All UP faculty, staff and students are invited to discuss this year’s ReadUP selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, in a final discussion group facilitated by Fr. Charlie Gordon, C.S.C., on Thursday, February 22, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Library Conference Room. Philosophy professor Thompson Faller, beloved retired member of our UP community, will join the conversation to add his knowledge of medical ethics. Light refreshments will be served; participants are encouraged to bring their lunch if desired. For a complete schedule of events related to ReadUP and author Rebecca Skloot’s visit to campus, please visit up.edu/readup. Questions about the book discussion can be directed to Fr. Charlie (gordon@up.edu) or Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu) in the Garaventa Center.
Join Garaventa Center co-directors Karen Eifler and Fr. Charlie Gordon, C.S.C., as they team up with Shannon Mayer, physics, and Jim Baillie, philosophy, to unpack surprising themes of grace and transcendence in the movie “Arrival.” The screening is on Wednesday, February 21, at 7:15 p.m., in Shiley Hall room 319. Free and open to all; thematic movie snacks will be served.
The image of a cross interlocked with two anchors can be seen all around the UP campus – in the University Seal, etched in cornerstones, hanging around the necks of priests and brothers, and even on utility hole covers. For Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the cross was something to look to as a sign of hope. It was through the cross that Jesus won his victory over sin and death. It is through the cross that we will come to know the fullness of life that Jesus has in store for us. Therefore, the motto of the Congregation became Ave Crux, Spes Unica – “Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.” The cross and anchors are a symbol of this motto – the anchor being an ancient symbol of hope. When used as the mark of Holy Cross, these crosses with anchors stand as continual reminders of our work of bringing hope into the world.
All faculty and staff who want to keep building their repertoire of skills for working with students who are undergoing mental health challenges are invited to participate in a brownbag lunch conversation this Thursday, February 15, from noon to 1 p.m., in Buckley Center room 215. Two student leaders from Active Minds and their advisor, Sarina Saturn, psychological sciences, will share the club’s mission and walk participants through several real-life open-ended vignettes of encounters between students and faculty/staff that did not go especially well, and generate insights on how all of us can take advantage of campus and external resources to best meet the diverse needs of students working through mental health challenges. While the conversation will draw upon wisdom gleaned at last semester’s offering on the topic, newcomers will also benefit tremendously from the interactive conversation.
Sure, many people know that Lent is the period of time leading up to Easter, but why do we have it? Is it just about making things hard on ourselves before the celebration of Easter?
The Saint John’s Bible is a stunning resource and a too-hidden jewel at UP. To mark the new millennium, the Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville Minnesota commissioned this work—the first fully hand-calligraphed, illuminated Bible manuscript to be crafted since the invention of the printing press, which is why it’s called The Saint John’s Bible. It’s meant to be a universal and inclusive work, and to that end, features art from 16 different artists, all charged with the task of creating images in which all beholders have a chance to see themselves. A page is always on display in Clark Library, and the selection changes regularly. With the gift of all seven volumes came special training for docents at UP to learn twelve kajillion facts about them, so that classes in theology, history, the sciences and fine arts could tap the riches of this audacious work. Beth Barsotti and Karen Eifler are trained by the St. John’s community to share the volumes with anyone from the UP community, both in the classroom and as an inspiration for prayer. Contact either of those if you would like to learn more.
Class discussions can sometimes be described as “transient instructional events,” according to Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center. They pass through the class, the course, and the educational experiences of students with few lingering effects. Ideas are batted around, often with forced participation; students don’t take notes; and then the discussion ends—it runs out of steam or the class runs out of time. If asked a few days later about the exchange, most students would be hard-pressed to remember anything beyond what they themselves might have said, if that. Click here for the 
On Tuesday, February 13, Fr. Paul Kollman, C.S.C., will present a free talk, “Africa’s Contributions to the Catholic Church: Past, Present and Future,” at 7:15 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons. In his talk, Fr. Kollman proposes that Africa today represents one the most vital places of growth in the Catholic Church and considers these questions: First, what connections, if any, exist between the past centrality of Africa to the church and its present and future importance? And second, what does Africa’s growing role mean for the Catholic Church in a global perspective? Fr. Kollman is associate professor of theology and executive director of the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame. This event is sponsored by the Garaventa Center. For ADA accommodations or more information, visit the
Need a little cheer from the winter gloom? Join the Garaventa Center for the next Thirst Friday celebration on Friday, February 9, from 4-6 p.m., in Franz Hall room 330 for generous snacks and libations and great conversation. And don’t miss our themed tasting menu: “Kicks from Route 66: Great Gas Station Food.” An oxymoron? Come find out! Open to all UP faculty and staff, and extra treats for bringing along someone who’s never been before.
One dimension of religious practice that Catholics share with our Jewish brothers and sisters is an emphasis on the importance of the community in the daily living of faith. In many strands of Judaism, it’s important to have a minyan gathered to offer daily prayers. A minyan is a quorum of ten men (or in many communities, women and men) gathered to share the prayers of the day. Some Jewish members of the UP community have expressed interest in being part of a minyan to pray together with during the work day, but weren’t sure where to start. If you would like to be part of an inclusive minyan (i.e. no gender barriers), please contact Jericho Knight (