Hello Newman Community!
 
It’s hard to believe Advent is upon us, especially since many students and others active in the NMSU community are square in the final push to the end of the fall semester. However, in a way it is fitting. Advent is time of hopeful anticipation and preparation as we look forward to the second coming of Christ at the end of time and the anniversary of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Likewise, for many students these next couple of weeks are a time of anticipation as they look forward to the end of classes, final grades and, for some, graduation and the end of their time as college students.
 
But why prepare? Especially when we know Christmas and the end of the semester are going to come regardless? Perhaps it is so this end is also a hopeful beginning...For students, this beginning may appear in the form of renewed energy and passion for their studies next semester. For graduating seniors, in the promise of soon being able to share their gifts and talents with our community through their careers. For all of us, that the birth of Jesus at Christmas may also birth new hope and love in our lives.
 
How fortunate we are to have a faith tradition that encourages us to intentionally enter into this time of prayerful, hopeful preparation. As we bless advent wreaths, let us also bless the students as they study (cram) for final exams. As we bless our manger scenes, let us also bless our graduating seniors as they transition into the next chapter of their lives. And in and through it all- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
 
Peace,
Mona
 

Greetings!

Well, the pies are done!! Hopefully, San Pasqual (patron saint of cooks), interceded on our behalf and cut the caloric value of the pies in half! We are especially grateful to all who donated various ingredients, purchased pies, and paused for a moment to offer a prayer while we were busy baking this past weekend. Baking 300 pies is quite a task, and could not be done without the many students who spent time baking before they headed out for a much needed break from school.

The whole process is quite involved, and while it is primarily a fundraising endeavor, there is a great sense of community that is both engendered and celebrated over the 30 plus hours spent baking. Students share their time and talent, and pick up some new baking skills all while we laugh, joke, listen to some high energy music, and drink plenty of coffee. We do all this with a sense of purpose and faith. All kidding of San Pascual and calories aside, his faith journey is the story of a person who found a sense of divine purpose simply by preparing food for others. I hope all who helped prepare the pies will have enjoyed the time spent together, and trust that all who purchased pies will enjoy them!  

Peace, 
​Sal

Hello Newman Community!
 
It may seem early but since NMSU is on break the entire week of Thanksgiving Campus Ministry is already getting into the thankful spirit. This weekend we will be taking pre-orders for our annual pie sale (I think you can’t go wrong with pecan!) and next Wednesday we transform our weekly Midweek Mass & Dinner into a Thanksgiving Feast, serving turkey and all the trimmings.
 
In that same spirit, our Student Leadership Team gathered in prayer this past week. Each Monday night the Team gathers to Pray, Play & Plan. This week our prayer was an opportunity to pause, in the midst of stressful papers and assignments, clinicals and exams, to give thanks. We offered thanks for the little moments. We remembered that while we often think we will be happy “when” (pass this class, graduate, get a good job, etc.) there is so much to be thankful for now. Finally, we challenged ourselves to dig deep and “mine” even the challenging, painful, and stressful aspects of our lives, in search of the gold lies hidden beneath the surface.
 
May you also be blessed and inspired by this spirit of gratitude!
 
Mona

Greetings!

As many of you may recall, we hosted the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute this past summer. As the CMLI directing team transitions to new team members, I’d like to pass along the words of appreciation from last year’s director, Christine Eberle in her final report:

During my seven years with CMLI, this is the first time that I have experienced it outside the context of a Catholic university. While this presented some challenges (oncampus expenses and communication issues), they were nothing compared to the overwhelming hospitality of the parish staff and especially the parishioners of St. Albert the Great Newman Center. Their volunteers prepared our opening night dinner as well as our barbecue at White Sands—almost an hour away—and did so with good cheer and such generous kindness. Everyone was touched to the core to be received so warmly and fed so well by strangers. It was a wonderful experience of Church for everyone.

I echo the appreciation for the generous hospitality that is so routinely on display here at Newman and the support for campus ministry! Last week I traveled to St. Xavier University in Chicago to begin preparations for the 2016 edition of the CMLI. As I begin a three year term serving as the director of CMLI, I ask for your continued prayerful support.

Peace,
Sal