A comment often heard these days is, “Where does the time go?”
As I sat in conversation the other night with Patrick Kniss, one of our student campus ministers, and Greg O’Leary, a former campus minister, along with their families gathered in Toronto for their convocations, I was struck by the realization of how precious time can be, and yet how quickly one day becomes another. The challenge, I suspect, is to find the time to pause, and to reflect carefully on the past, in order to better appreciate and to savour what happened, and how each memorable experience can shape our present or future lives.

As we approach the summer months, I wish to pause in order to reflect and be grateful for the past academic term at the Newman Centre. The events we have celebrated and the times we have shared as a community of faith have indeed been sacred and wonderful experiences.

In a relatively short period of time (five months), we have much to be grateful for. We have seen Newman-sponsored trips to the Holy Land, and to Rome, celebrated a prayerful Lent, rejoiced and welcomed new Catholics at the Easter Vigil, affirmed children and their families as they received the gifts of Baptism or First Communion, supported couples who married, affirmed Religious women and men on Consecrated Life Day and celebrated with vigour the Feasts of Pentecost and Corpus Christi.
I give thanks, also, for the social gatherings of our community at events such as the Spring Dance, the Pentecost Party and the dinners which recognized all who serve in Outreach Ministries as well as the members of the various religious communities of men and women who daily witness to God’s love.

So much in only five months! Yet, it speaks to the dedication, joy and faith of all in our community, who gather for prayer, worship, and to offer their gifts in service to their brothers and sisters. That is not always an easy thing to do in the midst of such a busy community, and one in which so many students, in particular, come and go, depending on their academic programs. Many are with us for such a limited time while at University. However, it has worked well, and mainly due to the involvement of all at so many different levels of ministry. That, in my view, is what a Christian community is called to be about – all expressing their individual gifts as one body of faith.

As we bid goodbye to students, teachers and others who might be departing this term, let us not fail to once again ponder and appreciate the wonder and mystery of life and to give thanks for the many people, of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, who have entered our lives and who have been a blessing for us.

I conclude, with some thoughts from the poem, “Through the Kaleidoscope of Change”, submitted by a former member of the Newman community, who still carries with her warm memories and much gratitude for the blessings received from her time at Newman.

I look for meaning and the meaning I find is this:
For every season of my life, God has a purpose.
And if God has a reason then I am free to go ahead and love
Even though I know that class ends in seven days,
Or graduation is only a few months away,
Or the person living next to me may move in a year.
I will reach out and embrace friendship
Without fear of the risk that it soon may end,
For through this friendship God wants me to learn.
To love, to receive, and to give.
I will allow my roots to cling deeply to the soil around me
Even though I know that the deeper the roots,
The harder it will be to pull them up someday.
And when things begin to change and God turns over
The well-worked soil of my experience,
I know that a new growing period is about to begin.
That’s how God works in this world,
A world which never stays the same.

--- Anonymous