Another interesting article--do college students ask the big questions anymore?

Found this on the Catholic News Service website on how much or how little college students ask the big questions of life, especially when it comes to faith. Here's the link. Do you agree or disagree?

A thought-provoking link...

Found an interesting and thought provoking post on another blog that I thought some of you might like...here's the link. It's by a young Episcopal priest, and he says what many of us feel from time to time. Many of us think that to be a faithful person, we have to be perfect in our faith all the time; I don't think that's true--at least I hope it isn't. Faith is a day-by-day journey...well, read what he says...it's quite eloquent.

Passing of Bishop Moeddel

Sadly, this past Tuesday the former Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, Carl Moeddel, passed away after a lenghthy illness. He had suffered a stroke shortly after by-pass surgery in 2005, and complications from that illness coupled with his diabetes forced him to retire in 2007.

I did not know the bishop well, but only from my time as a seminarian in Cincinnati. Bishop Moeddel lived in a suite at the seminary, and was usually with us for Mass and lunch on Saturdays. So, on many occasions, I had the privilege of sharing a table with him for those lunches. He was always kind and down to earth; one learned a lot sharing a table with him. His homilies were always thought-provoking, and advanced our formation for ministry profoundly. One tidbit that I have always kept with me was his daily prayer to God that he shared with us: "Lord, don't let me get in your way today." Its a good and humble prayer for anyone who serves in the Church to avoid letting our own individual agendas (which we all have, as much as we try to keep them in check) or our own needs and wants get in the way of what we are supposed to proclaim: the Gospel of Christ.

He proclaimed that Gospel well and faithfully. I'm sure the Lord has proclaimed to him now: "Well done, good and faithful servant." It would be a good thing to say a prayer of thanksgiving for Bishop Moeddel's life, and for the consolation of his family...

More here from the Catholic Telegraph...

Health Care Debate

Just a few musings...not in any necessarily coherent order...

The last few weeks have certainly seen a lot of anger and debate about health care in our country. I've been truly amazed at the veracity of the debate, the anger and distrust that has been shown for government in any form. Some of the video from these town halls has been troubling.

What really strikes me is that we seem to have forgotten about the 46 million people in our country who have no access to health care except for the ER. In the debate about whether or not we'll still get to choose our doctor, our taxes, a public option, etc, we've forgotten about those who have no insurance.

A faculty member at WSU posted a link to this article in the Christian Science Monitor...that's what got me thinking.

I've also been disappointed in the level of debate on the issue. While health care is an extremely complicated (not to mention emotional) issue, no one really seems all that interested in a dispassionate exploration of the issue. Rather, all we seem to get are ideological haranges, as in Sarah Palin's assertion of the creation of "death panels." Honestly, do we really think a US President is going to support this? If I understand correctly, the bill (which, by the way, is only one of several plans under consideration in Congress) simply provides for doctors and other health care workers offering information about end of life resources to help families at that type of difficult time. Is it necessary? I don't know...all I've heard is that, evidently, Obama wants to kill my grandmother.

The funny thing about government health care is that it already exists. Medicare has existed for several decades to help those over age 65 obtain good health care, and make sure no one over that age went without. Why can't that be extended to all Americans? Because it's too expensive? What is more important than a person's health? What other budget item is a priority over that?

One of the few bright spots in my high school career was my stint on the debate team. We did four-man debate, in which two teams with two members each took opposing sides to debate a proposition. What I enjoyed is that it taught me how to construct an argument, how to evaluate evidence, how to spot fallacies in logic. Sadly, it seems many Americans have lost these skills, or never had them.

So, here's my prescription: take the time to learn about the various proposals and what's in them. Ignore the sensationalistic arguments--they're probably blown out of proportion and/or told by a person with their own agenda. And when you see things on tv, find out who's saying them and what their agenda is. Places like MoveOn and the Heritage Foundation have agendas which may or may not match your own. And, most of all perhaps, look at this issue through the lens of your faith. What does the Gospel teach us?

I could go on and on...

Why are we sometimes called a Newman Center?

So, have you ever wondered why Catholic Campus Ministry centers used to be called (and sometimes still are) Newman Centers? Back in the 1800s--yes, that long ago--John Henry Newman was an Anglican Priest who converted to Catholicism. He was a great thinker and quite the intellectual. He was also the first to recognize that Catholic college students might have a good reason to attend a public or non-Catholic University. Before then, those few Catholics who went to University were expected to go to a Catholic one. Because of his support in this area, and encouragement to form associations of Catholic students, those clubs and organizations which Catholics founded at secular schools were named for John Henry Newman, who had become a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.

Well, Cardinal Newman's life has been examined the past few years with the idea of making him a saint--and he has taken a significant step. Next May, he will be declared "Blessed" which is the final step before one is canonized a saint. Here's a longer story on the process. Perhaps this is someone we could name our new chapel after???

Back from the Summer Hiatus

Again, a long time between posts. Its a hazard of my ministry, I suppose. I'll try (again) to do better.

I wanted to publicize a bit a talk I'm giving next week for the new Theology on Tap that is forming in the North part of Dayton. Dayton South has been going for at least a couple of years; this is the first for the northern area.

The first gathering is for my talk (just a little pressure) on Wednesday July 22 at Boston's Bistro and Pub on North Main Street (if you're googing it, type in 7500 N Main, Dayton, OH 45415). The gathering will begin at 7:00pm, and my talk begins at 7:30. What's my topic, you ask? Well, its been titled "Life is a Highway: What direction are you going?" In other words, how do we make decisions about our lives, how do we discern where God might be inviting us to go? I hope you'll join in. There will be time for some Q & A as well.

Other than that, summer is nice and quiet. I got some down time the past couple weeks, and Joan is away part of this week. I enjoy the break, but at the same time I'm ready for folks to come back and breathe some life back in here! It's too quiet!

Well, that'll be it for now--a lot's been going on in the world, so I'll share a few thoughts on those events. Stay tuned.

brief time off vacation

But that's ok...I'm off today to Lima, Ohio, to speak to the Serra Club there.  Serra is an international Catholic organization dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, religious life, etc.  They want to hear about our campus ministry--which obviously has a lot to do with vocations...how, you ask?  

Well, one of the main reasons for the existence of campus ministry, at WSU or any college/university, is to be a Church presence for the students, who are at a time in their lives when their religion, their spirituality is becoming their own.  Children, generally, take on the religion (or no religion) of their parents.  In college, the decision, rightly, becomes their own.  Unfortunately, many take what I've heard called the "Catholic sabbatical" and ignore their faith altogether.  

Campus Ministry seeks to be a place where a student can learn more about their faith, celebrate their faith and the sacraments, and find a supportive atmosphere as they naturally question their own religious believes on the way to making them their own.  

How does vocations fit in?  Every Christian has a vocation...many to marriage, some to single life, and others to priesthood or religious life.  Some men who are married or single also discern a vocation to the permanent diaconate.   That's another of Campus Ministry's aims...to help students "find their place in this world" (to borrow a phrase from an old Michael W. Smith song...).  And if some of these places happen to be in seminaries and novitiates, that's great.  In my own experience, it was my campus minister at Heidelberg College who first said to me, "Have you ever thought of being a priest?"  (Thanks, Sr. Margaret!)

As I like to say, Campus Ministry lives at the intersection of Young Adult Avenue and Vocation Boulevard!  So, that's why I'm speaking to Serra!  

Hope everyone's enjoying their break!  See you Monday!