Spring 2023 Newsletter

ATSMU CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY

SPRING2023

FOCUSINGOURFORMATION

ALetterfromFrWadeBass,Director&Chaplain

Oneofthemostcommonthingsourstudentstellmeandourcampusministersis,“I’msobusy!”

Thisisnotsurprising.SMUisahard-drivingcampusfilledwithambitious,talentedstudents.Everyperson atthisuniversitywantstoleadthepackandstandout.Studentsoftendothisbydoubleortriplemajoring, joiningmanyclubs,andworking…it’sexhaustingjustthinkingaboutit!

Thisbusy-nesscanbeatemptationforourcampusministry,tooCatholicCampusMinistryatSMUhasmany events,manytalks,manyspeakers:asingleweekmightfeatureatalkonNaturalFamilyPlanning,aServant LeadershipCouncilmeeting,aSpanishMass,aspeakerdiscussingmethodsforcopingwithanxiety,avideo gamenight,amovienight,astudygrouponfaithandreason,BiblestudiesasIsaid,it’sexhaustingjust thinkingaboutit!

WhileI’mproudofwhatwe’vedone,thisapproachtoministryneedsrefinementInanattempttobring morefocus,community,formation,andprayertoourstudents,andafterextensiveconversationwithour campusministersandstudents,nextyearwearegoingtoemphasizeasinglenightoftheweekasour primarynightofoutreachandministryThese“WednesdayNightsattheC”willoffersmall-groupformation, socializing,andprayerataconsistenttimeandonaweeklybasisMyhopeisthatthesegroupswillbemore accessibletonewstudents,allowourcampusministerstoofferacurriculumofformation,andfostera stabilitythatcollegelifeoftenlacks

Whileactivitieswillcontinuethroughouttheweek,I’mexcitedforthismorefocusedventure.Hopefully, studentswhoarealways“sobusy”willfindrestandrestorationinaweeklynightofcommunity,formation, andprayer.

InChrist,

THEINTELLECTUALLIFEOFFAITH

ALetterfromFrSylvesterTan,SJ,SMUDoctoralStudent

SMU’smotto“veritasliberabitvos”(“Thetruthwillmakeyoufree.”)capturestheessenceofwhatIhave beenprivilegedtoliveontheHilltopasadoctoralstudentandasaJesuitpriest.Sometimes,thetextsthat areassignedtouscanseemtotakealifeoftheirown,invitingusintoatruththatisgreaterthanus,but which,forthatreason,concernsusandbecomesus.Insuchcases,St.Ignatiusinvitesustodiscernthespirits atwork,forideasandstoriescanconsumeorenslaveundertheguiseof“freedom,”ortheycanofferatruth thatsetsapersontrulyfree.Someideasandstoriescan—oftenloudly—gainpowerbyprovokingpassionslike greed,lust,orself-righteousness,whileotherscanraisetheimaginationbyofferinghopethatthereisa beauty,agoodness,andatruththatgroundsandsustainstheworldandoffersapathforwardforthesakeof thatwoundedworld

Someofthetextsthatwehavereadinclasshavebeensorichthatstudentscontinuetobringthemup daysandevenweekslaterinconversationsattheCatholicCenterTocitejustoneexample,afterseveralof usreadAugustine’sConfessionsforacourse,wecontinuedtodiscussthetext’sideas,images,andepisodes outsideofclassforweeksevenwithotherswhohadnotreaditThroughtheseconversations,manyofthe readersofAugustineandevensomewhohaveyettoreadhisworkcametorealizethatthegracethatGod offeredAugustinethroughhislifestoryismysteriouslyofferedtousinourreadingofitUnlessweenterinto thestoriesthattheHolySpiritoffersus,thesetextscanremainjustdeadletters,butwhenweopenour heartstotheTruthofthesestories,itfreesusandbecomesourownThemoreAugustine’sstorywasChrist’s, themoreitbecameoursaswellAndthemoreeachoneofusisChrist’s,themorewebelongtooneanother asourstoriesbecome,throughGod’sgrace,evermoreanexpressionofthatTruthwhichsetsusfree

InChrist,

Confessions

MARDIGRAS!

AnnaAvallone'25

WehostedourannualMardiGrascelebrationthis pastFebruary,gatheringatthe“C”tofeastand havesomefunbeforetheLentenseasonbegan!In largemeasure,Lentisaboutsacrifice:itis characterizedbyprayer,fasting,andalmsgivingSo, wegettogetherbeforeLentbeginstoeatsome goodfoodbeforewefast!

OurMardiGrascelebrationtookplaceinthe evening,andtheweatherwasperfect!Students gatheredoutsideonthepatiotolistentolivemusic andeatdeliciousfoodpreparedbyfellowstudents BradfordDowns,oneofourcampusministers, cookedbothshrimpandsausagegumbos,and studentstookshiftscookingriceinpreparationfor thefeast(studentTresGaiser‘25recountscooking tenpoundsofriceoverthecourseoffivehours!)

NoMardiGraspartyiscompletewithoutaKing Cake,andwehadmultiple:traditional,cream cheese,andpralinepecan!Traditionally,thereisa plasticbabyineveryKingCakethatsymbolizesthe DivineInfant:thebabyremindsusofEpiphany, whentheWiseMenfoundbabyJesus.Toturnthis traditionintoanactivity,weplacedplasticbabiesin ajarandhadeveryoneguessthenumberofbabies inthejarThewinnerwasFrWade,whocorrectly guessed400babiesonthedot!Studentsalso enjoyedthephotoboothcompletewithMardiGras masksandotheraccessories,includingsombreros!

Theministry’sMardiGrascelebrationwasthe perfectwaytosetusupforafruitfulobservanceof Lent,andI’msogladIcouldplayasmallroleinthe planningofsuchaspecialevent!

MISAYCOMIDA

YesyCastillo,CampusMinister

MisayComidaisamonthlyeventwherethe Catholicfaithissharedthroughthebeautyof cultureEveryculturehasitsuniqueandbeautiful wayofexpressingthefaithForexample,inMexico fortheFeastofOurLadyofGuadalupe,reenactmentsofMaryandJoseph’sjourneyto Bethlehemareheldthroughouttheentirecountry for12daysbeforeChristmasCommunitiescome together,singtraditionalhymns,makedelicious food,andmostimportantlypreparetheirheartsfor Hisbirth

MisayComidadoesjustthatattheCatholic CenterOneWednesdayamonth,webeginour eveningwithMassinSpanishandthenprovidefood fromaLatinAmericancountryThiseventallowsus tooutreachtothosewhoprefertoexpresstheir faithintheirnativelanguage,aswellastothose whosimplyenjoydifferentculturesandlanguages. Ournumberofattendeescontinuestogrowandour biggestturnoutconsistedofabout50people!

Thehopefornextyearistocontinuetoexpand ouroutreachfortheseevents,toreachasmany soulsaspossibleforthesakeoftheKingdom throughthebeautyofculture

“MisayComidahashadanamazingimpact ontheCatholiccommunityatSMU!Itbrings atasteofhometomany(spirituallyandwith thedeliciousfood)andcultivatesaspaceto sharetheHispanicculturewithothersI movedfromMexicowhenIwasveryyoung andmyparentsdidtheirbesttoincorporate ourculturewhilemybrotherandIwere growingupMisayComidatakesmebackto fondchildhoodmemoriesItallowsmeand otherstocelebrateinSpanishThisopensup studentstotheDallasHispaniccommunityas wellBecauseofMisayComida,Ihave attendedmoreMassesinSpanishinother parisheswithmyfriends”

-ReginaRomero-Garza'24

RANCHRETREAT

TresGaiser'25

Thisyear’sRanchRetreatwasanincredible weekendawayTheretreatwashostedbythe RobertBeecherlFamilyandwasheldatFlatTop Ranch,locatedsouthwestofDallasWeweregiven thechancetoleaveourbusylivesbehindtohave fun,growincommunity,andtaketimeforquiet reflectionwhilebeingsurroundedbynature

WhileatFlatTop,therewereopportunitiestogo onahike,exploretheranch,orsimplyrelaxMostof theweekendwasspentoutdoors,participatingin thecelebrationofMassorlisteningtotalksgivenby ourCampusMinisters.Somememorablemoments formeincludecatchingafive-poundbass,sitting aroundtheoutdoorfirepitreadingthroughabook, androllerbladingonthesportscourt.

AtSMU,despitethebeautyofthecampus,itis easytoforgetthebenefitsoftimeawayandbeing immersedinnatureOvertheweekend,wehadthe timeandspacetodeepenourrelationshipwithGod, andtoappreciatethethingswhichareoften overlooked:abeautifulsunrise,thewindblowing throughthetrees,oreventhewarmthfromthesun Inasense,rememberinghowsmallweare comparedtotheworldhelpsusgrowinrelationship withGod,andsolidifyourdesiretoleanintoallthe beautifulgiftsHehasgivenus.

RanchRetreatisatimeforfellowship,active prayer,andachancetorekindleadeeperloveand appreciationfortheFather,whocansoeasilybe forgotteninourbusylives.

MEN'SRETREAT

BradfordDowns,CampusMinister

WebeganplanningforaMen’sRetreatduring the2022Christmasbreak,asweknewthemen involvedatthe“C"wantedtocometogetherfora weekendinCatholicbrotherhoodWhentryingto pickalocation,wewantedtogosomewhereoffin thewoodstodooutdooractivitiesandgetaway frombusycitylife.BrokenBow,Oklahomachecked alloftheboxes!

Fr.Wade,theFOCUSMissionaries,andItook14 studentstoBrokenBowfortheweekendofApril2123.Theweekendwascenteredaroundprayer.We begantheretreatwitharosaryonFridaynight.The nextmorning,wewokeupbrightandearlyand prayedmorningprayertogether,followedby breakfastandatalkbyFOCUSMissionaryConnor FryonpersonalprayerlifeThroughouttheday,we wenttothestateparkwherestudentswenthiking, fishing,andkayakingIntheafternoonwhileona hiketogether,FOCUSMissionaryJohnHarrisgavea talkoneveryman’spersonalresponsibilitytolive outthefaithAfterdinnerthatevening,Igaveatalk

onpersonalfreedomfromlustanddisordered desires,andwefolloweditwitheveningprayerThe nextmorningwecelebratedSundayMasstogether

Overall,thiswasagreatweekendforthese youngmentogrowinbrotherhoodandintheir faith.Manyofthemenwhowentontheretreatwill beonourServantLeadershipCouncilnextyear. Thiswasagreatchanceforthoseleadersto preparethemselvestowalkwithothermennext year.Ibelievethisretreatwasespeciallyhelpfulfor ourseniorsastheypreparetoheadintothe“real world,”toknowthattheyshouldplaceChristfirst inwhatevthd

"BeingabletospendtheweekendwithotherCatholicmen awayfromcampushelpedfosterabrotherhoodamongus. EncounteringJesusthroughtheMassandnaturehelpedus growincommunionwithHimandeachother."

SPRINGBREAKMISSIONTRIP

LuciaChamness,'25

The2023SpringBreakMissionTripwasan incredibleexperienceOurgroupofstudents, FOCUSMissionaries,andFrWadetraveledto LomaVieja,DominicanRepublictohelpthe communitybybuilding12latrines

Wewerealsoabletospendqualitytime gettingtoknowthepeopleinthecommunity Oneofmyfavoritepartsofthetripwasgetting toencounterthewomenandchildrenThe womendoallthedomesticworksurroundingthe homeanditwasamazingtotalktothemabout howtheylivetheirday-to-daylives.Allthe childreninthevillageweresoloving,andallthey wantedtodowithuswassingandplay.Oneboy evenskippedschoolfortheweektobewithus!

Thistripimpactedmeinsomanyways.Icame tocollegewantingtoexploremyfaithinadeep andmeaningfulway,andtrulyfoundawaytodo soattheCatholicCenterThecampusministry teamaswellasstudentsoncampuswelcomed meintotheCatholiccommunityandhelpedme feelcomfortableexploringmyfaithRecently,I havebecomeconsumedwithschedulingandhow

muchtimeIhaveuntilIgraduatecollegeand startmylifeThistriphelpedmetorealizeIcan stepbackandtakelifealotslower,sothatIcan enjoytheexperiencesandpeopleIamwith alongtheway

"Themissiontripwasalife-changingexperiencethatleftanindeliblemarkonmyheart. IhadtheprivilegeofspeakingwithSinom,whodespitebeingilliterate,foundsolacein hiswife’sabilitytoreadtheBibletohim.Afterreturninghome,Icouldnothelpbut noticemyownpovertyinfaith,love,andcommunity,whichstoodinstarkcontrastto therichnessIhadexperiencedinLomaViejaThisexperiencefurtherignitedthelightof Godwithinme.Ihopetorespondtolife’schallengeswiththesameunwaveringfaith andloveasthebeautifulpeopleofLomaVieja."

-ThomasKoch-DiPiazza'23

GREEKOUTREACHONCAMPUS

Letmefirstbeginbyexplainingwhoweare! FOCUSstandsfortheFellowshipofCatholic UniversityStudentsWearerecentcollege graduateswhowereinspiredbythetruthofthe Gospelandhavepostponedourpost-collegeplans tospreadtheGoodNewstocollegestudentsin needofconversion

OurmainareaofoutreachthisyearatSMUhas beeninthefraternityandsororitysystem,which accountsfor54%ofstudents.Whileincollege,I wasapartofafraternitycalledChiPsiandfaced challengeswithlivingoutmyCatholicfaith. Lookingbackonthattimehelpsmetoengage withstudentsoncampusOnewaythatwe outreachtotheGreekstudentsisthroughGreek HouseDoor-to-DoorInvitations,whereweinvite GreekstudentstodifferenteventsOneeventis AfterChapter,whichwehostonceamonthafter ChaptermeetingstobringGreekstudents togethertoshareabouttheirfaith

Someofthefruitthatwehaveseenandare extremelyexcitedaboutarethemultitudeofBible studiesstartedinthesororityhouses!OurFOCUS TeamLeaderAnniePyehasbegunBiblestudiesin TriDeltaandPiBetaPhi,whileSarahLeBlanchas grownherDeltaGammaandChiOmegastudiesOn themen’sside,wehavebeguntomakeconnections inthedifferentfraternitieslikeSigmaChiandAlpha EpsilonPi.Wealwaysappreciateprayerstosee theseconnectionstakerootandgrow!

IbelievethatFOCUSishelpingthemissionof CatholicCampusMinistryatSMUbybringingnew peopleintothecommunity.Manystudentsdonot thinkaboutgrowingintheirfaithwhentheyenter college,butthroughourcontinualoutreachand invitations,someofthesestudentswillacceptthe invitationtoallowChristtoenterintotheirlife

ConnorFry,FOCUSMissionary

ARELATIONSHIPBUILTONFAITH

AninterviewwithClaireGalea'23andKaeganCowan'23

Q:Howdidthetwoofyoumeet?

Claire:IfirstmetKaeganwhenIstartedtoget involvedintheministryfreshmanyear,and recognizedhimfromclass.Wereallygottoknow eachotherthoughwhenwewerepaireduptobe FYSH(FirstYearStudentHomes)leaders sophomoreyearWestartedhangingoutalot, heaskedmeonadate,andtherestishistory!

Q:HowhaveyouincorporatedyourCatholic faithintoyourrelationshipalongtheway?

Claire:Bothofourlivesrevolvearoundthe CatholicCenterandthiscommunityItreally permeateseverything;notjustwhatactivitieswe dotogether,butalsohowwehavealways thoughtofourrelationshipfromthestart throughthelensoffaithanddiscernment

Kaegan:WesitatMasstogethereveryday,wego toAdorationtogetherallthetimeWetrytopray together.Butyouknowthesaying,“opposites attract?”Iguessinsomewaysthatwouldbe perspectiveon ourlife.Ittruly don’tknowhow didn’thavethat

Q:Canyoutellusaboutyourengagement?

Kaegan:WeplannedtogotoMassatChristthe Kinginthemorningandthenouttoanice brunchafterwardssowewouldbedressedup. Godblesseduswithincredibleweatherthatday. AssoonaswegotdonewithMass,wewalked downthesteps,andIgotdownononeknee

Claire:Butthenyouprankedme!ItwasApril Fool’sDay,andwhenIlookeddown,itwasa siliconebrownringThenhepulledoutthereal ringfromhispocket

Kaegan:Thatonewasalittlebitbetterlooking! ThenFrWadeappearedhehadbeenwaiting offatadistanceandgaveusablessing

Q:Whatareyourplansforaftergraduation? Anddoyouhaveaweddingdateyet?

Kaegan:I’mgoingtoUniversityofKansasLaw School.

Claire:I’mgoingtoMarianUniversityin OklahomaCityforanacceleratednursing program.TheweddingdateisDecember28, 2024atChristtheKing!

ADEEPERFAITHTHROUGHOCIA

JavierPerez,'26

Forme,thejourneyoffaithhasbeenagradual one.Isawmyselfmovingtowardsthefaithover thecourseofhighschoolanddecidedthatIwould trytobeConfirmedduringmyfirstyearatcollege. ButIcouldnothaveforeseentheprogressthatI havemadethroughOCIA(OrderofChristian InitiationofAdults;formerlyRCIA)

Oneofthemostsignificantpartsoftheprocess wascomingtounderstandChristianityatamuch deeperlevelIlearnedmuchaboutthehistoryof Christianity,whatwebelieveasCatholics,and waysinwhichwecancultivatearelationshipwith GodThroughthisknowledge,Iwasableto analyzemyselfatamuchdeeperlevelandrevise my

myviewoftheworldandourpurposeinit.Before,I hadbeenvaguelydrawntowardsChrist.Through theprocessofOCIA,Irealizedthedepthofthe Catholicfaithandfoundasenseoftruthand purposewhichIhaveneverhadinmylifebefore.

UponreceivingtheEucharistattheEasterVigil,I trulyfeltthegraceofGodandhavenotbeenthe sameeversinceThoughitappearedtobemerely anoutwardsign,thespiritualimplicationswere immenseAnyonewhoknewmebeforetheprocess wouldbelievethatIwasanentirelydifferentperson, asIcametoknowthetruehappinessthatyoucan findonlythroughcommunionwithGod

SPRINGCELEBRATION

BeverlyMendoza,DirectorofDevelopment

OurSpringCelebrationtookabigturnin2023 Insteadofhostingalargedinnerandauction,we optedtogatheratasmallreception(hostedby SusanandMarkGodvinintheirhome)tothank ourmajordonorsandboardmembers,aswellas torecognizetwooutstandingservantleadersin ClaireGalea‘23andCarolynThompson‘85

ClaireGalea‘23servedinmanyrolesduring heryearsatSMUShecreditstheministryfor providingtheopportunitytotrulygrowinher faithHerlastroleasaseniorwasaschairofthe ServantLeadershipCouncil(thecampus ministry'sstudentleadershipgroup).Shewas mosteffectiveinherapproachtoimprove programsthroughfeedback,advocacy,and action.ShewelcomesallwhoentertheNeuhoff CatholicCenter.Shehastheheartofaservant leader,andweareforevergratefulforher personalpassionandimpact!

CarolynThompson‘85hasbeenadevoted communitymemberforalmost20yearsShe servedontheBoardofAdvisorsforsixyears, co-chairedtheSpringCelebrationfundraiserin 2017,sanginthe9AMMasschoir,andmanyof youknowherbyherbeautifulpianoplaying eachSundayatthe9AMMassShehastheheart ofatrueservantleader,andweareproudto recognizeherdevotiontoyoungadultministry!

Theformatoffundraisingandgatheringasa communityisevolvingtomeetthedesiresofour communityandBoardofAdvisorsWe encourageyoutostaytunedtoour communicationsformoreopportunitiesto gatherandtoremaindevotedtofinancially supportingourministry.Weare100%selffunded,anddependondonorstokeepthelights onandcoffeeflowingattheNeuhoffCatholic Center!

SENIORREFLECTION

SophieFernando'23,'24

AsIfirststeppedoncampusasafreshmanafew yearsago,Inevercouldhaveimaginedtheimpact CatholicCampusMinistryatSMUwouldhaveonme, butwhatablessingithasbeen!Inatimeofsomuch changeanduncertaintyatthebeginningofcollege, thestaff,missionaries,andstudentsfromthe CatholicCenterwentoutoftheirwaytomakesureI feltathome.Beyondthis,itwassoimpactfulto haveapriestlikeFrWadewhocaresaboutbuilding genuineconnectionswithusandjustlivinglifewith thecommunity

Someofthemostmeaningfulexperiencesforme overthepastfewyearshavebeensittinginthe candlelitAdorationchapelatnight,catchingupwith everyoneoverSundaySupperonasunnyand breezyevening,andcoordinatingourMustang Awakeningretreatwithmybestfriend,ClaireGalea

Overthepastfewyears,I’vegrownintosomeone whounderstandswhyavibrantcommunityinthe Churchissocriticaltoourpersonalfaithjourneys.I amequippedtosharemyfaithandknowthe tremendousvalueofcenteringmyweekaround timewithJesusratherthanjustfittingHiminthe gapsofmybusyschedule.

WhatmakesthissospecialisthatI’vegottento dothisalongsidethepeoplewhocontinuallycallme toahigherstandardandpushmetobethebestI canbe–thepeoplewhohavegenuinelybecomemy bestfriendsTosaythatI’mgratefulformytimeat CatholicCampusMinistryatSMUwouldbean understatement;GodtrulygavemewhatandwhoI neededwhenIneededthem

CATHOLICCAMPUSMINISTRYATSMU

MINISTRYSTAFF

Fr.WadeBass ChaplainandDirector wbass@smuedu

BeverlyMendoza DirectorofDevelopment beverlym@smuedu

YesyCastillo CampusMinister yeseniac@smu.edu

BradfordDowns CampusMinister bkdowns@smuedu

SusanWynne OfficeManager swynne@smuedu

DanielleBianchi Directorof Communications catholiccommunications@smuedu

TammyGrady SpiritualDirector tgrady@cathdalorg

Our Mission

FOCUSMISSIONARIES

AnniePye TeamDirector anniepye@focusorg

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 johnharris@focusorg

AlecStewart

SmokeySwenson'71

MikeUhl‘20

GonzaloVenegas,MD

MarthaWalsh'92

SarahLeBlanc sarahleblanc@focusorg

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.

HOWTOSUPPORTTHEMINISTRY

Supportforcollegeministryisatrulyphilanthropicendeavor.Itisaninvestmentinothersand thepromiseoftheirlivesandtheimpacttheywill haveonourworld.Whetheryouareanalumnus,a parent,astudent,orsomeonewhobelievesinthat promise,yourinvestmenthelpstheministrytouch livesandformservantleadersofstudentsatSMU.

OurCatholicministryatSMUis100%self-funded Weraiseeverydollarthroughcollections,appeals, directasks,grants,andeventsOurbudgetfundsa priest,fivefull-timestaff,fourFOCUSMissionaries, part-timemusicians,studentprograms,retreats, missiontrips,buildingmaintenance,andfunthings likeelectricity,water,internetservice,liturgical supplies,andcountlesspiecesofpizzaeachyear!

Pleaseletusknowifyouhavequestionsabout theministryanditsoperations.Wewantyoutobe fullyinformedaboutourgoalsandtheactivitieswe managetosupporttheformationofstudentsat SMU!ContactFr.Wadeatwbass@smu.eduor BeverlyMendoza,DirectorofDevelopment,at beverlym@smu.eduor214-987-0044.

Pleaseconsideragifttodaytohelpuscontinue servingourcommunityofponieswhoneedtoknow Godlovesthemandhasapurposefortheirlives Weareespeciallyencouragingalumnitogive recurringmonthlygiftsatleastatthevalueoftheir classyear!Donationoptionsinclude:

Donation options: Donor Advised Funds,

Stock Gifts, Bequests, Credit Cards, Bank Drafts, Checks, Venmo, and Cash!