Dear Newman Community,
​
Each semester we host an Aggie Awakening retreat, a weekend retreat of prayer, community, and Sacraments put on by students for students. Once a student ‘lives’ Awakening, they are eligible to serve as staff for upcoming retreats to make the experience available to other students. The weekend is a labor of love given generously by the staff. In the weeks leading up to the retreat staff put in countless hours preparing for the weekend. The hope is that students are ‘awakened’ by the weekend and continue their faith journey in a renewed way.
 
This past weekend we put on Aggie Awakening IX. Nearly 50 students participated in the retreat, either as retreatants or staff. From our opening dinner  in the parish hall it was obvious the group was an especially enthusiastic and outgoing one. This proved to be so true! Please keep the group in prayer as they come down from their “mountain top experience,” as Fr. Ray called it, and settle back into their lives, that they would take with them some seed that was planted over the retreat weekend.
 
Peace,
Mona
 

Greetings!
We made our yearly pilgrimage to White Sands National Monument this past Sunday. We were blessed with  a beautiful, warm evening and a nice crowd. Students took advantage of this small respite from studies to be kids again, playing in the sand and enjoying each others company. After a simple meal, Fr. Emmanuel presided over Mass. As is the typical experience, celebrating Mass in the dunes was awe-inspiring. 
 
As I reflected on the evening’s events on the ride home, the words of the psalmist echoed in my spirit:  

O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!
I will sing of your majesty above the heavens
with the mouths of babes and infants.
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place--
What is man that you are mindful of him,
and a son of man that you care for him?  
Psalm 8:1-5
 
The entire evening was grace filled and if you were unable to join us this time, I encourage  you to join us next year! 

Peace, 
Sal
 

Dear Newman Community,

NMSU recently held a street fair event called Peek of Las Cruces. The idea is to give students a ‘peek’ of our community. This year the event also included a food drive competition to support Aggie Cupboard, the NMSU food pantry. Student organizations gathered food the last few weeks then built a New Mexico landmark themed ‘canstruction’ on the day of the event. Newman students participated, using food purchased with funds raised through Lunch Bunch for a Cause. Our Balloon Fiesta themed canstruction ended up taking two of three prizes– People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice! A big thank you to all student and resident parishioners who came to eat at our Lunch Bunch for a Cause meals earlier this semester. With your support we were able to purchase nearly $400 worth of food for the Aggie Cupboard.
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The Aggie Cupboard provides free emergency food assistance to NMSU and DACC students, faculty and staff. Do you know someone in need of food? Fall distribution hours are Wednesday & Thursday from 3-6pm. Bring your NMSU ID. Want to make an additional donation to the Aggie Cupboard? Food donation drop offs are Thursdays from 9am-Noon at Regents Row B115. If you need to arrange an alternate drop off time, email [email protected]. You can also make a financial contribution through the NMSU Foundation. Go to http://giving.nmsu.edu and specify that your gift is for the Aggie Cupboard.
​
Peace,
Mona
 

Dear Newman Community,
 
This week our Faith Formation Ministry Team gathered to plan for the last session of our Faith Meets College faith sharing series. The topic was politics. When I first heard the students were interested in a faith sharing session on this topic, my first thought was, that’s a can of worms!
 
Sal and I gathered with the team the night before the event to plan. It seemed to me they were interested but hesitant about how to proceed, feeling the weight of the topic, especially in light of the contentious election season we have had thus far. However, I was so inspired by their willingness to reflect, collaborate, and ultimately, hope.
 
At the faith sharing session they reflected on three light themed passages, including the one at right. I encourage you to take a few minutes in reflection yourself. Begin by asking yourself, how would you describe this election in one word? Then spend some time with Scripture and these reflection questions the students came up with:
 
-Where do you see darkness in our world?
-What can you do to shine your light in the darkness?
-How can you avoid ignorance? What can you do to instead to try to understand the will of God in regards to your engagement with this upcoming election?
 
Peace,
​Mona
 

For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light, for light produces
every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, or everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
...Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our
​Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
 
-Ephesians 5: 6-20