UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Campus Ministry

‘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).

All Souls Day Mass, Nov. 2: All Welcome!

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.

November 2nd, the Commemoration of All Souls is a particular day in which we pray for our beloved departed.  All are invited to participate in the All Souls Mass that will be streamed from the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on Monday, November 2nd, at 5:00 p.m.  All are also welcome to submit names of their deceased family and friends to be prayed for at the All Souls Mass and throughout the month of November.

The stream will be carried through on the Campus Ministry YouTube Channel at this link.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Grace in a Struggling World: Short Films for Our Times

Films can be powerful occasions of the Grace that sustains us in difficult times, according to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Campus Ministry. Join us for an evening showing of two Sundance featured short films along with interviews with the filmmakers and commentary from ASUP Films director Destiny Kramer and Gregory Pulver, performing and fine arts. Together we will continue to make our way through these turbulent times by raising up images of hope and grace in action. This collaboration of the Garaventa Center, Campus Ministry, and ASUP Films will be premiered on Tuesday, October 27, at 7 p.m., using this link.

Campus Ministry Day of The Dead Altar, Mass

Día de los Muertos is a special day of the year when family, friends, and loved ones who have passed away are remembered with gratitude and joy. It is a tradition that its origins in Aztec rituals and has grown to merge with Catholic and Christian celebrated in places throughout North America and Latin American countries. On this day, many families and communities build Ofrendas (altars) in honor of their loved ones. These altares are decorated with photos, flowers, religious symbols, and sometimes food or objects that remind people of the person who has died.

This October, Campus Ministry will build a Day of the Dead altar to commemorate and celebrate the special people in our lives who have died. We invite everyone, regardless of faith and background, to send us a digital photo of any family or friends that you have lost. We will be placing these on our Day of the Dead altar which will be present in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher from Thursday, October 29 through Friday, November 6.  There will also be a Mass for all deceased members of the UP campus community streamed from the Chapel of Christ the Teacher at 5 p.m. on All Souls Day, Monday, November 2.

For the Day of the Dead altar, please send the photos (and names) to Br. Pablo Quan, C.S.C., at quanlope@up.edu.

For the Mass on All Souls Day (5 p.m., 11/2/20) the stream will come through on the Campus Ministry YouTube Channel using this link.

All Souls Day Mass, Nov. 2

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.

November 2nd marks the Commemoration of All Souls, a particular day during which we pray for our beloved departed. All are invited to participate in the All Souls Mass that will be streamed from the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m. All are also welcome to submit names of their deceased family and friends to be prayed for at the All Souls Mass and throughout the month of November.

The stream will be carried on the Campus Ministry YouTube Channel using this link.

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.

2020 Spirit of Holy Cross Award for Brenda Greiner

Each year on September 15, the Holy Cross US Province of Priests and Brothers names recipients of the Spirit of Holy Cross Award. UP’s own Brenda Greiner was among the eleven people named for this award this year. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau to make God known, loved, and served through education, parish and mission settings. The annual announcement of the recipients of this award happens on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows – the patronal feast day for all members of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The press release naming Brenda as an award recipient noted: “Woven through all that she has done is Brenda’s willingness to bring her wit, intensity and care to bear on helping students engage fully the opportunities that UP presents, and helping them to navigate the many challenges that come up along the way. Brenda cares deeply for the good of the students and the whole of the UP community and in this has become a key contributor to the mission of the University of Portland.”

Please congratulate Brenda on her most well-deserved award!

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Sept. 15: A Space for Gathering Sorrows and Mourning Loss

In the midst of this year steeped in sorrow and loss, Campus Ministry and the Holy Cross Community are offering the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15) as a time to communally mourn our losses and draw together in our sorrows. All members of the UP community are invited to offer their intentions, struggles, and lamentations using this link. Community members are also invited to join via stream the 5 p.m. Mass from the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on September 15, at which all submissions will be lifted up in prayer.  The Mass will be streamed over the Campus Ministry YouTube live stream using this link: youtube.com/user/upcampusministry/live

Our Lady of Sorrows is a title given to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in honor of the many sorrows and struggles that she endured as the mother of the Christ. Under this title, she is the patroness of the Congregation of Holy Cross. She serves as a powerful reminder that even in the most difficult of times, one can continue to trust that God is still present and at work.

There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother Mary, who knew grief and was a Lady of Sorrows. She is our special patroness, a woman who bore much She could not understand and who stood fast. To Her many sons and daughters, whose devotions ought to bring them often to Her side, She tells much of this daily cross and its daily hope. (Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross 8:120).