A few announcements for the week!

I hope everyone is refreshed after a nice weekend and a lovely Mass last night! We have an exciting week in CCM :)

• There is a group going to St. Anthony’s this afternoon, so if you’d like to join, please post on the CCM Firstclass forum (hereafter called ‘the forum’).
• Tonight, Father Patrick is speaking at Saffron’s in the West End as part of a five-week fall series of “Theology on Tap”. The event starts at 7pm tonight and there are a few people going, so if you’d like a ride, please reply to the post on the forum!
• This Wednesday, our discussion will be celebrating the life and lessons of Francis of Assisi. Please join us to learn more about Franciscan spirituality!
• If you would still like to be on the prayer list, it’s never too late! Just email furmanccm@gmail.com asking to be on the list, and I will add you! And, keep sending in those requests (to that same email!)
• Tuesday night, Furman’s Lilly Center (which focuses on vocational development) is offering a CLP that includes two Catholic sisters and a Buddhist monk speaking about following their call. The CLP begins at 7pm and will be held in McEachern. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity, so don’t miss out!
• Continue being wonderful! :)

 

Apologetics with Fr. Longenecker–tomorrow night!

Hi all,

I wanted to make a special post about our Wednesday night discussion starting at 8 pm tomorrow on apologetics. We even have a special guest, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, a noted apologist (and former Anglican priest)! But, this night is more than who will be there. We as Catholics (and catholics!) are meant to look everywhere for truth, and thus we need to know how to engage one another and know the truth we profess so as to correctly explain it to others. When we understand how to do this, we cut uncivil discourse at the knees!

So, the topic of apologetics is not simply a topic for those of us who come every Wednesday night to CCM. It is much larger than that. Apologetics, properly understood, is a way for all people to come to understand a faith tradition that has been misunderstood across the years of history. Every day, I encounter misconceptions about Catholicism. This is not to say that we don’t all have misconceptions about things—however, this is an opportunity for everyone to gather because they want to know something.

So, if you’ve ever wondered things such as: why women can’t become priests, why Catholics pray to Mary and the saints, why the Eucharist is something shared amongst Catholics only (it’s not for ranking reasons, promise!), amongst other questions, then I urge you to come to the Garden Room tomorrow evening. Also, bring your friends! The more, the merrier.

 

Peace and good,

Eliza Stucker

 

We Remember

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center twin towers. This singular day marks a shift in reality, one from “there are people in this world who don’t like me” to “there are people who don’t like me enough to kill my father, my sister, my uncle, etc.”

War pervades our world, especially between the US and the Middle East. Yet, God is inviting us to something higher, something better, than this. When I was thinking of today, the image of La Pieta came to me.

 

A few announcements for the week

1. Yes, we’ll still be having Mass this coming Sunday (tomorrow) at 6:30pm in Daniel Chapel! So, please come on out and celebrate with us!

2. Are you interested in joining us in serving at our Masses on Sundays? We are in need of Furman students willing to be trained to lector, Eucharistic minister, and altar serve. No previous training is needed–we’ll be holding a training session on Sunday, September 18th after Mass! Please consider joining us, and email furmanccm@gmail.com with any questions and to officially sign up! We would be thrilled to have you!

3. Would you be interested in joining some of your fellow classmates as we give a few hours of our time to St. Anthony’s this coming Friday for their annual fundraiser? This event, dubbed ‘Diamonds and Denim’ this year, raises money to help the children of St. Anthony’s School be able to afford the tuition. Furman CCMers will be helping out St. Anthony’s by being friendly faces that help with auctioning off items. If interested, please email furmanccm@gmail.com!

4. Would you like to be on the CCM prayer list/CCM Firstclass forum? This will allow you to keep in touch with CCM on Firstclass as well as pray for people in our community and submit prayer requests of your own! If you’d like to take part in these, please send an email to, you guessed it, furmanccm@gmail.com and we’ll set you up!

5. VIRTUS training at Furman is officially set up for Tuesday, September 13th from 6-8pm in the conference room in the lower level of the Daniel Chapel. You must register online for the Diocese of Charleston to have your records, so don’t forget! This is a one-time training, meaning you never have to be re-certified. It is a wonderful life skill to have and allows you to take part in our St. Anthony’s apostolates!

 

How do you co-create with God?

Hello all!

I was catching up on blogging and Catholic news. The interns and Father Pat had a very busy weekend as we drove up to Philadelphia, PA to help the St. Francis Inn throw their annual block party for the homeless. It was an amazing, grace-filled weekend, and here are a few pictures if you’re interested:

 

Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ

Hi all,

 

Since today is the celebration of the Ascension, I figured this article was fitting. It’s a great article about how Jesus’s ascension into Heaven relates to us today. We can move out of the cerebral faith to the faith that interacts with, loves, and heals others.

 

Engaging Youth in Church

This article was recommended by our dedicated (and recent Furman grad!) George Dashner. This article speaks of a priest trying to re-engage youth in the Church and their faith after politics in the West Bank scattered them.

Young Christians need to learn how to witness their faith on one hand while being an instrument of peace on the other, said the priest.

Have other suggestions? Articles you’ve found inspiring/challenging/interesting that you’d like to share? Please email them to: furmanccm@gmail.com

Peace all!

 

 

Brother Dan Horan, OFM

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds everyone relaxed and enjoying these summer days!

I wanted to let you guys know about a really cool blog I put in the links page: Dating God. Brother Dan Horan, OFM is the writer, and he writes about Franciscan spirituality in the 21st century. Many CCMers already read (and love!) this blog…he has a wonderful writing style and loving perspective. 

 

Easter Prayer

Another gem from Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations:

 

YOUCAT…and last night :)

This is a really cool youtube video from the Vatican about a new release of the Catechism targeted toward youth. It should be released during this year’s World Youth Day. Check it out!