Cabrini Spirit Week Reflections
Dr. Laura Groves, Social Work Department
Father Carl asked me to reflect today on what drew me to Cabrini College. As I thought back on this, I recalled that when I first came to Cabrini, I became aware of this feeling that was very strong and persistent, just telling me that this was the right place for me to be, and that I had found an important piece of my path in my life.
And what better home for a social worker and a social work educator than Cabrini College, with its social justice mission, grounded in Catholic Social Teaching principles that prioritize the good of the whole society, the Common Good. Cabrini College is a community where, together, we learn about what it means to be one human family. Our commitment to an Education of the Heart means that we put our intellect and our faith into action in service of this Common Good.
We are inspired, of course, by Mother Cabrini. She allowed herself to be guided by her faith and her unwavering drive to serve those in need. The strength of her faith enabled her to hold fast to this commitment despite the adversity that she herself faced and her witnessing the enormous hardships endured by the immigrant men, women and children she sought to help. Mother Cabrini’s work and legacy inspire all of us, but I feel that the light she shines has a particular meaning for social workers, because we are often drawn to our work by our own faith commitments. This faith gives us our vision of a just and peaceful world, and it gives us the passion and strength to live this vision out.
This journey is rarely a simple one for any of us. Just as Mother Cabrini faced many challenges, so do we. Sometimes we might be tempted to take an easier path and ignore the problems that need our attention, and the people throughout the world who need our support. Sometimes we might pretend not to see the path that is before us.
The reading we heard today carries a message about being true to ourselves and honoring what we know to be good and right in the eyes of God and in our own hearts. It cautions against a sort of spiritual selling out. It reminds us to honor our relationship with God and our commitment to following His teachings. Finally, it reassures us that when we are willing to see and follow that path, we will be led in the right direction. I have discovered that being true to my path has led me here, and my hope for all of us, as we move through this special time of Cabrini Spirit Week and as we focus on the plight of orphans and vulnerable children around the world, is that we might reflect on the ways we can carry out our commitments by putting our hearts and minds to action in service of our one human family.
Jess Huda, Athletics
I felt it only fitting that I start me personal reflection with two quotes that, thanks to my mom, are ones that I have and will always live by. They got me through some difficult and trying times. And when Fr. Carl approached me about giving a reflection the first thing I thought of were those two quotes and how they really do reflect on my journey to Cabrini and then back to Cabrini. Those quotes are “everything happens for a reason” and “you are never given anything more than you could handle.”
As a coach, one of my jobs is to recruit prospective student athletes to Cabrini, so a common question I always get from them is why did I chose Cabrini? When I start off telling the story, I always get a funny look… because I always say I didn’t choose Cabrini, it chose me. As a senior in high school, I had it all planned out…I knew everything like most seniors in high school. And believe it or not, out of my 3 choices for colleges, Cabrini was my third choice. Not because the other two were that much better, but because at the time I thought my career was better suited to start somewhere else. And yet, here I stand, 14 years later and I couldn’t be happier…it’s funny how things work out.
After being told by my first two choices that I was on a wait list, I was devastated. My plan was not working out the way I had intended…this is where “everything happens for a reason” and “you are never given anything more than you can handle” comes in. I had no idea what I was going to do…I was embarrassed, stressed out…you know the typical high school drama. Once again, mom to the rescue…she pulls me aside and tells me that everything will be ok and that “I can hand le this because we are never given more than we can handle.” Not long after she talked me off my ledge, did I hear from Cabrini and they welcomed me with open arms and I went with it. The only thing I knew about Cabrini was a picture of the mansion on a post card, but that seemed to be good enough for me, so I said sure why not. At one point, my mom said, don’t you think we should go to the campus and check it out first? So we did and to this day I will never forget that feeling that I got when I first drove through the main gate…I turned, looked at my parents and said, yep this is it! And 4 years later, as I am standing there with my diploma in hand, my mom smiles and said see, I told everything would work out because everything happens for a reason.
That same feeling I got 14 years ago, is the same feeling I get each and every day I come to work. That feeling is one of acceptance, understanding, and most of all FAMILY! When asked why I never left, my answer is why should I? Cabrini isn’t just the name on my diploma or the buildings on campus. Cabrini is my family…it is where I really grew up and found out who I really was. Yes, I will always have my roots in Wilkes-Barre, PA…but it wasn’t until I got to Cabrini that I looked at the world in a different way. I never realized that living up north was similar to living in a little bubble. Our nights out in high school consisted of hanging out at wegmans after the movies…and yes, we had the glorious wegmans way before you did down here. But seriously, Cabrini allowed me to be who I was when I was unsure. It allowed me to make mistakes and then it picked me back up and let me try again without judging me. Cabrini allowed me to take chances that I never thought I could take and make decisions I thought would be impossible to make. For such a small school, it really does do big things.
Everyone has a story about how they ended up where they are. Maybe it was how they pictured it and maybe it was just the way it was meant to be. Or maybe it wasn’t what we thought at all. How many of us spend our days, usually the rough days, looking back and thinking what if? What if I didn’t say that or what if I did this instead? But when I look back, I don’t say what if because that’s too easy. It’s too easy to make judgments and decisions after the fact. So many people get caught up in asking the what if questions that they don’t allow themselves to fully enjoy and take in where they are.
Who knows where my life will take me and when it will take me there, but I know that every time I drive into campus, it will be like driving back home.
November 2011 Reflection
“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, and after He had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.”
1Cor 11:23-26
“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers”
Acts 2:42
These are two of many New Testament accounts of the early Church developing her liturgical life and prayer. Over the years, the Church has experienced many traditions, devotions, abuses, misunderstandings, and miracles associated with the Eucharist. November 27, 2011 marks another milestone in the Church’s ongoing development of her liturgical life and prayer.
One November 27, 2011, the English speaking Church will experience the most dramatic change for the English speaking worshiping community since 1963, when Pope John XXIII, declared worship should be in the language of the worshipers. Books, speeches, blogs, conferences, workshops, and abundant internet resources have been provided to assist worshipers in the preparation phase for this November change.
Here at Cabrini, we have been working with a transition team of faculty, staff and students who have been meeting since January 2011. We have been praying, learning, studying and preparing to help our worshiping community experience these changes. We were recently featured in the Catholic Standard and Times, November 2011 educational supplement for our work.
An Easter Reflection
The Word Among Us Reflection On Easter
A Blessed Easter to you and your families. As we prepare for the end of the academic year and all the stress, excitement, and anticipation it brings with it. I offer this reflection for Easter Sunday and the Easter Season.
Can’t you just imagine the conversation that God had with Jesus on the first Easter?
So often we think about what God wants to say to us,
but today let’s think about
the joy and accolades that the Father gave to Jesus.
My Son, I am so glad you have triumphed.
You endured the shame and the hatred of a people
Who did not understand that You came for them.
Your love was shunned, yet You gave it so freely.
I am so proud that you turned Your cheek even when you were spit upon.
I am so proud that You showed my people what true love looks like.
Thank You, my Son, for bringing my people home.
Your death has torn in two the veil that separated us.
Your blood has washed away their sins.
No longer do they have to hide as Adam and Eve did.
Instead, they can now come into the light and receive
all the healing and joy I have stored up for them.
My Son, You are coming back to me.
How I long to embrace You and clothe You in glory once more.
You have defeated sin, and once more You can see me in my fullness.
We are no longer separated!
You are leaving those You have loved with an everlasting love,
But each of them will join You one day in the kingdom,
Where the angels will dance and the elders will bow down in worship.
That day is coming, Son, when we all will be together at last.
O my people, see the victory my Son has gained for you.
Come join in the celebration feast.
You were lost but are now found. You were blind but now can see.
Come now, and share in our love!
May Easter Blessings pour forth upon you, your families and friends.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
God Bless you,
Fr. Carl
February Reflection
On Wednesday, March 9, 2011, the Church begins the liturgical season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a 40-day liturgical season highlighted by three traditional Lenten disciplines: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, “which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others” (CCC 1434).
Pope John Paul II offers us this insight about the power of prayer: “ through prayer God reveals Himself above all as Mercy – that is, Love that goes out to those who are suffering, Love that sustains, uplifts, and invites us to trust. The victory of good in the world is united organically with this truth. As person who prays professes such a truth and in a certain sense makes God, who is merciful Love, present in the world” (Crossing the Threshold of Hope, pg. 26).
Fasting is an ancient tradition. Many look at fasting as the first commandment received by Adam, “you are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and bad.” Gn 2:16-17. Isaiah encourages fasting from negative behaviors in his section on true fasting (chapter 58). Jesus entered the desert for a period of prayer and fasting during which we are told He was tempted by the devil (Mt. 4, Mk 1, Lk4). Throughout Lent there are days of fast and abstinence, you can refer to this website for assistance: www.churchyear.net/calendar2011.html.
Almsgiving was highlighted by Pope Benedict XVI in his Lenten message of 2008. He highlights the purpose of almsgiving, that it " helps us to overcome this constant temptation , teaching us to respond to our neighbor's needs and to share with others whatever we possess through divine goodness.” (full text: http://crs.org/united-states/pope-lent-2008/)
Lent invites us to reflect upon our lives and ask where we can improve and how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving can assist in our improvement.
God bless you,
Fr. Carl
January Reflection Welcome Back. I hope your break was relaxing and filled with many blessings. I was listening to Z88.3, a Christian radio station from Orlando, Florida on the computer over break. The host spoke about the pace of these last few weeks. Her words sparked this thought for me. It seems we go from are you ready (for Christmas) to post Christmas shopping and/or returning, to getting ready for New Year’s, to taking down Christmas decorations, and now to getting back to the flow of school. We set up a potentially very hectic pace. As we know from driving, the faster we go, the more details we miss. The radio host’s message was to slow down and think about what interior changes we want to make during this New Year. Her message reminded me of Psalm 46:11 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
Inspired by these messages, I offer us some thoughts to help plan for the new semester.
- Say a prayer, ask for God’s guidance and listen for the answer.
- Slow down.
- Enjoy the people and moments now.
- Set short term, mid-term, and long-term goals.
- Then list (yes write them down) concrete steps necessary to reach your goals.
- Periodically (set the dates) review your progress.
- Ask yourself what is working and most important why is this working.
- Ask yourself what adjustments need to be made and why these adjustments.
- Say a prayer and keep asking for God’s guidance and keep listening for the answer.
A new semester is precisely that; NEW. Prepare and plan to succeed.
If there is anything I can do to help, please stop by Founder's Hall, Room 300, phone 610-902-8438, or email fr.carl.j@cabrini.edu.
Here is a New Year Prayer for you to reflect on – it was sent to me by a former student of mine, Steph is on a year of service in Chicago.
Holy Father, God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.
We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.
Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.
Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.
To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.
To teach others to love by loving them.
Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.
So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.
That we could share Love with others.
Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,
in the chirping of sparrows in our backyards,
in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.
Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,
so that we may know You better and better.
We rejoice in the world You loved into being.
Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown
new year knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead,
depending on You to help us do exactly what You want.
I say it again, we rejoice!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God bless you,
Fr. Carl
December Reflection Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. I offer for your reflection, a few of our Christmas traditions and their connection to the spiritual life.
- The candy cane – upside down J for Jesus; the Good Shepherd’s staff Jn 10:11; White for purity; large red stripe for the blood He shed; three red stripes for the scourging. This Christmas treat was designed by a candy maker who wanted to created a candy that would bear witness to Jesus’ birth, life, and death.
- The manger scene – St. Francis of Assisi is credited with developing this devotion. He desired to create a living recreation of the scene of Jesus’ birth for people’s spiritual reflection. One can find numerous connections to the Incarnation story and the Crucifixion story; e.g. the wood of the manger and the wood of the cross, the animals at the birth and the rooster at Peter’s denial, presence of Mary His mother, etc.
- Holly – with its green leaves, its prickly points, and red berries, suggested that the Child born in a manger would wear a crown of thorns and shed drops of blood.
- Poinsettias – from Central America, with its bright, star-like flowers, is a natural reminder of the Star of Bethlehem.
I end with a Prayer at the Christmas Tree: Lord, Our God, the heavens are the work of Your hands, the moon and the stars You made; the earth and the sea, and every living creature came into being by Your Word. And all of us too. May this tree bring cheer to our house through Jesus Christ Your good and Holy Son, who brings life and beauty to us and to the world. Lighting this, we hope in His promises.
God bless you,
Fr. Carl
October Reflection for Students You can feel it. You can see it. Things have changed. I remember the weather person saying on Saturday, September 25, 2010, the next time we will have temperatures this high will be next year.
Of course we can talk about weather change, it changes every Fall. We are in the harvest season. Reaping the bounty of a challenging Spring planting season and Summer growing season. Enjoying the stunning Fall colors.
How about you, how have you changed since August, since this time last year, this time two years ago, this time five years ago? Have you made progress? Have you improved? Or is it time to re-evaluate, set new goals?
Whatever change you think about - in nature or personal - change just does not randomly happen. It requires hard work and to be enjoyed: observation and reflection.
Take a moment, observe and reflect upon the autumn leaves, like what you see?
Take a moment, observe and reflect upon yourself and the changes you have made, like what you see?
If I can be of any assistance, if you need me to pray for a particular intention, stop in Founders Room 300, come to Mass or send an e-mail and just ask.
God bless you,
Fr. Carl
September Reflection for Students Welcome back. Hard to believe how fast the summer went. I hope you had the opportunity to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
As we prepare for a new year, allow me to offer four suggestions which I believe can further your development into the person God wants you to be:
- Be prayerful – continue to be on a first-name basis with God. If you are not, introduce yourself.
- Be respectful – we have all heard that first impressions are lasting impressions and you only get one chance to make a first impression. All true. Remember also that all impressions are important and reflect upon you, your family, and the College.
- Be helpful – always give more than you take. Get involved, build community, meet new friends, and make a positive difference by being a giver.
- Be thankful – none of us makes it on our own and always being grateful for the many blessing we receive is essential. Have you thanked those difference makers in your life?
If I can be of any assistance, if you need me to pray for a particular intention, stop in Founder's Hall Room 300, come to Mass, or send an email and just ask.
God bless you,
Fr. Carl
August Reflection for Students
August Reflection for Students August Reflection for Students August Reflection for Students August Reflection for Students
What do you want to be when you grow up? Ask that question in any grade school classroom and you will receive a very optimistic and idealistic answer. I am sure you remember some of your answers to that question. As you have grown, the answer to that question most likely has changed.
Your gifts, talents and drive have helped shape your answer to that question. Now, you answer a new question, what’s your major? For the new students, you have created an answer to that question and now you prepare to explore that major for real.
For the returning students, you may be “on-track” with your major and anticipating the next level of associated challenges. Some of you may have changed majors and are waiting to see how the new major fits. And some of you are still searching for the right major. Wherever you are in your educational journey, you have been given many gifts and talents. Our world desperately needs you to put your gifts and talents at the service of society and to build up one another.
Enjoy the remaining days of summer. As you prepare to return to school, know I have been praying for each of you and your intentions. I look forward to your arrival and the start of our year. I hope our year is enjoyable, safe, and full of God’s abundant blessings. Everyone has been so helpful during the summer and constantly speaks about how upbeat campus becomes when the students return.
Since I am new, I am looking forward to learning about Cabrini and what you want from Campus Ministry and what we can do together. My office is Founder's Hall, Room 300. My door is always open to students, faculty, and staff. Feel free to stop in and introduce yourself.
God bless you,
Fr. Carl