The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is traditionally celebrated on December 12, but with the end of the semester coming prior to that date, Campus Ministry will be providing an opportunity to celebrate this wonderful feast a bit early! Our Lady of Guadalupe is an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, to St. Juan Diego in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill in what is now Mexico City. Patroness of Mexico and the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a powerful reminder of how Mary, through God’s power, stands with the poor and oppressed. Please join the campus community on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., in the Bell Tower plaza, where we will begin with a procession around the academic quad in honor of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe. We will then enter the Chapel of Christ the Teacher for a prayer service, with music provided by local Mariachi. Join us after the prayer service for some traditional food as well. All are most welcome. Please contact Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C., weed@up.edu or Hector Mendoza, mendoza@up.edu with any questions.
Campus Ministry
Nominations Due for Oddo Scholarship by April 16
Shortly after his untimely death in 1989, University president Rev. Thomas Oddo, C.S.C., was memorialized by faculty, staff, students, and friends with the establishment of an endowed scholarship fund named after him. Every year the University awards scholarship funds in Fr. Oddo’s name to one or more students who meet a set of criteria which includes demonstrated commitment to service and to service learning. Criteria for the Father Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C. Memorial Scholarship are:
- Minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
- Demonstrated financial need
- Junior or senior student standing in the 2021-2022 school year
- Demonstrated commitment to service and service learning
- Open to any academic major.
A nomination form is available at this link and is due to Theresa McCreary, Campus Ministry, by Friday, April 16. For more information contact McCreary at x7131 or mccreary@up.edu.
Easter Sunday Mass on the Quad, April 4
Join us for our Easter Sunday Mass happening outside on the main academic quad. We are limited in the number of people who can gather safely in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher for liturgy in person, yet larger religious gatherings outdoors are permissible and attend to the safety of all present. In an effort to allow for as many people as possible to attend the Easter Sunday Mass we will have it outside at 10:30 a.m. Mass on April 4 in the academic quad facing Franz Hall. University of Portland faculty, staff and students are welcome to join. Please bring your own blanket or lawn chair for seating on the grass. Please also fill out this form to indicate your intention to come as it will help us to track numbers as well as communicate any information if inclement weather causes us to adjust our plans. The Mass will also be streamed on the Campus Ministry YouTube Channel.
Contact Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C. (gallaghe@up.edu) or Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C. (weed@up.edu) with any questions.
Stations of the Cross for Grief and Loss, March 26
Each of us has found ourselves amidst suffering, grief, and loss in the last year – whether it be the loss of a loved one, missing out on an anticipated event, being unable to visit family or friends, or a host of other reasons.
Join the campus community in our final offering of Stations of the Cross on March 26 at 4 p.m. in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Members of our community will name and reflect upon experiences of grief and loss from the last year as we follow Jesus’ Way of the Cross and join together in prayer. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome. An RSVP on Engage is appreciated but not required.
ViaCrucis: La Via Dolorosa del Migrante, March 12
Join us in praying with the Stations of the Cross through the lens of the migrant experience. According to tradition “La Via Dolorosa” in Jerusalem is the place where Jesus took his last steps towards Mt. Calvary or “El Calvario.” Reliving this Way of the Cross is a way of entering more deeply into the love of Christ and the Cross that he carried to achieve our redemption. We also compare these stages of Jesus’ life with the plight of the people who migrate, who leave behind everything to pursue a dream, and allow us to understand that, as a living church, we have much to do. The commandment of love becomes a command and action. The time to do the right thing is now because there is no other time.
This ViaCrucis will be offered in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 12 and will be streamed at the same time on the Campus Ministry YouTube.
Reach out to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Campus Ministry, at gallaghe@up.edu for more information.
St. Joseph’s Feast Day, March 19
As the protector of families and patron of the Universal Church, St. Joseph is an important saint in difficult times. This is all the more true for us with Pope Francis declaring this the Year of St. Joseph and the fact that he is the patron saint of the Holy Cross brothers.
Join Campus Ministry in drawing close to St. Joseph by way of a novena (nine days of prayer) leading up to the celebration of St. Joseph’s feast day at 5 p.m. Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on Friday, March 19. The text of the novena can be found here. Students, Faculty and Staff are welcome to join for the Mass on March 19 by coming in person or streaming it on the Campus Ministry YouTube Channel.
Contact Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Campus Ministry, at gallaghe@up.edu for more information.
‘The Stations of the Cross for Overcoming Racism’: Feb. 26
‘The Stations of the Cross for Overcoming Racism’ will be offered by Campus Ministry as the first of three opportunities this Lent to connect this traditional form of prayer with current realities. This offering of the Stations will be held on Friday, February 26 at 4 p.m. in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher and will be streamed on the Campus Ministry YouTube Channel.
Praying the Stations of the Cross is a tradition of following in Jesus’ footsteps on the way to Calvary in order to deepen our relationship with the Lord and recognize its relevance for us today. These Stations for Overcoming Racism have been offered by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops as a way to reflect on the sin of racism that we seek to overcome, both within ourselves and as a wider society, as we strive for a more equal and loving world.
For further information, please contact Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C. at weed@up.edu.
Ash Wednesday Masses, February 17
Two Masses will be offered in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on Ash Wednesday, which is on February 17. Masses will be at 12:05 p.m. and 5 p.m. Masks and social distancing will be required. Both of these Masses will be live streamed for those who wish to attend virtually.
If you wish to receive ashes but are unable to attend either of these Masses, Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., and Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C. will be in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher to distribute ashes during these times: 10 – 10:30 a.m. and 2 – 3 p.m.
Please note that due to Covid-19, ashes will be sprinkled on a person’s head rather than a cross place on the forehead to be as safe as possible.
For information contact Campus Ministry at x7131 or ministry@up.edu.
A Visio Divina to Experience Remotely
The chance to engage contemplatively with a sacred image from UP’s Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible and the Scripture passage it illuminates—Visio Divina—lends itself reasonably well to the remote experiences of this semester. Visio Divina means “sacred seeing,” and is a venerable form of individual prayer that requires only our presence and attention.
This link to Isaiah’s Messianic Predictions leads you into a 15-minute guided meditation that can be undertaken at your desk or wherever you are comfortable. Bookmark it and re-visit this as often as you would like during the Advent season.
Sundance Film Festival – Windrider Forum 2021
University of Portland community members will have a unique opportunity this coming January to participate in the Windrider Forum at the Sundance Film Festival from the comfort of your own home. The Windrider Forum is an immersive experience alongside the viewing of Sundance films that provides an encounter with the filmmakers to honor their craft, listen to their stories, and find thoughtful, spiritual themes in their work.
Participants will be provided access to 7 Sundance Films curated by the Windrider team, along with the Windrider events during Sundance (January 29 – Feb 1) and further Windrider programing that will be available throughout the spring semester (January 7 – May 28, 2021). Through a partnership sponsored by the Garaventa Center and Campus Ministry, UP students, faculty and staff have access to this opportunity at the reduced rate of $150.
If you are interested in this opportunity please contact Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C. (gallaghe@up.edu) or Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu).