Reaching Within Blog

Embracing the Unknown

jhomrighausen@scu.edu (Jonathan Homrighausen) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 PST

In the course of my Christian life, I have met many Christians who fear immersing themselves in other religions. They often say that they fear losing their faith, or feel no need to study other religions when they know that Christ is the Way. I do not understand the mentality of these "prophets of doom" who feel their faith threatened by the presence of those who believe differently. But for me, embracing the unknown is a crucial part of being Christian, especially in our interreligious world.

My religious formation has always been interreligious. When I was 20 and in RCIA, I began meditating at a local zendo, immersing myself in the apophatic mystery. Around the same time, a chance encounter with an acquaintance converting to Judaism led to my taking Biblical Hebrew lessons from the local rabbi. More recently, I spent last summer at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, a Buddhist Studies program attached to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu. As part of this program, we had a 10-day meditation retreat after the course was over. On the eighth day of the retreat, a group of students and I hiked up a nearby hill to a Hindu shrine to Shiva. Here we were, at ten at night at the top of a hill in a Hindu and Buddhist country studying Tibetan Buddhism - yet the conversation turned to Christ. This and other profoundly shaping experiences in my Buddhist Studies program did not diminish, but strengthen my faith. I empathize with Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Corps, when he said that serious encounter with members of other faiths actually clarified and strengthened his religious identity as a Muslim. Most importantly, I feel blessed that I have always been welcomed as guests in these other traditions.

So for me, the experience of God in my life is not what some would consider "Catholic." I am not an avid prayer of the rosary. I do not go to confession as often as I should. I do not have any special devotions to saints. As a practitioner of an "interfaith faith," I seek to be both at the center of the Christian tradition and on the fringes, finding God in Zen meditation or rabbinic exegesis of the Bible. I find God in study, in encounters with others, in those moments in conversations where ideas I didn't even know I had are being challenged and overturned. All of these are graced moments, moments in which I feel Ignatian consolation of God's presence.

Jonathan Homrighausen is a junior double major in religious studies and classics. For the 2013-2014 school year he will be the Campus Ministry Interfaith Intern. Lately for fun he has been reading H.P. Lovecraft and parsing Hebrew verbs.

Spirituality On Immersion

mdavidson@scu.edu (Michelle Davidson) — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 PST

When I started college, I was pretty uncertain about my spirituality and what that word even meant to me. As a senior, I still have a lot of questions. But I’ve become more comfortable with that uncertainty. I’ve learned that some things bring me peace, while other things bring me disturbance. I think that’s how I would describe my spirituality at this point in time. Father McCarthy discussed this phenomenon at our immersion kick-off meeting, and it really resonated with me. I’ve also learned that sometimes it takes those moments of disturbance or turmoil to redirect myself towards peace. After three years of experiences that taught me this dichotomy, I entered senior year hoping to take advantage of opportunities that I felt would lead me towards peace. When I think of the places where I find this feeling, I think of the authentic communities I have found at Santa Clara. One of these communities has been created through my immersion trips. Immersions have blessed me with experiences that tested, deepened, and nurtured my spirit.

Last year, I went to Arizona on the Navajo Nation trip. The opportunity to have a reflective week without the distractions around me at school was one that I embraced. It was a week where I felt more in touch with my spirituality than I had in a long time. I yearned to keep this feeling alive, and I applied to be an immersion coordinator for this year. Next thing I knew, I was preparing to lead the spring break trip to San Jose. I was correct in thinking that leading a trip would deepen my spirituality, but it did so in ways that I didn’t anticipate.

As a participant in the Navajo Nation trip, I had felt more present than ever. I was able to leave my phone, my classes, and my life at Santa Clara for a week of simplicity. My focus was on whatever person or moment presented itself to me, and I spent more time reflecting than I ever had at school. This year, as a leader, I was focused on making sure things ran smoothly. I had my phone with me and was constantly thinking of what was next. In some ways, this took away from the unique experience that I had as a participant. But in so many other ways, I was able to grow.

Throughout college, some of the experiences that bring people the most growth are contemplation, volunteering, community, and immersion into new environments. Being an immersion coordinator was an intensive way of experiencing a combination of these things. In the span of a week, I was exposed to the challenges and gifts that come with being a leader in an already intense environment. The combination of the immersion and being a leader brought up so many questions about myself, my spirituality, the suffering we witnessed, my vocation, my relationships, and my responsibility to others. I think it taught me that there is much more to my spirituality than giving myself time to reflect. My spirituality is tried, but also nourished by pushing myself. It deepens further by forcing myself to find out how I want to be better, how I can help make things better for others, and by exposing the questions in myself that can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable to explore.

On the trip, we were asked to design a flag in response to the question “why do you do what you do?” I realized that, for me, I do what I do to revitalize myself and to instill that peace I talked about earlier. My response was “to fuel my spirit.” Experiences like immersion are really what do that for me. They remind me that there is more to life than what I see every day. They remind me what it feels like to be surrounded by authenticity. They also remind me that there is so much to work on in myself and in the rest of the world. The feeling of peace, the feeling of really being alive, doesn’t come from being comfortable. This is strange for me to realize, because I associate peace with comfort. But the feeling of peace I’m describing is so much deeper than that. It’s the feeling I have at my core when love fully fills me. I think what I’ve learned above all else is that I get this feeling from challenging myself, from shaking up my beliefs, from learning from people who are so different from me, and from being remolded to become more whole. My experiences at Santa Clara, immersion being a key one, have helped teach me this. I have gained a greater appreciation for the afflictions that can come during spiritual discernment. My path after I graduate is unclear, both spiritually and vocationally, but I hope that following what brings me peace will lead me in the right direction.

My name is Michelle Davidson, and I am currently a senior at SCU. I love to spend time with friends, travel, run, and be outdoors. On campus, I've enjoyed being involved in groups like SCCAP, EMS, and immersion programs. Over spring break, I led the San Jose immersion trip. It was a wonderful experience that taught me a lot. I will be graduating this spring and plan to stay in the area.

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

leaguilar@scu.edu (Luis Efren Aguilar) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:40:00 PST

SCU senior Luis Efren Aguilar shares why he has such affection for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Guest bloggers from the CNS Branches Website

mpnsmith@scu.edu (Matt Smith) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:15:00 PST

This week we are referring you to two guest bloggers for the CNS Branches website: Gus Hardy and Mark Rogers.

In Gus' piece, he asks the question, "How worthy must I be?" as it relates to the Eucharist. Gus is a Freshman at Santa Clara studying Political Science and Religious Studies. Gus is involved in many extracurricular activities on campus, including Associated Student Government and several Campus Ministry groups.

In Mark's poem he tries to do much more than scratch the surface and encourages us to dig into our hearts. Says Mark, “I am a senior Mathematics Major from Sacramento California. On campus I love to play intramural sports, be involved with Core Christian Fellowship, root for my Broncos at any sport, read poetry at open mic nights, relax in the sunshine with friends, and go to any event that offers free food.”

A String of Tragedies; Recovering from the Boston Explosions

rldavidson@scu.edu (Rachel Davidson) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 PST

On Monday the United States reeled in horror as yet another tragedy struck innocent citizens – this time, during one of the most famous foot races in the world: the Boston marathon.

Two explosions near the popular running route left three people dead – including a young boy – and over 170 wounded. Catholic News Service reported that the Archdiocese of Boston expressed a “deep sorrow following the senseless acts,” of which nobody can justify. The act occurred on Patriot’s Day, celebrated in Massachusetts as a civic holiday for the beginning of the American Revolution.

This event follows a line of violence that has haunted our country for the last few years. With political parties up in arms about limiting public access to guns and other assault weapons, we have to wonder why the senseless violence that our Boston cardinal mentions is being perpetuated. What are the motives of these people involved? Who is to blame? Our educational system, lack of psychological and mental health care, or the media? And what can us, as American citizens, do to combat this string of innocent casualties?

At this time, we are called together as Catholics to pray. We will pray for those lives lost in the explosions, we will pray for the families and communities close to the explosion site who could have been harmed, and we will pray that this string of tragedies comes to an end. We will pray for those responsible for this event and for those who have planned similar events. We will pray that we can come together as a nation to comfort and help each other, and that nobody should ever feel so deserted and lost that they will resort to this type of hatred. We will pray that our children do not have to grow up in a world as harsh as the one that we live in. And we will pray for the safety of innocent people around the world, in the hopes we do not have to face a devastation like this again.

See what you can do to lend a helping hand to the victims of this tragedy.

Rachel is an undergraduate at Santa Clara University studying journalism with a passion for writing and a thirst for adventure. Her piece was written for her role as a student associate for CNS (Catholic News Service) Branches. Like them on Facebook and join the conversation.

Finding God in an Unseen Sunrise

epurner@scu.edu (Betsy Purner) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:00:00 PST

Last year I was working in the Philippines for the Jesuit study abroad program called Casa Bayanihan and we had taken the students to get away for a three day silent retreat at a beautiful retreat house on the Laguna de Bay. I was particularly looking forward to spending time near the water and experiencing God in the surrounding nature. I am orginally from San Diego, California and have grown accustomed to seeing specactular and awe-inspiring sunsets and have even on occasion been fortunate enough to spot the elusive "green flash." I consider these moments to be glimpses into God because of their beauty and the peace that seems to exude from a setting sun. Something that weekend, however, was calling me to the other end of the day and encouraging me to seek out a sunrise. I had often heard about the beauty of sunrises and all the colors that fill the sky, but had never gotten up early enough with the intention of watching a sunrise. I spoke with the manager of the retreat house and she advised me to wake up around five in order to see the full sunrise.

I like to consider myself a "morning person," yet there was something about that early wake up call that made me question whether a sunset, which is at a totally reasonable hour, would be enough to experience God. Still, I persisted and set my alarm clock for five a.m. and groggily got out of bed around 5:07. I walked over to our meeting room and saw one of the men sweeping off the porch and whistling a happy tune that I didn't recognize. Surely, this was a sign that I had made the right decision in getting up. When he saw me he smiled and told me that there was coffee inside and offered me a cup, which I took to be another sign of the good things to come. Once I had poured myself a cup of coffee, I walked out onto the dock next to our meeting room that extended about fifty yards into the bay. At the end of the dock were three little huts with benches that I figured I could sit on as I watched the sun rise over the bay.

I settled in, cup of coffee in hand and began to pray in the darkness. I gave thanks for the retreat, for the beautiful location, and for the people I was with. I asked God to be with me as I struggled with the severe injustices and poverty that I was encountering in the Philippines. I asked God to guide me in my actions to best accompany those in my community. I prayed that I feel consoled and inspired by the sunrise and that it help me to feel connected to my family and friends back home who were still in the middle of their day. The prayers went on and on and I felt very peaceful just looking out at the city skyline beyond the bay and listening to the water splash around the posts of the dock. As I was gazing over the water towards Manila and the dozens of high rises along the skyline, I realized that everything around me had become a little bit lighter. I searched the horizon for the yellow circle of the sun but could not locate it anywhere, and yet everything around me looked as though the sun had indeed already risen.

Now, I continued to look for longer than I would like to admit before finally realizing the problem: I had been looking the wrong way the whole time. I slowly turned around and there was the sun, already completely risen over the hills on the other side of the bay. My first reaction was true disappointment. I felt jipped. I wanted to see the sun and the colors around her as she rose over the skyline. I wanted to lose my breath in the beauty and be struck by God's great goodness. I wanted the moment, the picture, the story of how I found God in the most beautiful of sunrises. Suffice it to say I didn't get what I wanted, but after some reflection I realized that I had actually experienced something much more realistic and poignant for my faith journey.

Sometimes I set out with the best intention yet desiring a very specific outcome. Most of the time I find myself facing the completely wrong direction and I "miss" whatever it was I thought I desired. Yet, just as the sun illuminated all that was around me even though I never saw her, so too does God touch everything in my life without me even realizing God is there. I woke up early the following day, this time facing the right direction, and I saw truly the most beautiful sunrise I could have ever imagined. It was everything I had been told and even more and there was no doubt in my mind that God had created it. Still, I continued to think back to the previous morning and felt even more grateful that I had been able to experience God in a much less grand way because then I knew that I didn't have to be on a retreat or in a beautiful location to feel God's presence. I pray that my experience of the unseen sunrise continues to touch my heart and inspire me to find God in all of the miraculous and the even more numerous yet totally average moments of each and every day.

Take Care: "Me" Time in College

klerma@scu.edu (Karina Lerma) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:00:00 PST

Studying for midterms, collaborating on group projects, attending club meetings, working, and finding time for socializing are all aspects of daily lives that we college students have to fit in our already-full schedules. Personally, I am easily susceptible to becoming quite anxious when overthinking about what my day entails, especially if many unchecked tasks on my extensive “To-Do” list remain by mid-day. However, as I now reflect on the long and stressful days I’ve had so far in college, I’ve realized they’ve actually helped me learn how to take better care of myself in a multitude of ways.

About halfway through Winter Quarter, amidst the first round of midterms and papers due, I didn’t quite find a balance between my academics and extracurricular commitments as well as I would have liked to. I wasn’t making time to relax and take care of myself mentally or spiritually as often as I had before; I became too consumed with my thoughts of what lay ahead in my busy day rather than being attentive and productive in the present. After awhile, I realized I had to do something to ease my stress so that I could go about my day efficiently and contently. I had to convince myself that I wouldn’t be selfish or unproductive if I took a couple minutes out of my day to simply relax. I took a couple of progressive steps forward in learning to take care of myself, and two steps back at other times. But I realized that taking time away from daily demands every once in awhile didn’t hurt my productivity overall; it actually enhanced it so that I could be fully present for every task at hand.

I rely heavily on my ‘personal goal’ checklists and creative outlets to keep me content, so I decided that making a quick list of everything I wanted to do as part of my “downtime” in my week would be a great start to taking care of myself. From a physical standpoint, I started taking more personal walks around campus, found time to pray at the Mission Church, and even took naps throughout the day (which is something I never usually found time to do!). I also made a small amount of time for my favorite hobbies as a form of a mentally creative outlet, such as sewing clothes for friends with my sewing machine I brought from home, finding spiritual quotes to serve as inspirational reminders on my dorm walls, and catching up with my high school friends through hand-written letters.

Finding time to do what you love, whether a small or grand action, or dedicating time for relaxation can help relieve the stress that comes with the crazy demands of college life. Ultimately, I had to change my mentality on the way I valued my time in order to take better care of myself. I’m still trying to achieve my perfect balance of tending to commitments I’ve made while simultaneously scheduling in personal leisure time, but it’s not a balance that I believe should be discovered quickly. Recently, I always try to remind myself that taking care of myself today helps alleviate the stress of tomorrow. I value the overwhelming moments I’ve had throughout my college experience thus far because, in retrospect, these moments have taught me that I am able to overcome the stressful days and can continue to work towards finding a balance that works for me. Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do for yourself in college. Whether mentally, physically, or spiritually, it simply allows you time for personal growth, discovery, and reflection so you can focus on becoming the most content and best “you” possible.

Making Time for God

dbibee@scu.edu (David Bibee) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:00:00 PST

Text messages, phone calls, Facebook updates, classes, clubs, homework, new friends, emotional challenges—each of us have hundreds of things vying for our attention every day. I often find that I am too busy to take time for myself—there are too many things to do, people to see, experiences to have, deadlines to meet. Of course caring for myself naturally would be the least of my concerns.

Most of the time I can pretty successfully push aside my exhaustion, stress, and sometimes chaotic emotions, in order to do all of the things I feel that I need to do; but, I have found that it is only a matter of time until my personal needs catch up and refuse to be ignored.

I wonder if there is a reason for this? Perhaps, I am in need of something more that will sustain me throughout each week.

Fortunately, Jesus demonstrates the solution for us: human flourishing requires consistent relationship with God. Even Jesus, though He is God, had to take time away from what He was doing in order to recharge and prepare for what was coming next. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus “would often withdraw to the wilderness to pray” (Luke 5:16). Some translations say that Jesus withdrew to “desolate” or “lonely” places. Regardless of which translation we use, one thing is clear: Jesus regularly took time to be alone and commune with God as a way of rejuvenating Himself. It makes me wonder if we might actually be selling ourselves short when we don’t make time for God, no matter how busy we may seem to be. Maybe spending time connecting with God is actually one of the most practical things we can do.

In my own life, I have seen how God keeps drawing me back—sometimes gently and other times dramatically. Maybe I had a particularly busy quarter with way more work than I seem to have time for and too many obligations to fulfill. Once again, the daily time with God I want to have becomes more of a monthly thing. I have time for everything except simply sitting and talking with my Father. It’s in these times that I start to feel my need for God because without regular interaction I become separated from the source of Living Water that God promises to be for us.

Each of us are thirsty people who have needs that must be met, but there is only one Source that fully satisfies. As I have taken time with making God a priority each day—not simply on Sunday—I can see how He not only changes my heart towards Him and other people, but also rejuvenates and sustains me in tangible ways.

One of the most important things I have learned in college is to recognize the things that I need. God created each of us to need more than what we can provide for ourselves: we also need Him.

What It Means For Me to Give

kschulz@scu.edu (Kristin Schulz) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:00:00 PST

Although I’m not Catholic, or technically part of any religion, I still value time to reflect on various things that I’m grateful for everyday. I believe gratitude is necessary for every person to live a truly happy life, and so I incorporate many different activities into my life that remind me every day what it means to give and the importance of it.

While I’m not particularly religious, I would say that I am definitely spiritual. So I meditate for fifteen minutes every morning not only to center myself, but also to thank God for my incredibly blessed life. I acknowledge and give thanks for things, from my amazing family and friends to things such as having running water and screens on my windows. Starting my day off by being in a state of gratitude helps me to remember the importance of helping others to have a better quality of life.

Personally, I think I have a magnified sense of just how blessed my life is because I am adopted. Being adopted has given me a definite perspective of how drastically different my life could have been if I hadn’t been adopted, or had simply been adopted into another family that isn’t as well off as my family is. Talking to my birth mother, who lives in a trailer in Minot, North Dakota, doesn’t have a job, and barely graduated high school, just puts me in awe of where I am in life in comparison. Here I am, living in Los Angeles, from a well-off family, a graduate of high school, and almost done with undergraduate school with plans to pursue a Ph.D. and a nice job. This awareness of various ways in which people live their lives and the realities they face has compelled me with a strong desire to help people in any way I can.

Throughout high school and to this day, I still do many volunteer activities. I even received a letter from President Obama thanking me for all of my community service and encouragibng me to keep going! I think it’s very important to help others who are less fortunate or are simply in need of help because I know I wouldn’t be where I am in life today without the people who’ve helped me out along the way. So it’s necessary to pay it forward, in a sense, because if people don’t, they wouldn’t thrive as much, or even at all in some cases. What kind of a world would we create if we didn’t help each other out now and then? Certainly not the kind of world that I would want to live in! We have one life, one planet, and I think everyone has a duty to leave this world a little better than they found it.

So as I reflect on what I think it means to give, I think it means that you care not only about others, but also this world. It means that you acknowledge and are thankful for what you have and have a desire to help others in need. It means that you care about the bigger picture in life, and aren’t content with just sitting by and doing nothing. We are so lucky to be alive, living on this beautiful and wondrous planet, and I think we need to make the most of it, because if we don’t, what would we get out of life?

If you are interested in geting involved with Relay for Life at Santa Clara University, please follow this link.

Faith Whilst Abroad

jlujano@scu.edu (José Lujano) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:00:00 PST

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I would write this, or what exactly I would say, but for the most part I just wanted to convey my faith experiences since taking first Eucharist. I am currently sitting on a plane, thinking to myself what I did in my life to deserve such an amazing experience while abroad. Certainly, God thought I did something right, and as a result I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to study politics and religion in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. I knew for a fact that this was His way of saying that I needed to go out in the world, discover my true self, and work at it to better not just myself but others as well. I tried to do just that.

During my week-long study break, I chose to go on a five-day trip to the home of Catholicism: Rome. I could have easily gone with friends to Rome and done what college students do, but I felt I had a purpose to go there and I let my heart guide me instead. I booked my flight and my hotel alone, and found it within myself to break the taboo of traveling alone at my age. I did this because I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the amazing location to study my faith deeper and reflect on where I am at since I first became a Catholic. With that said, I posed myself two questions to answer throughout that week and up until the end of my study abroad experience: Why am I a Catholic? Why am I proud to be a Catholic. This is what I came up with.

I grew up in a very Mexican-Catholic family. If I could choose one person that epitomized religion into me, I would have to say it was my grandmother. She was a very devout catholic who filled our home with religious mementos of El Santo Niño de Atocha, and the Virgen de Guadalupe. My grandmother was the exemplary Catholic, humble despite her many acknowledged shortcomings. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but what got her through the day was knowing that that was okay, and that her family would still love her. She passed away when I was seven years old, and after she died, I was left with many questions, most of them unanswered to this day. But for some reason I chose not to do my first communion until I came to Santa Clara. Freshman year at Santa Clara, I met Lulu Santana who helped me understand that it was okay to have lots of questions, and it was okay to wholeheartedly embrace the love that is our Lord. By the end of RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), I was more ready than ever to take first Eucharist and receive the holy oils that made people want to smell my face. The ceremony was beautiful. I would say that if I were to list the proudest moments of my life, that day would probably be top three.

Today I am on an airplane home having spent the past four months living the dream and traveling in Europe.

At first, it was difficult being in a country with a small amount of Catholics. It is not as easy to find a Catholic church in London as you might think, and every trip I would take to mass, would take at least 30 minutes to complete. It was, however, very much worth it since I became a part of the community of Westminster Cathedral, a brilliant parish and an amazing feat of architecture. Going there most Sundays was the highlight of my day, but it made me think about how it is more difficult to be a Catholic in different parts of the world. In the UK, being Catholic in a mostly Anglican country is very difficult, especially for me, a student with no car. On most days, it was nearly impossible to get there without rain delaying either the bus or the church. However, I would see past that and try my best to make it to mass every Sunday.

One of the most hallowed experiences of my life happened while in London. On December 12th, also known as el Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe, I promised the Virgen that I would go to church at Westminster that day, seeing as I was very far from home. Unfortunately, as I was leaving work, I forgot to get off at the correct stop. I felt a sense of betrayal, like I had failed Her, so I immediately turned around and went to the church. I was very amazed when I learned that I arrived right as a mass was starting. To my surprise, mass was all about Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. The priest talked about La Virgen’s story and, surprisingly, many people were intrigued by what he said and wanted to learn more. After mass, we were invited to the sacristy to view an image of Our Lady. Everyone in the church flocked to the sacristy. What used to be a quiet, private area of the church soon became a long line full of people waiting to meet Our Lady. I had never been happier while in London.

Backtracking, my trip to Rome was probably the greatest experience of my life. After a very long day traveling, I got to Rome and the first thing I did after checking in was to find my way to Vatican City. This was a dream come true. I arrived on Wednesday, a papal audience day. I am almost glad that it rained because I feel like it deterred a large crowd. When I got comfortably close enough, I just listened to his message. That day it was a simple yet powerful message, faith originates in the church. I took it straight to heart, and thought of what that meant to me. Not to mention, I was put on the spot by Vatican Radio, since they interviewed me because I spoke Spanish (probably one of the big highlights of my trip).
But when one thinks about it, the concept of faith starting in the church is a rather abstract one. I was of the belief that faith started in each individual human being--that when things got tough, we would have faith that things got better. However, that was looking at it from a very small perspective. The Church is a worldwide organization. Yes, different individuals have faith differently, but as one single Christian church, faith does get facilitated and promoted for the greater good of the world, not only for each individual. This really set the mood for the rest of my trip. I can’t tell you how many churches I visited and how many times I had profound faith experiences, sometimes right in the middle of the street. But the beauty of it all is that it really helped me solidify why I am a Catholic and I am proud of it. Believing in something is very easy. I can tell you that I weigh 223.5 pounds; though you might have your doubts, you still take me at my word and believe me. I think some people ascribe to this thought process when relating it to religion, regardless of which. Having faith, however, is something totally different and out of this world.

Having faith means that you stop at a corner of the street and pray to God as you would in a church, knowing that it will have the same effect. Having faith is losing someone dear, but knowing that God chose them to be in a special place in heaven, awaiting the eventual day where you might reunite. Having faith is knowing fundamentally that God exists and is everywhere you see beauty, but especially in the places where you see pain. Faith is knowing that you are not perfect, and that you make many mistakes, but still having the firm conviction that God will take care of you so long as you are honest and sincere, Faith is beautiful. Faith brings out the best qualities in every one of us, showing us the difference between right and wrong.

My faith leads me to know that I made the right choice when I chose to become a Catholic. You see, I am proud to walk around and openly bless myself and pray whenever I pass a church. And I’ll tell ya, I am very proud to walk into some of the most beautiful churches the world has ever seen. But I am not proud of being a Catholic because of the nice facilities, the free bread and wine during communion, or the awesome snacks after mass on Sundays. No, I am proud because in my church, people found it within themselves to show their love of God by building the most magnificent buildings this world has ever seen. I am proud because some of those people doubted themselves, yet to this day their faith has built La Sagrada Familia, Vatican City, Florence Cathedral, etc. I am proud because my church acknowledges that more needs to be done to address the needs of the wider population--not just food and shelter, but education and work placements. I am proud because people like Lulu Santana devote themselves every single day of their lives to serving God by recruiting and teaching young men and women the value of being close to God. I am proud because organizations like the Jesuit brotherhood exist to serve the community where other entities cannot. But most importantly, I am proud because I know that wherever I go, someone will know what I am talking about when it comes to pride in their religion. We have a lot to work on as a church, not just the leadership but the community as well. Regardless, I think we are on the right track to make more people like me proud of their religion.

Insights into Fasting

ssiddiqee@scu.edu (Seher Siddiqee) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:34:00 PST

Fasting v. to abstain from all food.

So you don’t eat any food or drink anything? That sounds really intense. Why would you willingly do that? These are some of the questions and reactions I get when people hear that I am fasting. There are many responses to these questions, and here are mine.

Every year I celebrate the month of Ramadan, fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam. I, along with Muslims from around the world, abstain from all eating and all drinking (including water) from the time the sun rises in the morning until it sets in the evening. In the winter it is about 10 hours and 16 hours in the summer here in Northern California.

At its most basic level I fast because it is an act of worship to God and a way to be in solidarity with those who are less fortunate than I am. I know that when I break my fast at the end of the day, there will be plenty of food to quench my thirst and hunger. I am not forced to fast because there isn’t enough food around. But the fasting becomes much more than that, because when the sun sets and I hear the call to prayer indicating that it is time to break my fast, food is the last thing on my mind. I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings and provisions God has given me. I spend the few minutes before breaking my fast in reflection of all this.

Ramadan is also a restart button for me; a time to purify my soul. For many years I understood this to mean that I had to give something up that was bad. Yes, that is part of it, but I have found that adopting a positive behavior is just as much a part of it and often more powerful. Each morning before the dawn prayer, I take a few minutes to make an intention for the day. Why am I fasting today? What am I going to do today? What am I not going to do today? In Islam, intentions are just as important as the deed itself. These specific intentions help keep my day focused. When I start getting tired, hungry, or cranky, I can think back to the intentions I made in the morning and it helps me refocus my attention to the reason I am fasting and why it matters to me.

Fasting provides a context for me to step back to take account of all that God has bestowed upon me. So often I take these things for granted and fail to recognize how fortunate I am. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is more than just withholding from food and drink, it humbles me and brings me back to God, the source and provider of my existence.

RCIA after a year

nlee@scu.edu (Nikki Lee) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:00:00 PST

On April 7, 2012 after a year and a half long process of reflecting, discussing, and allowing myself to be open to all that the Catholic Church had to offer me, I finally received my Sacraments and became an official member of the Catholic Church. The process itself was not an easy one – it took much motivation, discipline, and willingness to take time out of my day to do things I wouldn’t normally bother doing. However, all of the struggles I faced staying committed to the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) program here at SCU were nothing compared to the struggles I have been facing, and still continue to face, for the past year or so.

About 2 or 3 months after I received my Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation I found myself attending mass less and less. At first it was mainly because of the fact that the church I attended at home was so far away from my house, but after a few weeks it was mainly because I was just too lazy to go. I would find excuses, or find myself being happy when I had excuse, to not go to mass every Sunday. For a while, I began to think that it was no big deal and that I would pick it up again when I got back to SCU for the beginning of the new year. But that was not the case.

When I got back to school, I continued to skip mass every Sunday, but instead of thinking that it was okay and I would make it up later, I found myself feeling guilty and almost as if the entire RCIA process that I had worked so hard throughout had gone to waste. I was disappointed and mad at myself for not showing more commitment to my faith especially when I did hold my faith as a high priority. I began to develop more and more a sense of loneliness that I hadn’t felt when I was attending mass because going to mass always made me feel part of a larger community. At the same time, I was much less involved in other on campus clubs, such as MCC clubs, and was not doing anything with my time besides homework and working two on campus jobs. Basically, I was in my own stress-filled bubble and was doing nothing to get out of it.

Attending mass on a weekly basis had given me a sense of belonging and an outlet to relieve any stress I had pent up from the week before. Being able to walk up to receive Eucharist during Mass also made me feel great about myself and how hard I worked to achieve that goal. Without it, I began to feel less satisfied with myself and it made me realize that not only had I given up my church community, but I had given up on establishing relationships in other communities that could greatly benefit my well-being as well as assist in achieving my future goals. I tell myself every day that I need to get back on it, but saying things and doing things are so completely different.

A Beer with Jesus

gmancillas@scu.edu (Gladys Mancillas) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:00:00 PST

Country music is not a genre I frequently listen to. I don’t have anything against it, I’m just used to listening to mainstream music. But today, I was reunited with an old friend and she played country music in her car on our way to get dinner.

One song in particular really caught my attention. As soon as I heard: “If I could have a beer with Jesus…” I turned up the volume. What an interesting idea! If I could have a beer with Jesus, what would I do? What would I say? What would I ask? As I paid close attention to the lyrics of this song, I began to reflect on my faith and my life.

“Do you hear the prayers I send?”

In middle school, I hated the idea of memorizing prayers. My teachers taught me that a prayer was a conversation with God. I didn’t see the point of memorizing words that I was supposed to say to him. I’ve known the Hail Mary and the Our Father prayer by heart since I was 10 years old, but to this day I just have conversations with my friend Jesus whenever I do pray. But going to a bar and having a casual beer with Jesus would be entirely different. I wouldn’t be able to talk to him as casually as I do when I pray. If I had him right in front of me, I’d feel guilty for not always believing in him. I’d feel guilty for only talking to him when I was going through hard times.

“How’d you turn the other cheek to save a sorry soul like me?”

I grew up Catholic and I know that Jesus died for our salvation. But I think that is so unfair. We still sin and humanity will keep on sinning. Did he really have to die? Giving up his life was the greatest act of love. But even he was scared to go through with it, though he was willing to die if it was God’s will.

The song is sung by Thomas Akins and the lyrics bring up a lot of other questions. What does this song make you think, feel, reflect on? What questions would you have if you could talk to Jesus face to face?

Click on this link to hear the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD2CjVFlgKE

This blog was originally posted on the CNS Branches blog on January 27, 2013 by Gladys Mancillas. It is used with permission. For more entries like this from SCU students, like CNS Branches on Facebook.

Hospitality: warmth and acceptance

cchee@scu.edu (Clement Chee) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:00:00 PST

Over the years, Santa Clara’s campus ministry has grown and developed in order to fulfill its mission of fostering the growth of the spiritual lives of its student body. Today we offer several programs each week, hoping to provide at least one type of activity or group that could appeal to each student. Thus, it makes sense that each has a different approach, feel, and target group.

However, there is one aspect that each area of ministry holds in common with each other: hospitality. Setting up different programs, discussions, and services is only half of the process. In order for each of us to be successful in our ministry, we need to provide a welcoming environment where students can feel safe to explore their spirituality. Spirituality and faith are very sensitive topics and it can be very easy to offend or exclude someone because of a slight difference in beliefs or practices. Hospitality involves extending a warm welcome and acceptance to each person that makes the brave decision to explore his or her spirituality with others, especially if the newcomer doesn’t know anyone in the group.

I’ll admit, when I was first hired as the Hospitality intern, I had very little idea of what it entailed. Wasn’t it just passing out snacks after the 9 p.m. Mass on Sunday? Well … that’s part of it, but definitely not the true essence of it. Hospitality is seeing, accepting, and engaging with others. Back home, at least 95% of the usual crowd at church was Catholic. The Mission at Santa Clara attracts a much more diverse crowd. Standing at the front of the doors of the Mission, I cannot tell who belongs to what religious group. Is this person Catholic? Presbyterian? Methodist? Are they more traditional or progressive? Are they Christian or do they follow another faith? It doesn’t matter. None of that matters. Regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, style, or lack of style (that one would be me) each person is a person--a human being who wants to engage in our liturgy, who hopes to gain something positive from the experience. That is what matters. I have learned to see people as people and not just what they identify as and, rather than judge them based on the differences, celebrate that the differences are not enough to keep us from praying together.

Since I took on this ministry, I have come to enjoy welcoming students each Sunday at Mass and seeing how much they want to be there. This is the key to making hospitality work. Hospitality requires two people: one to open his or her arms, and another to enter into the embrace. I am privileged to witness this, almost on a daily basis: seeing people walk into our office or into Mission Santa Clara and truly wanting to be there. The students we minister to complete our ministry, and I feel truly blessed to take part in something so simple and meaningful each day.

Much more than a job

mpnsmith@scu.edu (Matthew Smith) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:36:00 PST

I knew exactly what I was searching for when I entered campus ministry: a job. I had heard an announcement about an opening for desk receptionists in mass and thought I might as well apply for a work-study job. I was not expecting much; simply hoping to make a little money while answering a few phone calls, helping people with their questions and other basic office work. When I came back to school and had my first few days of formation for orientation I began to understand that I had gotten much more than just a job on campus. The campus ministers and all of the interns were not only encouraging in helping me do well at my job, but also were so intent on getting to know me as a person. I was being welcomed into a community, making a home for
myself at Santa Clara. This was already more than I had ever hoped for.

I was so excited and relieved to see some other campus ministry interns hanging out on the infamous couches when I walked in for my first day. Little did I know, at this point, that this was far from a rare occurrence. As I witnessed the singing, storytelling and overall goofiness that occurred on the office couches I quickly picked up on the fact that this was far from the average office environment. Although working at the desk, I do not get to witness much of the work that occurs within the recesses of the intern’s and minister’s offices, I do get to be a part of another form of work that is just as important. At first one may see the fun and games that occur within the walls of Campus Ministry as goofing off or procrastination, which maybe at times it is, but I have also come to realize, as I have witnessed it many a time, that this is a pivotal part of what those in Campus Ministry do. This is a form of ministering to the needs of the Santa Clara University whether that is a need for laughter, an uplifting conversation or a listening ear. Sitting at the front desk, I have had the opportunity to see the many people that pass through Campus Ministry, some briefly and other repeat customers who love to claim a chair for the day. I see the effect that being in this environment, where others are in such genuine communion with one another, has on people. There are ways in which it brightens their day and teaches them a new way of being, spreading that light, love and the presence of God to the rest of the campus whether they realize it or not.

It took me awhile to recognize that I had become a part of this infectious environment, that the contact I have with each person that comes into Campus Ministry, whether they are a newcomer or a regular, is their introduction to this amazing community. And with this realization, I found something else; I found purpose. I cannot guarantee that in Campus Ministry you will find exactly what you are looking for, but often the greatest things to discover are the things we did not even know we were missing.

Just What I Needed

anauman@scu.edu (Alex Nauman) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:08:00 PST

Alex Nauman ('15) reflects on the experience of God's love he had on the Search retreat

Faithful Citizenship

lsnowden@scu.edu (Laura Snowden) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:54:00 PST

Laura Snowden, a SCU senior and Campus Ministry Intern for Christian Diversity, reflects on what it means to be a faithful citizen.

Los Altares

mpnsmith@scu.edu (Matt Smith) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:19:00 PST

When you walk into the Mission Church during the month of November, you will notice that there’s a bit more color than usual. On the morning of October 27, Sr. Ana María Pineda’s “US Hispanic Popular Religion” class will be observing the longstanding Latin American tradition of the Día de los Muertos by creating an altar of remembrance for loved ones who have died. The tradition is one of indigenous origin, which is blended with the Catholic observances of the Feast of All Saints (November 1) and the Feast of All Souls (November 2). The use of bright, lively colors emphasizes the celebratory nature of the Día de los Muertos. “It is a time to befriend the idea of death, that it’s part of who we are. It’s a flow from life to death,” explains Sr. Pineda.

Sr. Pineda, citing Virgilio Elizondo, says that there are three moments of death: physical death when a person’s body stops working; the burial of that person, when their death seems truly final; and the moment when they are forgotten. The altars provide a remedy for the latter--a way to remember the deceased.

Elements of the altar that you’ll notice include food, photos, personal items, candles, “papel picado” (ornately cut paper), “pan de muerto” (bread of the dead), sugar skulls, and skeletons. Families use bright and fragrant marigold petals to invite the spirits of the dead home to the altar, where items that they were fond of in life await them.

Maricarmen Batres, a Santa Clara sophomore, has an altar on which she has placed a picture of her grandfather, who passed away this past May. She and her family have a bottle of Coke brought back from Mexico for her grandfather, because he thoroughly enjoyed the beverage while he was alive. She emphasizes that the practice of creating the altar is meant to be a celebration. In fact, when her grandfather died they decided to forego the practice of being in mourning, and instead sing songs in his honor because of his love of and passion for music. When the altar of remembrance is assembled in the Mission Church next week, Maricarmen will be placing a reminder of her grandfather on it.

Sr. Ana María describes how moved she is by the way that people approach the altar and look forward to it each year. “It’s become a really important place for remembering those you love. My impression is that every time [the altar] gets done, this little space has an added sense of sacredness.” There are people from varying traditions and backgrounds who return to the altar year-after-year to keep the memory of their loved ones alive. She continues, “It’s incredibly moving to me to see the different people who are remembered every year.”

Last evening, the Multicultural Center provided students with pan dulce and traditional hot chocolate as it hosted an event to create an altar for the MCC. They provided butterflies on which to write family members’ names as a way of honoring the free spirits of the deceased. They also had sugar skulls that students could decorate and place on the altar. The altar will be on display in the MCC until next Friday.

If you would like to keep the memory of a loved one alive, we invite you to bring an item reminding you of that person to the Mission Church on or after October 27. Please don’t bring original pictures or items of great value. You can pick up your item(s) on November 27 when the altar is disassembled or in Campus Ministry after that date. Additionally, if you have had a loved one die in the past year, we hope you will join us for a mass of remembrance on November 1, the Feast of All Saints, at Noon in the Mission Church.

Notice and Choose

jlandry@scu.edu (Julia Claire Landry) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:00:00 PST

What prevents you from experiencing the fullness of life? Julia Claire Landry, Director of Retreats, reflects on the readings for Sunday, September 30, imploring us to notice and choose.

What Rosh Hashanah means to me

mpnsmith@scu.edu (Matt Smith) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:02:00 PST

Akiba Lerner of SCU's Religious Studies faculty reflects on the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.