Newman Center News-University of Nebraska at Kearney
The Newman Center at UNK is the Catholic Campus Ministry that promotes the goals of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Advent Answers #3
Could you really live on a diet of locusts and wild honey, as the Bible tells us John the Baptist did? Nutritional information would suggest that you can. Locusts are an excellent source of protein, with an average of 50-60% protein in terms of dry weight--higher than beef! They also contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats and moderate levels of iodine, thiamine, riboflavin and other vitamins and minerals. And honey is believed to be considerably better for you than refined white sugar. So...could a "John the Baptist Diet" be the next big fad?
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Advent Answers #2
Why don't we sing the Gloria at mass during advent? The Gloria is not sung during advent in order to emphasize its return at Christmas with the joy of the coming of the Messiah. The season of advent is a time of penance and anticipation, and removing the Gloria from mass is a concrete reminder.
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Advent Answers
Ever wonder what the Advent Wreath means?? All of the greens of the wreath signify the immortality of our soul and everlasting life God has promised to us. The circle signifies God’s eternity. There is a candle for each of the four weeks of Advent. The purple candles symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works during these weeks. The rose candle is for Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing, because we are at the half-way point of Advent. Finally, the light signifies Christ!
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
United for Religious Freedom - USCCB
United for Religious Freedom
A Statement of the Administrative Committee
Of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
March 14, 2012
The
Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
gathered for its March 2012 meeting, is strongly unified and intensely focused
in its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our day. In
our role as Bishops, we approach this question prayerfully and as
pastors—concerned not only with the protection of the Church’s own institutions,
but with the care of the souls of the individual faithful, and with the common
good.
To
address the broader range of religious liberty issues, we look forward to the
upcoming publication of “A Statement on Religious Liberty,” a document of the
Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. This document reflects on the history
of religious liberty in our great Nation; surveys the current range of threats
to this foundational principle; and states clearly the resolve of the Bishops
to act strongly, in concert with our fellow citizens, in its defense.
One
particular religious freedom issue demands our immediate attention: the
now-finalized rule of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that
would force virtually all private health plans nationwide to provide coverage
of sterilization and contraception—including abortifacient drugs—subject to an
exemption for “religious employers” that is arbitrarily narrow, and to an
unspecified and dubious future “accommodation” for other religious organizations
that are denied the exemption.
We
begin, first, with thanks to all who have stood firmly with us in our vigorous
opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate: to our brother bishops; to our
clergy and religious; to our Catholic faithful; to the wonderful array of
Catholic groups and institutions that enliven our civil society; to our
ecumenical and interfaith allies; to women and men of all religions (or none at
all); to legal scholars; and to civic leaders. It is your enthusiastic unity in
defense of religious freedom that has made such a dramatic and positive impact
in this historic public debate. With your continued help, we will not be
divided, and we will continue forward as one.
Second,
we wish to clarify what this debate is—and is not—about. This is not about
access to contraception, which is ubiquitous and inexpensive, even when it is
not provided by the Church’s hand and with the Church’s funds. This is not
about the religious freedom of Catholics only, but also of those who recognize
that their cherished beliefs may be next on the block. This is not about the
Bishops’ somehow “banning contraception,” when the U.S. Supreme Court took that
issue off the table two generations ago. Indeed, this is not about the Church
wanting to force anybody to do anything; it is instead about the federal
government forcing the Church—consisting of its faithful and all but a few of
its institutions—to act against Church teachings. This is not a matter of
opposition to universal health care, which has been a concern of the Bishops’
Conference since 1919, virtually at its founding. This is not a fight we want
or asked for, but one forced upon us by government on its own timing. Finally,
this is not a Republican or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an
American issue.
So
what is it about?
An unwarranted government definition of religion. The mandate includes an
extremely narrow definition of what HHS deems a “religious employer” deserving
exemption—employers who, among other things, must hire and serve primarily
those of their own faith. We are deeply concerned about this new definition of
who we are as people of faith and what constitutes our ministry. The
introduction of this unprecedented defining of faith communities and their
ministries has precipitated this struggle for religious freedom. Government has
no place defining religion and religious ministry. HHS thus creates and
enforces a new distinction—alien both to our Catholic tradition and to federal
law—between our houses of worship and our great ministries of service to our
neighbors, namely, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the students in our
schools and universities, and others in need, of any faith community or none. Cf.
Deus Caritas Est, Nos. 20-33. We are commanded both to love and to serve
the Lord; laws that protect our freedom to comply with one of these commands
but not the other are nothing to celebrate. Indeed, they must be rejected, for
they create a “second class” of citizenship within our religious community. And
if this definition is allowed to stand, it will spread throughout federal law,
weakening its healthy tradition of generous respect for religious freedom and
diversity. All—not just some—of our religious institutions share equally in the
very same God-given, legally-recognized right not “to be forced to act in a
manner contrary to [their] own beliefs.” Dignitatis Humanae, No. 2.
A mandate to act against our teachings. The exemption is not
merely a government foray into internal Church governance, where government has
no legal competence or authority—disturbing though that may be. This error in
theory has grave consequences in principle and practice. Those deemed by HHS
not to be “religious employers” will be forced by government to violate their
own teachings within their very own institutions. This is not only an injustice
in itself, but it also undermines the effective proclamation of those teachings
to the faithful and to the world. For decades, the Bishops have led the fight
against such government incursions on conscience, particularly in the area of
health care. Far from making us waver in this longstanding commitment, the
unprecedented magnitude of this latest threat has only strengthened our resolve
to maintain that consistent view.
A violation of personal civil rights. The HHS mandate creates
still a third class, those with no conscience protection at all: individuals
who, in their daily lives, strive constantly to act in accordance with their
faith and moral values. They, too, face a government mandate to aid in providing
“services” contrary to those values—whether in their sponsoring of, and payment
for, insurance as employers; their payment of insurance premiums as employees;
or as insurers themselves—without even the semblance of an exemption. This,
too, is unprecedented in federal law, which has long been generous in
protecting the rights of individuals not to act against their religious beliefs
or moral convictions. We have consistently supported these rights, particularly
in the area of protecting the dignity of all human life, and we continue to do
so.
Third,
we want to indicate our next steps. We will continue our vigorous efforts at
education and public advocacy on the principles of religious liberty and their
application in this case (and others). We will continue to accept any
invitation to dialogue with the Executive Branch to protect the religious
freedom that is rightly ours. We will continue to pursue legislation to restore
the same level of religious freedom we have enjoyed until just recently. And we
will continue to explore our options for relief from the courts, under the U.S.
Constitution and other federal laws that protect religious freedom. All of
these efforts will proceed concurrently, and in a manner that is mutually
reinforcing.
Most importantly of all, we call upon the Catholic faithful, and
all people of faith, throughout our country to join us in prayer and penance
for our leaders and for the complete protection of our First Freedom—religious
liberty—which is not only protected in the laws and customs of our great
nation, but rooted in the teachings of our great Tradition. Prayer is the
ultimate source of our strength—for without God, we can do nothing; but with
God, all things are possible.
http://www.usccb.org/conscience
http://www.usccb.org/conscience
Monday, February 27, 2012
Diocesan Stewardship Appeal 2012 - donate a pizza?
We’re all pretty familiar with the ideas behind the appeal - giving of our Time, Talent Treasure
But the appeal is about more than just fundraising, although that is a part of our goal. It is about being good stewards of the gifts we are given. it is also about being good disciples of Christ. In 1 Peter 4:10, we are each directed to ‘use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’
Every one of us has a responsibility to support our church as stewards and disciples. We can manifest this in numerous ways. Perhaps we use our time to attend Eucharistic Adoration (1st & 3rd Tuesdays), make Valentine’s for Mt. Carmel residents, or prepare Sunday dinner for our community. Maybe we offer our talents when we join in the music ministry, lector at Mass, or welcome others to worship with us. Maybe we tithe to the church, realizing that all we have comes from God.
Our situations may vary, and our abilities can grow and change. But we know that without support from us, the people of the church, the church would not exist. So it is up to us to build up our church. Today we are asked to consider giving of our treasure to our church. The Newman Center benefits from the appeal, and without that support, we couldn’t continue our ministry. Approximately 90% of our budget comes from diocese support. So please, prayerfully consider participating in the appeal with a donation. All amounts will help us reach our goal. Perhaps you might give up the cost of a pizza or coffee or a movie and donate that to our appeal. You can even give your donation online at the diocesan website. Be sure to select UNK Newman Center, Kearney from the bottom of the list!
I’d like to close with this thought on Stewardship, by an unknown author. It reminds us that we are not called to wait for someone else to do God’s work, but rather, that we are Christ’s body in the world.
Dianne Keiter
But the appeal is about more than just fundraising, although that is a part of our goal. It is about being good stewards of the gifts we are given. it is also about being good disciples of Christ. In 1 Peter 4:10, we are each directed to ‘use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’
Every one of us has a responsibility to support our church as stewards and disciples. We can manifest this in numerous ways. Perhaps we use our time to attend Eucharistic Adoration (1st & 3rd Tuesdays), make Valentine’s for Mt. Carmel residents, or prepare Sunday dinner for our community. Maybe we offer our talents when we join in the music ministry, lector at Mass, or welcome others to worship with us. Maybe we tithe to the church, realizing that all we have comes from God.
Our situations may vary, and our abilities can grow and change. But we know that without support from us, the people of the church, the church would not exist. So it is up to us to build up our church. Today we are asked to consider giving of our treasure to our church. The Newman Center benefits from the appeal, and without that support, we couldn’t continue our ministry. Approximately 90% of our budget comes from diocese support. So please, prayerfully consider participating in the appeal with a donation. All amounts will help us reach our goal. Perhaps you might give up the cost of a pizza or coffee or a movie and donate that to our appeal. You can even give your donation online at the diocesan website. Be sure to select UNK Newman Center, Kearney from the bottom of the list!
I’d like to close with this thought on Stewardship, by an unknown author. It reminds us that we are not called to wait for someone else to do God’s work, but rather, that we are Christ’s body in the world.
Dianne Keiter
Stewardship
My church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring other people into its worship and community, if I invite and bring them.
It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with the same things.
Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things, that I want my church to be.
Author Unknown
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