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ePISTLE

A Weekly e-Newsletter for the WTU Community

May 2, 2010

Reflections on our Daily Readings
This week we continue our series of reflections on our daily readings from the School Sisters of Notre Dame website.

Sunday, May 2, 2010
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 14: 21-27; Psalm 145; Revelation 21: 1-5; John 13: 1, 31-35

How much we want to love one another AS you love us, Jesus. Give us the grace to forgive, to understand, to offer compassion, to wash feet, to love even our enemies. To read these daily reflections, please Click here.

Homily Helper
Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 9th
John 14:23-29

John's gospel is full of reminders that Jesus has come among us to reveal the true nature of God as one who cherishes his love far more than his power. It is for that reason that Jesus is called the Word of God, for he reveals what is hidden in God just as our words make known our hidden thoughts. To read the rest of Demetrius Dumm O.S.B.'s reflection on this reading, please, click here .

In this Issue...

• Alyce Korba's Retirement Party
• WTU Graduation
• WTU Student News
• Meet the Board of Trustees
• Peter Henriot, SJ Discusses Africa at WTU
• This Week at WTU
• Reminders from the Academic Calendar
• An Important Announcement from the Academic Dean
• Notes from the Registrar
• Feeding the Flames of Ministry
• Job Opportunities
• Renew and Refresh Your Spirit with the Paulists
• Alumni Class Notes
• Archdiocese of Washington Young Adult Ministry
• Be Published!

Alyce Korba's Retirement Party May 4th

Our colleague and one of WTU’s long-time employees, Alyce Korba will be retiring in May. Almost 19 years have passed since Alyce began working here as a part-time secretary to the Directors of Spirituality and Word and Worship Programs. Throughout these many years, Alyce has taken on many different roles and jobs - among them, Director of Student Services, Director of Liturgy and for the last several years Assistant to the President and Academic Dean and Human Resources Officer.

The Union will be hosting a reception in Alyce’s honor on May 4th at 3:00 PM in the CE Room. We hope that you will join us as we celebrate and thank Alyce for her years of service to the Union, its faculty, students and staff.  

WTU Graduation May 7th

Graduation is the highlight of the academic year and a time where the WTU community shines. Graduation Festivities begin this Friday, May 7th with 11am Mass at WTU. The 2:30pm Graduation Ceremony is at Trinity Washington University's Chapel. This year Rev. James Coriden, JCD, JD is giving the graduation address. WTU will also honor Rev. John J. Burkhard, OFM Conv as a Professor Emeritus!

Graduates: Your Graduation gowns are in!!! Please see Alyce Korba before Friday to pick up your gown. If you haven't done so, please return your RSVP's for lunch when you pick up your gown.

Make a Joyful Noise! It is not too late to sing in the choir! We're looking for FORTY singers to balance with a brass quintet. Rehearsal CDs are be available, and the rehearsal schedule is remarkably flexible. Please click here to answer your most frequently asked questions and for a rehearsal schedule. You can also e-mail Rich Andre at music@wtu.edu.

WTU Student News!

WTU student Frederick Pratt '10, a theology teacher at Merion Mercy Academy in Pennsylvania, has been selected as a finalist for the 2010 Voices of Inspiration Award for Teaching Excellence. He will be honored for "going above and beyond the call of duty as an educator" at an awards ceremony in May.

Meet the Board of Trustees: John Altmiller

Starting with just one class over 13 years ago, rarely a semester goes by without seeing John Altmiller in a WTU classroom. As we approach graduation, John fondly remembers his two graduations: one in 2002 for a Graduate Certificate and the other in 2004 for a Master’s Degree in Systematic Theology. John’s passion for theology extends beyond the WTU classroom.

Catholic lay ministry has long been at the core of John’s vocation. After graduating from Villanova University’s school of engineering in 1959, he served a three year commission for the US Navy. While serving as a Catholic Lay Leader on a Navy vessel, John both introduced and renewed the Catholic faith for many aboard ship. After returning stateside, John worked on space simulators for the Apollo project at the Kennedy Space Center. In 1971 while working as an engineer, he completed his law degree. It was his legal career with Kenyon and Kenyon that brought John to Washington DC in 1986.

His concern for Adult faith formation in the post Vatican II era brought him to the Adult Education Committee at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in the 1990’s, and his current role as Bible study leader and RCIA team member at St. Mark’s Parish in Vienna. A husband to Mary Jane, and the father of four children, John enjoys reading, traveling and deepening the Catholic faith through his teaching and ministry.

Center of Concern brings Peter Henriot, SJ to Washington Theological Union!

On Monday, April 19th, the Director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection in Lusaka, Zambia, Peter Henriot gave a presentation on our responsibilites to the African continent. Fr. Henriot called on the industrialized nations to consider "no growth" strategies to counter global climate changes. He also advocated small family farming as a more sustainable solution to Africa's hunger issues. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, Fr. Henriot called Africa "the spiritual 'lung' for a humanity that appears to be in a crisis of faith and hope. Recalling the Zambian sacred sense of Ubuntu, Fr. Henriot read an African proverb "I am because we are. We are because I am". For more information about the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection, please click here. To get involved locally, click here for the Center of Concern website.

Links

This Week at WTU

Up Coming Events:
Please click on Lecture for more details

Friday, May 7th: WTU's Forty-first Graduation Mass in the Chapel at 11am, Graduation ceremony at Trinity Washington University Chapel, 2:30pm

Friday - Sunday, May 28-30: Franciscan Symposium at WTU: "Greed, Lust, and Power: Franciscan Strategies for building a More Just World."

July 12-16th: 2010 Spirituality & Health Care Summer Institute at George Washington Hospital


July 15th, 7:30pm : Wendy Wright, PhD
"The Visit: The Relational Mystery at the Heart of the Gospel"

July 16-18: Creation as the Body of God, Albuquerque, NM. Featuring Sr. Ilia Delio and Richard Rohr.

Friday - Sunday, October 22-24: Newman Scotus Symposium at WTU.

Reminders from the Academic Calendar

May 19th: All Grades Due
May 28th: Grades Mailed
July 12th: DMin Summer Courses begin
July 19th: Summer School Begins

An Important Announcement from the Academic Dean

RE: Change in Course Credits Over the last several years students have raised concerns about the two credit courses offered at the Washington Theological Union. We have heard these concerns and we have responded to them. Please click here to read about the changes in two credit classes.  

Notes from the Registrar

SEMESTER CLASS SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2011. For the convenience of all, especially part-time students, the Academic Dean has promoted the posting of the Spring schedule concurrent with the Fall schedule to help students plan ahead their courses and calendars. Therefore, the Spring 2011 schedule is now posted on the WTU website.

For more information from the Registrar please click here. 

Feeding the Flames of Ministry 2010 Annual Appeal

We continue to need your help as WTU works to provide tomorrow's priests, pastoral ministers, and church leaders with the excellent theological and spiritual formation the Union provides. WTU Student Jessica Dennis and Assistant Director of Development, Chris Costello have put together a beautiful brochure inviting you to help us ignite the flame of ministry. Click here to view an online version of this brochure.

Job Opportunities

Select the Job title to read the full description

Director of Campus Ministry, Georgetown Medical Center
Catholic Chaplaincy Director, Georgetown University
See the our past updates...

Renew and Refresh Your Spirit!

The Paulist Fathers invite you to join them at their gorgeous summer home on Lake George, NY for one of their retreats in June or July. Topics range from contemplative prayer, to conflict transformation, to spirituality at the movies. For more information, check out http://www.stmaryslakegeorge.com.

Alumni Class Notes

If you have experienced a professional achievement such as a new job, published writing, or receipt of an award, or you have personal news such as an ordination, wedding, birth, or jubilee to celebrate, please share the good news by submitting a Class Note to alumni@wtu.edu.
Anastacia Wooden, MA Systematics '09

Archdiocese of Washington Young Adult Ministry

The Archdiocese of Washington has numerous activities for young adults. To find out what is happening in our area, please click here.

Be Published!

If you have an insight into next Sunday's Gospel: Publish it!
If you sponsor an event: Publicize it!
If you know a great story: Submit it!

Please send your submission by Tuesday evening to: jknetemann@wtu.edu

ePISTLE is published weekly.

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