In late February 2011, about 30 Newman people met with two members of Petrus Associates, an Austin, Texas based consulting service for Catholic Ministries,-especially Campus Ministries. The consultation has proven to be a source of encouragement to help us to re-imagine this wonderful place, Holy Spirit/Newman Hall.
Two broad areas have focused our attention: Ministries and Development.
Ministries, some noted in these pages, are numerous at Newman. Families meet to Grow In Faith Together (GIFT). Students have an array of events–small prayer and faith sharing groups, retreats and dinners. Graduate students and young adults (Yaggies) gather for scripture, for fun and socializing, including rock climbing and sailing. The Newman community sponsors events such as Loaves and Fishes, which annually serves about 15,000 meals to the poor and homeless, as well as lectures from UC faculty and from the faculty of the Graduate Theological Union.
Building Newman Together invites us through all these efforts to be alert to one another, to draw upon the gifts of students and long time Newmanites to make us better at being Church.
The second focus is that of Development. In order to sustain and increase the gifts of faith, hope and love at Newman we are looking to a wider financial support than our local parish. About 1500 people attend Sunday Mass at Newman each week. About 55% of that number are students. To build towards our future will, we believe, require both another campus minister as well as a perhaps half-time Development Officer.
Building Newman Together counts upon the generosity of many people with their gifts of time, talent and treasure. We welcome your prayers and support as we seek to be more hospitable in witnessing to the Gospel, more engaged ecumenically and inter-religiously with many colleagues and more reconciling in our all too often broken world.
Bernard J. Campbell CSP, pastor