Do you know why Catholics use Crucifixes?
Around campus and in the classrooms, there are crucifixes hanging on the walls. Why is this such a popular representation of Jesus of Nazareth? In part it is because this representation of the suffering and death of Jesus points to much of the good news that He came to proclaim. On the cross is a body; it is a reminder of the fact that the eternal Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. That body is nailed to the cross, which in part answers the question of where God is when things seem so hard–He does not run away, He enters into life’s trials with us. As well it is the representation of how far Jesus is willing to go out of love for all people. It is a reminder of the manner of how Jesus went about winning His victory over sin and death: by entering into death itself.
The Crucifix can then serve as a wonderful reminder of the depth of God’s love and the efforts to which He is willing to go to in removing the barriers to living in fullness of life with God, two of the main barriers being sin and death. Also speaking to this reality is the motto of the Congregation of Holy Cross: Ave Crux Spes Unica – Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.
“Did You Know?” is a regular feature in upbeat to help staff and faculty understand dimensions of this Catholic, Holy Cross university. You can send questions to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C. (Campus Ministry) or Karen Eifler (Garaventa Center).
Please join us as we pray with and for those who will receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 20, at 8:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. The elect (those to be baptized), include Kira Champelli, Isabella Horning, and Tshombé Brown. We will also celebrate First Eucharist and Confirmation for one candidate for full communion, Josh Bode, and one candidate for full initiation, Caitlyn Shaffer.
Campus Ministry will offer a number of services in celebration and observance of Holy Week, known as the Easter Triduum, all in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher:
Campus Ministry and the Garaventa Center invite you to join with others for Lenten Visio Divina on Wednesday, April 17, during Holy Week, from 12:35-1 p.m., following noon Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Visio Divina is an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into a sacred image, in silence, to see what God might have to say to us. Our meditation will focus on an illumination from The Saint John’s Bible.
Here’s a true fact: a mere four nucleic acids in our DNA yield endless variety in human beings. What if we re-combined that infinite human potential to heal this broken world? The post-Revolutionary world into which Blessed Basil Moreau launched his new Congregation of Holy Cross demanded more healing and education and pastoral care than even the most zealous vowed religious priests could ever hope to accomplish on their own. Constantly on the move, Moreau expanded Holy Cross to include religious brothers and sisters whose work as educators and nurses complemented the efforts of the priests to “make God known, loved and served.” Even that was not enough; thus, the practice of drawing upon the varied expertise of lay collaborators was built into the “DNA” of Holy Cross life to a far greater degree than in most Catholic religious orders.
How does one live in relationship with the world today and do so in the light of the teachings of Jesus? Catholic Social Teaching seeks to answer this question. This teaching does not come from one particular document but is drawn from a range of sources that have been developed over the years. From these sources seven principle themes have emerged: Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Call to Family, Community and Participation; Rights and Responsibilities; Option for the Poor and Vulnerable; The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; Solidarity; and Care for God’s Creation. Learn more 
When Blessed Basil Moreau founded the Congregation of Holy Cross he did so with a vision of a community of sisters, brothers, and priests who would look to the life of the Holy Family for inspiration. The sisters were dedicated to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus; the brothers were dedicated to Joseph, the foster father of Jesus; and the priests we dedicated to Jesus, in particular under the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Each member of the Holy Family is to be looked upon as a model for the members of the different societies within Holy Cross. As well, the loving dynamic shared by the Holy Family was also to be the harmony that the members of Holy Cross strive to emulate. In turn, that same harmony and bond of community is the vision for what one experiences in any Holy Cross parish or school. 
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:
Over the weekend of March 29-31, a group of UP students and student leaders will be on the Encounter with Christ (EWC) Retreat. Would you consider writing a note (palanca) to the students you know on the list? This is an opportunity to encourage students and express appreciation for them outside the classroom. Each retreatant will receive an envelope of surprise palanca. Please do not discuss this concept with students, to keep it a surprise.
Bringing people out of the ravages of the French Revolution tapped every single gift Basil Moreau could discern in his young Congregation of Holy Cross, and then some. So does the teaching and healing and grace-bringing done by Holy Cross and their co-disciples (all the rest of us at UP fit into that group) today. Interdependence is the Holy Cross charism that captures that robust tapestry of necessary connections. Holy Cross men and women and their lay collaborators look at the battered world through eyes of hope that will not be abandoned, a hope that is constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit. Very few hard things worth doing are finished in a day, and so the charism of fidelity is an animating spirit of Holy Cross that keeps the intentions and actions kindled by hope moving forward and helping members of Holy Cross communities (again, all of us here) seek the wisdom and talents of our colleagues, taking humble advantage of the reality of our interdependence.