re:connection fall 2014

& FR. GABRIEL RICHARD NEWMAN CENTER

KEEPING YOU CONNECTED TO YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

re:connectionSt. Mary Student Parish

Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Michigan

FALL 2014

ignite:connection

Another academic semester is upon us here in Ann Arbor, and change is in the air. From the changing of leaves from fresh green into burnt orange and crimson, to the extra layer of sweaters and scarves, change brings growth and

inspiration. We welcome new staff and new programs for our student parishioners, kindling new opportunities of faith, fellowship, and friendship.

Legend has it that when St. Ignatius of Loyola missioned his best friend and fellow Jesuit St. Francis Xavier to be a missionary to the Far East, he knew that he was not likely to see him again. As Ignatius sent Xavier off to his new mission, he told him, "Ite Infammate Omnia," or

go and set the world on fire. When our Jesuit parish thinks about outreach, we think big. That's the whole purpose of the new student event happening every Thursday evening. Drawing on this image of setting the world on fire, we've named it Ig.nite.

click the icon on our website

Twitter @SMSPumich

ig・nite /iɡˈnīt/ verb, to catch fire or cause to catch fire synonyms: kindle, trigger, spark, instigate, excite, provoke, stir up, whip up, rally, incite, fuel

Food and fellowship are nothing new to Christianity, Jesus gave us the model some 2,000 years ago. Our discussions don't always need to be heavy or deep, because sometimes the best outreach is an authentic welcoming smile. As we contemplated the needs of our student parish, Fr. Ben Hawley, S.J. @pastorstmarys challenged us to encourage students to make time for weekly mass. So we crafted the perfect recipe: 5:10 PM mass, a home-cooked meal, and relatable content - packed into one event that wraps up by early evening. And our students have responded, with at least 70 students stopping by our parish every Thursday.

Any program of this magnitude requires the support of students and staff alike, our very own Susan Maulbetsch, Coordinator of Hospitality and Welcome, orchestrates new and exciting meals each week. From barbecue chicken and home-style biscuits to creamy vegetable soup served in a freshly baked bread bowl, Susan keeps our students full and focused. Quite a feat for over 70 students!

Student leadership also plays an integral role in the success of our programming. The team of students leading Ig.nite is headed by Jimmy Butler @jimbutlr, SMSP Intern for Faith Formation. Each week their dedication to discussion of upcoming topics, personal greetings, and follow-up with new students keeps the energy up and attendance high. At the Mass, undergrads serve as musicians, readers, and Eucharistic ministers.

From guest speakers, including Fr. Paul Mueller, S.J., Scientist from the Vatican Observatory, to an introduction to Small Church Communities, students feel welcome while exploring their faith. In many ways, Ig.nite has truly become a taste of SMSP.

“Ite Infammate Omnia,” Go and Set the World on Fire!

Students connect over dinner at Ig.nite

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reconnection_fall2014.pdf 3 11/6/2014 5:09:20 PM

see:connection

Several undergraduate interns pose for a picture in the Loyola Room during a bi-weekly Friday Formation Session.

Student leaders gather at the beginning of the semester to plan ideas and discuss strategies to build our faith community.

Festive Michigan fans come together to celebrate Mass and Brunch before the game on Parents’ Weekend in October with Fr.

Ben presiding and students as worship leaders.

Seniors Julia Kehoe and Andrea Cuamatzi roast marshmallows to make s’mores at the annual fall bonfire.

Our Hispanic/Latino community created an altar to celebrate Dia de los Muertos-Day of the Dead on November 1st.

In September, 35 students volunteered at Food Gatherers, Ann Arbor’s local non-profit food shelter.

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staff:connection

courtyard:connection

Fr. Eric Sundrup, S.J.Hispanic & Campus Minister

Brittany Tobias @britneejo joined SMSP in September and enjoys living on the Old West Side and exploring Ann Arbor. Recently married, Brittany and her husband Ryan relocated to Ann Arbor from Chicago. Brittany brings eight years of marketing experience in commercial real estate and advertising to SMSP and is excited to enhance our

communications platform!

Fr. Eric Sundrup, S.J. @sunnydsj was ordained in June 2014 and joined SMSP in August. Fr. Eric relocated to Ann Arbor after completing his degree at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. Fr. Eric spent part of his Jesuit training living and working in Bolivia and Peru and is excited to begin working with our vibrant Hispanic ministry.

Susan’s Maulbetsch’s warm personality and passion for hospitality truly welcome our parishioners at SMSP. In her new role, Susan organizes and executes event menus, designs welcome banners, and has grown our Sunday Mass and semester welcome teams. Often she is a welcoming presence herself right at our church doors. Susan lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and two adult daughters.

Rita Zyber joined the staff in June to assist with RCIA sessions. Rita has

previous staff experience at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor, as well as years of volunteer service in religious education, stewardship, music ministry and RCIA. She is also a freelance writer. She and her husband, Frank, have two college-age daughters, Claire and Lauren.

Susan MaulbetschWelcome & Hospitality

Coordinator

Rita ZyberRCIA Coordinator

Brittany TobiasCommunications Director

The custom of burying our loved ones near the parish church is almost as old as the concept of a parish itself. It is also a symbol of our life in faith, which begins in Baptism and ends with death and new life in Christ.

At the request of our parishioners, St. Mary Student Parish is constructing a memorial garden, a columbarium for the interment of remains of parish members and loved ones. A columbarium is an arrangement of openings, or niches that are used as a permanent resting place for urns containing the cremated remains of an individual.

After years of planning, we've obtained permission from the Bishop, and our memorial garden is under construction! Our columbarium is composed of cast bronze and granite, with 214 niches available. It is located in the courtyard behind the parish offices. The in-ground structure is along the wall facing the bell, and is visible from the upper atrium. In the spring, the surrounding areas of the columbarium will be beautifully landscaped!

Psalm 91:1 Happy is he whose resting-place is in the secret of the Lord, and under the shade of the wings of the Most High

For more information, including pricing and availability, please contact [email protected]

Memorial garden columbarium rendering

Connect with SMSP online @SMSPumichNotice the @ listed after students and staff mentioned in this newsletter? Follow us on Twitter to stay connected to campus!

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Rachel is a Wisconsin native who graduated from University of Wisconsin- Stout in 2013 with a degree in Psychology. She spent the last year living in community in Detroit while working for one of the few Catholic elementary schools left in the city. Rachel decided that she really enjoyed Michigan and wasn't ready to leave, and so accepted a position as Peer Minister for the 2014-2015 school year. Rachel enjoys reading, swing dancing, music, and anything related to

science fiction.

Elaina Jo grew up in South Bend, IN and graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 2012 where she majored in Religious Studies. Most recently she spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. She served the children of the Northern

Cheyenne and Crow tribes at St. Labre Catholic Indian School in Ashland, MT.

Elaina Jo loves learning about new cultures and religious traditions while also

deepening her own faith and spiritual life. She loves nature, music, breakfast foods, and dancing.

peer minister:connection

program:connectionFamily Faith Formation Programming at SMSP strives to build Catholic leaders for tomorrow. Through one of our largest programs, Family Faith Formation, undergrads minister as catechists to the 240 children of our 140 resident families. Our program meets monthly. This fall we have 62 undergraduate catechists gaining experience here at SMSP to serve as catechists at future parishes.

Family Faith Formation began in 1997 as a collaborative effort between students and resident parishioners. Serving pre-k through seventh graders and their families, undergrads teach traditional catechism classes while parents attend a large group session led by a speaker. The goal of our program is to support parents as the primary teachers of faith to their children.

Through teaching children, many college catechists have experienced a deepening of their own faith and understanding. Junior Chandler Missig is in her third year with Family Faith Formation and currently serves as the program’s intern. In her fall reflection, Chandler writes:

BIG little MentorshipA Program Designed for Students by Students

St. Mary Student Parish is excited to share its new mentorship program! Modeled after a traditional Big Brother / Big Sister program, freshmen were paired with upperclassmen based on similar interests, majors, and expectations of the program. BIG little was developed by Jessica Wojtczak, SMSP Intern for Stewardship, as a way to incorporate faith into a student’s transition to college life. This fall, we have 30 participants in the program. Bigs and littles are encouraged to attend mass and parish events together, as well as discuss and discern their

journeys of faith here on campus.

Elaina Jo Polovick @elainajo1 Rachel Conner @SPNRachel

The Peer Minister program launched three years ago as an opportunity for recent graduates to engage and explore a year of service and ministry at SMSP. Each year, two candidates work (and live!) at the church in a variety of ministries and programs.

This year’s peer ministers focus on outreach and engagement as well as leading the High School Youth Group.

NEW @ SMSP

“It has been through teaching that I have

been able to feel closest to my spiritual

self and most importantly to God.”

It is truly inspiring to share these experiences with our student parish! For more information about Family Faith Formation, please contact Karen Thomas [email protected].

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campus:connection

Students often feel that while the University of Michigan places great emphasis on diversity, faith is sometimes left out of the conversation. On September 23rd, we joined seven diverse student organizations for a beautiful afternoon out on the Diag. A celebration of faith, Festifaith was created to build interfaith relationships and emphasize the collective impact of spiritual life on campus.

Led by Kelly Dunlop, St. Mary’s Associate Director of Campus Ministry, the event was well attended by

faculty and students alike. Representing St. Mary Student Parish, Katie Larin was

instrumental during planning, and Jill Grabowski spoke at the event. We were excited to have university president Dr. Mark Schlissel stop by!

Participating student groups took turns performing and speaking to attendees,

and other students staffed information tables and distributed T-shirts. To help

foster communication, three large boards were set up in a triangle formation (see

photo above), inviting students to reflect and respond on what faith means to them. The boards

were then displayed in our atrium and are rotating through participating organizations for students to continue the conversation.

Festifaith not only raised awareness on campus, but fueled yet another new program. Students developed the Interfaith Alliance committee to continue the discussion of faith and explore religious diversity. They have initiated a discussion series centered on religious values and practices to make faith a hot topic on campus.

While race and gender are often at the forefront of conversation and dialogue, faith is not discussed enough. Festifaith made lasting connections, formed meaningful friendships, and gave us a space to celebrate faith on campus.

Events you don’t want

to miss

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3Free Yoga ClassesBy popular demand, Meg Riegel is offering free yoga classes this fall every Tuesday evening at 7pm in Donnelly Hall. Classes run until December. No experience necessary! Questions?Contact [email protected]

Feast Day of ServiceMark your calendars for this year’s feast day of service! On December 6th, volunteers will disperse in groups around Ann Arbor. Contact [email protected] for more information and registration. All are welcome!

Retreats in the New YearKnow a student looking for a way to deepen, enrich, or renew their spiritual life? Save the date for the undergraduate retreats this winter. Women’s: January 30-February 1 Men’s: January 16-18

Celebrating Faith Together

-Katie Larin ‘15 SMSP Intern for Outreach & Engagement

“”

Leaders from faith organizations on campus, including the SMSP Catholic Student Association, gather in front of the interactive boards on the Diag.

Sunday Mass Schedule8:30am・10:00・ 10:10

12:00pm ・ 2:00 (Spanish)5:00・7:00・9:00

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Life Sikh Student Association B

hakti Yoga W

esley

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tudent Association Muslim Studen

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festifaithfestifaithcelebrating faith together

2014

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Spring 2011

St. Mary Student Parish 331 Thompson StreetAnn Arbor, MI 48104

stmarystudentparish.orgsocial:connection

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