NEWSLETTER ccmin.org | facebook.com/semoccm | @ccmin

VOL 21 ISSUE 1

A FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM FR. PATRICK Peace and blessings to all of you saints of God. Archbishop Fulton Sheen - in his book - “The Priest is Not His Own” writes that the priest exists for the mission or at the service When, 13 years ago, Bishop John Leibrecht assignedSummer me to 2019 of the gospel and must be open and free to serve the gospel Sufficitthe , I was Gratia grateful and overjoyed Tua for the wherever and however. The key phrase to remember is: must be opportunity to work alongside the staff and students to building open and free to serve the gospel wherever and however. a ministry solely centered on the person of Jesus Christ - the redeemer of mankind. I am ever grateful to all of you - who over these many years journeyed with me and showed me the face of Jesus Christ The Newman Center is a house of formation - whence our young by revealing him very clearly to me with your smiles, humor, people are reminded that Jesus Christ is truly the redeemer of conversations and invites to your house - Thank you. mankind - without him we can do nothing. It is a place where they are challenged to be intentional about their relationship The Newman center has begun the important phase with her with Jesus Christ - and having been formed, they can go out and fundraising - thank you all for being a part of this important preach the good news of the gospel by their witness to the faith as work of praise to God. This is a once in a life time opportunity of they strive to be authentic disciples. building a house of God and will make a huge impact in the lives of many for years to come. I ask that you please support this blessed I am ever grateful to have served over the course of these many effort with your time, talent and treasure. Your generous gift to years along with remarkable family members - Sr. John Mary the campaign will not only help in building a beautiful house for Rainey, Deacon Thomas Schumer, Mary Ann Hennecke and God, but will make you a direct participant in the formation of our Dennis Vollink - together with the students we sought new young men and women. Thank you for saying yes to building up ways to make the gospel message heard and received from our God’s kingdom here on earth. Please visit www.ccmin.org/unite university community and beyond. I look forward with all of you to the day when that beautiful After the countless blessings of these years, it was time for me to go home is dedicated and many saints walk through her doors giving knowing that the Lord’s work will be done regardless. A beautiful thanks to God for all of you. prayer from Archbishop Oscar Romero comforts me as he writes: For what we have all been to each other, “We are workers.We accomplished in our lifetime only a tiny I give thanks to God. fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. We cannot do everything, and there is liberation in realizing that. This enables For what we have all done for our us to do something, and to do it very well. We may never see the young men and women at the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder Newman Center, may the Lord's and the worker. We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not name be praised. messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own“. God love and bless you all. I am well aware that we are workers, not master builders, ministers not messiahs - that we only accomplish in our lifetime NEW ADDRESS a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. 2818 East Bennett Street Understanding this enables the minister to serve with utmost Springfield, MO 65804 generosity of heart. CCM NEWSLETTER | 1 FROM THE DIRECTOR NEWMAN HAPPENINGS NEWMAN HAPPENINGS Friends in Christ, WELCOME TO OUR TWO NEW Newman Center students are How often does the “news” of SACRAMENTAL PRIESTS sharing their gifts by being on your day inspire HOPE? The mission in service to the local, “news” here gives authentic Please join us in givng a warm welcome to our two new sacramental priests, Fr. Alexander and Fr. Brian! diocesan Church. Read about hope that is rooted in the MINISTRY IN ACTION two special projects they Beauty, Goodness, and Truth Father Alexander Nwagwu was ordained to the participated in this summer. of the Gospel, which are the priesthood May 5, 2002, by the Most Rev. Dr. Lucius L S transcendental realities of Iwejuru Ugorij, in Umuchukwu, Anambra (Nigeria) iving in ervice our faith that undergird our for the Diocese of Umuahia. His missionary heart TOTUS TUUS SUMMER PROGRAM ministry here at the John Henry Newman Center. led him to America and first assignment within Totus Tuus is a Latin phrase used often by Pope Saint John Paul II meaning “Totally Yours.” This idea of making a gift of yourself is The Newman Center at SEMO is on the threshold of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau came woven throughout Catholic theology and has manifested itself in the lives of our students here at Newman in some pretty incredible a great adventure as we are undertaking to build an on July 1, 2014, when assigned as associate pastor ways. Two of our students, Robert Hearnes (Newman Center President 2018-2019) and Emily Merz (Current SEMO Senior) have incredible house for God with the goal of occupying to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lebanon, MO and St. William Parish, joined an organization named after JPII’s motto that aims to bring Christ to the youth in summer programs. They, along with a our new center by the spring of 2021 (ref. pages 4-5)! Buffalo, MO. On Aug. 1, 2016, Fr. Alexander was assigned as associate team of several other college-aged students host week-long programs at parishes throughout the dioceses that engage children in a Please remember our building campaign, United in pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Sikeston, and St. Henry Parish, “vacation bible school” type setting in the day and young teens and high schoolers in the evenings. Totus Tuus mentors emphasize the Faith…Building our Future, in your prayers. Charleston. For the last year, he has served here in Cape Girardeau as importance of the sacraments and having a prayer life. Emily recounts a story of time spent in adoration with her first graders. associate pastor of St. Vincent DePaul Parish. Effective July 1, 2019, Fr. By the way, what’s that name again…John Henry Alexander became the Chaplain for Saint Frances Medical Center, in “We always give them time to write letters to Jesus while they pray, and while one first-grader was writing his letter he held it up to Newman Center? We had already decided to “rebrand” Cape Girardeau, in addition to his appointment as sacramental priest the monstrance and asked Jesus if he liked it. Then he added a part for Mary and held it up to the ceiling, asking Mary if she liked it. or “revert” our ministry name to Newman, when on here at the Newman Center. I’ve been able to see God so much in all the kids; they’re so pure of heart and have so much love and trust for the Lord.” July 1 Pope Francis announced that John Cardinal They are able to field questions that the average sixth-grader might not feel comfortable approaching his or her parish priest with. Newman will be canonized Saint John Henry Newman Father Brian Straus was ordained a priest for the The kids who participate in the program are able to see and experience what it looks like for men and women in their early twenties on October 13 in Rome. Needless to say, that was Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in June to be in love with Christ and his Church. Robert and Emily enjoyed “Spreading the Gospel together” and said that CCM gave them fitting affirmation from God that He approves of our 2018. After a year of further studies, he has just “..a solid foundation that allowed [me] to even consider applying for a positon with Totus Tuus.” Emily goes on to describe that “CCM rebranding!! We are now racing to become the first begun his first parish assignment as associate is what kick-started my faith journey, and without it I don’t think I would have any sort of relationship with Jesus.” It is easy to see newly commissioned under Newman’s pastor at St. Vincent de Paul and sacramental priest that the formation students receive at CCM translates beautifully to the larger community creating a “dominio effect” of God’s grace. Saintly patronage. at the Newman Center. Father Brian grew up in Springfield and studied chemical engineering at Discipleship is the model Jesus set for us, and for good reason- it works! And as we prepare to enter a new academic year and strive Missouri S&T. After a short engineering career, he to build up the Catholic community here on campus, I answered God's call to enter seminary and discern trust that spiritual gifts likeGRACE, PEACE, and HOPE the priesthood. His faith life in college was greatly influenced by his FOCUS SUMMER PROJECTS will continue to reign in the souls of our students. CCM is what kick-started my faith journey, involvement at his Newman Center in Rolla, so he is passionate about FOCUS is an organization that sends full-time missionaries to being part of this ministry as a priest! and without it I don’t think I would have Verso l’alto, college campuses to lead bible studies and invite students into any sort of relationship with Jesus. virtuous friendship. They host the conferences that our students 2019-2020 go to on winter break and have impacted our campus and our Deacon Tom Schumer SEMO ministry in an undeniable way over the past several years. One Co-Chairs Logan Blechle of their outreaches is called FOCUS Summer Projects. They Newman Council ofPlease Leaders keep these work in Colorado with the YMCA and balance a typical job Maria Doherty Sarah Dobson students in your with nightly formation including an individual reading plan, Ashley McCaffrey Robert Hearnes prayers as they a speaker series and a ten-week bible study. This opportunity, FOCUS Liaison Phil Hendrix lead Newman which one of our students, Maria Doherty, was accepted into, Beth Ludwig in the coming prepares them for not only life on campus when they come back Kaitlin McFarland school year! Matthew McCauley in the fall, but a life in the post-graduate world that requires GOODBYE PRIYA! careful balance between a job and a faith life. Maria describes It has been over 8 years since Priya Tauro-Cramer That goal is the adjustment to arriving in Colorado as “difficult, but God arrived on campus and soon thereafter Priya became We rejoice with Newman alumni, Brother Alex has been faithful.” She says a highlight is the community she is our faithful cantor for the 6pm Mass…not to mention Gould, '15 and Deacon Allen Kirchner, '14! to live a life surrounded with, all having a similar goal in mind. She goes on all the other ways she has volunteered around Newman. to describe, “That goal is to live a life of sanctity, truly living with Priya's smile and pleasant demeanor, along with her of sanctity, Br. Alex, now invested in the our hearts in heaven and feet on the earth.” Maria explained lovely voice, will be deeply missed as she and her Franciscan habit, has entered truly living husband Wade have relocated to Tulsa, OK, where that CCM helped prepared her for saying “yes” to this summer the Conventual Franciscan mission by giving her opportunities to practice mission work Wade will begin his career as a CRNA. Please pray for Novitiate, and Dcn. Allen with our “ on our own campus. She says, “Living a life of mission looks them as they transition (and for us as we mourn their was ordained a transitional hearts in departure)! If you’d like to drop Priya a kind word or Deacon for the Diocese different for each individual and in different moments of their a much deserved note of thanks, her email address is of Springfield - Cape heaven and life. The call of our baptism is to live a life of mission, inviting [email protected]. Goodbye Priya and Wade… Girardeau. Please pray for feet on the each and every person we encounter into a personal relationship we love you and will miss you! these men as they continue with the Lord.” their vocational journeys! earth. 2 | SUMMER 2019 “ CCM NEWSLETTER | 3 A LOOK AT THE

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN OUR OUR SOUTH ELEVATION Our ministry at Newman is about placing young Ground Level and Main • 80% of Catholics adults on Goal...a faithful trajectory toward sainthood. The Level as viewed from the who leavechallenge… the Church do so by age 23. Church, traditional families, and the culture at-large parking lot/Normal Avenue are all beneficiaries of that mission. Our fervent hope • Only 30% of adults who were raised is to build a sacred place where the Beauty, Goodness UnitedCatholic remain actively practicing. inand TruthFaith... of Catholicism will capture hearts for the Building our Future Lord Jesus in future generations…Hearts that will go • Merely 3% of Catholic adults believe it on to bring the saving light of Christ into family and is necessary to evangelize. parish life for many years to come. The campaign goal is $4.5 million, which includes OUR $300,000 for ongoing maintenance funding. The • Evangelize and disciple young adults blessings we already have in hand include $365,000 in restricted funds that have accumulated over the and formsolution… them to do the same. years for a new chapel. Impassioned leaders in the community who have shared their valuable time and talent in bringing our proposed campaign to fruition OUR also bless us. The vision for elevating the Presence of the Church involves demolitionvision... of three current buildings followed by new construction of a beautiful multipurpose House of God where all functions of campus ministry and worship are housed under a single roof. Such a move will establish for Christ, a light that reflects the Church’s Beauty, WEST ELEVATION Goodness, and Truth right at the heart of campus. Front of Main Level as viewed from Pacific Street The fundamental purpose of the Newman Center is to form young Catholic leaders who will go against the tide of indifference and relativism. In formation, we take a holistic approach with an eye to the four pillars articulated As of July 15, more than $3.8 million has been pledged for by Pope Saint John Paul II: Spiritual, Intellectual, Human, and Pastoral. Well-formed Catholic students go out with the cause of United in Faith…Building our Future. a missionary spirit to serve in many capacities here on campus and within the broader faith community. These same students become leaders in parishes upon their graduation from SEMO. SUGGESTED GIFT PLANS We invite you to unite with us and consider a sacrificial gift to TOTAL INITIAL ANNUAL MONTHLY “The Newman Center guides students to avoid the United in Faith…Building our PLEDGE PAYMENT PAYMENT PAYMENT common spiritual pitfalls of college life. Young adults Future campaign. The success find a welcoming community— a home away from $25,000 $2,500 $4,500 $375 of the campaign rests largely on home where holiness and discipleship are the norms! $15,000 $1,500 $2,700 $225 pledges that are payable over five The Newman Center is the platform where students years. While we welcome gifts at $10,000 $1,000 $1,800 $150 stand firm and confident in their Catholic identity and all levels and periods of time, we boldly evangelize by witnessing the faith with others! $5,000 $500 $900 $75 kindly request that you consider It is a place where God’s people encounter Jesus—His $3,000 $300 $540 $45 letting this be your guide in Beauty, Goodness, Truth, and His Love.” determining your level of support. $1,500 $150 $270 $23 — Most Reverend Edward M. Rice Deacon Tom Schumer, Director of the John Henry Newman Center, is available to Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau meet with individuals to discuss the campaign and the multiple ways to invest. He can be reached at 573-335-3899. If you prefer to make a one-time gift, please visit our campaign webpage at www.ccmin.org/unite. 4 | SUMMER 2019 CCM NEWSLETTER | 5 FOCUS UPDATE JOIN THE MISSION DECEMBER 2019 GRAD, MADISON SMITH, PREPARES TO SERVE WITH FOCUS! GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE Congratulations to our own Madison Smith who was accepted to be a full-time 7 FOCUS missionary, joining the ranks of those that have served our community at CCM for so many years! We asked Madison what lead to this decision and she told us Amazing $2500 $1000 $500 Hello from the Focus team! a little bit of her story. Support Fall Sponsor an Sponsor a student “My conversion began after I met a student from the Newman center who Greetings! I am so excited to return (back-to-school) honorarium for for FOCUS SLS challenged me to seek truth. After continuously finding truth in the teachings of the to SEMO! Through God’s grace, more Catholic Church, I began RCIA and entered the church at Easter in 2018. As I got Engagement the Newman (sls2020.org) students are coming to know Him and more involved in the Newman Center, I was able to go deeper in my relationship Activities Speaker Series experience the riches of Sacramental with God through the sacraments, Bible study and community.” $250 life in His Catholic Church. We Music ministry finished the year with 22 bible studies She is graduating in December from SEMO, so her first semester of mission will be $100 $50 sponsorship and the number of student leaders has here with us. After that, we pray the Lord blesses her wherever His will takes her. ccmin.org/give Sponsor a student Sponsor a weekly doubled! We are excited to see how for the Awakening Venite night or call the office at 573-335-3899 $75 Sponsor a God will continue to bless His Church Retreat (social gathering) Friday Lunch at Semo. Please pray for our team! As I got more involved We are overjoyed to have Kaitlin in the Newman Center, I McFarland and Faith Andras return was able to go deeper in The stories that you read in this newsletter and so for their second year. Jacob Lawhorn NEEDED: Prayer Intercessors! my relationship with God many more similar examples would never be possible is our fearless first year from Kansas! without the financial generosity and prayers of parents Prayer is an essential component to And our own, Madison Smith will be through the sacraments, successfully fulfilling God’s call, and our serving on our team until December. Bible study and community. and benefactors. Please consider joining the 2019-20 students and staff will greatly benefit from Also, my soon to be wife, Maria Newman Center story with an offering of your prayer your prayers. Without the prayer support we Boff, will be a familiar face around & much needed monetary support. receive, we would not be able to accomplish campus! Thanks for all the prayers Thank you! the mission Christ has given to us. Please and support! continue to support us in this capacity and Please remember our ministry in your Estate Planning. be assured of our prayers as well! In Christ, The legal language for making a bequest to CCM is as follows: William Jansen “…to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, You pay God a compliment FOCUS Team Director a Missouri not-for-profit Corporation, for the exclusive use and by asking great things of Him. benefit of Catholic Campus Ministry, serving the campus of - St. Teresa of Avila “ Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.” 2019-2020 DATES TO REMEMBER DATE TIME EVENT DATE TIME EVENT 8.16 5:00 pm Newman BBQ 8.24 11:00 am Hike at Trail of Tears State Park 8.18 11:30am Morning Mass & Brunch 9.2 5:00 pm Labor Day Food & Fun at 8.18 8:00 pm Mass & Late Night Pancakes Capaha Park Shelter #3 8.19 9:00 pm Bonfire and Smores 9.6-7 4:00 pm Men's Overnight at The Cabin 8.20 6:00 pm Will to Create - Courage to 9.7 10:00 am Women's Day Retreat at TBD Through God’s grace, more students are Paint at the River Campus 9.11 7:00 pm ( Every Month!) coming to know Him and experience 8.20 8:00 pm Board Game Competition 9.22 11:30 am Mass on Terraces & Family Picnic the riches of Sacramental life in His 8.21 7:00 pm 10.6 All Day Newman Center Sunday Catholic Church. We finished the year 10.26 TBA SEMO Homecoming (Every Wednesday!) SEMOVenite CATHOLIC CAMPUS MININSTRY with 22 bible studies and the number of 11.1-3“ Awakening Retreat 8.22 8:00 pm Sand Volleyball, Games & Ice 7:00 pm O Come Emmanuel Concert student leaders has doubled! Cream at Parker Fields 12.6 12.30-1.7 FOCUS SLS2020 Conference 8.23 7:00 pm Rootbeer Kegger - Bam Party 8.24 9:30 am Saturday Brunch at FOCUS House Stay tuned for “6 | SUMMER 2019 Spring 2020 Dates! CCM NEWSLETTER | 7 Non-Profit JOHN HENRY NEWMAN CENTER U.S. Postage AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE PAID PERMIT #607 512 NORTH PACIFIC STREET Cape Girardeau, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO 63701 MO 63701 Return Service Requested

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