Health in Body and Spirit at TOT

Last night (Wednesday) was the second session of South Jersey Theology on Tap. There have only been four scheduled so far as a trial process; in 2011, the youth ministry staff at the diocese will decide how to proceed.

Tonight, our speaker was Patrick Donovan, the Executive Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Wilmington. I have to confess that I stuck my nose up when I heard about the theme for the night, "Body, Mind and Spirit: Total Fitness in the 21st Century" and almost considered sitting this one out.

In retrospect, I'm really glad I went. It was nothing like the discussion on exercise and eating my veggies like I thought it would be.

Donovan, who is slightly dejected over recently hitting the big 4-0 and no longer being classified as a young adult (the threshold is usually 18-39 these days), was full of humor and sarcasm. With a wife and four children spaced each a year apart, I guess you have to be!

"I used to be a runner," he told us, gesturing to his growing belly, "but now I only run when someone's chasing me with a weapon. Or to save my 2-year-old son, who thinks that playing in traffic is a good idea."

He then moved on to discussing the end scene of the 1988 movie Field of Dreams, where the main character realizes at long last that he's found his father. For Catholics, Donovan said, that should be our life's goal: to reach the end and realize that we are finally home with our Father.

"But how are you going to get there?" he asked us, referring to yesterday's Gospel reading about those turned away at the narrow gate of heaven. "You can't do it knowing about God. You need to know Him -- and be able to recognize Him."

A part of something bigger

Tonight, something pretty momentous happened in the relationship between Rowan and the Glassboro community, at least in the Catholic world.

After several years of talks, studies and careful planning, the Catholic Campus Ministry at the university has been incorporated as a part of St. Bridget's Parish, Glassboro.

The church has been part of the borough for over a century now, and not only serves local residents, but is also designated the "personal parish" of Latino Catholics in the county and elsewhere. Now, they've also become the personal parish for Catholic students, faculty and staff at Rowan.

There is no formal relationship between the school and the church, of course. The Newman House where CCM has its headquarters is considered, to use the words of Fr. Matthew Weber, pastor of the church, a bridge between Rowan's Catholic population and that of the greater community. CCM is a club chartered by the Student Government Association, but our worship and other financial resources are overseen by the Diocese of Camden. (I hope that makes sense!)

One of the changes to come from this partnership is the addition of a Sunday evening Mass at St. Bridget's that is open to anyone, but set aside to minister to the college population in particular. Everything is done under the leadership of Rowan's Catholic chaplain, Fr. Phillip Johnson, and all of the leadership roles during Mass are held by students.

The Sunday evening Mass was held originally in the basement chapel at Newman, but we've now been blessed with a beautiful church home. Daily Masses will still be held at 12:30 p.m. at Newman.

As for my part, I've been serving as the pianist for Sunday Masses since March. Someone from the church has graciously volunteered her time to play for the student Mass, however, and that has freed me up for my original role as a singer. I'm thrilled to be doing what I love again. (Not to mention relieved of the stress involved with playing piano in public!)

Tonight was beautiful. and I can't wait to see what the future brings for this partnership. :)

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."

Take a minute to really absorb this photo. Like streaks of paint, the crosses get smaller and smaller until they disappear into the horizon line.

4100 abortions...every day.

That's almost 29,000 in a week. 115,000 each month.

And the most staggering figure of all? If my math is right, there are 1,496,500 abortions performed in one year.

But what can we say about this? Is it a grand achievement that stems from a woman's right to choose that 1.5 million human lives never got a chance to blossom?

This is not a religious issue -- I can comfortably write this post without a single mention of faith. The taking of an innocent human life is never acceptable.

Make no mistake, I write with my efforts focused on objectivity. But I feel that there are some issues on which just about everyone can agree, and at the same time, some on which it is impossible to be silent -- one of them being that we shouldn't kill people.

Of course, the issue in the Supreme Court that is still hotly debated today does not concern when life begins, or even if the woman has the right to terminate her pregnancy (that was established in 1973 with Roe v. Wade). The issue is whether or not a fetus is a human being.

I'll leave it up for you to decide if this is a baby.



What I can say definitively as a person who has looked in the eyes of post-abortive women is that there is so much unnecessary hurt, fear and pain in the world. We need to do everything we can to give troubled parents and their children the support they need.

That's why I'm a proud supporter of Good Counsel Homes, a non-profit that meets the needs of single, homeless and post-abortive mothers. Plus, the organization was founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who are just awesome.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Over the past several days, the above phrase and variants of it began to pop up like wildfire on the Facebook pages of Rowan Catholics.

Just tonight, one of my younger friends who frequently finds herself overwhelmed by engineering homework wrote this: "I'm not going to worry, because God has everything under control."

And as we pass each other on the way to class or crossing 322, we share wide grins. Suddenly, life isn't as crazy as we thought it was.

For me, it seems like myself and the others that attended the CCM retreat this weekend are sharing in a collective sigh of relief. This week, we go about our business in the present moment; for some, the future has been put out of mind for the very first time. And you can see tangible evidence of that if you ask how our weekend was.

This was the first retreat I've been on with a concrete theme, and "pray instead of worry" speaks directly to so many of us who are looking toward the future and biting our fingernails. Through various talks led by our chaplain, periods of silent and group reflection, and worship, we got the opportunity to not only face our fears, but learn that God has overcome them.

"Who among you by worrying can add an instant to your life?" Out of all of the Scripture passages about anxiousness and trust we studied, this one question from Jesus in Matthew's Gospel struck me the most. It would follow me for the next three days, until my "quiet hour" on Saturday afternoon.

It was then that I finally dared to pray aloud about all the worries that I internalize so often. And as I did, I came to realize that I have no need to worry. God, after all, is in charge. I'm in good hands, and if I trust Him, I'll be taken care of.

Each one of us reached this point in different ways, but the end result was striking. There were a lot of tears on Saturday as a lot of people let go of their burdens and gave them to God, but on Sunday, everyone was smiling.

It's witnessing changes like these in myself and my friends that always makes the retreat experience worthwhile.

Turning Outward

Tonight I just want to share a song that just recently made its debut in the Christian music scene.

Over the past month, both in this blog and in the news, we've heard a lot of stories about people who reach out to those who are most in need, and what happens sometimes when those same people are ignored and literally left to die.

We need to look outside of ourselves -- to be a bit crude, get our heads out of our asses -- and realize that life isn't all about our desires and dreams. It's not even about being comfortable. A lot of people consider it a blessing just to wake up every day. But sometimes, we're so consumed in our worries, busyness and technology to notice. If we do notice, how many people are really going to act like it?

These are the questions that Matthew West asks in his newest single, "My Own Little World."



I confess that I have a soft spot for him and his story: a few years ago, he badly damaged his vocal cords to the point where doctors weren't sure he would ever speak again. After undergoing surgery, he had to go three months without saying a word. Not to his wife, and not to his infant son who was just beginning to recognize his daddy. As you can imagine, the experience had a profound impact on him both spiritually and musically.

One last thing: I mentioned above that we are often so preoccupied with worry that we push God out. This weekend, about 25 Catholics from Rowan and Stockton will be going on our semester retreat at St. Mary's of Providence in Elverson, Pa. This semester, the theme is "Pray Instead of Worry." As a typical hyperstressed college student, I'm looking forward to seeing what I gain.

If you feel so inclined, please pray for our success. I'll be back on Sunday night! :)

Media and faith alive in Chile

It's been in the minds and hearts of a lot of people today, but for the families of miners trapped in a Chilean desert, the heartache is finally over. Sometimes, I feel like America only tunes in at the end of these stories to be a part of the drama and emotion.

Here at Rowan, we offered Mass today in thanksgiving for the rescue that at this point has gone off without a hitch. A nationally syndicated and non-profit Christian radio station, K-LOVE, has had listeners calling in adding special donations for each miner pulled out.

And all around the world, people are glued to various live feeds from news organizations at the site, waiting to see another father, another sign emerge from the earth.

Okay, maybe that's a bit like overkill, but it's true. In times of crisis, people and nations all rally together despite their differences to reach out to the world. Look at 9/11, Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti earlier this year.

We start to notice each other, and notice God, more than ever before. The first miner to come from the mines dropped to his knees when he reached the surface, and the crowd burst into an unplanned hymn. Another miner was quoted saying that there weren't just 33 miners trapped, but 34 -- God was with them the entire time, and the majority credit Him for their incredible survival.

It's nice to see that credit is given where credit is due, both in faith and the media.

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation...

For seniors about to step off the edge of academia and into the "grown up" world, a little hesitation is natural and to be expected. We've been safely cocooned in school for at least 16 years; for me it's been 18. There's often a sense of confusion as graduation approaches and we start to ask ourselves, "What am I supposed to do with my life? What next?"

For Catholics, the answers to these questions come in two parts; both of them have to do with our choice of vocation. But the difference here is that there are two different vocations that a Catholic will take on in life. Sometimes, you'll hear them referred to as the "little V" and "big v" vocation.

Our "little v" vocation is the career path that we choose or have happened to fall into. It's the answer you give when someone asks what you do for a living: I'm a writer. That's my vocation.

Then, there is something a lot deeper and more personal than our occupation: our spiritual calling. This is our "big v" vocation, and unlike a career, it's not something we choose, but rather what God has called us to be.

For both genders, this can be either marriage or singlehood. Women can also join a religious order as a sister or nun (there is a difference), or become a consecrated virgin that works and lives in "the world" (not in a convent). Similarly, men can become priests or brothers in a monastic order.

The process of figuring out to which we're called is a tricky one that sometimes takes our whole lives. It takes an honest assessment of our strengths, weaknesses, desires and a lot of prayer. It can be scary, and it's not uncommon to hear people sharing that they ran for years before accepting their call, whatever it may be. That's why we pray at every Mass: "Thy will be done."

For now, I'm mostly certain I'm called to marriage; my confessor has agreed with my assumptions. At the very least, I know I'm not supposed to be a sister...but we need good wives and mothers  just as much as we need good sisters. :) Nothing left to do but wait and see.

Promoting Chastity to Young People, Between Rounds

This week, I was honored to write an article for the Catholic Star Herald, the official newspaper for the Diocese of Camden, about Theology on Tap. I really enjoy being able to make contributions to the world of Catholic media. :)

Here is my story in its entirety.

When it comes to talking about God, most people probably envision a church setting full of older adults. The atmosphere is polite, orderly and low-key.

But on Sept. 29 the Landmark Americana Tap & Grill in Glassboro was the setting for sacred talk among young adults. The patrons were more than 80 young adults from across the Diocese of Camden.

The event was the first meet-up for South Jersey Theology on Tap, part of a movement reaching young people with the Gospel on their own turf.

Organizers say the relaxed atmosphere of a bar or café is a great opportunity to discuss Catholic issues with those who are hesitant about attending a church event.

It’s also a chance for those in their late teens, 20s and 30s to connect with Catholics their age over drinks and good food.

“We were very excited to see so many people there,” said Andres Arango, director of evangelization, young adult and campus ministry for the diocese. “Dawn really spoke to the hearts of the young people on an issue they could relate to.”

On Sept. 29, the South Jersey TOT featured music journalist and chastity speaker Dawn Eden.

Eden’s divorced Jewish parents taught her that there was nothing sacred about sex or marriage. She grew up feeling emotionally isolated and tried to fill the void with men as a young adult.

Her life-changing breakthrough came during a 1995 interview with a musician who mentioned he was reading a book by the English Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton. Eden didn’t know anything about the famous Catholic writer, but curiosity led her to buy one of his books.

That decision would bring the fulfillment she was searching for. Eden quickly moved from Chesterton to the Bible, later going on to accept Christ as her Savior in a Protestant church. After years of reading and prayer, she converted to Catholicism in 2006.

Now, Eden travels the country, encouraging young adults to build intimate relationships while staying sexually pure. Her book, “The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On,” was published in 2007 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

“Not always having been pure, I wanted to write a book for adults who might have missed the memo on practicing chastity,” Eden told the group. (She begins the introduction of her book with the line, “Chastity, like me, has long suffered from a bad reputation — only in chastity’s case, it’s undeserved.”)

Eden said that chaste relationships are about giving love selflessly, instead of abusing the gift through sex outside of marriage. “God wants you to have great sex,” Eden joked, “just not until the person you’re called to marry shows up.”

Heather Price, a 25-year-old Rowan graduate from Stratford, can’t wait for the next Theology on Tap. “The atmosphere and speaker were both very uplifting,” Price said. “Actually getting to talk to (Eden) and seek advice was awesome. She was so down to earth and full of energy.”

The next Theology on Tap will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Not too shabby, if you ask me. ;)

Lessons from Francis

On Monday, the Church celebrated the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, one of our more "popular" saints. He's well-known as a symbol of simplicity in a world of excess through his commitment to the poorest of the poor.

The interesting thing about him is that he came from a background that was the complete opposite of the one that he would take on for the rest of his life. Really, that is why we declare people saints -- there is nothing terribly out of the ordinary about any of them. They all had jobs and families and ordinary responsibilities as all of us do, but what has set them apart is the degree to which they chose to follow God. That's it.

Ironically, Francis was a party boy. He came from a very well-respected and wealthy family. He was always a bit disillusioned with the "good life," however, and when he realized that everything that he had gained in the world wasn't going with him after death, he literally shed it all. In the presence of his parents and friends at one of the family's parties, Francis stripped naked and declared that he was going to follow Christ. And, true to the Gospel, he gave up everything he had in order to do so.

Growing up, I'll admit that I knew very little about St. Francis. One thing that does stick out to me is his particular love for animals; this compassion would lead him to be known as the patron saint of animals. At my church, it's been a long-standing tradition to bring our pets out to receive a blessing each year on his feast day, Oct. 4.

A lot of paintings and other images of Francis depict him with some sort of woodland creature, so it can almost be difficult to remember him as more than a sensitive Snow White-esque figure. His legacy is one that is still growing in the present day, though, as he became the founder and spiritual father for the monastic order named after him, the Franciscans.

These priests, religious brothers and sisters all work with a particular focus on service to the poor. They are perhaps best known for their brown habits (a habit is more or less a uniform for religious orders) and their simple way of living. There's a lot of wisdom in living just like the people you want to reach most.

There is so much in this world that we concern ourselves with -- money, food, work, love, success -- but what we can learn most from St. Francis is that the greatest things in life are faith and charity, or as their motto says, "pax et bonum," peace and goodness.

You may recognize this prayer, one that is attributed to Francis himself:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Why?

I have to wonder, in light of the recent suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, where his right to privacy was. Where his right to live in peace was, for that matter.

Clementi, 18, was secretly videotaped by his roommate while having sex with another man. The video was streamed live over the internet, forcing Clementi to admit his once private sexuality.

The fallout and bullying he faced immediately following those events were enough to drive him to end his life. After posting a brief goodbye message via Facebook, he jumped from the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River on Sept. 28. His body was found several days later, and the roommate is now facing a police investigation.

As if that wasn't horrible enough on its own, Clementi's suicide is one of over a half dozen by young gay men and boys this past month. The age range varied and they all came from different backgrounds, but for the most part, the cause was the same: bullying.

There is a huge ethical can of worms opened especially in the Clementi incident, but the second question I have to ask is where was the respect for this kid? Where was compassion?

Whether you support their sexual decisions or not, there is absolutely no reason for belittlement and humiliation in a society that supposedly prides itself in its diversity.

You won't find me talking about the orientations of these boys, or even the morality of their deaths; neither is the real issue. Religion or not, gay or straight, we all have the right to be treated with respect and common decency by those around us. That really moves well beyond social barriers.

And if by chance there is a GLBTQ individual reading this who is hurting, beaten, afraid, or on the verge of giving up: please don't. Reach out to those who you know are there for you, whether that person is a family member, friend, counselor, church member, anyone.

Just don't give up. We all suffer at the hands of other people, some of us bitterly. Be strong and have faith. Even the hardest times don't last forever. =) It gets better. We promise. (The It Gets Better campaign has gone viral in a matter of days online, as both GLBTQ people and their straight allies share encouragement to those who are in situations like Tyler's. It's beautiful, check it out.)

Here's Ellen DeGeneres, one of my favorite comedians who just so happens to be gay, speaking out on these tragedies.