The Gatherings

We get together to talk about a topic- learn something new, solve the world's problems.  Always feel free to bring your lunch (unless we're having Mass!)

If you've missed a gathering, check out the notes on-line and share some comments or questions.
Date and Time Location Topic
March 19 at Noon Melanchthon Room Seven (More) Deadly Sins-  So, the Vatican recently announced the addition of seven more deadly sins- to the list of greed, lust, gluttony, pride, vanity   Here's a Fox News article about it.
April 2 at Noon Melanchthon Room How Does a Catholic Read the Bible?
April 16 at Noon Melanchthon Room Pope Kwon Do: Becoming Skilled at the Art of Catholic Self-Defense
April 30 at Noon Melanchthon Room Go To Church: What You Are Looking For, What You Should be Looking For, How to Find It

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10 Ways to Make Sure That The Catholic Stuff Gets Better In College

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 1.  Pray

Before anything, being Catholic is about faith in God.  It is about following Jesus.  So, before you listen to anyone else, and yes, I do even mean priests, popes, ministers, other Catholics, your mom… your priority must be to listen to God.  God has better answers than priests, popes, ministers, other Catholics, your mom…  Prayer is your conversation with God- we may need to listen a lot more than we talk though.  If you’re not going to make the time for prayer everyday, reading the rest of this list may be a waste of your time.  Pray.  Simple. 

2.  Put yourself in the presence of similar people.

A football player is more likely to become a better football player if he spends some serious time with other football players.  It is good to have lots of non-football player things going on, but practicing, training and talking with other football players is going to help- a lot.  You don’t have to become solely absorbed in all things Catholic but being with a community of believers helps you with the training.  Although #1 may have sounded like it diminished or dismissed the value of having leaders in the faith, this is not true.   Priests, popes, ministers, other Catholics, your mom have great wisdom that we need to hear, not dismiss.  

3. Be committed. 

Commitment is saying that you are going to stay with something no matter what- not until something better comes along and not just as long as it stays easy or fun.  Sometimes ugly stuff pops up, sometimes we get bored, and sometimes things seem disconnected or irrelevant.  Commitment means that you’ll  stick with it, and better yet, work to try and pretty-up the ugly, liven up the boring parts, connect the broken and make it relevant.  If you were Confirmed, you already said that you would be committed.  Do it.

4.  Trust in the Church.

There is a difference between “The Church,” a church, and people in the church.  The Church is a beautiful thing- darn near perfect in my mind.  The problem is that human beings get involved and sometimes we mess it up a little because we can be dumb and mean, but also because we have culture, language, values, experiences… that enrich us but can also make it difficult for us to understand one another completely.  If you hear or experience something that seems stupid in the Church, look into it and trust that after some good effort at learning, you will find something good.  Let me clarify- we don't mistrust the people in the church, there are lots of good people in it- priests, popes, ministers, other Catholics, your mom... But, we ought to cut one another some slack and trust in the larger Church, led by the Holy Spirit.

5.  Recognize that what you look for, you will find.  

6.  Do something.

Catholicism is not about nesting your rear end in a pew on Sundays and then nesting it on the couch Monday through Saturday.  Faith in Jesus is about doing stuff- working to make the Gospel a reality- feeding the poor, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless…  Funny thing is, that as you get out there and work, hands-on, you also come to better understand Jesus’ message and your faith.  It is easier to act your way into believing than to believe your way into acting.

7.  Make it a point to learn.

Catholic is big.  You don’t know enough about it yet.  Use good, solid, accurate sources and begin to learn what you don’t know.   

8.  Ask good questions and demand good answers.

The Church has solid theologies, philosophies and thought across all the spectrums of politics, economics, sociology...  It has outstanding answers.  Don’t settle for silly ones.  You’re capable of critical thought- so too is your Church.   

9.  Don’t let trivia stop you along the way.

It is a journey.  Tomorrow you will be at a different point along the journey than you are today.  What you see today, will help your perspective so that you can see and understand something more appropriately tomorrow.  If a doctrine or teaching of the Church doesn’t make sense today, trust the Church and move forward.  Put that issue on the list of questions you have.  Move ahead.  Understanding will come.  

10. Find a guide- an expert, a spiritual companion.

Everybody needs a coach or a teacher.  Someone ahead of you on the journey knows way more about some tricks and skills than you do.  Take advantage of it.