​Dear Newman Community,
 
From what I have heard from speaking with campus ministers from other universities, read in news reports, and personally experienced, this generation of youth and young adults has a heart for service! According to the Millennial Impact Report, 70% of millennials volunteered at least one hour in 2014. Here at Newman, we see students generously giving of their time (much more than one hour!) to help with retreats, faith sharing groups, shared meals, and more. Soon students will also serve others in our local community as we begin our Service Saturday series for the semester.
 
On one Saturday a month, students will partner with groups and organizations both on and off campus to serve some of the people most in need in our community. We’ll kick off Service Saturdays on September 24th by teaming up with other NMSU student groups to care for God’s creation as we clean up campus with the annual Keep State Great event. Other Saturdays will include visits with the homeless residents of Camp Hope tent city and elderly residents of Casa del Sol nursing home. We’ll also explore a new opportunity in November, which we are calling a Yard Clean Up to Benefit Our Troops. The idea is students will help do yard work and other tasks for our elderly parishioners, we’ll accept donations from parishioners served for the students’ time, and we’ll pass the donations on as care packages to parishioners serving in the military. More details on this exciting new venture to come!
 
Peace,
Mona
 

Greetings!

Campus Ministry staff and students are once again hosting Lunch Bunch for a Cause on Monday September 12th and 26th.  Over the years, this event has brought together students and parishioners looking for a good, filing meal; a local, national, or global cause; and Campus Ministry students working in the Newman kitchen. The meal is prepared and served in lieu of the regular Lunch Bunch menu and diners are asked to offer at least the same amount they would typically pay for Lunch Bunch, $2 for students and $4 for all others. Of course, any extra donations are appreciated!  We will be serving Beef Burritos smothered in a Green Chile sauce, rice, beans and desert. 

This semester, all proceeds will benefit The Aggie Cupboard. The Aggie Cupboard offers emergency food assistance to NMSU and DACC students, staff and faculty.  It is located in Regents Row, Room B114 on the main campus, with food distribution on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 6 pm. As the majority of the food offered for distribution comes from community donations, all funds raised from our Lunch Bunch for a Cause will meet a direct need. While conversing with Lori Martinez, NMSU social worker who oversees the Aggie Cupboard, we identified another potential area for collaboration. We figured we could get the word out about this great Newman ministry outreach to those in our campus community in most need by offering a pre-paid meal ticket that could be distributed in Aggie Cupboard food bags. By doing so, students in need who don’t typically come to Lunch Bunch might come and having enjoyed a meal and the warm hospitality offered by LB volunteers would return themselves and maybe invite a friend or two!  If you would like to assist in our efforts, come by on Monday between 11 and 1:15, or contact me via the parish office (575-522-6202) to purchase pre-paid meal tickets. 
 
Peace, 
Sal