UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Campus Ministry

Anticipation of Christmas: Did You Know?

Did you know about the role of anticipation in preparing for Christmas?

“On that day…” is a phrase that features in many of the first readings through the beginning of the Season of Advent. The Season starts with a sense of anticipation. Those using the readings are taken into the Book of Isaiah and the longings of the people of Israel for the coming of the day of the Lord – the day when many of the anxieties and struggles of life are brought to a peaceful resolution. The readings point to a longing that Christians understand as finding fulfillment in the birth of Jesus, celebrated on Christmas. They also point to a longing that remains in our hearts to this day.

Jesus did come into the world in a manger one day in Bethlehem. Yet a return is awaited, a return in glory when the fullness of the kingdom of God is to be made manifest in its fullness. It is a return that will bring about the justice and peace and life that our hearts long for. The Season of Advent then seeks to draw our longing to the foreground and awaken a greater awareness of the anticipation that we hold in our hearts for the fullness of life that God seeks to draw us into. Consider the many aspects of this season leading up to Christmas – even the aspects that may seem to some as getting into Christmas before it is even Christmas. Throughout are images, songs, and emotions that point ahead with a bit of nostalgia for a something that we long for.  Throughout is a sense of anticipation for something that we might not even be able to name. Throughout is an anticipation for the fullness that is yet to come, a fullness we long for and eagerly await its arrival.

Did You Know? is a mostly weekly feature in upbeat that pokes around the many interesting features of UP as a Catholic and Holy Cross university. If you have a question or topic of interest that you would like covered in this feature, please send it to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Campus Ministry, or Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center.

 

Bells in the Ballroom Concert, Dec. 6

Bells In the Ballroom 2019Come enjoy the festive sounds of the Chapel Handbell Choir, Chapel Choir, and ‘Bluff Boys’ Barbershop Quartet at the annual Bells in the Ballroom concert on Friday, December 6, at 7 p.m., in the Mehling Ballroom. The Hallelujah Chorus will also be sung, and if you’ve ever sung it, you will be invited to join the choir. Christmas cookies, cocoa, prize drawings, and lots of holiday cheer come together in one joyous (and free) event.

For more information contact Maureen Briare, Campus Ministry, at x7335 or briare@up.edu.

Did You Know? The Meaning of the Advent Season

Many people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think that it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus, his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, and his first miracle at Cana. During this season of preparation, early Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

By the 6th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas. More on the “anticipation” part of modern Advent practices in a future Did You Know segment.

“Did You Know?” is a mostly regular feature in upbeat in which dimensions of Catholic practices of faith are unpacked. If you have a question, please contact Fr. Jim Gallagher (gallaghe@up.edu) or Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu).

Advent Vespers Concert, Dec. 7

Advent Vespers ConcertThe annual  Advent Vespers Concert, presented by the University Singers and Bel Canto, will be held on Saturday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Admission is free but you need to have a ticket. Please contact the performing and fine arts department to reserve your ticket at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Candle Grotto in the Marian Garden: Did You Know?

Did you know about the new candle grotto in the Marian Garden?

It is a long standing tradition in Catholic, as well as other religious traditions, to light a candle as a physical representation of one’s prayers. For many years though, the UP campus did not have a regular place to practice this tradition. That is until just recently when a new candle grotto was installed, dedicated, and blessed in the Marian Garden next to the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. The new space was crafted out of cedar, brass, and copper by two local sculptors and will now provide a space for members of the campus community to go at any time of the day or year to light a candle.  A purple candle will always be lit and in place, representing our prayers for the whole of the University of Portland community.

For Christians, the tradition of lighting a candle is closely linked to the idea that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. At the Easter Vigil, a large candle is lit in the darkness of the opening of the Mass. It is a representation of the wonder of the light of Christ entering into our world. From that candle, all of the baptized light their own candles noting that the light of Christ has come to dwell in them. Situating our candle grotto in close proximity to the statue of Mary in the garden next to the Chapel is a reminder that the light of Christ came into the world through Mary. That light continues to break forth upon the world through each of us and our prayers. We draw close to the Blessed Mother, Mary, as we offer our prayers knowing that through her intercession and witness that light grows in the world this day.  

“Did You Know?” is a mostly weekly feature in upbeat that pokes around among the many interesting features of UP as a Catholic and Holy Cross university. If you have a question or topic of interest that you would like covered in this feature, please send it to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Campus Ministry, or Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center.

November Mass of Remembrance: Sunday, Nov. 17

During the month of November, the Catholic Church traditionally remembers our beloved departed. We pray for the souls of our family and friends and give thanks for how we were blessed by their lives. Here at UP, we celebrate a Mass of Remembrance for all deceased members of the University community, particularly those who passed away in the last year. This year’s Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Sunday, November 17, at 10:30 a.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

For more information contact Campus Ministry at x7131 or mccreary@up.edu.

 

St. Joseph & The Holy Cross Brothers: Did You Know?

St. Joseph is the foster father of Jesus. He was engaged to Mary when, by the Holy Spirit, she became pregnant with Jesus – see the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25. Not much is known about St. Joseph beyond the fact that he remained committed to raising Jesus alongside Mary and that he is named as a carpenter. Scriptures relay that several times he received dreams that helped him to know how to help Mary care for Jesus. From these few bits of information, St. Joseph has become the patron of many groups, including carpenters, fathers, travelers, as well as patron of many countries and peoples. Interestingly he is also known as the patron of a good death. Joseph comes about this by way of not being referenced later in the Gospels. So it is believed that he died earlier in life, with Jesus and Mary at his side—a pretty good way to go.

St. Joseph is also the patron of the Holy Cross Brothers. Blessed Basil Moreau took on a group of teaching brothers, the Brothers of St. Joseph, founded by Fr. Jacques Dujarié, joining them with an already gathered group of priests to found the Congregation of Holy Cross. The brothers continued to look to St. Joseph as their patron and have ever since sought to emulate his devotion to Jesus and his commitment to service to God’s family.

Did You Know? is a mostly weekly feature in upbeat that pokes around among the many interesting features of UP as a Catholic and Holy Cross university. If you have a question or topic of interest that you would like covered in this feature, please send it to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Campus Ministry, or Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center.

Fr. John Wironen, C.S.C. Memorial Mass, Nov. 7

A memorial Mass will take place for Fr. John Wironen, C.S.C., on Thursday, November 7, at 5:15 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. All are welcome to attend and pay their respects to Fr. John, who passed away on Wednesday, October 16, at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Ind., at the age of 79.

John Wironen became a candidate for the Holy Cross Brothers in 1958 and made his final profession of vows in August 1964. After becoming a registered nurse in 1966 he was assigned as director of nursing at Holy Cross House. Brother Wironen taught nursing at UP from 1973 to 1976, when he returned to Notre Dame to join the priesthood. He was ordained on April 21, 1979, by Bishop Paul Waldschmidt, C.S.C.

Fr. Wironen’s long career in health care and the clergy took him to Oregon Health Sciences University, the UP Salzburg Program, Providence Portland Medical Center, and pastor positions at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Francis Xavier in Burbank, Holy Cross Parish in North Portland, and more. He lived for many years at Holy Cross Court and as a result was a frequent campus visitor, spreading his signature warmth and good cheer and conversational skills with all he met. Fr. John moved to Holy Cross House in 2017.

For more information contact Elizabeth Cole, Holy Cross office, at colee@up.edu.

Annual UP Month of Remembrance: Nov. 2019

Catholics believe in the Communion of Saints—the spiritual connection with those loved ones who have gone before us and the saints that lived as examples for us. Through the month of November we remember all of those who have gone before us in faith, especially our loved ones who have died.  

Starting Monday, October 21, stations will be available in many offices around campus where anyone is welcome to inscribe the names of loved ones on a card and place it in the accompanying basket. The cards will be placed near the altar in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher during Mass for All Saints Day on Friday, November 1, and they will continue to be a focus of prayer throughout November, the month of remembrance. There is also an online form at this link.

We will also celebrate Mass on Sunday, November 17, at 10:30 a.m., with special intentions for the loved ones of our UP community who have died in the past year.

For more information contact Rev. Tim Weed, C.S.C., Campus Ministry, at x8919 or weed@up.edu.

 

The Difference Between Feasts of All Saints and All Souls: Did You Know?

It’s nearly universal among faith traditions to have beliefs and practices focused on departed family, friends, and strangers. The Catholic Church professes its links to those who have gone before us with two adjacent holy days: November 1 of each year is All Saints, and November 2 is All Souls. When Catholics talk about All Saints, they are referring to those whose faith and actions on Earth, infused by Divine grace, lifted them directly to heaven after their deaths, where they intercede for those still on earth. All Souls is a day for Catholics to pray for the souls of all the departed, especially, in Catholic lingo, those in purgatory (which is a concept to be addressed in an upcoming entry in this space), awaiting the final judgment of a loving and benevolent God. At UP, one marker of All Souls each November 2 is the laying of a wreath in front of the memorial (between Buckley Center and Franz) honoring all those who have served on our faculty or staff and have died. It is another manifestation of the essential communitarian orientation at the heart of Catholicism. Living or dead, we are all connected to one another.

“Did You Know?” is a sort of regular feature in upbeat about the host of wild and lovely things Catholics profess. If you have a question, send it to Fr. Jim Gallagher (gallaghe@up.edu) or Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu).