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Catholic
Campus Ministry:
The
Necessity and the Challenge
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Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B.
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The
Newman Centre is more than a cluster of old, Victorian
buildings across from the Robarts Library on the University
of Toronto campus. It is a Catholic Mission with a special
mandate of service to the university community, and as
such, is open to all who wish to explore, deepen, and
celebrate the Catholic faith. Our Catholic history indicates
that for centuries Christian leaders have worked on university
campuses to effect some of the greatest religious revivals
in our history. Following the inspiration of John Henry
Cardinal Newman, the Newman Centre of Toronto, entrusted
to the care of the Archdiocese of Toronto, pursues two
aims:
First
to encourage an integrated spiritual life for those who
come here; second, to foster dialogue between the Church
and the modern world via the university. Nourished at
the table of the Lord's Word, and the Table of the Eucharist,
the Newman Centre Community is thus strengthened in its
outreach to the university community.
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(Cardinal
J.Francis Stafford, Fr.Pat, Bishop DeAngelis;
Visit of Cardinal Stafford to Newman Centre, May,
2001)
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A
Spirituality that Leads into Action
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From
this core of spiritual development, the Newman Centre
offers opportunities for faith in Christ to take root
in action, and in authentic Social Justice programs. Many
volunteer opportunities exist to work with the poor and
disadvantaged through the Newman Centre Volunteer Placement
Program. Christ exists in all people, from the wealthy
businessman to the poorest soul on the street. We are
called to reach out to all and, as Christ on the Cross,
ease the burdens of all around us. As St. James states,
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faith
without works is dead [James 2:26]. Therefore, without
such an outreach to the community at large, our mission
will be forever incomplete.
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Dialogue
with the Modern World
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Our
Catholic history and tradition indicate that for centuries
Christian leaders have worked on university campuses to
effect some of the greatest religious revivals in our
history. Catholic Campus Ministry evolved from the Newman
Movement and the vision of John Henry Cardinal Newman
who lived in the last century. Cardinal Newman dreamed
of establishing a Catholic university in which theology,
the arts and sciences would all be taught in dialogue
with one another. One of the ways in which we continue
Cardinal Newman's
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dream is to offer lecture series on the University of
Toronto Campus to continue the dialogue between faith
and culture, theology, the arts and sciences.
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Conclusion
Our
mission at the Newman Centre is to help people to see Jesus
and to meet him through our liturgies, programs or activities.
John Henry Cardinal Newman, the man after whom this centre is
named is a great model, apostle of unity and intercessor for
us. He preached quietly and insistently the gospel of Jesus
Christ and called his hearers to conversion and holiness. He
directed attention to the centre of our faith, to the incarnate
Lord who is the crucified Lord. The Archdiocese of Toronto can
be very proud that they have taken the lead in Catholic Campus
Ministry in Canada through their firm commitment to the Newman
Centre of Toronto. Not only is the local church providing pastoral
services, ministries, programs, and good, solid Catholic teaching,
but through the Newman Centre, we are sowing seeds for vocations
to Christian marriage, to priesthood, the religious life
and to lay ministry within the Church. We are at the heart of
this great Archdiocese, ready to welcome and serve all who come
here.
Thoughts on University Chaplaincies by Pope
John Paul II
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