We continue our look at the charisms—the purposes that ignite the work of the men and women who are part of the Congregation of Holy Cross—and remembering that they were formed in response to the wounds inflicted on the people of northern France during and after the French Revolution.
Basil Moreau and his band knew they could not address these challenges on their own, and so the charism of tapping the talents of the community is woven into the Holy Cross tapestry. They adopted the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as their model of interacting with one another, and so the charism of family—in all its complexities, ups and downs, and permanent commitment—is part of being Holy Cross. And the paradoxes of the cross—a death that yields eternal life, the vertical quest for transcendence intersecting the horizontal beam of the realities of this world—offer another animating spirit to the ongoing Holy Cross mission of bringing about the work of resurrection to a bruised, blessed world.
For more information contact Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center, or Fr. Jim Gallagher, Campus ministry.
Campus Ministry and the Garaventa Center invite you to spend an evening with David Haas as he presents a free concert, “I Will Bring You Home: Songs of Prayer, Stories of Faith,” on Thursday, February 28, at 7 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Haas is the composer of “You Are Mine,” “Blest Are They,” “We Are Called” and many more beloved hymns. Open to all; reception to follow.
Every Catholic religious order was founded to address a particular problem of a time and locale. In the case of the Congregation of Holy Cross, that problem was the devastation wrought by the French Revolution, which had led to suppression of public worship and the shutting down of many Catholic communities. Nearly two generations of French Catholics were ill-informed about their faith. Basil Moreau’s band of priests, brothers, and sisters formed in order to be dedicated educators in the Catholic faith; that is the work the Church acknowledges that they do, and what their constitutions say they are to do. That is the principle of Holy Cross charism; several other charisms in the “DNA” of Holy Cross men and women fuel their audacious task. Among these are zeal (an unwavering spark for and commitment to living out their call), reliance on Divine providence (understanding that God can and does use any circumstance or human choice to reveal something of God’s love to a world ravenous for meaning and purpose ) and hospitality (commitment to be the face of Christ to all who show up and, perhaps more importantly, to see the face of Christ in all who show up).
Garaventa Center co-directors Karen Eifler and Fr. Charlie Gordon, C.S.C., will celebrate 10 years of their Bringing Eyes of Faith to Film series with a free showing of Groundhog Day at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, in Shiley Hall room 301. Enjoy themed movie snacks as Eifler and Fr. Charlie unpack surprising themes of grace and transcendence in this comedic classic.
All are invited to a free performance of Angel of the Amazon, a new American opera by Evan Mack, on Saturday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The opera presents the riveting story of Sr. Dorothy Stang and her 2005 martyrdom as she worked to help the poor in the Brazilian rainforest, and features UP faculty member Nicole Hanig in a supporting role. Co-sponsored by performing and fine arts and the Garaventa Center. For ADA accommodations or more information: x7228 or 
The Garaventa Center invites you to a free screening of Bishop Vince: A Monumental Life, a short documentary exploring the life and contributions of Bishop Vincent McCauley, C.S.C., with Q&A and remarks by filmmaker John O’Keefe, professor of theology at Creighton University. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 13, at 7:15 p.m., in Franz Hall room 120.
Are you planning to attend the Saturday, February 16 performance of Dog Sees God? Why not make an evening of it? All ticket holders to the Februay 16 performance are invited to a complimentary wine, cheese, and dessert reception and panel before the show, as campus experts highlight what to look and listen for. Hosted by the Garaventa Center. For play tickets: x7287. For ADA accommodations or more information: x7702 or 
William Chafe, emeritus professor of history at Duke University, presents this year’s Mazzocco Lecture on Distributive Justice on Monday, February 4, at 7:15 p.m., in Franz Hall room 120. In his talk, “The Black Struggle for Freedom: What Black Protest Has Achieved, Yet How Much Remains to Be Done,” Chafe will shine a light on how racism remains a powerful force in American society today, even though a great many Americans refuse to admit it.
Did you know what it means when you say that UP is Holy Cross and Catholic?
The ReadUP website has been updated to include several photos of people all over campus reading this year’s book, and also a video by Lars Larson, English, highlighting compelling elements and possible takeaways from the book, at