Dear Newman Community,



As some of you may know, I have been blessed to have a long history with our parish. I first started working with Newman ten years ago. I was involved as a parish volunteer for five years prior to coming on staff. This time has been such a blessing to me, both professionally and personally, thanks to countless life giving relationships and experiences.
 


Now, after a period of prayerful discernment, I have decided to leave my staff position at Newman. My last day will be May 18th, after the close of the spring semester. While I am going to deeply miss working at our parish, I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life. God is good. I have no doubt there are new opportunities and possibilities to come always, for all of us!



I will still be around as a member of the community. (You can’t get rid of me that easily!). Please pray for me and Campus Ministry as we enter a period of transition. All of you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.



Peace,

Mona

Dear Newman Community,



It’s hard to believe the semester is already coming to a close but first
we’ll squeeze in a couple more great events. Next weekend a group of
students and I will be going to Bonita Park Retreat Center in Ruidoso,
NM. You’ve heard of the T.V. show ‘Fear Factor?’ Well this retreat is
called Faith Factor! An adventure style retreat, the weekend is full
of high intensity activities that are both physically and spiritually
challenging including a zip line and high ropes course. The students
will have time in prayer and small group discussion at the beginning,
middle and end of the day to make meaning of their experiences.
Please keep us in prayer, especially that we are able to courageously
engage in the activities!



Finals week begins May 7th. We are prepared to help students take
on another stressful week of exams by offering some stress relief
activities (details below). We’ll conclude the week by honoring our
2018 graduates with Grad Mass & Reception. Graduates, please
save the date. Grads from NMSU, DACC and BCOM welcome.



Weekend of May 5-6 at all Masses- Pick up a Finals Relief Pack!

Monday, May 7 at 8pm (Newman Center) Taize Prayer & Breakfast
Tuesday, May 8 at 12:10pm (NMSU Spiritual Center) Mass on Campus



Peace, Mona

Dear Newman Community,

​Recently Campus Ministry and the Knights of Columbus teamed up to give La Bodega, our parish food pantry, a facelift.  A group of Knights and students spent a Saturday morning cleaning, stripping and staining the wood fence that surrounds the property of La Bodega.  I was so thankful for the opportunity.  Often times we spend ample time in prayer and community but do not take the opportunity to also spend time in service.  Prayer is good.  Time in community is good.  But we are also called to service and charity.  Pope Francis makes this clear in the quote below.

​About half way through our morning at the pantry Marsha Franke, the pantry coordinator, gave us a tour.  She and the volunteers are doing incredible ministry!  I invite our community to continue to support La Bodega.  It is one of the most tangible ways we can serve Christ - by serving our brothers and sisters in need.

Peace, Mona

​“A prayer that does not lead you to practical action for your brother  the poor, the sick, those in need of help,

a brother in difficulty  is a sterile and incomplete prayer... St Benedict sums up the kind of life that indicated for his
monks in two words: ora et labora, pray and work. It is from contemplation, from a strong friendship with the Lord that the
capacity is born in us to live and to bring the love of God, his mercy, his tenderness, to others. And also our work with
brothers in need, our charitable works of mercy, lead us to the Lord, because it is in the needy brother and sister

that we see the Lord himself.” (Pope Francis 7/21/13)