Epiphany Reflection:

Journeys presuppose movement from one point to another. Religious journeys presuppose a transformation or conversion. We have just past a milestone in our journey in leaving an old year behind. As we begin a new year, a new opportunity to leave the past behind and start anew, we have to ask ourselves some questions. In our journey, are we still following the star, or have we become distracted? Is there something impeding our vision of the light that can cast out all darkness? In our journey, are we still bearing gifts, the gift of our talents and our time to those in need of it? Are we still committed to the journey? Are we still open to personal transformation and conversion?

These three kings could have ignored all of the invitations to acknowledge the Transcendent One in our midst. They could have gone about their lives and found fulfillment in their study of the stars and the cosmos. But the fact is they could not hold back from what they knew was the greatest event in all of history. And, in doing so, they have become models for us of opening ourselves to God's presence and placing our gifts at the disposal of the kingdom.

The feast of Christmas reminds us that we have received a gift...and it is a gift given to us by our God to be shared. Like the Magi, when we empty ourselves of our treasure by sharing our lives with those around us, we too make room for the love that the Christ Child brings. Then we can recognize in those around us the light, the star, the child that leads us on our pilgrimage as well.

2010 Hecker Lecture

Presented by the Paulist Fathers
Friday, January 22, 2010 at 7:30pm
St. Paul's College, 3015 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017

Guest Speaker: E.J. Dionne, Jr.

Catholics are represented in elective and appointive public office significantly beyond their proportion in the American population. Congress, the Supreme Court, the President’s Cabinet, and the State government all have Catholics in leadership positions. What does this mean for America? What does this mean for American Catholics? What does this mean for those who hold these offices of political leadership?

E.J. Dionne, Jr. is a syndicated columnist with The Washington Post, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions and a professor at Georgetown University. He is the author of Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics After the Religious Right (2008) and many other books and articles that address the intersection of faith and politics. Mr. Dionne graduated from Harvard University and received his doctorate from Oxford.

Alumni-Student Mentoring Program:

There has been a tremendous response to this program which pairs current students with alumni who are working in the student’s desired ministry. Dr. Kathy Brown, Dean of Students was encouraged that both ordination tract and lay students requested mentors, as did many of the D.Min students. Student-alumni mentor pairings will be completed in the next two weeks. Thanks to all who are participating.

Strategic Planning Committee Forming:

Under the direction of President Fred Tillotson, O.Carm., the Union is undertaking its first significant strategic planning effort since the creation of its last 5-year long-range plan developed in 2002. A series of focus groups are beginning to be conducted with various constituencies of the Union community – including students and alumni – with the intent to solicit people’s perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the institution as well as desired future directions and initiatives.

Fr. Fred will be forming a Strategic Planning Committee with selected representatives from the Union community to help review and refine the feedback from the focus groups. If you are a student or alum living in the Washington, DC area who would be interested in and available to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee, please contact Lisa Marie Drover, CSSF, Executive Assistant to the President, at (202) 541-5228 or drover@wtu.edu to express your interest.

Jerry Hall Scholarship Fund Still Growing!

In March of this year, the Union very unexpectedly lost one of its full-time faculty, Assistant Professor of Word and Worship Jerry Hall, S.J., who passed away following a brief illness. This wise and unassuming scholar of liturgy was also an accomplished singer whose gentle and compassionate demeanor made him a wonderful colleague, mentor, and friend to so many. In a desire to celebrate Jerry’s life and to honor our community’s memory of him, the Rev. Jerome Hall, S.J. Memorial Scholarship fund was established.

To date, 31 alumni, faculty, and staff have made donations to the scholarship fund totaling $4,480. The Union continues to encourage donations to the fund, which must grow to a minimum of $250,000 before it can be endowed, and before it will be possible to draw income to award the first student scholarship. If you wish to make an online donation to this fund, please use the online donation form.