Author Archives: St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center

This Week at Newman for May 13

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hello everyone, congrats to all the students on completing the school year, and especially to the seniors and graduate students who graduated this weekend. If you’re leaving town, we’ll definitely miss you! This summer, the Newman Center will be open, with the exception of the last two weeks in July. You are always welcome to stop by and pray or hang out in the lounge. Fr. Bart will continue Coffee with St. Mark Bible Study on Wednesday mornings at 8 AM, and Casa Maria is always looking for volunteers in the mornings during the week. For information on informal hang-outs during the summer (if you’re in Tucson), be sure to join our Facebook group. The link is on the Facebook page: facebook.com/uacatholic.org. Thanks for a great year, and know that the staff is praying for all of you!

Summer Mass Schedule
From May 20 to August 12

Sunday Masses – 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 5 PM
Saturday Vigil Mass – 5:15 PM
Monday-Friday – Daily Mass: 5:15 PM (in the classroom)

For more updates, be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. If you have any questions, feel free to stop by the Newman Center or email me at davidmares@uacatholic.org.

“To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” – Blessed John Henry Newman

Your brother in Christ,
David Mares
Campus Ministry Intern

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Bulletin for May 13

Posted on May 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bulletin May 13 2012

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This Week at Newman for May 6

Posted on May 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Finals Week! Students, continue to study hard and remember that a great study break is Daily Mass at 5:15 PM every day. Congrats to all of the Seniors and Grad students who are graduating, and for those who are leaving Tucson for the summer, have a safe trip and a great summer!

Events This Week:

Candlelight Mass
Wednesday, May 9 at 8 PM

Since this week is finals week, we will have only the Candlelight Mass instead of the normal full Emmaus. Come and join us for this unique Mass!

Weekly Events:

Serve at Casa Maria Catholic Worker House
Mondays and Thursdays at 8:15 AM

Casa Maria is a Catholic Worker House that serves the poor and homeless in South Tucson. Only a few miles away, this community of workers provides members of the Newman Center with the opportunity to serve and grow in understanding of the mission of the Catholic Workers. If interested, meet us at the Newman Center at 8:15 AM on Mondays and Thursdays. If you have any questions, contact Matt Campbell at mlcampbe@email.arizona.edu.

Thinking with the Popes: “Introduction to Christianity”
Mondays at 7 PM

Join other Graduate students as they study “Introduction to Christianity” by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI in a group led by Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P. Come if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith!

Catholicism Series
Tuesdays at 7 PM

Every Tuesday night for 10 weeks, we will show a portion of the Catholicism video series by Fr. Robert Barron. The video that will be shown this week is “The Fire of His Love: Prayer and the Life of the Spirit” This will take place in the Newman Center classroom, and there will be a discussion following each video.

Thinking with the Popes: “Redeemer of Man”
Thursdays at 4 PM

Join other Undergraduate students as they study “Redeemer of Man (Redemptor Hominis)” by Pope John Paul II in a group led by Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P. Come if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith!

Upcoming Events:

Summer and Fall Parking Permits
Until May 11

Applications for Summer and Fall 2012 Newman Center parking permits are being accepted through Friday, May 11. Summer permits are $35 for each session (pre-session, Session 1, and Session 2) or $100 for the entire summer. Fall permits are $100. You can also save money & purchase a yearly parking permit for $270.

“One Week Experience at the Monastery”
May 24-30

If you are a single woman 18 to 47 years old considering a vocation to religious life, you are invited to a “One Week Experience at the Monastery” hosted by the Benedictine Monastery on Country Club. It will be held at the Benedictine Monastery from May 24-30, and there is no cost for participation. For more information, contact Sr. Lupita Barajas at vocationtucson@gmail.com or at 520-325-6401. The deadline to register is May 15.

Diocese of Tucson Camp Kino
June 3 at 9 AM

All men ages 16 and older are invited to a day-long retreat at Picture Rocks Retreat Center, June 3 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Full scholarships are available for the first 30 participants, otherwise the cost is $35. For more information, contact the Diocese of Tucson’s Vocations Office at 520-838-2531 or email vocations@diocesetucson.org.

For more updates, be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. If you have any questions, feel free to stop by the Newman Center or email me at davidmares@uacatholic.org.

“An hour of study, for the modern apostle, is an hour of prayer. If you are to serve God with your mind, to study is a grave obligation for you.” – St. Josemaría Escrivá

Your brother in Christ,
David Mares
Campus Ministry Intern

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Posted in This Week at Newman

Letter from the Pastor – May 6

Posted on May 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

As this academic year comes to a close, it is hard to believe that it is the eighth time I have done this. The eight years have flown by and the blessings of the eight years have piled up. The end of the year brings its own kind of business. Beside the “holy stuff” (first communions, confirmations, baccalaureate mass, etc.), the staff is busy with evaluating programs, choosing new leaders for next year, and tying up the loose ends of this year. On Friday night, we had our appreciation party for parish volunteers. We (the staff) pour a lot into that celebration as our expression of gratitude to the many, many people it takes to make this parish and all our programs run. The party was great fun and I would like to express my gratitude to the staff for all their hard work on it.

This has been a great year. We have been especially pleased this year with the response to all the different faith-formation programs we have been able to offer. Each reading group, lecture series, video series, faith-sharing group has been well attended and the feedback has been great. Our other programming: social justice, socials, student leadership, retreats, etc. have also gone very well. We look forward to continuing these and other programs in the coming year.

Congratulations to all from our student community who are finishing their academic programs and graduating this year. May God continue to bless you as you move on to whatever comes next in your life!

Summer provides a great opportunity for all of us to take a deep breath. We reduce the number of Masses during the summer months (this begins the weekend of May 20th) and our office staff and hours are reduced as well. During these months, the staff is busy regrouping, planning, and getting ready for the new year. I also appreciate summer as a time to connect with the permanent community a little more – as the student community is largely not here. This summer, I would like to intentionally connect more with a broader group of parishioners. It is likely that next year will be my last in Tucson. If that turns out to be true, I’d like to make sure that the transition is a smooth one. I would like to hear from you your concerns and cares for the parish community at a time of transition. I will be saying much more about his in the coming weeks.

Peace,

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Bulletin for May 6

Posted on May 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bulletin May 6 2012

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This Week at Newman for April 29

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hello everyone! Congratulations to our Intramural Softball and Kickball teams, who both won their championships this past week! Students, good luck with finals as they begin this week! Study hard, and know that we’re praying for you.

Events This Week:

Presentation on St. Catherine of Siena
Monday, April 30 at 7 PM

All are invited to join Sr. Elizabeth as she will be giving a presentation on the life and wisdom of St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th Century Dominican saint and mystic. It will be held in the Newman Center Classroom.

Last Emmaus of the Semester and Emmaus After-Party
Wednesday, May 2 at 7 PM

Join us for the last Emmaus of the semester, and then afterwards, we’ll go downstairs for a dance party to celebrate the end of the year at 9 PM! Don’t miss it! Emmaus is our “mid-week retreat that lasts all semester,” and it’s named after the town in Luke 24 that two disciples were traveling towards when they encountered a stranger, who they recognize as Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Emmaus begins with praise and worship, and then we have either a student or guest speaker. We usually have time for reflection and then more worship that transitions us into the Candlelight Mass at 8 PM. The Candlelight Mass is unique since it features a discussion homily, where everyone has a chance to share on the Gospel. Come and worship with us!

Baccalaureate Mass
Sunday, May 6 at 5 PM

If you are receiving a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or Doctorate we would like to honor you at the 5:00 PM Baccalaureate Mass on Sunday, May 6. Please leave your name and information with the office by calling 327-4665.

Weekly Events:

Serve at Casa Maria Catholic Worker House
Mondays and Thursdays at 8:15 AM

Casa Maria is a Catholic Worker House that serves the poor and homeless in South Tucson. Only a few miles away, this community of workers provides members of the Newman Center with the opportunity to serve and grow in understanding of the mission of the Catholic Workers. If interested, meet us at the Newman Center at 8:15 AM on Mondays and Thursdays. If you have any questions, contact Matt Campbell at mlcampbe@email.arizona.edu.

Thinking with the Popes: “Introduction to Christianity”
Mondays at 7 PM

Join other Graduate students as they study “Introduction to Christianity” by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI in a group led by Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P. Come if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith!

Catholicism Series
Tuesdays at 7 PM

Every Tuesday night for 10 weeks, we will show a portion of the Catholicism video series by Fr. Robert Barron. The video that will be shown this week is “The Fire of His Love: Prayer and the Life of the Spirit” This will take place in the Newman Center classroom, and there will be a discussion following each video.

Thinking with the Popes: “Redeemer of Man”
Thursdays at 4 PM

Join other Undergraduate students as they study “Redeemer of Man (Redemptor Hominis)” by Pope John Paul II in a group led by Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P. Come if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith!

Upcoming Events:

Summer and Fall Parking Permits
Until May 11

Applications for Summer and Fall 2012 Newman Center parking permits are being accepted through Friday, May 11. Summer permits are $35 for each session (pre-session, Session 1, and Session 2) or $100 for the entire summer. Fall permits are $100. You can also save money & purchase a yearly parking permit for $270.

“One Week Experience at the Monastery”
May 24-30

If you are a single woman 18 to 47 years old considering a vocation to religious life, you are invited to a “One Week Experience at the Monastery” hosted by the Benedictine Monastery on Country Club. It will be held at the Benedictine Monastery from May 24-30, and there is no cost for participation. For more information, contact Sr. Lupita Barajas at vocationtucson@gmail.com or at 520-325-6401. The deadline to register is May 15.

Diocese of Tucson Camp Kino
June 3 at 9 AM

All men ages 16 and older are invited to a day-long retreat at Picture Rocks Retreat Center, June 3 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Full scholarships are available for the first 30 participants, otherwise the cost is $35. For more information, contact the Diocese of Tucson’s Vocations Office at 520-838-2531 or email vocations@diocesetucson.org.

For more updates, be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. If you have any questions, feel free to stop by the Newman Center or email me at davidmares@uacatholic.org.

“Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Your brother in Christ,
David Mares
Campus Ministry Intern

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Posted in This Week at Newman

Letter from the Pastor from April 29

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

Last weekend’s celebration with Fr. Tom DeMan was quite wonderful. A number of alumni from the 80s attended a special dinner in Fr. Tom’s honor on Saturday evening. On Sunday, he celebrated the 11:15 Mass and greeted everyone out under the Ramada at a special reception. Again, there were many Newman Alumni present. Among them were Tom Booth and his wife, Tammy. Tom was gracious to sing one of his new songs after communion to honor Fr. Tom’s role in his ministry as a church musician and Catholic recording artist. Fr. Tom has influenced many people during his 50 years of priesthood and we were happy to help him celebrate this special jubilee year.

I spent the week in Chandler at the diocesan priest convocation. The keynote presenter was Bishop Robert McElroy, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. His background is in American political history and moral theology. The best way to characterize his three presentations as a group is : Being an informed Catholic in the world of American Political and Social Life. They were informative and superb. I learned a lot and will be using some of what I learned to address specific topics in the fall as the presidential election approaches. The basic contention of his talk (it was for priests) was that we (priests) are not responsible for transforming secular, political life; that is the work of the laity. Our responsibility is to provide for good conscience formation to aid the laity in their work… none of that is news to me, but the moral imperative of it was strongly expressed by Bishop McElroy. That emphasis on conscience and its role in political decision making (indeed in our entire moral life) can be given simple lip service and never really attended to as we actually make moral and political decisions. I want us to look more deeply at these questions and the year of a presidential election is a good time to do so. Much more on this after the summer hiatus.

In addition to Bishop McElroy’s presentations, there were other sessions and lots of opportunities for networking and fraternity. The bishop and the priests of the diocese go out of their way to welcome religious priests and to incorporate us into the life of the diocese. For that I am grateful. The convocation was just one more affirmation for me of how good it is to minister in this Diocese.

Peace,

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Posted in Bulletin Letters from the Pastor

Bulletin for April 29

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bulletin Apr 29 2012

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This Week at Newman for April 22

Posted on April 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hello everyone!  It was an honor this weekend to host Fr. Tom DeMan, OP, in celebration of his ordination as a priest 50 years ago.  Fr. Tom was the Pastor here at the Newman Center from 1980 to 1987, and he was very influential in campus ministry throughout the Western Dominican Province.  Students, have a great last full week of classes!  Do work!

Weekly Events:

Serve at Casa Maria Catholic Worker House

 Mondays and Thursdays at 8:15 AM

Casa Maria is a Catholic Worker House that serves the poor and homeless in South Tucson.  Only a few miles away, this community of workers provides members of the Newman Center with the opportunity to serve and grow in understanding of the mission of the Catholic Workers. If interested, meet us at the Newman Center at 8:15 AM on Mondays and Thursdays.  If you have any questions, contact Matt Campbell at mlcampbe@email.arizona.edu.

 

Thinking with the Popes: “Introduction to Christianity”

 Mondays at 7 PM

 Join other Graduate students as they study “Introduction to Christianity” by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI in a group led by Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P.  Come if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith!

 

Catholicism Series

 Tuesdays at 7 PM

 Every Tuesday night for 10 weeks, we will show a portion of the Catholicism video series by Fr. Robert Barron.  The video that will be shown this week is “A Vast Company of Witnesses: The Communion of Saints.”  This will take place in the Newman Center classroom, and there will be a discussion following each video. 

 

Women’s Faith Sharing Night

Tuesdays at 7 PM

 Join Sr. Elizabeth and other women for a scripture-based time of support, discussion, and reflection of topics focused on women’s issues in the Wildcat Lounge.  This semester, they will be reading Catholic Spirituality and Prayer in the Secular City by Fr. Bob Burns, O.P., a priest in residence at the Newman Center and a professor in Religious Studies at the U of A.  All female student and permanent community members are welcome to come and grow together in our understanding of our Christian faith and our part in it.

 

Emmaus

 Wednesdays at 7 PM

 Emmaus is our “mid-week retreat that lasts all semester,” and it’s named after the town in Luke 24 that two disciples were traveling towards when they encountered a stranger.  As they were walking with him, he revealed scripture to them, and in the breaking of the bread, they recognized him as the risen Jesus.  Emmaus begins with praise and worship, and then we have either a student or guest speaker.  We usually have time for reflection and then more worship that transitions us into the Candlelight Mass at 8 PM.  The Candlelight Mass is unique since it features a discussion homily, where everyone has a chance to share on the Gospel.  Come and worship with us!

 

Thinking with the Popes: “Redeemer of Man”

 Thursdays at 4 PM

 Join other Undergraduate students as they study “Redeemer of Man (Redemptor Hominis)” by Pope John Paul II in a group led by Fr. Jacek Buda, O.P.  Come if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith!

 Upcoming Events:

Baccalaureate Mass

 Sunday, May 6 at 5 PM

 If you are receiving a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or Doctorate we would like to honor you at the 5:00 PM Baccalaureate Mass on Sunday, May 6.  Please leave your name and information with the office by calling 327-4665.

 

“One Week Experience at the Monastery”

 May 24-30

 If you are a single woman 18 to 47 years old considering a vocation to religious life, you are invited to a “One Week Experience at the Monastery” hosted by the Benedictine Monastery on Country Club.  It will be held at the Benedictine Monastery from May 24-30, and there is no cost for participation.  For more information, contact Sr. Lupita Barajas at vocationtucson@gmail.com or at 520-325-6401.  The deadline to register is May 15.

 

For more updates, be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  If you have any questions, feel free to stop by the Newman Center or email me at davidmares@uacatholic.org.  

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

 

Your brother in Christ,
David Mares
Campus Ministry Intern

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Posted in This Week at Newman

Bulletin Letter from April 22

Posted on April 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

I would like to congratulate the seven young men and women who were Confirmed at the Newman Center last Sunday. As usual, it was great to welcome Bishop Kicanas to the Center and to experience “in person” the great support he offers for our ministry here on campus. Congratulations also to Sr. Elizabeth and her Confirmation team for another semester of great work preparing our group for confirmation.

As I mentioned last weekend, Fr. Tom DeMan, who served as Director of the Center from 1980 to 1988, is visiting this weekend. Fr. Tom was ordained to the priesthood 50 years ago and we are blessed to host one of his celebrations here. I was blessed to work for/with Fr. Tom at the Newman Center in Seattle during my residency the year before I was ordained. Much of what I know about effective university ministry, I learned from Fr. Tom. He has been a great influence on Campus Ministry, not only in our Dominican Province, but in the United States in general through the National Catholic Campus Ministry Association. For the last couple of weeks, I have been contacting Newman alum to make sure they were aware Fr. Tom is in town. It is amazing how many of these people I know because they are the parents of current or recent UofA Newman students. Welcome and congratulations, Fr. Tom!

I’d like to say thank you again to Carolyn Vieira for the great job she does documenting Newman life photographically. Her photos of the Easter Vigil are on line for viewing at carolynmvieira.smugmug.com/newman-center. As usual, she took some amazing shots that night.

I will be away much of this week at the diocesan clergy convocation. Please pray for the Bishop and the priests who minister in the Diocese of Tucson.

Peace,

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Posted in Bulletin Letters from the Pastor