Keeping Monday’s tornado victims in our prayers

As we begin our final preparations for celebrating our graduates, we collectively hold the people of Moore, Okla., in our hearts and prayers. Those of us at Georgian Court and throughout this region who understand—and have in some way experienced—the devastation wrought by violent weather can empathize with those affected by Monday’s tragedy.

The tremendous outpouring of help that we shared is indicative of the Mercy spirit of community. We pray that it will now strengthen and comfort the people of Moore, and that it will sustain the many first responders and others involved with the recovery effort. I have no doubt that many in our community will offer support the victims through appropriate channels like the Red Cross and other nonprofit organizations.

Generosity comes in many forms and I hope the GCU community will respond as we always do.

Yours in mercy,

Sister Rosemary E. Jeffries
President

S. Pat McDermott addressed GCU students, faculty and staff as part of the university’s ongoing “Year of Faith” events.

LAKEWOOD, N.J., April 29, 2013—Sister Pat McDermott, President of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, spoke about Vatican II and the Call to Holiness before a crowd of faculty, staff, and alumnae on the evening of April 25. Vatican II, she said, was an invitation to “change our way of seeing” and the Call to Holiness is also a “Call to Wholeness.” Sister Pat noted that in 1962, she was a freshman in all-women’s Sisters of Mercy High School in Omaha, Nebraska and grew up across the street from a Sisters of Mercy convent. Vatican II, she said, was the most significant event of the 20^th century in which three themes emerged for the people of the Catholic faith: self-identity, engagement in the world, and participation and accountability.

Vatican II, she said, invited us to renew our identity as people of God, engage in the world for positive outcomes, and open up dialogue and collaboration. She embraced the words of John Paul XXIII:  “mercy rather than severity.” “The Call to Holiness is not a step away,” Sister Pat said. “The Call to Holiness is the whole of humanity.” Sister Pat also discussed the work of the Sisters of Mercy through social justice and charitable works and highlighted their advocacy, Mercy collaborations, and Mercy Taking Action events. “Nothing is separate in the journey of faith,” she said.

Read the entire text of her speech here.

Bishop David M. O’Connell Explores “The Call to Holiness” at Georgian Court University, 1/29/13

Bishop David M. O’Connell celebrated Mass at GCU and continued the day with a lecture on the “Call to Holiness” for members of the general public and campus community.

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Reflections on the opening of a new semester
By Sr. Francesca Holly ’69 ‘00

Most Reverend David M. O’Connell CM, JCD celebrated the beginning of the second semester and the Year of Faith at a Mass on January 29 at Georgian Court University.

The Bishop’s words gave us holy thoughts to consider. Bishop O’Connell commented on the beginnings of the four gospels which begin with genealogy and birth, a baptism, and a wedding. He highlighted Luke’s opening which saw Jesus, famous preacher and healer returning to his hometown for Sabbath. Invited to offer the sermon at the local synagogue, he delivers a teaching to the locals, using the prophet Isaiah’s words from the Torah.

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring the good  news to the afflicted….liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord. (Isaiah 61:1-2)   

The Bishop points out that Jesus speaks mightily for the poor, oppressed, sick and suffering. Pope John Paul II states, “He gives us a glimpse of who he is and why he comes and how we, who listen, should behave. This good news, this Godspell is filled with glad tidings, blindness changed into seeing clearly, souls healed reaching out to all believers—not just to the poor—to show the truth of Christ’s life and its connections to our lives.”

In this Year of Faith we, on campus, can offer the world outside what Christ teaches—freedom, joy, hope, and light—from our hearts to the local campus and beyond, proclaiming by our lives these teachings to the world at large.

NOV. 1—-Today is All Saint’s Day, and as the Jersey Shore struggles to recover in the wake of Sandy, the superstorm that roared ashore earlier this week, I’m glad I stumbled upon a misplaced piece of paper in my work bag. I really could use it today, and maybe you can, too–they’re notes that I scribbled from Monsignor Casmir “Casey” Ladzinski’s opening “Year of Faith” address to us on Mercy Day back in September:

“Mary’s life was an act of faith,” Monsignor said. “She was blessed, yes, but she never faltered in believing or in giving her entire life to God. We pray for ourselves and we pray for each other as we go forward into the Year of Faith.”

Put another way, she never doubted that God was there, directing her path.

“Think about it: You go to your car, push the button or turn the key and it starts,” Monsignor Casey continued. “You turn on the TV and a picture comes up. You take it for granted that it’s going to happen. In our daily lives, we sometimes ask, ‘Does God really hear my prayers?’ or ‘Does he really understand the mess I’m in?’ I tell you today to believe…believe and trust, because we are people of faith.”

The former pastor of Sacred Heart Church also discussed the impact of Vatican II, and urged GCU to engage in self-reflection and to consider our relationships with God and with the community.

“Do we really believe and do we really commit ourselves to God?” he asked. “If so, it means letting go, and giving it to God.”

So what happens when you send students into the Lions Den and ask them to open up about their faith?

Amazing things, according to Jen Valentin ’13, a communications major and the blogger behind Yup. That’s. Me., a social media platform that she uses to talk about all things GCU. In September, Jen led a “What About Faith” discussion group where students were encouraged to talk about what faith means to them. The takeaway?

“Students told stories that touched the hearts of others. Tears were shed and emotions were stirred up…” Jen wrote in her Sept. 12 post. Read her account of what happened and what’s to come at http://jv201208.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/a-year-of-faith-at-georgian-court-university/