The Canadian Catholic Student's Association (CCSA) recently held its national conference in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, January 13 - 16. The Newman Centre sent a delegation of students, which included John Cuddihy and Santosh De Souza, two members of the Newman Youth Council, and Catherine Duff, a member of the Campus Ministry Team. The theme of the conference, "Upon This Rock", focused on student Christian leadership in the Church today. Fr. Pat invited some written reflections on their experience and John and Catherine submitted the following reflections.

- by John Cuddihy -

 The conference began with an exhilarating homily by Bishop Paul-André Durocher, who described what he felt were five characteristics embodied by Christian leaders: mission, vision, encouragement, empowerment, and thanksgiving.
  The following day, Sr. Francine Guilmette continued this theme and suggested the characteristic of a good Christian leader is really a combination of competence and sanctity; she emphasized we are all called by God, yet the struggle is to find out how. She indicated we are all called to leadership, all called to be saints.
  Sister offered the following powerful message: "If we were all who we are called to be, we would light the world afire!"
  Leadership is a much-lauded quality about which much has been written. There are many books on how to be good leaders, leaders of different sorts. Many deal with organizational management in the competitive context of the business world and the economy. How to succeed is often the theme. Leadership is something which every employer seeks in prospective employees. For my part, I generally associate leadership with excellent speakers, people with grand ideas, charismatic personalities, people who can motivate organizations or even lead countries, people who dedicate themselves entirely to the cause, people who change the world.  This type of leadership can seem very desirable in that it has a certain aura about it (it is "heady"). It can also seem very daunting, since it involves a significant responsibility and sacrifice. Obviously, not all of us are motivational speakers and perhaps few of us manage organizations, or even have the skills to do so. Further, not everyone can be in charge!
  When reflecting on the call to Christian leadership, I think we have to go much deeper. Leaders do change the world. In the Christian context, what kind of leadership does Christ call us to? How can we change the world?
  As Sr. Francine reminded us, in her reflection, we each have our own talents, skills, and areas of personal expertise. Most importantly, we each have love to give. While our specific and personal talents may impact, it is in how we love that we truly emulate Christ, and it is through Christian loving that we find commonality among all forms of Christian leadership.
  While this sounds conventional and perhaps trivial, translating our call to love as Christ loves, into action, is actually quite radical.  This invites us to be counter-cultural, to reach out to those whom society rejects and perhaps marginalizes, not merely to placate their needs, but to be in solidarity with them, to understand their needs, perspectives, and desires. It is also a call to be friends with them.
  We can also do this within our own daily living out of faith, as busy as we are. We are called to take time out and spend time with our co-worker, or classmate, who might be stressed or depressed, or to respond to rudeness with kindness, to find joy when it is easier to be grumpy. In loving as Jesus loves, we are called to be conscious of the impacts of our decisions and way of life on the physical (the environment), economic, and social reality of world we live in. In all aspects of our lives, we are asked to be conscious, to be aware, of the movements within our spirit, to be aware of God's voice.; to be open to all, no matter their situation.
 
As an example, Sr. Francine reminded us of the manner in which Jesus responded to the healing of the centurion's son (Luke 7: 1-10).  Although the centurion was pagan before and remained pagan after, Jesus cured his son.  Jesus is open to us all, accepting us where we are, and we, in turn, are called to do the same.
  The world is descending into tribalism, at times violently. We, as Christians, are called to be God's peace in the world. Being a Christian leader demands courage. We need to be confident in our mission, in others, and in God. God equips us with everything we need; this includes talents, opportunities, food, money, forgiveness, love, and the grace to do what we have to do. This all requires trust in God and trust demands being vulnerable; this, in turn, necessitates courage.
  This past Sunday, at Newman, I was struck by something Fr. Ben mentioned in his Lenten homily. He said it is in developing a personal relationship with God, in spending time with Jesus, setting time aside to be quiet, that we begin to gain the strength and courage necessary to carry out our mission as Christians.  We are reminded, in scripture, again and again, that it is in the quiet that God comes to us ("Be still and know that I am God": Psalm 46:10).  Jesus gave us an example in seeking God in quiet when he did so himself. ""And after he had dismissed the crowd, he went by himself to pray." (Matthew 14: 23).
  More than anything, being a Christian leader, means listening to God through prayer. Being a Christian leader is fundamentally about being rather than doing. If we are called to be Jesus' love to others, we will inherently be doing God's will, and building up God's Kingdom on earth, through the act of Christian loving. As Jesus was entirely devoted to building up the Kingdom, so we, too, must find the strength and inspiration, through relationship with God in prayer, to be just as devoted to being a light for the world and salt for the earth, through our Christian leadership.

A Reflection on the Liturgy

- by Catherine Duff -

Similar to John, I found the conference to be an uplifting and inspiring experience.  The homily by Bishop Paul-André Durocher, on the first night, encouraged us to carry forth the sense of community, commitment, and compassion, embodied in the Eucharistic celebration, to those beyond the doors of our chapels and churches. 
  This challenge, however, becomes difficult when we are unable to sustain even our own connectedness with Christ in the midst of the hectic pace of our everyday lives. The relationship we experience with Christ requires an active listening and participation within the Eucharistic celebration. Further, the process of accepting and being inspired by Christ's love does not end there; rather, it is just the beginning and the catalyst to carry forth God's love to those we encounter in our daily living out of faith.
  I am reminded by something Fr. Pat suggested in his homily at the beginning of Lent. He urged us not to simply experience Lent as a time of sacrifice, but to value it as a time we can be more accepting and open to enriching our spiritual lives and relationship with Christ. We do this each time we celebrate at Mass. We enter willingly and freely each time we gather around the altar, and it is in this spirit of openness and freedom that we are commissioned to carry forth Christ's message of love and acceptance.
  Bishop Durocher also reminded us that through the Eucharist we accept God's love and challenge; it becomes the fuel which sustains and propels us forward and the fire which ignites our passion and our commitment to serving God and one another.
  When we receive the final blessing at Mass, let us consider it as a beginning of a marathon of God's love and hope. So, on your mark ("The Mass is ended."), get set ("Go in peace."), and GO! (..."to love and serve the Lord and one another.").