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Newman Center helps students reflect during Lent
By Katy Gill, The Catholic Sun
February 21, 2008
TEMPE — Busy class schedules and weekend merriment don’t usually mix with prayer, fasting and penance, pillars of the Lenten season.
But try telling that to those at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center. The campus ministry is helping students at Arizona State University find time to grow spiritually during Lent.
“The challenge we face is keeping with the traditions and values of Lent,” said Gabriel Marquez, a student intern at the Newman Center, noting St. Patrick’s Day and spring break in particular.
“For a lot of people, those two things are times of excess,” she said. “Lent [should be] a time of personal and spiritual growth through sacrifice.”
Students and young adults will have a chance to meet with a spiritual director for a half-hour once a week. The Lenten exercise will focus on a Scripture passage of the participants’ choice. The center suggests a donation of $10 for students or $15 for non-students.
The 20/30 Young Adult Crew will lead Stations of the Cross at 8 p.m. most Wednesday nights. On Thursdays, the 7 p.m. College Nights will continue to offer fellowship and prayer for undergraduate students.
Christine Carol, a junior on the Student Association Leadership Team, said these nights allow students to connect with other people in the community. She said the student interaction is “a good reminder that Lent is not just about doing something for yourself — it’s about others.”
On Friday nights, the community will gather for Mass at 6 p.m. followed by a soup supper. Taize prayer will begin at 7 p.m.
Along with these activities, priests from the Newman Center celebrate an 11:40 a.m. daily Mass at Danforth Chapel, situated in the center of the campus. The community also celebrates Mass daily at 5 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Newman Center.
The center is encouraging students to serve others by choosing a volunteer opportunity from one of the slips of paper attached to the cross in the lobby. Students can participate in a variety of projects, from tutoring poor children to helping the homeless.
Lent “is mostly about being aware of those who hunger,” said Crosier Father Stephan Bauer, the campus ministry’s liturgy coordinator. He said remembering the hunger of others should remind students of their own hunger for God.
“Each of us is called by our baptism to love,” said the Newman Center’s Sr. Colleen Braun, CSA, of the Lenten program. The liturgical season offers us a time to “reflect on our life and how we’re growing in love.”
Sr. Colleen said that being surrounded by people with similar values and goals supports students in their spiritual growth.
Lourdes Alonso, Newman Center campus minister, drove this point home, saying students are always welcome, especially those who struggle with distraction during Lent.
“There is so much conversion that can happen in 40 days,” she said. “And if you set aside time, you can really find out some things about yourself.”
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