Fall 2022 Newsletter

CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY

ATSMU

FALL2022

ALETTERFROMFR.WADE

Attheendofthe2021-2022academicyear,ourcampusministrysaidgoodbyetoastronggroupof seniors,broughtonthreenewemployees,welcomedtwonewFOCUSmissionaries,andonboardedanew classoffirst-yearstudents…phew!

Inlightofallofthischange,desiringtorebuildourstaffculture,andhopingtobetterfocusourministry programming,Idecidedtohireanon-profitconsultant.Overthecourseofseveralmonths,thisconsultant helpedme,ourstaff,ourFOCUSmissionaries,ourstudentleaders,andouradvisoryboardtoclarifyour ministry’smission,values,andgoalsforthecomingschoolyear.Allofthesecanbeseenonthemission pageofourministrywebsite,butIespeciallyamproudofthevalueswhichidentifywhatwestandfor:

OpeningSMUstudentsuptotheircapacityforGod

KnowledgeofGod’slovethroughHisSon,JesusChrist

FullcommunionwithGodthroughHisone,holy,catholic,andapostolicChurch

FormingSMUstudentsintoservantleadersthroughprayer,SacredScripture,Sacraments,moral formation,andservice

TheChristianvocationoflovingGodandneighboraslivedinthesacramentofmarriageorthesinglelife Discerningvocationstothepriesthoodandreligiouslife

andclarityafteranintensesummerofturnover.TheultimatepurposeofCatholicCampusMinistryatSMU istobeabridgeforourstudentstoencounterChristthroughtheChurch,andhavingaclearersenseof whoweareandwhatwestandforhelpsfacilitatethatmission.

IamgratefultoGodforthiswork,andIlookforwardtoseeinghowHeusesthefruitsofthissummerin serviceofthestudentsofSMU!

InChrist, Fr.WadeBass

REFLECTIONSFROMFR.SYLVESTER

tomakeevendifficultchoicesandtaskssweetinlove.

InChrist, Fr.SylvesterTan,SJ

BACKTOSCHOOLBBQ

SophieFernando'23,CommunityBuildingChair

TheBacktoSchoolBBQisourfirsteventofthe yearoncampuswhereoldfriendsreuniteandnew friendsareintroducedtotheministry.Asthisyear’s CommunityBuildingChair,Ihadtheopportunityto organizetheBBQ!Weknewduringtheplanning processthatlocationandpromotionwerekeytoa successfulevent,soforthefirsttimewedecidedto setupontheBoulevardinthemiddleofcampus. Withthishighly-visibleandcentralizedlocation, manypeoplejoinedtheBBQsimplybecausethey sawuswhilewalkingby.

Inadditiontointroducingfirst-yearstudentsto theCatholicCenter,someofmyfavoriteencounters oftheeventweremeetingpeoplewhowerenot newtocampusbutneverrealizedwehadaCatholic CampusMinistryatSMU.Iremembergoingtothe BacktoSchoolBBQasafreshmanandfeelingso welcomedintothiscommunitythathasbecomea homeoverthepastfouryears.Itwasanimpactful full-circlemomenttogettoplanthiseventasa seniorandstartintegratingnewfirst-yearstudents intothecommunity.Ittrulyisoursharedloveof Christandeachotherthatmakesthispossible.

Withanattendanceofover250students,faculty, andcommunitymembers,theBacktoSchoolBBQ wasthebestwaytokickoffthecomingyearof growingtogetherinourCatholicfaithandbuilding upacommunityofstudentsthatservesothers throughthewayweliveourlives.

FYSH|FirstYearStudentHomes

AnnaAvallone'25,FYSHLeader

FYSHisourprogramforfirst-yearstudentsat SMU.Itiscomprisedofstudent-ledgroupsto connectthefreshmentotheCatholiccommunityon campus.FYSHhelpsstudentsnotonlymaintainbut strengthentheirfaithincollege,andintroduces themtootherCatholicstudentswithwhomthey canwalktogetherintheirspiritualjourneys.

IwasamemberoftheFYSHprogramlastyear, anditconnectedmetotheCatholiccommunity:I metmyfirstandclosestfriendsatthe"C,"andthey invitedmetoMass,Adoration,andretreats,allof whichbroughtmeclosertomyCatholicfaith!

Thisyear,IamservingasaFYSHleader(ora FYSH"mom,"asweaffectionatelycallit!),andIlove gettingtowatchthefreshmengetmoreandmore involvedwiththeCatholiccommunity.Everyweek,I lookforwardtothemeaningfulconversationswe

haveinourFYSHgroup,anditbringsmesomuch joytoseemyFYSHkidsatdailyMass,Sunday Supper,andaroundthe"C"ingeneral!

FYSHreassuresCatholicstudentsthatthereisa spaceforthemoncampusandthatyoucanbe Catholicincollegewithoutsacrificingcommunity. Anditisthroughthecommunityatthe"C"that studentsarebroughtintoacloserrelationshipwith Christ.NotonlydoourFYSHkidsfrequentthe Sacraments,butmanyofthemnowserveasushers, lectors,andaltarservers.

BeingontheothersideofFYSHasaleaderhas shownmethattheprogram’sinfluenceextends beyondthatofourweeklymeetings,andwe’retruly blessedtohavesuchaprogramthatprovides studentswithbothaphysicalandspiritualhomeon campus.

"FYSHisavaluedweeklyspaceformeandsomeofmyfellow first-yearstotalkaboutthehighsandlowsofcollegelife.The programintroducedmetotheawesomeFYSHleadersandthey havebecomeincrediblefriendsandmentors.FYSHhasgiven metheabilitytodeveloprelationshipswithFr.Wade,Yesyand Bradford,andtheFOCUSMissionaries.Eachhasofferedtheir supportandencouragementinbothgoodandbadsituationsin mylife.FYSHhastrulyfilledthegapandmademefeelmore connectedtoSMUasIcontinuetogrowasaCatholic."

-ConnorSilva'26

JERICHO

BradfordDowns,CampusMinister

Jerichoistheministry'smonthlypraiseand worshipnight,andthisyear,wesetouttosimplify theevent.Ourgoalwastoplacetheemphasison AdorationoftheBlessedSacrament.TheEucharist isthesourceandsummitofourfaith,andwe wantedthesenightstoemphasizethatfact.

OuradvertisementsforJerichohelpedsetthe toneforthefocusonAdoration,aseachflyerand socialmediaposthadanimageoftheBlessed Sacramentinthemonstrance.

TheJerichonightswereheldinPerkinsChapel, andincludedatalkonaspecifictopic,Adorationof theBlessedSacrament,theopportunitytoreceive theSacramentofReconciliation,andpraiseand worshipmusicledbyDaveandLaurenMoore.We intentionallyhadthelightsturneddownlowinthe chapelandsetupcandelabrasonbothsidesofthe monstrancetofocusallofourattentiononthe Eucharist.

Ihadtheopportunitytoleadthetalksforeach

Jericho,andonthefirstnightsharedwiththe studentshowIdidnottrulyliveuntilIletChristtake controlofmylife.Thenextmonth,Iinvitedthemto reflectonourChristianbeliefindeath–thatitisnot theend,andtheEucharistisjustatasteofour futureunionwithChrist.Forthefinaltalkofthe semester,Iencouragedthestudentstobe vulnerablewithGodandgiveHimeverything,so theycanexperiencenewlifeinChrist.

Ourmusiciansdidagreatjobusingthesetopics tochoosethesongsforthenight,tohelpthe studentscontinuetoreflectastheyprayed.God wastrulyworkingonthesenights,andIknowthat AdorationoftheBlessedSacramentcanwork miraclesforthesestudents,asithasinmylife.

ForeachJerichothissemester,wehadabout50 studentsattend.Wehopethatmoreandmore studentswillcontinuetoattend,asapauseintheir monthtocomeandsitface-to-facewiththeLord alongsidetheirbrothersandsistersinChrist.

"Jerichohasbeenahighlightofmyjourneywiththe SMUCatholiccommunity,specificallytheaccessibility ofReconciliationandAdoration.Ithasintroducedme tootherCatholicsatSMU,andhelpedstrengthenmy commitmenttotheFather."

-TresGaiser'25

SERVICESATURDAYS

DylanOtt'24,ServiceCommitteeCo-Chair

Eachmonth,studentsfromtheCatholicCenter gathertoservetheirlocalcommunitythroughthe ServiceSaturdaysprogram.Myco-chairRegina MorenoVera'25andIhaveorganizedthese opportunities,alongwithCampusMinisterYesy Castillo.Ourplanningprocessincludesprayer concerningwherethereisaneed,aswellas determiningthelogistics(communication,travel, food,etc.)foreachserviceevent.

Thispastsemester,studentshaveparticipatedin: packagingfoodatFeedMyStarvingChildren, gardeningatJoppyMomma’sFarm,makingholiday wreathswiththeelderlyatJulietteFowler Communities,andassemblingcarepacksforyouth inhomelessshelters.

Fr.Wadenotonlyparticipatesintheservice activitieshimself,butalsocelebratestheMass

precedingthem.Theliturgyaidsinpreparingusto seeJesusinthehungry,thelonely,and/or otherwiseindigentafterreceivingHiminthe Eucharist.Itdrawsaconnectionbetweenthe sacrificeonthecrossandthesacrificeofstudents’ workinthecommunity.

Theprogramhasbornemuchfruitfornotonly thebeneficiaries,butalsoforthevolunteers.Inmy personalexperience,oneofitsgiftshasbeenreemphasizingthesignificanceofjustbeingtherefor someone.WhenwewereatJulietteFowler Communities,thewomanthatIsatwithwasso excitedtoseemeandsimplytalkwithme.Sheeven askedformyautograph!Onthesurface,Iwas flattered,butreallyitdemonstratedtomethe impactIamabletoleavethroughabasicactof love.

"MyparticipationinServiceSaturdayshashelpedmegrow significantlyinmyfaith.Onetime,wewenttoafarmcalled JoppyMommatohelpplantcropsforthecommunitytohave healthierfoodavailable.WhatIdidn’tconsiderbeforehandis thatI’mdefinitelynotanatureperson,andgettingdirtywith soilandbittenbybugsmakesmeextremelyuncomfortable.I honestlyprobablywouldn’thavegoneifIhadrealizedthat beforehand,butI’msogladIdid.Irealizedhoweasyitisto servewhenwelikewhatwearedoing,buthowmuchmore valueservicehaswhenwehavetodosomethingwedon’t like.Itisthebestopportunitytouniteoursmallsacrificesto Christ’ssacrifice.Gettingoutofourcomfortzoneiswhat holdstruevalueandmakesusappreciatemorethesacrifice thatChristmadeforus." -EmmyMcBride'26

SUNDAYSUPPER

YesyCastillo,CampusMinister

SundaySupperisatraditionthathasbeenpart ofCatholicCampusMinistrysincethelate80's. EverySundayafterthe5PMMass,thestudents walkovertotheCatholicCenterfromPerkins Chapeltoenjoyadeliciousdinnerincommunity. Thisisaveryimportanteventforourministry, notjustbecauseit’salong-standingtradition, butalsobecauseitalignswithouroverallmission ofbeing“ahomeforformingServantLeaders throughanintentionalandpersonalrelationship withJesusChristthroughHisChurch.”

ThefruitsofSundaySupperarehavingamore activepresenceatthe"C"duringtheweekand atourotherministryevents.Theintentional effortsofthestudentstobuildpersonal relationshipsandsharetheirfaithwithothersare whatmakethe"C"a"homeawayfromhome."

OneofthegreatestexperiencesIhavehadis seeingthestudentsbringtheirfriendstoSunday Supperandintroducethemtoeveryone,and thosenewfacesthenbecomepartofourfamily.

Overthesemester,ourlittlefamilyhasgrown somuch!Thereisnothingmorebeautifulthan walkingintotheCatholicCentereverydayand seeingstudentsplayingBananagrams,cooking inthekitchen,watchingafootballorsoccer game,studying,orsimplyhavingconversations. Mostimportantly,seeingtheirdesiretolearnand growmoreintheirfaithisinspirational.

IwouldliketothankallourSundaySupper sponsorsformakingitpossibletocontinuetodo whatwedesirethemostforthestudents:to know,toserve,andtoloveGod!

Sponsor Sunday Supper

OurSundaySupperprogramismadepossiblethroughthe donationsofgeneroussponsors.Ifyouwouldliketosupport ourministrythrougheitheradonationorbyvolunteeringto caterorcookameal,youcandosobycontactingBeverly Mendozaatbeverlym@smu.edu.

FAMILYWEEKEND

BeverlyMendoza,DirectorofDevelopment

SMUFamilyWeekendwasagreattimeatthe ministryinSeptember!Thisweekendisthe ministry’sprimetimetopersonallylinkwith parents,students,andtheirfamiliestoshareour missionandgivetoursofthe“homeawayfrom home”availablehereatSMU.FamiliescanmeetFr.

Wade,ourcampusministers,FOCUSmissionaries, andministrystaffwhospendtheirdaysand nightsinteractingwiththestudents.

SophieFernando’23ledplanningforanextra specialFridayafternoonOpenHouseatthe CatholicCenter.Dozensoffamiliestouredthe"C," visitedwithFr.Wadeandeachother,andenjoyed delicaciesfromalargecharcuterieboard.Wewere excitedtowelcomeeveryone!

TheOpenHousesetusupforagreatSaturday morningboulevardingbeforetheSMUvs.TCU footballgame.Wewerethrilledtohaveaprominent locationontheBoulevardneartheCoxSchoolof Business,whichwaskeytoconnectwithlotsof people.While11AMisearlyforourfootballgames, wesharedbreakfasttacos,coffee,andjuiceswith parents,students,alumni,andnewfriends.Sunday alsowasbusywiththreeMassesandaninvitationto studentsandtheirfamiliestoattendSundaySupper thatevening,whichwasprovidedbyalumnaeand AdvisoryBoardmemberKarenCarney‘82.

Fr.Wade’smessageofradicalhospitalitywas presentineveryminuteofthebusyweekend.All hadagreattime!

"FamilyweekendattheCatholicCenterwasalotoffun,andthe familysocialwasoneofthehighlightsoftheweekendforus!Itwas suchaspecialopportunitytointroducemydadtothecommunity thathasmadesuchabigimpactonmycollegeexperienceandI’m sogladthathegottomeetallofmyfriendshereandofcourse,Fr. Wade.BothofmyparentsareverygratefulthatIamableto continuegrowinginmyfaithhereatcollege."

-IsabelFinkbeiner'23

WOMEN'SMINISTRY

AninterviewwithMadisonPope'24,Women'sMinistryChair

Q:WhatisthegoaloftheWomen’sMinistry programthisyear?

A:Aswewereplanningforthisyear,werealized thatallofthewomenatthe“C,”eventhejuniors andseniors,werelongingforcloserfriendships witheachother.Wealsowantedtoreachoutto otherwomenatSMUtoinvitethemtobecomea partofthecommunity.Sowedecidedtoplanat leastoneeventamonthforthewomentosimply gettoknoweachotherbetter.Thegoalwasto fosteracommunitythatissafeforeveryoneto openupabouttheirfaith,andbuildtrusttoallow everyonetobevulnerableintheirstrugglesand learnhowtosupporteachother.

Q:Whatstandsouttoyouasimpactfulfromthe pastsemester?

A:WeheldtwoSelf-CareNights,andthesecond onewasfocusedontimemanagement.During theevening,thewomenwereabletoconnect witheachotheronadeeperlevelastheyshared theirstruggleswithjugglingpriorities.Thatevent ledtoopportunitiesforpersonaloutreach afterwards,andshowedthatthewomenthere

feltcomfortableenoughtosharewitheach other.

Q:HowdoyouthinktheWomen'sMinistry helpsadvancethemissionofCatholicCampus MinistryatSMU?

A:Itgivesthosewhoperhapsweren’texposedto servantleadershipinhighschoolachancetosee whatthatlookslikeineverydaylife–theycansee theirpeersinvitingthemintothefaithinaway thatisdifferentfromtheSacraments.Itcanbean outletofexposureforthosewhoaren’tas involvedyetintheministrytofeelmore comfortablegettinginvolved.

Q:Whatareyoulookingforwardtowith Women’sMinistryinthespringsemester?

A:Wearefocusingondeepeningthefaith componentinourevents,tohelpbringwomen intoasisterhoodthroughChrist.Wewillhave serviceeventstomeetwomen’sneedswithinthe Dallascommunity,andareplanningawomen’s retreattodivedeeperintothefaithtogether!

MustangAwakeningistheministry'sannualstudent-ledretreat.Thisyear'sretreatwas heldfromNovember18-20atLakeviewRetreatCenterinWaxahachie.Over35students attendedasparticipants,alongwithastaffofstudentleaders.Theweekendofferedthe opportunityforstudentstotakeapauseintheirbusyschedulestomoredeeplyencounter GodandgrowincommunitywithfellowCatholicsfromSMU.

FUNDRAISING

BeverlyMendoza,DirectorofDevelopment

Ourstrategytoraisefundstosupportthe ministryistakingadramaticturninFiscalYear 2022-2023.Inthepast,wehavereliedonamajor Springcelebrationfundraiserforasignificant portionofourannualbudget.Theattractionof thesetypesofeventsbegantowaneafterCovid, andtheAdvisoryBoardDevelopmentCommittee determinedthatanalternativeapproachwas needed.Thisyear,theministryisrelyingona collaborativeeffortofsmalldinners,grant requests,publicappeals,anddirectasks.The ministryisespeciallytargetingalumniandstudent familiestoimprovetheirgivingratesand commitmenttosupporttheministryeachyear.

Thefundraisingstrategychangeisnottheonly transformationgoingonattheministry. Constructionbeganthissummeronwaterproofingthebuildingfaçadeandreplacingthe roof,toavoidfurtherinternaldamagefromwater leaks.Theministryisdevelopinga10-yearplanto dealwithseriousandminormaintenanceissues.A reputableengineeringfirmpreparedaplanand costestimatessowecanconfidentlyraisefunds toaddresstheentirelong-termmaintenance program.AsofDecember,wehaveraisedhalfof themoneyneededtomeetourcurrent constructionplans.

Everydollardonatedtotheministrysupports programming,staff,utilities,liturgicalsupplies, retreats,andmore.TheCatholicministry’s presenceatSMUisavitalonethatoffersaplace forstudentstorelaxwithoneanotherina comfortableenvironment,learnaboutthe importanceoffaithintheirlives,anddevelop dailyprayerhabitsthatformtherootsoffaith.

PleaseconsideradonationtosupportCatholic CampusMinistryatSMU!Weacceptstockgifts, plannedgifts,Venmo,automaticbankdrafts, creditcards,andcash.

CATHOLICCAMPUSMINISTRYATSMU

MINISTRYSTAFF

Fr.WadeBass ChaplainandDirector wbass@smu.edu

BeverlyMendoza DirectorofDevelopment beverlym@smu.edu

YesyCastillo CampusMinister yeseniac@smu.edu

BradfordDowns CampusMinister bkdowns@smu.edu

SusanWynne OfficeManager swynne@smu.edu

DanielleBianchi Directorof Communications catholiccommunications@smu.edu

TammyGrady SpiritualDirector tgrady@cathdal.org

Our Mission

FOCUSMISSIONARIES

AnniePye TeamDirector annie.pye@focus.org

ConnorFry john.fry@focus.org

ADVISORYBOARD

MaryBlakeMeadows'74,Chair

KarenCarney'82

AlanDavis

LuisaDelRosal‘08,‘16 FranklinDiaz‘13

ReneEdwards‘92

JoyGodvin

AprilJordan

IanPerkins-Smith‘20

JohnHarris john.harris@focus.org

AlecStewart

SmokeySwenson'71

MikeUhl‘20

GonzaloVenegas,MD

MarthaWalsh'92

SarahLeBlanc sarah.leblanc@focus.org

MUSICIANS

KenSwinson

9AMMass

Dave&LaurenMoore

5PMMass

EmmelineMiles'16,'21

8PMMass

MatthewWilson,PhD

HonoraryAdvisors:

KathyandTonyHerring

BrendaandJoeMcHugh

JudyandTommyNeuhoff

Catholic Campus Ministry at SMU is a home for forming Servant Leaders through anintentionalandpersonalrelationshipwithJesusChristthroughHisChurch.

SERVANTLEADERSHIPCOUNCIL

ThegoalofServantLeadershipCouncil(SLC)istointentionallyformstudentsasservantleadersthrough theirinvolvementinCatholicCampusMinistryatSMU.SLCiscomprisedofstudentswhoarebeing investedinandformed,whotakeresponsibilityandownershipfortheministryoncampus,andwhouse theirengagementwiththeministrytopracticeanddeveloptheskillsandattitudesofservantleadership.

ClaireGalea'23 StudentCampusMinister

WillGlaesser'23 Treasurer

SophieFernando'23 CommunityBuilding

MacaelaGross'24 CommunityBuilding

EllaGratzer'25 CommunityBuilding

AshleighMorgan'25 CommunityBuilding

AliciaRivera'25 CommunityBuilding

MadisonPope'24 Women'sMinistry

IsabelFinkbeiner'23 Women'sMinistry

KyleEasley'24 Men'sMinistry

DylanOtt'24 Service

ReginaMorenoVera'25 Service

KaeganCowan'23 Spirituality&Formation

MichaelDoherty'24 Liturgy

AnnaAvallone'25 FYSH

AaronChapman'25 FYSH

MCMcDermott'25 FYSH

MathieuReyes'25 FYSH