughts from those in attendance that I wanted to share on this site. These are just random quotes that stood out:

• One person said that her experience with the CSC during college "filled a need I didn't know I had."
• A staff member noted that many students today have faith because it's useful to them: they labeled it "moralistic therapeutic deism"
• Another staff member, citing several surveys, said that young adults today are most attracted to humility from those in power
• One community member said that one goal they'd like to see achieved is that student continue to make the CSC their own, and that the CSC stay open enough for students to do that.
• As noted in point 4 above, succession planning was a major objective from many in attendance. Several people noted the importance of the community members and students having more of a connection to the CSC as a place than specifically to Fr. Gary.
• Someone said this really well: The CSC has no agenda other than to love students. I think that says it all.

Job Seeker

An active CSC grad student is looking for a temporary summer job within the following possibilities: Art Therapist, Counselor, Higher Education Student Affairs.

Please contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org to get in touch with this student.

Job Opportunity

Two former community members are looking for an intern for the January/February 2012 course, Beyond the Biologic Basis of Disease, an annual four-week social medicine course designed for medical students in their clinical years. Linking clinical tropical medicine with social medicine, the course merges a number of unique pedagogical approaches including field visits, classroom based presentations and discussions, group reflections, student presentations on previous international work, films, patient clerking and presentations, and bedside teaching.

The position would be from January 9 to February 3, 2012. If interested, please send resume and cover letter of interest to Michael Westerhaus and Amy Finnegan at social.medicine@yahoo.com by July 1, 2011.

Graduation Day!

Camp Counselors Needed (not for CSC)

We just received this e-mail from a local camp and thought it might interest some students:

Annie's Hope needs your help BIG TIME.

We have a desperate need for MALE cabin counselors for Camp Courage and Camp Erin-St. Louis. Not having enough male cabin counselors will, unfortunately, require us to decrease the number of grieving kids that can attend our camps. For the kids' sake, we don't want this to happen.

If you know any males who are 18 years or older, who are high school graduates, who are energetic, work hard, and work well with kids, please share this information with them. In fact, to be most helpful, pass this urgent need to your email contacts too.

Camp Courage and Camp Erin- St. Louis are overnight camps for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Annie’s Hope- the Bereavement Center for Kids, puts on these camps. Don’t think Camp Courage and Camp Erin will be a sad experience, though. This is a fun, energetic experience where kids can be kids. We are looking for a great group of people over the age of 18 to volunteer as cabin counselors for both camps. If you enjoy the outdoors, kids and teens, and love having fun then this opportunity is for you!

Here are some details on the camps:

Camp Courage serves grieving children ages 6 to 12.

Dates: June 5 -9

Camp Erin - St. Louis serves grieving teens ages 13 to 18.

Dates: June 11-15

You can volunteer for one camp or both. Remember, this experience will look great on a resume!

Please feel free to call or email us with any questions. You can find more information and the volunteer application for Camp Courage and Camp Erin- St. Louis on the homepage of the Annie’s Hope web site www.annieshope.org

From the campers and from the Annie's Hope staff, thank you TONS!

Peace,
Becky Byrne, Executive Director

Job Opportunity (Summer)

Harding Security Associates, a member of the Six3 Systems family of companies, is currently accepting resumes/portfolios for a 2011 Summer Graphic Support position. This will be a paid summer position set aside for current college students that are US Citizens. This opportunity is a great place to start for those looking to use their skills in an industry where graphic artists are not only respected for what they bring to the team, but are also rewarded for their contributions.

Please contact Jamey for more details (stegmaier@washucsc.org).

Tsunami Homily Transcript

Gospel Question: What images coming out of Japan this past week have stayed with you the strongest?

The images have been arresting as they have flowed to us day and night from Japan and across the world. Some will stay with us for a very long time.

One that is very much with me still is of a guy driving along a coastal road and his camera is on and this huge 30 foot waves begins to cross the road in front of him and starts lifting up his car and carrying him like a boat. It was frightening and disconcerting to watch. How powerful that we have those images of this thing called a Tsunami! Now we’ve heard of Tsunami, we’ve known of the terrible toll they take on life and cities, but we’ve never had so many images….

Revelation is happening all the time, right in front of us. Sometimes revelation happens through the events of nature, even when nature is at its most ferocious. Revelations are the deepest down things shown us about ourselves, about our God, and about what matters in life. Some are so obvious, but some perhaps take a little deeper listening for us to really get it.

What might a Tsunami reveal? What might a tsunami teach us about our own true nature? 7 LESSONS OF A TSUNAMI:

1) Know your own power and the power of your impact on others and on the earth. You are powerful! YOU are powerful. And you have the power to destroy.

2) You can go someplace and and leave a mess and never clean up after yourself. If you make a mess of things (and you will!) at work, at home, in your friendships, a relation with God, clean up after yourself. It’s the least you could do!

3) Be prepared, all the while knowing there are some things for which you can never be prepared.

4) JUST 6 WORDS: Things can change in an instant.

5) The tsunami is oblivious to human life; indifferent to you and every person in its path. There are so many in our lives who we will encounter along the way who will not care about you in the least, take no interest in you, and even be out to get you–hurt you–even destroy us in the work of your hands and your loves along with it, maybe even your life. As the Scripture shows from its beginning to its last pages: “you will not go through this world without enemies.” We’d so like it to be otherwise—that maybe if I do it right, say it right, everybody will like me, but truth is the “haters” will always be with us.

6) JUST TWO WORDS: Nothing lasts. Absolutely nothing lasts! That home full of memories, that you worked so hard to build and invested so much of your life into, so full of memories of tears and laughter and conversation and making love, washed away, forever.

7) After a tsunami the skies can shine beautiful and blue as if nothing happened when really everything is changed. Nothing is the same. Life goes on—our worst days are somebody else’s best days. We stand on a street corner after our mom dies or a best friend and the bottom has fallen out for me, but everybody, 99.99% of the world goes on like nothing is changed at all.

Ya see, Encounters with the divine Love can take place in scenes of utter desolation. Love speaks thru the rubble of our lives. Telling us the Truth about ourselves. Love rebuilds even where the devastation has been most awful and terrifying, as people chose hope and people from half a globe away respond to each of these scenes with compassion in the One who is compassion itself.

What does all this have to do with Transfiguration? If we listened to life, if we listen to even disaster when it strikes, if we listen to what is happening right in front of us, we can be changed to. We can be changed for the better. If we take these lessons to heart, we can be transfigured! Something of light, something of glory, will shine through us. So that even the most terrible disaster can open us and help us discover something of our true nature.

As we watch these scenes in Japan, played out again and again, nature at its most ferocious, JUST ONE WORD: listen….

Job Seeker

This community member has gained valuable experience through event management and development work, but has discovered that their true interest lies in communications. They would like to find a position that allows them to focus more heavily on those skills. They're mostly looking for mid-level communications, corporate communications, marketing specialist, writer/editor positions, etc.

If you have any leads, opportunities, or questions for this community member, please contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org. And if you are a community member (student or non-student) who is looking for a job or has a job opening that you'd like the CSC community to know about, let Jamey know so he can post it on this blog.

"Love" by George Herbert

This is the poem that was read at today's ecumenical Ash Wednesday service:

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.

"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
"My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.

Job Opportunity (Summer)

Wash U grad looking for a babysitter for their son (who will be 6 months) from June 27th- July 23rd. Their regular nanny will be out of town. Variable days and hours (mornings, evenings and weekends) but can try to work with your schedule. Could do MWF or T/TH, or M/F or any variation. Please contact Jamey (stegmaier@washucsc) if interested in getting in touch with the family.

Job Opportunity

Soon-to-be historical theology Ph.D. (and CSC community member) seeks full-time teaching, mentoring, and/or administrative employment in higher or secondary education.

Contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org if you're interested in getting in touch with this person.

A Reflection from John Aughey

Last weekend I attended a silent retreat at White House Retreat House. As part of this retreat, we had group prayers throughout the day, but one prayer that stuck with me is the Angelus. This prayer is said three times daily, and in the morning is followed by two additional prayers. The Angelus by itself takes only a minute to recite, and the morning extensions add just a few additional minutes.

During one of the talks of the retreat, the presider spoke about our addiction to noise. We wake up in the morning and turn on the TV or radio. We walk with iPods bombarding us with music. The instant we get into the car, we turn on the radio. We even go to bed with white noise generators because we can't stand the silence. We are addicted to noise.

My 25 minute drive to work is filled with noise and information. I'm either listening to music or news, or thinking about what I am going work on once I get to work. By the time I get to work, my senses and brain are in overdrive and rather than being prepared to dive into work, I find myself so over stimulated that I can't focus on a single task.

So I have started to incorporate the Angelus and additional prayers into my morning drive to work. I still listen to the radio, but at a set point in my commute I turn off the radio and recite the Angelus by memory. The additional prayers are intentionally not committed to memory, as this allows me to remain in a prayerful silence state until I arrive at the parking lot. Once I arrive, I don't bolt out of my car, but rather sit there with my book and finish the final prayers. These minutes of intentional silence and holding back help to center me and prepare myself for the challenges of the day.

Have a spiritual reflection to share? Send it to Jamey to be posted on the blog: stegmaier@washucsc.org

Library Update from Frank Freeman

I have added two new books to the library. The newer one is medical Ethics by Richard

A. McCormick. The title is, Health and Medicine in the Catholic Tradition. Subtitled,

Tradition in Transition. The moral theology department of Creighton University, Omaha,

Nebraska singles out McCormick. See Tod Salzman at Creighton U. and look under

deontology.

The best thing about McCormick is that he writes an American English. There are very

organic, very meaty examples taken from life. Those examples can bring us up short,

as when McCormick takes us inside a heroin addict house in New York City. Or goes

into a cancer ward with the famous Alexander Solzhenitzen. Or he drops a line about

a friend who went insane. Was anything worth that? McCormick asks us why? do we

really believe that these self-ruined people are God’s special creation? Is this really His

way of revealing? We can’t know. But until we ask this unanswerable question the rest

makes no sense at all.

McCormick is very careful to identify his own position: he features himself as “the radical

middle,” an identity that he acknowledges could be arrogant. The book is a great read.

No harm in skipping to the last chapter on abortion and sexual ethics. It is the best part.

Not to mention the great footnotes. A tour de force, McCormick spells out his opinions

and our options. ... really! It is a book that can fully reward a fifteen minute quick-skim

read. Then, dare you to put it down.

The other is the 1963, essays on The Renewal of the Liturgy. Skip to the last one, The

Future, its Hopes and Difficulties, for a frank and open discussion of the obstacles.

Not to be outdone, there is a reflection posted. By me.

Egypt and the Arab world are one the edge of a cultural explosion. Some of it, at

least, was anticipated by Egypt’s Nobel Laureate. Naguib Mahfouz. Many Arabic

speaking people grew up with his novels and the movies made from them. His Nobel

Laureate Address is recommended for a fresh insight into the world view of an Arabic

writer.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/

1988/mahfouz-lecture.html

Job Opportunity

Barry-Wehmiller, a large, well-respected comapny in Clayton, has a full-time job opening. A big part of this person’s role will be helping project managers handle more by doing a lot of the adminstrative and technological legwork. The technology portion has the potential to be intriguing, but a lot of what this person does will be helping our team function like a well-oiled machine. The ideal applicant is someone who has been in an administrative role and is looking for a similar, but more challenging role. Please e-mail Jamey if interested at stegmaier@washucsc.org

Job Opportunity (Summer)

Two jobs from the New Sector Alliance

New Sector Summer Fellow
Join New Sector for a summer experience in social enterprise! Spend 11 weeks on a capacity-building project at a nonprofit in Boston or San Francisco, while you learn about the social sector and nonprofit management through New Sector's Social Change Leadership Curriculum. Read more here. The official deadline is February 4th. Pass it on or apply yourself - http://www.newsector.org/application/application.php.

New Sector Resident in Social Enterprise
Are you passionate about creating positive social change? Interested in nonprofit management, capacity-building, or social enterprise? Do you know anyone who'd be interested in New Sector's year-long AmeriCorps program? We are opening a small second round of applications, and the deadline is March 1st. Pass it on or apply yourself - http://www.newsector.org/application/application.php

Applications due on February 11 at the latest.

Job Seeker: Work with Children and/or Immigrants

A recent graduate from the University of Notre Dame is looking for a position in the social work field where she can work closely with children and/or immigrants in St. Louis. Rachel is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about social justice.

If you're interested in connecting with Rachel about a job or networking opportunities, please contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org.

2009 Intern Reflection

2009-10 CSC intern-in-service Elizabeth Bundy reflects upon her experience at the CSC...as an introvert.

::ahem:: Hi, My name is Elizabeth Bundy (formerly Doveno)...and I am an introvert. My energy comes from having time to myself and I am drained from talking to lots and lots of people in a day. Yes, it may come to some as a shock because I am very well known to chat someone's ear off; however, I insist that it is true. I struggle with outreaching to others in large group settings. I get petrified at the thought of going up to complete strangers and engage in a conversation with them. I am not very smooth or comfortable with small talk. I can get anxious in a social situation where I receive blank stares and expressionless statements-especially if I feel that what I share is really personal or important. I rather engage in a small group conversation or even better one on one with deep meaningful insights. I become easily drained by trying to milk a conversation that is not going anywhere. Now, don't get me wrong, not all times does a conversation need to end in a deep enlightenment of life. Primarily though, the conversations I remember most, entail something deep and meaningful. So, how did I ever work in an environment like the CSC that relies heavily on engaging new students/and community members?! My job is to constantly meet and greet new people and create an environment that is open, loving, and welcoming. I need to get out of my introverted self and stretch what I think I can do.

I remember VERY clearly the first weekend as an intern at the CSC. All through the first Mass I could only think about questions I could ask new people and what my approach was going to be. I decided to stick to what I knew and was more comfortable doing. This approach is to look for those individuals who are similar to myself where they feel overwhelmed just going up to new people and usually are on the outskirts taking several trips to the food table hoping to bump into someone there. I found a young grad student working on her MSW at the Brown School at WashU. I honest to God could not have asked for a better first meeting of a student! We chatted about her home, why she was passionate about social work, adventures she has had in the city, and even more meaningful a small insight to her faith. This spring board gave me my confidence and helped me to continue my established means of meeting new people. I could introduce myself to someone new and have a brief meaningful conversation with them! Holy cow...no way! I took this new found energy and found confidence to meet people in smaller groups not chatting with too many others. In this, I had some great conversations and continued to gain confidence.

Now, there was still some hurdles for me to overcome. I needed to still outreach constantly and not just continue to go to those students and community members I knew. So, I decided every weekend to meet one new person at both Masses. Now, this may seem a little too small of a goal, but for me...it took some time. My gifts and talents are more of running in the background making sure things are going smoothly and handling crisis situations of sorts. My gifts and talents are NOT having a group of people surround me and entertain them with tons of witty remarks or being the one playing master of ceremonies. Regardless, I needed to stretch myself and challenge myself to try.

By the spring semester of last year I was proud of my efforts. I was successfully meeting new students weekly and creating new relationships. When the end of the intern year came, I truly felt like I gained skills that I had previously not worked on. I had the satisfaction of knowing I could engage in small talk, introduce myself to someone new when I did not know them rather than sit in the back and wait for them to come to me, and jump into a group while in conversation. I will not lie and tell you that now it all comes naturally. I recently have found it once again challenging to just jump into a group conversation when maybe only knowing one other person of the group or not even knowing anyone. Regardless, the experiences given to me through the internship were invaluable to growing into a better me. I am still introverted, and that will not change. I am now, however, more confident and able to put myself in situations that just a couple of years ago would find myself avoiding.

Job Opportunity

Two working parents at the Wash U medical campus with variable schedules looking for a very flexible nanny to work approximently 20 hours a week for our infant starting late March. Needed for days, evenings, and weekends. Schedule changes monthly. We live less than one mile from the Loop. Non-smoker. I graduated from Wash U in 2001. Please email or call me if interested.

Contact Jamey Stegmaier at the CSC if you're interested in this position. (stegmaier@washucsc.org)

Job Opportunity

A recruiter for A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (acmnp.com) will be at Washington University on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 11-1 in the Danforth University Center Tisch Commons. Each summer ACMNP places students in 25 different National Parks to lead worship services, work full-time guest service jobs, and live in community with people from all over the world. Contact Melody for more information at Recruiter1@acmnp.com

Johnny's Immaculate Conception Reflection

The following was written and delivered by intern Johnny Holloway as a reflection on Tuesday, December 7.

Friday evening I decided to go to another (not the CSC) church for Mass at 5:15.

I got in the habit of occasionally going to weekday Mass this summer, shortly after becoming Catholic. Maybe it was because of the St. Louis summer heat, but I liked how they served their communion wine chilled. It was refreshing in every possible sense.

I met Sandy (not her real name) during one of those first summer visits to SLU, and ours

has become an unlikely relationship. Sandy must be in her late 50s, although

she looks older. She has seven kids, all of whom have children of their own,

and she is jobless. She lives on $687 a month, and is hard pressed to pay the

bills, and buy food for her poorly educated family. She’s either incompetent

to work, or unwilling to, so each day she takes 2 buses from the crowded

home she shares with her children, down to the SLU area to beg for money and food.

I’m 23 years old, I’ve never been hungry for more than a few hours, and my

parents purchased the car that I drive and the degree I got from Wash U.

I don’t want to paint a romantic image of Sandy or make her out to look like a

saint. She’s not one. She knows how to get what she wants. Often she needs

a ride somewhere. She always manages to get herself down to SLU and

then complains about how much trouble it is for her to get back home on

the buses. “I’m broke down, I’m strugglin’ too much” is her refrain. After

seeing some of the places she’s asked me to take her in the past (the Section

8 housing office, her home, KFC), I’m becoming convinced that though she

has very real needs, more than anything, she just wants to go for a ride in a

car and to have someone to listen to her for a brief while.

Friday was the feast of St. Francis Xavier, a co-founder and patron of the

Jesuits. From the homily I learned that Francis was a smart student and a

good athlete, a man after my own heart. But he was frustrated by how many

good Catholics were content to sit around at Universities studying about

God, but were unwilling to go out and take the Good News to the people

of God through humble service. On top of this, I remembered John the

Baptist’s words from this Sunday, “Bear fruit as a sign of your repentance.”

With all these pious thoughts filling my mind, I left the chapel on a spiritual

high…and then I ran into Sandy. “Crap. I’m going to have to drive her

somewhere.”, I thought. “Maybe she won’t see me.” I started walking away

and only got a few steps before I heard her calling my name. I tried to be

firm and came up with something like “Sandy, you know I can’t give you a ride

anywhere”…but the truth was that I could, and she knew it. She reminded

me of how hard her life is, how cold she was, how she didn’t have any

money for a Christmas tree, let alone gifts for her children or grandchildren,

etc.…she wanted a ride home. How could I say no?

I drove her home…and found out that she only wanted to go there to check

her mail. Where she really needed to go, she then said, was to this other

place where her son was staying, so we arrived there…only so that she could

tell her son where she was actually wanting to go was this place in South

City, where there was heat and furniture... another detour.

I was angry, and Sandy knew it. She had lied to me, and I felt used. “This is not

cool Sandy, you knew where you needed to go before you asked me for a ride,

but you weren’t honest with me about it.”

“I know”, she said “but you wouldn’t have taken me otherwise.”

As we rode in silence to her friend’s place in South City, I could tell that Sandy

was feeling bad about the whole thing. She turned to me and said she was

sorry. She asked if I could forgive her so that we could start over fresh. I

thought about Christ on the Crucifix, and how despite having been used, His

love overflowed in Mercy and Forgiveness even on the Cross. It was also

clear to me after seeing how she lived, that Sandy was the one who was truly

being crucified in this life, not me. I swallowed hard and said “Yes Sandy, I

forgive you. And I’m sorry for trying to avoid you at Church.”

My “yes” did not lead me where I expected it to. It was actually very messy.

In fact, I think all of our “yeses” are pretty messy in some way, but I do

know that we will always meet God through them.

Brian's Immaculate Conception Reflection

The following was written and delivered by intern Brian Blosser as a reflection on Tuesday, December 7.

I have said YES to God in his call to continue to seek him, to not give up on the Divine. You see, for a number of years now, I have struggled with the question of whether or not God exists. I have struggled with whether my faith could stand up to my intellect and my skepticism. I have felt that there was as good a chance of God not existing as there was of God existing.

Emotionally, it’s not hard for me to imagine that I am talking to God in prayer, or thanking God in church, and there is so much I love in our Catholic tradition. However, intellectually, I ask myself questions all the time: Is our belief in God a product of human evolution that can be explained through evolutionary psychology or cultural evolution? Although God could be the source of all the universe and of evolution, it’s possible that he wasn’t, too. Is God necessary? Am I clinging to God because I need to believe in God, because I want to believe in God? Am I afraid I couldn’t handle a Godless world?

I have a brother who is atheist, and we have very lively conversations about what religious people believe, and whether or not those beliefs hold water. I think in addition to the intellectual standards I hold myself to, I often think of my brother in the back of my mind. Would he approve of my belief? Is it something that would stand up to his reasoning?

During last Spring semester, when I was deciding what I was going to do this year, I felt that the CSC was a place where I could explore these questions, explore whether or not God existed and if he did, what I could know about him. However, I worried that I wouldn’t fit in as an intern without a strong faith. During my interview for the CSC internship, I expressed my concern about fitting in to Troy and Sr. Linda. Sr. Linda’s response was, “Brian, the only thing that we ask is that you have an open mind, that you be open to God acting in your life just as much as you be open to God not existing.” It was a really powerful thing that she said.

I think I have said yes to God this year in that I have not stopped seeking: I have not stopped pursuing an understanding of God and the God question. I have been able to read several books about God which have intrigued me and given me hope: from a book that posited God as the source of moral progress, to a book which introduced me to eco-theology, to works of scholars in the field of science and religion, who are able to wrestle with the God question in light of what we know about the natural world through science.

In addition, in light of the openness requested by Troy and Sr. Linda, I have tried my best, with their loving encouragement, to learn from the diverse understandings of God of those around me. Although all of the understandings don’t always make sense to me, I recognize that they can hold much wisdom and value.

To be clear, I haven’t always been diligent in my seeking: there are times when laziness or lack of interest slows my search for God. There are also times when I let my mind close to others’ understandings and lose out on their wisdom. But I hope that when that happens I do my best to renew my commitment, to again say Yes and continue to seek an understanding of God.

Sarah's Immaculate Conception Reflection

The following was written and delivered by intern Sarah Ampleman as a reflection on Tuesday, December 7.

In many ways, the past spring and summer have been more of

a winter than anything else. There was a lot of stripping away,

of starkness; it was a time of hibernation in my own little cave

to sort things out.

You see, I had fallen in love, for the first time. Or really, I

had realized after the fact, when it was too late to do anything

about it, that I was in love. It was just two weeks after the

initial shock that it wasn’t going to work out with this person

that God decided to drop the “religious life” bomb on me.

Really God, you think NOW is the best time to ask me to think

about becoming a sister or nun?? It felt like I had been shown

everything I’d ever want, and then had it taken away from me,

like I’d never really be given it or anything like it, again. I was

still reeling from the blow that I wouldn’t have the chance to

know this man like I desired, but now felt completely knocked

out by the thought that maybe, I wouldn’t ever get to know any

man ever. It seemed like some kind of cruel joke –that I was

able to experience falling in love, but I’d never know its fruits.

I was bitter and angry at God. But underneath those

shallower emotions was fear. Fear of closing myself off to

potential relationships, of potential “happy endings.” Fear

because I knew I’d eventually be saying yes to God, because he

knew me best after all, and where else could I run and still be

happy? Fear because I’d never even considered the religious

life as a viable option and so had no framework at all of how

to think about and visualize the future. I was a strange mix of

depression at a seemingly bleak horizon of knowing I would

eventually be done with this heartbreak but for now I’d just

have to wait it out in the meantime, however long it took, and

yet somehow hopeful that God had plans for me and that I

knew just a little bit more of what they were.

It took a couple of painful months for me to say yes to

God to discern a call to the religious life. It was very humbling

and it involved a lot of letting go’s. I began to understand

what it meant to be stripped of everything: of all my plans,

of everything I want, of everything I love and cherish, to be

left with nothing --except the very best part of me that was

hidden deep down at the bottom –and giving this back to God.

Through this saying yes to God and the time spent in prayer

and asking myself hard questions, I grew to know more deeply

both myself and God, of what I could contribute to the world,

what my gifts were and my purpose.

Honestly, looking back on the last nine months, it’s been

the best part of my life. I have felt more alive, first from the

pain, but secondly, and more deeply, from an awakening to

who I really am, the affirmation of who God is calling me

to be and how He is giving me everything I need to be this

manifestation of love for others. After this winter, came a

spring and a new life.

While this ‘yes’ has not led me to a definitive answer

on what vocation God is calling me to, it has led to a better

awareness and attentiveness on my part of what God is doing

in my life, how he is preparing me little by little for what’s next,

and all the blessings of grace and growth that I couldn’t see

before, the richness of a life spent continually seeking a right

relationship with God and others.

Church Makes You Happier

Here's an interesting article that a CSC student shared with the staff. According to the article, people who attend Church are happier because the relationships they form at Church are more significant to them compared to relationships formed outside of Church communities.

Makes sense.

http://news.discovery.com/human/religion-happiness-social-bonds.html#mkcpgn=hknws1

Job Opportunity

Job Opportunity: Unpaid Internship at Trailnet

Looking for a spring internship? Have a passion for communications and a love of active living? Trailnet wants you! We are looking for a part-time communications intern to help with marketing efforts. Candidate should be a strong writer, creative, organized and able to commit approximately ten hours a week. This is an unpaid internship, but we will work to provide academic credit if applicable. If you'd like to be considered, e-mail your resume and a writing sample to jenny@trailnet.org. No phone calls please.

Job Seeker

Job Seeker: Third-Year Law Student

Information from the job seeker:

I am a third-year law student at Wash U. I will be graduating in May, and I am seeking an entry-level attorney position. My primary areas of interest are immigration and labor & employment law, but I am open to almost anything. In terms of location, I have been focusing my job search primarily on St. Louis, Chicago, and Dallas.

Contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org for more information.

Job Seeker

Effective today, the CSC will be posting jobs from job seekers and employers who are connected to the CSC in some way. For all jobs, please contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org for more information.

Job Seeker: Housekeeping Services in Exchange for a Room

A young woman ('10) is looking for a family to live with in exchange for housekeeping services: regular and thorough house-cleaning, laundry, trash, grocery shopping and other errands, pet-care, and/or light yard work and other chores. She needs her own room (furnished or unfurnished) and space in a bathroom. In her own words: "I see myself with either a family or an older person/couple that could use some company and an extra hand around the house and/or is out of town a lot and needs someone to keep an eye on the place. But I'm open to any situation. From what I understand, I'll be working most of the day Mon-Fri, but I have nights and weekends available. My first priority will be work with the company, but after that I'm totally willing to help with transportation, baby-sit, pet-sit, or sit on anything else that needs sitting. I'm neat, friendly, I go to bed early, and am cheerful in the mornings. I'm excellent with children (recent experience with infants, tons of experience with K-12) and pets and I have a lot of experience with house-cleaning. I'm very trustworthy, responsible, and a great respecter of privacy."

Employer: Statistician/Quantitative Psychologists

A community member's St. Louis-based company is hiring all levels of statisticians/analysts/quantitative psychologists/computational social scientists/economists for their Marketing Sciences Division.

Please contact Jamey for more information.

The Rose

The other day I was grocery shopping at Schnucks when I spotted a CSC community member walking in the opposite direction. I was on the phone, so we quickly shook hands and moved on, but not before I noticed that he was carrying a single longstem rose.

Now, I cannot presume to know who the rose was for, but I have a hunch that it was for his wife of 2 years. This gesture struck a chord with me--it showed me that he wasn't being complacent in his marriage. He was doing the little things to show his wife that he loves her now just as much as he loved her on the day of their marriage.

I think this applies really well not just to our family and friends, but also to our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes we can be complacent about the way we live spiritually, morally, ethically, lovingly. And maybe we snap out of that complacency with a grand gesture--a big donation or a day of service with the poor or a trip to Haiti.

But let's not forget the little roses of our lives. The small gestures--smiling at those around you, holding the door open for the person behind you, giving your waiter a break when he spills a drink.

What rose will you give today?

Roman Missal

On August 23, 2010 the complete new translation of the Roman Missal was approved for use. The US bishops have set the 1st Sunday of Advent, 2011, for implementation of the new translation. This translation includes many changes that will seem strange to most.

There is a new blog started on the changes to the missal and the implementation of those changes. You can follow it at http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=3200

Feasts and Saints and Martyrs, Oh My!

For those who regularly read this blog, welcome! It's been a long time since our last post, but I thought I would let everybody know of a new feature on washucsc.org which is located under the main homily video, entitled "Saints". It is a chronological listing of all Roman Catholic patron saints, martyrs, canonized popes, and other feast days throughout each liturgical calendar year. I get this information from various sources, both online and offline. My hope is to share this rich source of information and devotion with the community to increase awareness and the education of the Catholic faith.

As usual, if you would like to write for this blog either regularly or irregularly, please contact Jamey Stegmaier at stegmaier@washucsc.org.

Thanks again and enjoy!

Erik

Benedict XVI

Community member Frank Freeman contributed the following entry and commentary to the CSC blog. (Interested in posting something to the blog? Contact Jamey at stegmaier@washucsc.org)

Vatican City

Easter Day, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI intended his Easter mass to act as a special reminder to the world that we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.

The bread used for the Eucharist was a special gift. It was intended to remind us of the Pope’s concerns for our environment. The bread was a form of hearth bread. It had been cooked just a week ago by a poor family living in a place where too much dumping had polluted the landfill. Many people suffered from diseases that come from the chemicals found in the mountains of trash. The bread was a simple gift. The family received no compensation. They understood that the pope was a holy person and that he would use it as a gift to the whole world.

The wine came from Poland. It was a special reminder of the Polish woman poet, Anna Swir. She was reconciled to the Catholic Church before her death. The wine recalls the poem she wrote as a war nurse when she risked her life for a dying soldier. Everyone attending the pope’s mass was given a souvenir bookmark. One side had a translation of the poem and the other a copy of the recipe used to make the hearth bread.

At the usual time for the “kiss of peace” ceremony, the Pope requested that the people present remain standing quietly while he embraced his fellow bishops at the altar. The Pope wanted his blessing to show his love and concern for the bishops of the whole world. Then the Pope was seated and put on his bishop’s hat, a pointed head gear. The Pope wanted to remind the world that he was the head of the “college of bishops” which is the worldwide organization by which the church is governed. Then to everyone’s surprise, 2700 white rose petal leaves fell from the ceiling. These represented the 2,700 bishops who attended the Second Vatican Council, fifty years ago.

Recipients were asked to respect the gift as a free gift and to preserve the petals as a souvenir. It was suggested that they not use the hearth bread for a mass. Simply share the bread with others or at a family meal to recall the meaning. Any bread used at mass should have the same values.

Respectfully submitted:

Marilynn Thomas, Journalism Student

Thomas Aquinas College

San Francisco, California, USA

Miss Thomas was selected by the staff at her college after the pope requested that this nominally conservative Catholic College be named to write the news report for this Easter Day mass.

Briefly: A Quicklook at the Papacy of Pope Benedict XVII

by Frank Freeman

April 14, 2010

By recognizing Anna Swir, the pope is implicitly recognizing that the Catholic Church is intrinsically a feminist organization. The “hearthbread” means that our outlook on humanity is the essentially same as that of National Geographic Magazine. It is sweetened with the nearly universal experience of Christian ministries: those that go to give help to the very poor come back enlivened. The experience is that of being given to.

I hope that these brief notes help. Previous popes have had a different, more conservative, stereotyped and distanced outlook. And their previous ministries have distanced themselves from the inner qualities of the lives of the people that they served.

At one time, the people of Poland classified the poetry of Anna Swir as “existentialist.” She used a robust form of Polish and her translators mistook it for existentialism. It is primarily her war record as an army nurse that makes her poetry universal. To the pope, the universal quality, she helped injured soldiers with their death, is a part of our faith; and he honors her for it. He also calls attention to the universal in feminism. Her life of service is explicit universal feminism.

The restoration of the “college of bishops” gives the church a mechanism by which the universal in human beings can be recognized. Previous popes saw the mass wine as “existentially wine” and did not relate it to actual personal experiences. In this case, it is a life that overcomes death. By opening the door of our faith, the pope has given fresh life to his church.

How does the last supper relate to the Passover?

By Sr. Linda Straub, CSJ

Most Christians believe that on the night before His death Jesus gathered with his disciples to eat the Passover meal. But there is debate whether Jesus was eating a Passover meal or another Jewish ritual meal on the night before he died. Three gospels say it was the Passover but John's gospel states that Passover was on the day he died. No matter if it was the actual day of Passover it was the Paschal season and what is clear is that the early Christians saw a direct connection between the Last Supper and Passover.

Two important ritual elements that begin and conclude the meal, bread and wine, are found in all the Jewish religious meals; at Passover the bread is unleavened. It is particularly in the Passover seder that we discover the importance of remembrance (anamnesis). The purpose of anamnesis is not simply to recall the past events where in God acted on our behalf but through the act of remembering, in the context of blessing, to insert the assembly once more into the "power stream" of Adonai's continuous call to the people Israel. There will be nothing surprising then, in Jesus command to his disciples to "do this" in anamnesis of him. This is not just a recalling what he did but actually to make the event present again. Each time we celebrate Eucharist the last supper is made present to us again.

Look at the sheet on the comparison of the Passover meal and the last supper. Notice in both ritual an initial cup is blessed. Then there is a blessing of the bread, the meal and then thanksgiving over the second cup. When Jesus blessed the bread he said: "This is my body. Do this in memory of me." After the meal he blessed the cup and said, "this cup is the new covenant in my blood".

I would like to share with you the meaning of what Jesus did that night for those who believe in him. Jesus transformed the bread and wine into his body and blood. When we gather at Eucharist and the priest blesses the bread and the wine it becomes the real presence of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The technical name given to this action is transubstantiation. This explanation of the real presence of Jesus in the form of bread and wine was first used in medieval times, by St. Thomas Aquinas. Using Aristotelian terms, how he described transubstantiation was the accidents, the physical properties are the same, the essence has changed. It still looks like bread and wine, taste like bread and wine but it is substantially different.

Let me give you an example. If you have a loaf of bread and let it sit out on the counter for a few weeks it gets really hard. After a month it is solid. Let's say you use it as a doorstop to keep the door open. Is it still bread? Can you eat it? It still looks like bread and under a microscope it would have the properties of bread but it is no longer edible. In fact it has been changed essentially. The being-ness of the thing is different. This is a rough comparison to what happens to the bread and wine at mass. The community remembers what happened on the night before Jesus died, they give thanks, they call upon the Holy Spirit to bless the bread and the priests prays the words Jesus said, "This is my body, this is my blood." Through this action the bread and wine is transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. This is a matter of faith. There is no explanation outside of faith and the word of Jesus. For Catholics this is most significant, for although the bread and wine retain their physical forms, they have truly become Jesus' body and blood, nourishing us to live as his disciples. And having received Jesus' very body and blood into ourselves we are to be Jesus for the world, we are to go forth and live his message of unifying love.

How does the last supper relate to Passover? For Jews the Passover is a celebration of the Exodus. It is a feast of liberation, rejoicing in God's wondrous acts on their behalf that set them free from slavery. Christians celebrate Jesus' passing through death to the new life every year in the great three days we call Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. This is the closest Christian parallel to Passover. The meaning of the Passover meal and meaning of the Eucharistic meal are related. Our God is a God of freedom and life. Both Christians and Jews celebrate God’s saving love and thus commit themselves to imitating that love. That's the deepest meaning of both Passover and Eucharist.

When was the last time you had some Son?

Lately, it has been cold, snowy, and very cloudy. Not a good combination in order to keep spirits up and optimistic. On top of that, yesterday was Ash Wednesday...where we begin a journey with Christ in suffering, prayer, fasting, alms giving, and life in the desert.

We need some sort of spiritual nourishment. We need God in this time more than ever.

At the CSC, there is a GREAT opportunity every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic Adoration, if you are not sure, is where the true presence-the real presence-of Christ is right in front of us through the consecrated host. The consecrated host is in what is called a monstrance that is placed on the altar for individuals to come and worship and pray. The monstrance is like a stand that is normally made of gold that can be in the shape of a cross, sun, or some combination of both. This experience can be in silence, with praise and worship, during liturgy of the hours, and several other occasions. At the CSC we incorporate some silence as well as praise and worship music.

I really like to think of it as "Son Bathing." Here you are, just you and Christ and he sends out His rays of love and openness to us. The Son of God offers warmth and comfort to those who come to Him. A friend from college used to tell me how he would like to sit in the back with his arms stretched out on the pew back and literally feel the warmth of Christ's presence.

I invite you to take this Lenten Season and come to Eucharistic Adoration with us. We are asked 3 things of Lent including prayer. This is a great opportunity to increase your prayer life and grow with Christ on this journey.

Troy and Emma Had a Baby!

Troy and Emma Woytek gave birth to a healthy, 7lbs 8oz baby girl on Sunday at 1:19 pm. Please join us in congratulating the two of them for their first daughter, Felicity Ann Woytek, and keep them in your prayers as they embark on this new journey of family.

A Conversation with Sister Jean deBlois, CSJ

Catholic Social Teaching and the Challenge of Health Care Reform
A conversation with Sister Jean deBlois, CSJ

Health care reform has been on our national agenda for decades but no real progress has been made. Forty-seven million of our brothers and sisters have no health care insurance and suffer significant negative effects as a result. As we contemplate yet another attempt to "fix" American health care, Catholic social teaching can help us understand why fundamental reform must be achieved.

"Most of us, as ordinary citizens, have heard about the plight of the uninsured but haven't really come to grips with it as people of faith," says Sister Jean deBlois, CSJ. A leader in the field of health care ethics, deBlois is professor of systematic theology and the director of the master's program in health care mission at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.

In this Q&A, deBlois guides us through the issue of health care reform from a Catholic social teaching perspective.

Q. What are the principles of Catholic social teaching that speak to us most about the health care crisis?
A. The four that are most relevant to the issue are:

• Human dignity: Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and, because of this, is sacred and possesses an inalienable dignity.
• Preferential option for poor and vulnerable persons: The moral test of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.
• Common Good: Persons are social by nature. We achieve fulfillment only in the context of community. We all have a duty to work for the good of the whole community.
• Solidarity: We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they may be.

Q. How should these principles guide Catholics in thinking about health care reform?
A. Every person possesses a fundamental right to access at least a basic level of health care. This right is grounded in and required by the dignity of the human person, a dignity conferred by God in the act of creation. Health care is not a commodity to be purchased by those who have the ability to pay for it. Rather, health care, like education, is a public or social good that exists to serve the good of the whole society. Society has an obligation to distribute that good in an equitable manner to all members of the community.

Q. What has resulted from treating health care as a commodity vs. as a public good?
A. The failure of previous health care reform efforts left incremental reform up to the "market," which is driven by the theory of supply and demand, usually resulting in increased competition, higher quality and lower costs. This may apply to cars and houses, but in reality, when we rely on this to manage health care, costs go up and quality goes down. The nature of the doctor/patient relationship has changed as well. The former "covenant" of trust that empowered doctors is now a "contract" between a provider and consumer, laden with "caveat emptor" and "the customer is always right." The outcome has been devastating for physicians and for us, the patients, who rely on them to take good care of us.

Q. How are we called to live out the gospel principle of stewardship regarding health care and the common good?
A. Scripture tells us that when a rich man asks Jesus, "What do I have to do to gain eternal life?" Jesus replies, "Go sell what you have and give to the poor and follow me." The story says the man "went away sad because he had many possessions" - he could not contribute to the common good. (Mark 10: 17-22) We should ask ourselves: "For whom will I sacrifice?" and "What am I willing to forego so that all can have what they need?"

We hear many people, at places like the "town hall" meetings, saying, "I'm not giving up anything for anybody." The reality is this - the "pie" is only sliceable in so many pieces. If we enact health care that covers every one of us adequately, with all of us having access to at least basic health care services, those of us that have a lot may have to give up something. We may not be able to get what we want when we want it or we may have to wait a little bit to get our elective procedures done, but I'm called to give of myself so that others may have what they need.

Q. How do we, as Catholics, navigate the political aspects of health care reform?
A. We need health care reform - how it happens is a political debate. Our Catholic tradition is not about a political debate. It's about these principles - human dignity, preferential option for the poor and vulnerable persons, the common good and solidarity. How that gets inserted in the debate is up to all of us.

We are all coming at this from different perspectives - we all have different needs and we all have different gifts to bring - but the reality is that there are people who are dying because they lack access to basic health care.

Q. How can we make a difference?
A. Maybe it means that we call our legislators and say that tort reform is essential. Maybe it means that we call our senator to say that we need to continue to ensure conscience protection in our legislation. Maybe we write to our congressmen/women and say we don’t want to advance abortion, euthanasia or assisted suicide but we make it clear that we want people to have access to basic care.

But I think what our tradition calls us to most is to stand as "Good Samaritans" for those people who lack access to basic care and to be good stewards of this resource... it belongs to all of us.

Society has an obligation to distribute this good in an equitable manner to all members of the community with a particular attention to the poor. - Pope John XXIII , Pacem in Terris, 1963

• In 2007 non-elderly uninsured Americans numbered 45.7 million
• In 2008 uninsured elderly numbered 600,000
• 8 in 10 uninsured persons come from working families
• 2/3 of uninsured individuals and families are living below the federal poverty level
• $2.5 trillion was spent on health care in the United States in 2008; $3 billion was spent on administrative health care costs alone.

Visit www.csjsl.org for links to information on health care reform policies, faith-based resources and ways to take action.

The Intern Music Video

The interns took it upon themselves to create an amazing music video this semester that shows how much fun we have at the CSC (although, it wouldn't quite be true to say that we break out in song and dance every day). You can see the professionally-made dance video they tried to emulate here. Of course, the interns' version is much better (seriously).

EDIT: Intern Elizabeth has graciously offered her perspective on the video. Her words below, then the video:

The backdrop as to where on earth the video came from:

The video was originally introduced to me while on a retreat called Aggie Awakening back in November 2005. Students leading the retreat made a spoof of it (similar to our own) and used it as a tool to introduce themselves to us. Needless to say, it was hilarious and forever stuck in my mind.

Flashing forward to the CSC Gala this past fall the song "September" by Earth, Wind, and Fire was played later in the evening. I immediately reminisced back to four years ago and that video. I had attempted efforts to remember what the dance looked like and received several confused looks from Andrea plus other onlookers. Following the Gala, I decided to show my fellow interns the video. After showing the video, we half joked we would make the video ourselves. But, do to the busy schedule of the CSC with the Awakening Retreat and Parents Weekend it was just literally an idea. Early November the idea popped up again and the four of us decided we would like to do it as a way to outreach to those who may not know of the CSC or be as involved. Also, since Andrea was leaving it would be the last imprint the four interns could make together.

It was excellent bonding time as a staff especially before Andrea left. I will forever have ingrained in my mind the staff dancing on a table and laughing hysterically in the process. More importantly, it was a fun way of spreading the word about the CSC!

So, watch it. Enjoy it. Share it.

Even Good Samaritans Need Time

I recently finished reading a book called The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. The book is about little things that create big changes. It's a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.

In one part of the book, Gladwell discusses a study involving a group of seminarians. Seminarians were selected for the study because (a) they would be familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan and (b) they are training to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

In the study, the seminarians were asked to prepare a short talk and then head over to a nearby building to present it. With one of the groups of seminarians, when they finished writing their talk, they were told that they were a few minutes early and could head over to the other building. With the other group, when they finished preparing the talk, they were told that they were running late and should rush over to give the talk.

The catch was that on the path between the preparation building and the destination building, each seminarian came across a man to the side of the path (an actor) who had his head down, eyes closed, and was coughing and groaning in pain.

Would the seminarians--potential "Good Samaritans"--stop and help the stranger?

The study revealed that yes, some of the seminarians stopped and help. But many did not. The key factor? Whether or not they felt rushed.

Out of the first group of those who were told they were early, 63% stopped and helped. In the latter group--those who felt rushed--only 10% stopped to help.

This is astonishing, right? 10%! Of seminarians, no less!

The lesson lies in a factor that we might not think affects us. We read this example and think, "Oh, I'd stop and help. Of course I would." But the truth is that the odds that we would stop and help have very little to do with who we are and much more to do with time. Do we feel like we have an abundance of time or a complete lack of time? The difference could be a key factor in whether or not we walk like a Christian or just talk like a Christian.

How can we apply this to our lives? Find little ways to make yourself feel like you have a few minutes to spare. Leave early. Set your clocks a few minutes fast. Don't wait until the last minute to finish your work or tell someone you love them. Wake up a few minutes early.

Those few minutes could be the difference in your ability to embody the Good Samaritan.