September 2016
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Office of Mission and Ministry providence college LOGOS volume 11, number 1 • September 2016 a meditation: Living in Providence his past summer, I the trail turned away from the river, went hiking it became obvious that we would now with a group of be walking deeper into the woods and new friends on a up from the ravine in which the river T simple walking was located. The ascent, while hardly trail in the Eno treacherous, lasted for nearly a mile River State Park near Durham, NC. and left us desperate to catch our breath In the summer heat, we were bracing and reaching for our water bottles ourselves for what we knew was repeatedly. Throughout the trek, we coming: the inevitable sweat-drenched looked out for each other, trusted our clothing, matted hair, and the growing guide, and kept trudging along. As the irritability that seems to accompany the trail flattened off, we all instinctively first two conditions. The trail was both began to watch our breathing again, scenic and deceptive. It meandered getting ourselves back to a normal at first along the river, with footfalls rhythm of oxygen intake. Then our that took us along carefully placed guide, Steve, said abruptly, “Don’t step series of rocks and muddy patches of on that one, it’s not a stick.” At that undergrowth. Here, it looked carefully moment we looked down to see a five- staged for tourists, almost idyllic in its foot black rat snake angling its way tranquility and playfulness. But when across our path. Only thirty minutes (continued on next page) earlier we had wondered if we would see Centennial, that question appears all the more snakes along the trail and now we had. Liz, a poignant—not from a geographical sense forty-something newbie to trail-hiking asked of what it might be like to live in the city of if it was poisonous and a long-forgotten Providence, or even some socio-political or wisdom from my past suddenly came to the cultural sense of what it is like to live among fore. “No,” I said, “it’s harmless, you can tell the people and communities that make up from its looks.” I stared at the snake then the Providence area. No, for me, it was a and wondered why, as a child, I had been so deeply theological question. What is it like scared of the creatures. Now, that small kernel to live in the Providence of God? For all that of memory from my past had reminded me we say about trusting in God’s Providence that there was nothing to fear. Moreover, our and the central role that plays in the life of the guide’s measured warning helped us keep it College, I had to keep asking myself if I really all in perspective. The snake made its way lived that way. Was I living confident of, or across the trail and we continued. at least conscious of, a divine oversight of my life? Or of the work we do here at Providence As we made our way over to the ranger College in educating minds and forming station, the group fell into a more convivial men and women to be persons of integrity, mindset. We began to exchange memories character, and social action? of childhood walks (similar to the one we were now taking), to reminisce about the The events of the past year have forced all of seemingly endless bravado of youth to us perhaps to sit with the deeper theological tackle any obstacle, and to describe our own question—what is it like to trust in and rely families and homes to each other. At that on God’s Providence? Is that trust shaken or point, someone asked me, “What is it like strengthened when a lone gunman initiates a living in Providence? I bet the summers shooting rampage outside of a McDonald’s in are great there.” I began to regale them Munich? How do we make sense (or can we?) with tales of Providence’s charm in the cool of the hateful attack on the LGBT and Latino breezes of summer and of nights illumined community in Orlando? Can we maintain by WaterFire downtown. That seemed to that trust when members of our community appease everyone, but, for me, the question bring to the foreground their real experiences itself seemed to linger . of discrimination and injustice because of the color of their skin? What is it like living in Providence? These questions made one thing clear: God’s As the College begins its celebration of its Providence leads us to change the way that we 2 logos the quinn family lecture series The Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies is proud to announce its line-up of speakers for the 2016-2017 Academic Year: St. Albert the Great Lecture: Fr. Andrew Pinsent, Oxford University St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture: Fr. Sixto Castro, O.P., University of Valladolid St. Joseph Lecture: Dr. Massimo Faggioli, Villanova University St. Catherine of Siena Lecture: Sr. Mary Catherine Hilkert, O.P., University of Notre Dame Check out our webpage for updates on times, dates, and lecture titles. September 2016 11 retreat (the precursor to the office’s current I arrived to see an array of opportunities and much larger Connections Retreat), and to both learn about and grow in my faith through it, I saw Campus Ministry for the first life, opportunities for the sacraments, and time. It looked different than it does today countless opportunities for service in the for incoming freshmen, 11 years later. But in local Providence community. I also arrived many ways, it looks remarkably similar. to see the Campus Ministry Center (aka, the Chapel Basement) as a place for friendship, I arrived to see an array of opportunities studying, and eating free food. 11 years later, to both learn about and grow in my faith Campus Ministry is still all of those things. life, opportunities for the sacraments, and We might even have more food. countless opportunities for service in the local Providence community. I also arrived But, from an organizational perspective, the to see the Campus Ministry Center (aka, the office was much smaller in 2005 than it is now. Chapel Basement) as a place for friendship, When I first arrived, the office was staffed by studying, and eating free food. 11 years later, a Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain, a Campus Campus Ministry is still all of those things. Minister, a Liturgical Music Director, and We might even have more food. the ever steady administrative staff, Jane McGuirk. We currently have a Chaplain, two But, from an organizational perspective, Assistant Chaplains, four Campus Ministers, the office was much smaller in 2005 than it a Liturgical Music Director, and Jane as is now. When I first arrived, the office was Administrative Staff. We’ve doubled in size staffed by arrived at PC for my freshman during the last ten years, and so too has our year in thefall of 2005. I was a long-haired programming. kid from Southern California embarking on a college journey that doubled as a chance to While many of the same faith formation (briefly) see a new part of the country: New and service opportunities are available, England. Upon arrival, one of the first things we now offer more retreats, such as the I did was attend Campus Ministry’s freshmen wilderness retreats, the Lighthouse retreat retreat (the precursor to the office’s current for sophomore students, and a senior send- and much larger Connections Retreat), and off. We have a new and crucially important through it, I saw Campus Ministry for the first Peer Ministry program, which will serve time. It looked different than it does today over 175 students in the coming year (!). The for incoming freshmen, 11 years later. But in peer ministry program will provide valuable many ways, it looks remarkably similar. opportunities for students to join small faith sharing communities to deepen their lives 4 logos of Providence College, as well as a handful of Carlin ’17 of Ewa Beach, HI, a Social Work other benefactors. and Psychology major, and Shannon C. McMahon ’17, of Basking Ridge, NJ, an Nine Fellows journeyed forth for Elementary / Special Education major, approximately six weeks this past summer, traveled to Tage Guiginto, Bulacan Province returning with the realization that their (outside Manila), Philippines, and ministered journeying was much more than an with Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in in excursion to a foreign land, traveling from their Bethany House Santo Niño Orphanage. one point to another and back, but rather a singular life experience—their talents and From May 23rd until July 3rd, Shantal S. abilities were challenged and developed, they Solomon ’17, of Boston, MA, a Biology and grew in their Christian faith, and they came Psychology major, journeyed to Trinidad and to comprehend in new ways what it means served with the Etrepagny Dominican Sisters to be a fellow traveler with St. Dominic de in their Shalom Dominican Youth Centre. Guzman (1170 – 1221), the itinerant founder of the Order of Preachers. From June 21st until August 5th, Anne B. Berning ’18, of Voorheesville, NY, a Biology From May 10th until June 29th, Lauren major, traveled to Chimbote, Peru, and M. Cramer ’17, of North Kingstown, RI, a ministered with the Grand Rapids Dominican Psychology and Social Work major, traveled Sisters in their El Centro De Obras Sociales / to Sydney, Australia, and ministered with the Maternidad de Maria. Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands, teaching at St.