Summer Camp: Lessons in Love

Last March, I fell into a state of “I-don’t-have-a-summer-job” panic. I decided the best way to remedy this situation, was to apply for 10 summer camps in one week. From tiny day camps to large horse camps, I applied to them all. Eventually I interviewed for the Catholic Youth Organization Girls Camp in Port Sanilac, Michigan. The next day, I went to mass at my home parish and found out that one of my favorite little old ladies at our church had also been a counselor there when she was my age. She shared with me stories about what it was like working there and it seemed more and more like this was where God was calling me to be this summer. A few weeks later, I got offered the job and I accepted right away. After a week of training, I was asked to work an additional two weeks at Camp Ozanam, a nearby camp that allowed underprivileged kids from inner-city Detroit to get a camp experience.

By the time my 6 weeks of working as a camp counselor was done, I had done a lot. I had slept out under the stars 2.5 times. I had cooked out over a fire for a week. I had directed the first the musical that Camp Ozanam had ever seen and taught a weekly dance class at CYO. I had spoken with a British accent for an entire week. I had made enough friendship bracelets, lanyards, and God’s Eyes to never want to see an arts and crafts hut again. I had dealt with campers throwing up and wetting the bed. I even led an overnight canoe trip and camp out along the Black River. It was a summer that was equal parts stress and fun. But as it always seems to happen, as much as I felt that I gave to camp, I felt that camp gave even more back to me. Looking back at my experience this past summer, I realize that camp was really a lesson in love, in really and truly loving like Christ does.

Loving Selflessly-

Just a few minutes into the start of camp, I realized that being a counselor was a job that required many hats- part teacher, part big sister, part bus boy, part cleaning lady, part coach, part paperwork guru. It is not possibly to be so giving and care about yourself at the same time. In order to start caring for your campers, you need to stop caring about yourself. My usual concerns for life- whether my make up looked good, whether I had time to brush my teeth or put on acne cream, whether I had updated social media or finished reading my latest novel- all faded away.  I learned that in order to fully love my campers and make sure they had a fun and safe time at camp, I learned that I needed to let go of all selfishness. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us. The least I can do is sacrifice my own comforts for that of my campers.

Loving Endlessly-

There were lots of campers who were easy to love- the small, sweet little campers who just wanted to hold my hand or the smart older campers who shared the same favorite book as me. There were times when it was easy to love my fellow counselors, when we’d go to the mall together during break or they’d surprise me with ice cream or chicken tenders. But there were times when it was harder to love- when campers were being rude, when a counselor made a brisk remark, or just when I myself was exhausted. But I worked to challenge myself to love anyway. After all, Christ’s love for us never wavers. It doesn’t choose who to love or who not to, Jesus loves everyone.

Love Jesus-

It goes without saying that you can’t be a role model to campers, telling them to live their faith, without trying to live it yourself. I made a special effort this summer to work on my relationship with Christ. I tried to prayer more often and deeper than before. I challenged myself to try lots of new forms of prayer and to talk about these with campers. I also tried to share with my campers- telling them about my struggles and successes in my faith life. I hoped that it would help them be able to listen to God’s call in their lives.

It is hard to communicate the experience I had this summer into a blog post. It was one of the most immersive, trying, and rewarding experiences I have ever had. I am so grateful that I found my way to Port Sanilac this summer. I am grateful for all the smiles from my campers, hugs from my co-counselors, and the ever-beautiful nature I got to see every day. But I am most thankful for my chance to learn to love deeper and richer than ever before.

Lessons from St Joseph

As students of “Our Lady’s University,” the majority of us are well versed in Mary. We pray to her at the grotto, we pass her daily on the dome, and we reflect on her life through the rosary. For many, Mary is a close spiritual guide. However, Mary’s husband and Jesus’s father, St. Joseph, is also a wonderful figure, yet we often forget to delve into his story. I decided to find out just a little bit more about him.

In many ways, Joseph is a mystery. There is no information as to where or when he was born. He is absent from gospels about Jesus’s ministry as well as his death and resurrection, so it is assumed that he died before Jesus. Despite the lack of information, we still have much to gain from  him.

Joseph’s story is all about sacrifice for those you love. When Mary became pregnant, an angel visited Joseph and told him that Mary was carrying the son of God. Joseph could have left- he would have no shame, no consequence if he did- Mary would carry solely the blame and scandal. Yet, despite the treat of disgrace and gossip, he resolved to stay with Mary. Not long after this act of sacrifice, Joseph made another. An angel came to him again and told him that his wife and child were in danger. Joseph listened to the angel’s words. He left with his family from Egypt immediately. He left behind his family, friends, and homeland to save those he cared most about.

These beautiful acts of love and strength are things we can look to as examples. They represent obedience to God’s call and commitment to those he loves. We are often called to do the same, in big and small ways. When a family member is ill, but we have other obligations, we are challenged to stay by our families. When we feel called to do something we aren’t sure about, we are challenged to follow God’s call. We are all asked to do the same thing Joseph did, to make sacrifices for those who we love.

Joseph is remembered for many things. He is the patron saint of the Universal Church, fathers, workers, carpenters, immigrants, and happy death. He has two feast days- March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1^st for Joseph the Worker. He is the saint for Croatia, Vietnam, and the United States. Most importantly though, he is the patron saint “against doubt and hesitation.” When we are situations that call us to love each other and make sacrifices, we can turn our prayers and petition to Joseph for strength, guidance, and serenity.

5 Questions with Sister Mary Lynch, SSJ

How often do we live with people in our dorms, walk by them, and not know their stories? This week, I decided to explore the story of McGlinn’s rectress, Sister Mary Lynch, SSJ.

Sister Mary worked as a campus minister, a high school theology teacher, and a Formation Director for the Mount St Joseph Convent in Philadelphia before coming to Notre Dame. She has now been the rectress of McGlinn for the past 9 nine years and continuously gives back to her residents in many different ways. Here is just a bit of her story in her words:

How to did you discern your calling to become a nun?

I had a sense that I was being called to religious life. It is not easy to put it into words. I tried not to think about it and it kept coming back.

How did you decide what order to join?

I had the Sisters of St. Joseph in grade school and I have two aunts in the community. Also, the charism spoke to me and I felt that it resonated with my desire to live.

What was your story in terms of coming to Notre Dame?

I was doing internal ministry for the congregation. It was no longer needed so I decided to look for another ministry. I had thought of the rector position two other times in my life but those times were not the right time for me to pursue this ministry.

What is your favorite part of being at Notre Dame? 

Working with students and walking with them through these four years of great growth and maturity.

What is your least favorite part?

The administrative parts of the rector role.

A Guide to Holy Week on Campus

Holy Week has come to Notre Dame. Whether you plan to spend the weekend on campus or at home, this week is an important time to pray and prepare for the death and resurrection of Christ.

Holy Week at ND is definitely something that students should try immerse themselves in at some point during their time here. The choirs rehearse all week, creating truly awesome music. The Basilica itself is a beautiful place to pray and reflect. There are few places you can have such a rich Holy Week experience as you can here, so take advantage of it in any way you can.

If you plan to stay on campus this year, here are a few tips to help you navigate the various Basilica liturgies.

1-    Come Early- like really early. No matter who you ask, you will always hear the same thing- getting to the Basilica early is necessary for getting a seat. The estimated times are: Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper- 1 to 2 hours early; Tenebrae- At least 1 hour early; Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion - 1 to 2 hours early; Good Friday Stations of the Cross- 45 minutes early; Saturday Easter Vigil- 2 to 3 hours early[K1] . Make it your priority to get to each service early or you may risk missing it all together. If you have a large group, make sure to come even earlier to make sure you have enough seats. As a general rule, saving seats is frowned upon.

2-    Know the Schedule. With so many events going on for Holy Week, it is important to know when each event starts. The Campus Ministry website has a convenient schedule for the week[K2] . You might want to consider printing it off, deciding what services you want to go to and how early you wish to arrive for them.

3-    Confession Time. As Catholics, it’s recommended that you go to Confession once a year, usually before Easter. Luckily, Notre Dame makes it really easy to get that confession in this week as they offer reconciliation several times a day. See the website for a full schedule [K3] or check out the cards available in dorms that include an  Examination of Conscious along with confession times.

4-    Eat. One recommendation I received from several people was to definitely enjoy the food this weekend. The Dining Hall offers an Easter Buffet, which is very delicious. For a full menu, see the food service website[K4] . There is also an unofficial student tradition of going to Steak and Shake with friends after the Easter Vigil (and drinking a shake if you gave up sweets for Lent)/

5-    Enjoy the Experience. Notre Dame’s Holy Week gives you so many opportunities to really make the most of this important time of the liturgical year. In addition to the masses, there are morning prayer services (Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 9 a.m.) and Sunday Night Vespers (at 7:15 p.m.). There are also several opportunities unique for students, such as the Campus Wide Stations of the Cross (Tuesday night 8 p.m. at the Grotto) and Student Easter Mass (Sunday 9p.m. Basilica).

A Letter to my Sister on her Confirmation

Dear Ruth, 

As your sponsor, I’ve been trying to think of a way to talk to you about Confirmation and everything you have to be excited about in becoming a full member of the Catholic Church. It’s easy to talk about these things to people who say prayers daily, never miss Sunday mass, and have lists of their favorite saints. But you, alas, are not that Confirmandi (though let’s face it- we know our mom was).

You often tell us that you aren’t sure God exists, though you often tell us about how you see signs of God in your life. You talk about how you see God answering your prayers. You often drag your feet when we go to mass as a family, yet you go to confession more than anyone else in our family. You complain about doing service hours, yet you always step up to serve- whether at your school or in the community. You have so much anger toward God, but in many ways you have the beginning of a rich relationship with God too.

You are full of passion and fire for the things you care about. You are never afraid to stand up for the things you believe in. I was talking to your catechist today, and he beamed when he told me about how you taught the class to always remember not to refer to God as “he.” I think you often worry that being a person of faith will stop you from being the strong woman you are. What you don’t see is that you can be both. You can take your thirst for justice and equality and channel it into your faith. There are so many women of faith who are able to make a huge difference in the world (link). God is always calling you to take your talents, your strengths, and passions and use them to help other. You just need to listen to God and find your call!

I can’t promise that I will always be a perfect model of faith, but I’m so happy you picked me to be your sponsor. I can, however, promise that I will always be there for you- if you have questions about God and faith, if you want someone to pray with you, or even just to listen to you. So on this very happy and blessed occasion, I encourage you to recognize that this is the start of your new grown up faith life. A chance to show the world how you can live your faith in your own way.

Sincerely,
Megan

Journeys of Love and Acceptance: LGBT Retreat

In 1998, students who wanted to take part in Campus Ministry’s LGBT retreat took an application from a secret drawer, separate from the wall of applications for the other retreats. The retreat itself was held in a hotel off campus Retreat talks focused mainly on finding the courage to “come out” and on finding a life within the church. And, after the retreat, follow-up discussions and reunions were also held off campus. Everything was done so that students could keep their sexuality a secret.

“It was a different place in society and acceptance,” said Tami Schmitz, Campus Ministry’s Director of Undergraduate Ministry who once worked on the LGBT retreat. Over time “straight” allies were invited to come on the retreat as well, which Schmitz said made it a happier experience, as students were joined by their friends, RAs, and other supporters. Eventually though, the core of student leaders who supported and lead the retreat graduated, and the retreat was no longer offered. “Not because Campus Ministry didn’t want it, but because it ran its course,” Schmitz explained.

Since then, Notre Dame has experienced changes that have helped grow the university in the areas of equality and inclusion. The creation of a full-time Gender Relations Center, the changes to the inclusion clause, and the creation of the “Beloved Friends and Allies” plan,which prompted the creation of PrismND, have all made it possible for the LGBT retreat to return to Notre Dame.

This spring, PrismND in partnership with Campus Ministry and Gender Relations, is offering a new and improved LGBT retreat. Gone is the secret off-campus location and the hidden application forms. Just like ND’s many other retreats, this year’s LGBT retreat will be housed at Sacred Heart Parish Center and the application is available online. It is entirely student lead and has been organized by Stephen Fisher with help from Prism’s Spiritual Committee and Campus Ministry’s Pastoral Care and Outreach Coordinator Ed Mack.

“As PrismND develops the retreat, we draw upon our past experiences with the Freshman Retreat, Senior Retreat, Latino Freshman Retreat, Asian/Asian American Retreats, and the Silent Retreat, as well as our experiences with spiritual direction and Campus Ministry’s interfaith resources,” Fisher said. “At the same time, we have tailored this retreat to serve and respect a diverse LGBT community with a variety of experiences regarding faith, spirituality, and sexuality, including those that are Catholic and non-Catholic. I cannot predict how the manifold influences on the retreat or the insights shared by the retreatants will shape the conversation on LGBTQ issues, but with certainty I can say it will provide for a intellectual, spiritual, and social experience.”

Fisher is full of enthusiasm for the retreat. “Others and I are excited because it’s Notre Dame’s mission to nurture an inclusive campus for every individual student. Recognizing that the current campus climate for LGBTQ students presents its unique strengths and challenges, PrismND’s Spirituality Committee first met to ask ourselves how we could contribute to this mission. We made a choice to create a retreat where LGBT students could come to reflect and rest, and begin to share their questions and experiences with faith, spirituality, sexuality, and gender identity. To accomplish this in the context of community--we hope-- will foster a deeper sense of fellowship among LGBT students at Notre Dame. To see that unfold will be priceless,” Fisher said.

The retreat will include talks by four student speakers, unique prayer experience, and time to reflect and socialize with new friends. It is open to all students at Notre Dame, St Mary’s, and Holy Cross, but it is primarily geared toward students who identify as LGBTQ.

40 Days, 40 Acts of Kindness

I am the master of coping out at Lent. I once gave up French fries, a food I rarely eat. Another year, I gave up coffee. I was nine. I’d watch my family and friends challenge themselves by depriving themselves of sweets, junk food, and comforts, while I just didn’t.

I started thinking a while back that it was high time to re-evaluate how I spend my Lent. I realized that maybe giving up stuff isn’t the thing for me. In the pursuit of happiness, a word I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately, I decided to change my mindset. Instead of giving things up, I’ve decided to do the opposite. Instead of taking away things I enjoy in my life, I’ve decided to bring greater happiness to other people.

I’ve always been a huge fan of random acts of kindness. Long before I started my blogging career, I was a frequent follower of kindness blogs. I love reading about the creative ways people choose to give back to others. Some of my favorite blogs are about people who worked as “secret agents” to hide gift cards and other goodies around public places as gifts for strangers, and others about people who challenge themselves to acts of kindness every day.

Despite being an avid reader of kindness blogs, I’ve never actually done any true act of kindness. My dad was always great it. When we’d go out to lunch at our favorite greasy spoon after church on Sunday, he would always get the bill of a different table at the restaurant- whether it be a young mother with her child or a table of teenage boys. He was always careful to remain anonymous, making sure we ran out of the restaurant before they knew who had paid their bill. I always admired this action and hoped to emulate his kind ways, yet I never did.

Hence, I decided to make random acts of kindness my mission for Lent. 40 Days, 40 Random Acts of Kindness (or more if I can find the time). I don’t know exactly what direction my acts of kindness will take, but I’m preparing by buying lots of sticky notes, Starbucks gift cards, and cookie making materials. At the same time, I’m a poor college student; I don’t have the money to fund extensive RAKs or even lots of small ones. I want to challenge myself to find ways to help people without spending money- whether it be tutoring a freshman, doing my roommate’s laundry, or lighting candles at the grotto for people who are sick.

I hope that by the end of Lent, I will have brightened people’s lives. More importantly, I hope to become more aware of the people around me whose  lives need to be brightened. In college it is so easy to get caught up in classes and extracurricular, over looking the friend down the hall who is sick, heartbroken, or having a bad day. By the end of this time of reflection, sacrifice, and discipline, I hope to see the world a little bit differently.