Greetings!

This is a busy Fall weekend on campus with all the Homecoming and Tough Enough to Wear Pink week activities. As we continue to pray, in thanksgiving and petition for our university, let us especially remember the many students who have passed through our doors over the years. We also honor and remember all those living with, surviving, and taken by breast cancer.

​Early in the semester, we recognized an unfortunate scheduling conflict as this weekend is also Awakening weekend. In spite of the conflict, nearly 70 students will gather for Aggie Awakening 7 at Holy Cross Retreat Center. It is hard to believe that 3 years have passed since our first Aggie Awakening. A retreat that started with a few students attending an awakening retreat at Texas Tech, and another group working on the details to start up Aggie Awakening at the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute in the summer of 2012 has become an integral part of our campus ministry. The Spirit moves in especially wondrous and recognizable ways on retreats, please pray that students, both serving and participating, may experience God’s profound grace!

Peace.  
Sal

Hello Fellow Newmanites!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in Lunch Bunch for a Cause on Monday, October 12th. In just a few short hours we were able to raise over $350 for the NMSU Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign! Thank you to everyone who came to eat and/or help in the kitchen. If you missed out on the delicious green chile smothered burritos (or just can't get enough of them), not to worry, we will be having another Lunch Bunch for a Cause on Monday, November 9th from 11:15am-1pm. All donations received will go to the NMSU Tough Enough to Wear Pink effort. 

Continuing in the NMSU Pink Week spirit, Campus Ministry staff and students will be hosting a Prayer Vigil on campus Wednesday, October 21st at 7pm at the NMSU Spiritual Center. This Prayer Vigil will be in honor/remembrance of all those living with surviving, and taken by breast cancer. All student and resident parishioners are welcome. Do you have a specific person you would like us to keep in prayer? Students will be at the Masses this weekend to take your prayer intentions. 

Peace!
​Mona

Greetings!

It’s time again for our yearly trek to White Sands National Monument to celebrate Mass in the beauty of God’s creation! According to some old NMSU yearbooks, the Newman community has a long tradition of taking time to enjoy each other’s company, share a meal, and to praise God in the glory of his wonderful work. Over the years, we have typically made the trip during a Full Moon night in September or October. This year, we are taking a different approach as we will host White Sands Mass on Friday, October 16th. The date is closer to the new moon, than the full moon so we expect to witness a resplendent night sky, illuminated not by the full moon, but the many bright stars. The group use area is reserved for our use, and we have been granted permission to stay until 9 pm, two hours after the park officially closes to other guests. Campus Ministry hosts the event, but all parishioners are invited to come out and enjoy the dunes and gather with us for Mass. We are able to access the group use area as early as 4 pm, folks interested in carpooling can gather at Newman between 5 and 5:30 pm, burgers and hot dogs will be served at from 6 to 6:30 and Mass will begin at 7:30. The group use area is a designated on White Sands maps and signage.  
 

Peace!
​Sal

Dear Newman Community,

There are so many aspects of campus ministry that I find enjoyable and rewarding. One of my favorites is helping to create opportunities for students to engage with new people and experiences that invite them to think about themselves, others, and God in new, more profound ways. Last Saturday a group of our student leaders, the Service & Social Justice subteam, led their peers in a visit to Camp Hope, the local tent city, to share breakfast with the camp residents. In the week leading up to the event, the student leaders came up with a menu, went grocery shopping, prepared prayer, and planned for discussion after the visit. The morning of the Breakfast the student leaders and I were joined by a group of about 15 students who helped prepared almost 100 breakfast burritos in just an hour! During our time at Camp Hope students had the opportunity to meet people they wouldn’t normally meet- people who are homeless. Over a cup of coffee and casual conversation they met the residents, listened to their stories, and chatted over shared interests. 

After the visit, our group reflected on the question, Jesus calls us to “love your neighbor as yourself”- how did you do that today? We loved our neighbor by taking the time to introduce ourselves and call each person by name. We loved our neighbor by listening to people’s stories and sharing some of our own. We loved our neighbor by reminding ourselves that we are called to this mission of love not just when we visit Camp Hope, but every day- at school, work, and home. In this spirit, I offer you the same question for reflection, how did you love your neighbor today?

Peace, 
Mona