6 Tips for Parents of Teenagers

On Sunday, December 30, 2012, Fr. Gary had some words of wisdom with parents (specifically parents of teenagers) in his homily. You can watch the homily here or make note of his 6 tips for parents here:

Parents: When it’s not easy, there are several things to remember: 

1. Don’t freak out (panic) when it happens in your family.  It even happened in Jesus’ family. 
2. Please try to not take it personally. It is not. They are doing their work. (Remember: something is wrong if your kids aren’t pushing back in their adolescents, not if they are!) 
3. Keep a sense of humor. Help each other remember to laugh. 
4. Keep boundaries that are healthy.  But maybe check them out with somebody else you trust in case too strict or too loose.
5. Do the inner letting go that enables you to say "they are not me!" They are not me and they should not be. 
6. Make sure the kids know that no matter what, you are committed to them…  and that nothing will ever break that commitment. 

Your children may bring you all kinds of heartaches, particularly during these adolescent years, but they need to know that your love is constant in their lives.  They need to know they will never cease to be your son or daughter. 

The Mother’s Lament at the Slaughter of the Innocents

Why are you tearing
Away to his doom
The child of my caring
The fruit of my womb
Till nine months were o’er
His burden I bore
Then his pretty lips pressed
The glad milk from my breast
And my whole heart he filled
And my whole life he thrilled

All my strength dies
My tongue speechless lies
Darkened are my eyes!
His breath was the breath of me
His death is the death of me.

But slay me, even me,
And let my boy be.
A mother’s most hapless
My bosom is sapless,
Mine eyes one tearful river,
My frame one fearful shiver,
My husband sonless ever,
And I a sonless wife
To live a death in life.

Mass from Dec. 23 - Jan. 6

The CSC will only have 11:00 am Mass on December 23, December 30, and January 6. The 9:00 pm Mass will resume on January 13.

Christmas Eve Mass will be at 4:00 at Graham Chapel and 10:30 at the CSC.

There is no Christmas Day Mass at the CSC.

The CSC will be technically "closed" over the break, but staff will be in and out. If you need to speak with a specific staff member, we recommend e-mailing them over the break.

Last Weekday Masses and Dollar Dinner

This week marks the last Tuesday 5:15 Mass and the last Friday 12:05 Mass of the semester. Come join us!

Also, Catholic Student Union is hosting their annual Dollar Dinner for students looking for a cheap (but delicious) meal and a break from their studies this Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30-7:00 in the CSC social hall.

First Corinthians 13

FIRST CORINTHIANS 13 [CHRISTMAS VERSION]

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:
but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;  but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata
but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love does not envy another's home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, and
endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust;
but giving the gift of love will endure.

Author: Sharon Jaynes

Taken from Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas

Advent Decorating This Friday!

Every year we gather to decorate the CSC for the upcoming Advent season. The holiday spirit will be in the air this Friday, November 30th, from 1:30-4:30 as we hang decorations, dress the tree, and much on Christmas snacks. The more help, the merrier!

Finding God in Meteorites

A CSC alumni recently had an article published about how he is finding God in the intersection between science and faith. A short, enlightening read:

http://www.jesuit.org/blog/index.php/2012/04/jesuit-brother-with-passion-for-science-finds-god-in-meteorites/

Silent Adoration

Join us every Wednesday for silent adoration from 8:00-9:00 in the CSC Chapel. All are welcome.

Post-Election Thoughts

To all those who are disappointed or angered by the results of the presidential race, other elections, amendments, or propositions, I offer my genuine condolences. Today is a crappy day for a lot of people. If you are one of them, I hope you can trust in the long, slow, but inevitable evolution of the human race toward love, toward building the kingdom of God. We'll get there. If you feel powerless...if you feel hopeless...if you think that yesterday was a setback...remember that you cannot legislate love. No laws can force people to treat each other with compassion. That transformation happens only from within the human heart. Things don't change from the top down. Oh sure, that can help. But that change results first from how we live and love here on the ground.

In spite of powers that be, many of which try to sell us the idea of individualism (for which I am certain that people 200 years from now will look back and think we were absolutely crazy), remember the power that you have to transform the life of another by loving your neighbor. Remember that we are one. That we belong to one another. That we all want the same things...peace, happiness, justice, freedom, to know each other, to be known, to love, to be loved.  So as hard is it is sometimes, let's not demonize those with whom we disagree politically or in other ways.  We just have different ideas of how to create those things that we long for in our world and in our lives .

You and I will never all the way see it. Our vision of the kingdom of God will never be fully realized while we're on this planet. We'll never experience the full fruits of our labor. And what is more self-sacrificially loving than that? To live and die for a world that we will never fully enjoy...but that those who come long after us might. To be one small piece of a very large puzzle, one tiny link in a chain of love thousands of years in the making. Working to build a kingdom of God on Earth for people we will never know and who will never know our contribution to it. We'll get there. Together. With little acts of love each day that will never be broadcast on NBC News or Fox News. With no ticker tape or fanfare. Only with the hope of a deep faith that reminds us that we are not alone in this struggle that often feels so lonely, that this solitary journey has not been undertaken alone, that billions of people are striving to add their link in that chain of love as well.

We'll get there. Together. Not in our time. But in time. 

-Mark Z

CSU Root Beer Kegger

If you're a Wash U undergrad, join Catholic Student Union and your fellow students at the popular annual Root Beer Kegger. The event will be in the social hall from 8:30-11:00 on Thursday, November 8.

All Saints Day Masses

There are two All Saints Day Masses on November 1 that are associated with the CSC:

12:05: Med Campus Mass

5:15: Mass at the CSC (no soup for you)

World Mass This Sunday

Join us as we celebrate the rich and vibrant heritage of our Catholic faith around the world this Sunday (October 21). Both 11am and 9pm Masses will honor our shared global tradition through a unique liturgy experience that you won't want to miss.

Election 2012: Weighing the Issues & Preparing to Vote

Thursday, Oct. 18th, 5-6pm, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Jones Hall, room 1390.

Dr. Ed Hogan, professor at Kenrick Seminary for the Archdiocese of St. Louis will talk about how to prepare for the upcoming election as a Catholic voter. Co-sponsored by the Catholic Student Organization at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.  

Food and drink provided. 

Teach-In for Justice

Passionate about social justice? Want to become more educated on various justice issues? Join us for a weekend-long trip to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC, from Nov. 15-18. Contact Michelle Verner (verner@washucsc.org) for more information or an application (applications due Monday, Oct. 15; receive $50 off if you register by Monday, Oct. 8).

Newman Gala This Weekend!

The 10th Annual Newman Gala is coming up this weekend, September 29th, at the Ritz Carlton in nearby Clayton. You can still purchase tickets through Jamey Stegmaier (stegmaier@washucsc.org) at the following prices:

$125: Full Gala Ticket
$20: Dance-only ticket (9:00-12:00; for grad students and young adults)
$10: Dance-only ticket (9:00-12:00; for undergrads)
$0: Dance-only ticket (for volunteers the day/night of the Gala)

See www.cscgala.org for more information.

Sophomore/Junior Escape This Weekend

The sophomore/junior escape is coming up this Saturday! Please contact Matt Schwab at schwab@washucsc.org by this Thursday afternoon if you're interested in attending.

Discussion on Faith and Science - Sept. 17

Monday, September 17, 6:30-8pm @ CSC - Discussion on Faith and Science led by Michael and Emily, this year’s Young Catholic Scholars.

The CSC's Science and Faith Program

The Science and Faith program is a community-focused project that brings to light the intertwining of scientific study and religion to the greater CSC and Washington University communities. It will include opportunities for the CSC's scientific community to come together to learn, discuss, and grow through talks, book discussions, and other events.

Other related events later in the semester:

Saturday, October 13, 9am-3pm at the May Center - ITEST conference - scholarships available to interested students. http://faithscience.org/news.html

Monday, October 22, 6:30-8pm @ CSC - Event organized by ITEST participants to share information and conversation with CSC members.

Monday, November 12, 6:30-8pm @ CSC - TBA

Au Pair Wanted

Students and community members, a friend of the CSC, Dawn Trautmann, is looking for an au pair for her two boys. It would include room and board (the au pair would live with the family), cell phone, and use of a car, plus $150/wk--it's very comprehensive. You would need to be available from 7:00 to 8:30 every morning and 3:45 to 8:00 every evening, as well as weekend help as needed.

If you're interested, please contact Dawn at 314-482-4110 or dawn.trautmann@mcgladrey.com

If you have a connection to the CSC community and have a job posting that is relevant to students and other community members, please contact Jamey with a description at stegmaier@washucsc.org.

Freshman Escape

The CSC's annual Freshman Escape is on Saturday, Sept. 8.  These first few days and weeks of school can feel like a bit of a whirlwind, so if a day away at a lake full of swimming, boating, games, new friends, and fun times that you'll remember for the next four years sounds up your alley, contact Angela to sign up by Thursday! (kress@washucsc.org)

First Friday Mass this week, first Tuesday Mass next week

The first Friday Mass of the fall semester is in the CSC chapel this Friday (August 31) at 12:05, followed by a soup lunch. Then the first Tuesday Mass is in the CSC living room or outside next Tuesday (Sept. 4) at 5:15, followed by a soup dinner.