Totus Tuus Opportunity

Just as everyone was leaving campus, information was received for you all about an opportunity to live and work your faith for the summer of 2018.  We would like you to have it now to help you discern, during this Advent season (and your semester break) if you might be called to serve the youth of the Diocese of New Ulm by working for the Totus Tuus program.

Totus Tuus is Latin for "Totally Yours".  This is an outreach program where teams of four young adults (typically college students and seminarians) spend time in a parish setting, sharing the Good News of Christ through energetic, engaging and enjoyable activities.  Totus Tuus is a paid program and will run from June through early August.

We will be having an informational meeting on Tuesday, January 16th, at 7pm at the Campus Religious Center.  Please join us for a meal and discussion with Kevin, the coordinator of the program for the New Ulm Diocese.  Here is a link to the event so you can get reminders it is happening:  Totus Tuus

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Friday, December 8, is a Holy Day of Obligation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Please join us at one of the Mass times listed below.  Please note, there will be a Vigil Mass at the Campus Religious Center on Thursday, December 7, at 8pm.

Breaking Bread Donation

Since we have moved to using screens at the Campus Religious Center on Sunday evenings, we have not replaced or updated the Breaking Bread books which are used for Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Ali, this year's Newman Club President, arranged for her home parish (St. Catherine's Catholic Church, in Luverne, MN) to donate the 2017 copies of their Breaking Bread when they updated with the 2018 edition.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Focus on Faith! Marty Seifert: Being Catholic at the Capitol

Marty Seifert, an SMSU alum and long-time member at Holy Redeemer, was our "Focus on Faith" featured speaker for November.  From serving on the Student Senate at SSU, to serving as the Minority Whip at the Minnesota House of Representatives, to two runs for the Republican nomination for Governor of Minnesota, Marty has a long and story filled history with the Capitol.  Tuesday evening, he spent more than an hour with Newman Club members, other students on campus, and members of our parish community in the William Whipple Art Gallery, sharing insights, personal stories, and challenging those in attendance to take their faith seriously, and put it into action.

Along with sharing stories about how each day in session is opened, how they changed schedules to be more family and constituent friendly, and the challenges of special sessions, Marty took the time to remind us all that the little decisions we make are the ones that have the greatest long term impacts.  For example, if we say we will get to Mass when we can, we are more likely to miss Mass than not.  If we say Mass is a priority and we will get there no matter what, we look for solutions to solve problems that would get in the way of attending Mass.  When he was a legislator, he had to advocate for a later start to Sunday sessions so there was time to attend religious services for the Representatives.

He also discussed how important it is to have a network of people who have a similar belief system and will support you on your faith journey.  He had a group of colleagues with whom he regularly attended Mass when he was required to be at the Capitol on a weekend.  Marty was honest about the challenges, but direct in his approach when he said it is all ultimately up to us to make the best decisions and follow through on them.

Thank you, Marty, for sharing with us!

If Not YOU, Than Who? SLS18

The SLS18 (Student Leader Summit), hosted by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) is almost upon us.  It is an opportunity to come together with people of a similar faith to learn how to spread the love and light of Christ to college campuses across the United States.  This unique opportunity is offered every other year, in January, of even numbered years.  This year we will be traveling to Chicago. 

Please join us for an informational meeting on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at 12:30pm (after Mass).  It is an opportunity to learn the details of the trip and begin discerning if you are called to attend the conference.  Please let us know you will be coming to the meeting by clicking here

See you on Tuesday!

Happy Halloween 2017!

We started the evening with the Vigil Mass for All Saints Day.  After Mass, there were snacks, games and good conversation.  Jasmine, a unicorn, a pig, a farmer, a cow, Bugs and Lola, and a variety of college students (along with a priest and a campus minister) who showed up for the event.  This year's favorite game, Hand2Hand, was played.  Many snacks were eaten, and then people headed out for homework, home, or the Improv Show.  We will look forward to hosting this event again next year!

Mystery Dinner

Every month, Hill Street Place hosts a themed dinner for their residents.  For the month of October, the theme was a "Mystery Dinner".  There was a murder and a theft.  Students connected with Newman put together the clues, and many of the decorations, to help put together an evening of fun and activities for the residents.  In the end, Mr. Scarecrow was found to be the villain, the booty (100 Grand bars) was returned, the meal was served and eaten, and a good time was had by all.

Thank you to the Newman members for continuing to serve as the Hands and Feet of Christ to his children, of all ages.

All Saint's Day: A Holy Day of Obligation

A Holy Day of Obligation is almost upon us.  All Saint's Day is a solemn holy day of the Church.  It is a day to remember all those who have gone before us and have reached heaven.  The Vigil Mass will be held at the Campus Religious Center on Tuesday, October 31st, at 7pm (followed by our Halloween Party).  Masses are scheduled within the parish for Wednesday, November 1.  Here is the full schedule:

ResHALLoween and Trunk or Treat 2017

It was a busy weekend for the Newman students.  Hours upon hours of work went into turning the Campus Religious Center into the city of Agrabah, with many of its residents, like Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Genie, among others.  Once the transformation was complete, the doors were opened to participate in the campus-wide 2017 ResHALLoween event, sponsored by the RHA and open to the community.  Many children visited us and enjoyed choosing treats as well as getting their pictures taken with the characters.  We also had visits from President Gore and Stanger! 

After a busy Saturday, Agrabah traveled to the back of the Holy Redeemer Education Center for the annual Trunk or Treat event sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters of America and Catholic United Financial.  More goodies were given away and more pictures were taken.  It was a fun weekend of giving back to our community.

Special thanks to the team of people who brought Agrabah, and its residents, to life!

ResHALLoween 2017

It is hard to believe how fast this semester is flying by!  Halloween is just around the corner.  With that, is an annual SMSU Tradition:  ResHALLoween!  The houses on campus are all invited to participate by decorating their house and handing out candy to the trick or treaters who make their way to campus.  The Campus Religious Center has participated, off and on, throughout the years.  We are back again this year, with a theme of Aladdin!  A phenomenal amount of work is going in to the decorating and I can't wait to see the end result.  Stop on by this Saturday, from 4p-7p, to help hand out treats!  Here is a sneak peek:

Pumpkin Painting at Hill Street Place

We held our second annual pumpkin painting with the residents at Hill Street Place.  A good time was had by all who participated!  Special thanks to Becca (at Hill Street Place) and Amanda (from the Newman Club) for organizing and putting this event together!