ELON UNIVERSITY

CATHOLIC CAMPUSMINISTRY

Truitt CenterCampus Box 2960

Elon, NC 27244336-278-7355

www.elon.edu/ccm

SUNDAY MASS TIMES:

Elon Community Church6pm & 9pm

WEDNESDAY NIGHT CATHOLIC:

Holt Chapel (South Campus)7:07pm - Rosary, 7:30pm - Mass

Program Follows

STAFF:

Campus MinisterFr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv.

gwaterman@elon.edu336-278-7355

Business ManagerTrung Huynh-Duc

tduc@elon.edu336-446-9226

Peer Ministry CoordinatorMatt Merry

mmerry@elon.edu

STUDENT LEADERS:

Brianna BaileyErin BradleyBrian Dudiak

Kricket Feeney Stephen FergusonMallory Hinzman

Rachel Zimmermann

The Catholic PhoenixFall

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Fall Break in BaltimoreTransforming Lives through Service and ReflectionBy Katie Dirks, Class of 2011

During Elon’s Fall Break, fifteen members of the Elon CCM community traveled

to Baltimore, Maryland, for an alternative trip of service and reflection. They spent the first full day building a house at a Habitat for Humanity worksite in nearby Annapolis. Then, the group served at Christopher Place, a men’s rehabilitation and job center, and My Sister’s Place, a women’s center and cafeteria, both in Baltimore. Finally, they facilitated homework tutoring, computer use, and arts and crafts with the Westport Homes Boys & Girls Club just outside the city. In addition to the service that the group performed in Annapolis and Baltimore, the fourteen Elon students: Erin Bradley, Katie Dirks, Jess Duffy, Kricket Feeney, Steve Ferguson, Mallory Hinzman, Katie Koch, Nick Olano, Alex Ryskiewich, Chris Sainz, Lauren Sandberg, Erin Sawyer, Jessica Simmermeyer, Konstance Teleisha, and Elon staff member Mel Byerley also attended Mass at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, visited with family members in the area, toured Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and enjoyed dinner with several students at Loyola University in Baltimore. The word of the week was dichotomy: whether that be the juxtaposition of the new

Habitat houses being constructed no more than thirty yards from the nation’s first public housing, now boarded up and ready to be torn down, the iconic skyline of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor against the blocks and blocks of weary row houses, or the realization that we at Elon have, in all likelihood, lived much more comfortable lives than those of the many working poor who call these cities home. One of the most impactful experiences of the trip was meeting with the men of Christopher Place Employment Academy. Christopher Place, unlike many other centers for men and women in Baltimore, is unique in that it houses up to sixty previously-homeless men who take part in its Academy Program. The program essentially provides the men room and board, free of charge, for eighteen months, as they become clean and sober, work a steady job, and prepare to re-integrate themselves into the community. The positive action that the men of Christopher Place have taken to completely transform their lives is nothing short of overwhelming. Many of the men came from drug and alcohol addictions, gang violence, and time in prison. Their motivations to join the program ranged from (Continued on page 2)

2 Catholic Campus Ministry

their families, to their children, to their desire to mentor young people and help them avoid the mistakes that they themselves had made. The men’s faith was also incredibly strong, and all of those who spoke with the group following dinner glorified God as a central factor in the changes that they were making to better themselves. Elon CCM’s final service destination of Fall Break was at the Westport Homes Boys & Girls Club in Baltimore, a community comprised of (what appeared to be) public housing. The community had one large school, which children aged from Kindergarten to eighth grade attended. The Boys & Girls Club itself was a relatively large brick building situated on a hill, which overlooked some fallow fields and the distant Baltimore skyline. The Elon volunteers were designated tasks to do with the students, from helping with homework and aiding in computer usage, to facilitating arts and crafts and sharing positive experiences of college life. The young people at the Westport Homes Boys & Girls Club are immensely creative, and equally bright. The Elon group had a great time interacting with and helping the kids. Although the club has only two full-time staff members to look after the roughly forty-five young people who come every day after school, they are hopeful that additional volunteers from nearby college campuses can be recruited to support their cause. The service that Elon CCM performed over this year’s Fall Break in Annapolis and Baltimore was both eye-opening and transformational. Amidst the stories of good people falling upon rough times, there remains so much hope, for these cities in Maryland, and for similar cities across the United States. The Elon CCM Fall Break service group returns to Elon counting their many blessings and sharing their experiences with friends and peers. Special thanks to the Bradley family for housing accommodations.

Senior Reflections: Finding Strength T hrougha Community of Faith

As my four years at Elon are coming to a close, I have been doing a great amount of reflection on the importance of the different communities of which I have been a part during my Elon experience. My college career has been unforgettable and the majority of that has been in thanks to our Catholic Campus Ministry. I was fortunate enough to have a suite-mate freshmen year who was Catholic and “dragged” me to Mass the second or third week of school, but even with that I needed something more than attending Mass on Sundays. Participating in the Fall Beach Retreat of my first year was the catalyst for my growth in the faith. It wasn’t really the location or the time spent on the retreat that made me feel a need to be a part of this community; God needed to show me how welcoming, supportive, and loving this group of people are. Looking back, I probably would have only gone through the motions of church

each Sunday had it not been for that initial retreat. My first beach retreat was also the first time I had ever felt accepted into a group of Catholics who are strong in their faith. People who did not know anything about me, befriended me without question. They didn’t know what my Catholic background was or the struggles that I had experienced. It was amazing to see their immediate acceptance and bravery to share stories and speak about their love and struggles with God. This new support system gave me strength and courage to love others through God’s will and providence. For a long time, I have struggled to understand how people find their faith in one specific event when I have not been able to identify one of my own. Now I no longer believe that people need one outstanding occurrence, but rather they need a strong community to be able to trust and feel comfortable in their fellowship to

share their own faith stories. I found that community here at Elon in Catholic Campus Ministry, and without them, I would not be the person I am today.

By Erin Sawyer, Class of 2011

Erin Sawyer (front middle) surrounded by friends (left to right) Katherine Wise, Fr. Gerry, Katie Dirks, and Jackie Serany.

FALL BREAK IN BALTIMORE, continued from page 1

Top: The group poses with members of Christopher Place. Bottom: CCM students help tutor kids at the Boys & Girls Club.

While on the trip, the CCM group took turns writing reflections and sharing their experiences. Read their stories online at:

www.elon.edu/ccm/baltimore

Serving Elon University 3

Building a Catholic Community

When I first became involved in CCM, I had never participated in or attended a small faith-sharing group. I always knew that sharing my feelings and thoughts with others and hearing their thoughts in return helped me to deal with whatever was happening in my life at that time. When this concept was applied to my faith and growing in my relationship with God, I thought, “Why not!” Looking back as a senior, I can see how far CCM has grown, and this growth is reflected in our small faith-sharing groups. It went from being one small group of individuals, sharing their lives, to 4 groups of at least 7 people, each with different focal points on the Bible and aspects of our faith. Being a part of a small group has changed my relationship with God and with my fellow Catholics. These groups have helped to foster the amazing presence of Jesus Christ in the lives of young adults at Elon and have been the motivation for many to join the Elon CCM community. Sharing faith journeys with peers is not an easy or comfortable thing to do, but in the end the relationships and the knowledge one gains is worth every minute. Elon CCM’s small groups are excellent examples of God creating a blessing out of something as insignificant as looking at someone and saying, “This is my faith and I want to share it with you.”

On the weekend of September 19th, over forty members of Elon’s Catholic Campus Ministry gathered at Oak Island for the annual Beach Retreat. It was a weekend full of community building, games, prayer, adoration, and reflection. We started off the festivities with some fun “get-to-know-you” games, followed by a closing prayer. After our early morning wake-up the next day, we fully devoted ourselves to the theme of the weekend, “Being a Warrior for Christ.” We listened to amazing talks by members of CCM and participated in boot camp themed obstacle courses, everyone accented in warrior paint, of course. Before the break of dawn of the final morning, we were abruptly awoken, surprised to find out that we were all going on a “run” for Christ. We were led to the top of a large hill, where we prayed and then remained silent as we watched the majestic sunrise over the ocean. One of the best parts of the weekend by far was the Saturday morning Mass that Father Gerry celebrated on the beach. It is always so much fun and fulfilling to experience Mass in such a different setting. Overall, the retreat was a huge success; everyone who went on the trip left with new friends, a closer relationship with God, and, hopefully, a nice tan!

By Tracy Schell, Class of 2011 By Meg Taylor, Class of 2013

It is great to be in the Elon family! My name is Matt Merry and I am the Peer Ministry Coordinator for CCM living at the Newman Center at Holland House. I graduated from Belmont Abbey College near Charlotte, NC, with a degree in theology, and I have been very excited to apply it to enhance the Catholic culture of Elon University through programs such as RCIA and bible studies. Born and raised in North Carolina, I have enjoyed working amidst the beautiful oaks of this historic campus. I had the opportunity to volunteer at the New Student Convocation a few months ago, and I felt like I was a part of the group being welcomed. The tradition of giving a unique acorn to each first-year student really hit home for me. As most of you know, the transition into the “real world” is a scary time, but through prayer, the Eucharist, and the direction of the loving Fr. Gerry Waterman, I have been welcomed into the Phoenix family and I am getting adjusted to the campus culture. I have constantly been meeting new students and working to spread the Kingdom. Through this daily journey, the vibrant CCM community has made me feel at home, and in turn, I try to provide a home for the faithful of Elon through events like our weekly Tuesday night suppers (season-appropriately named “Crockpot Stewsdays”), CCM Tailgating, Waffle Cone Wednesday, and much more. To show the loving hand of Christ through a delicate balance of spiritual events and spirit-filled social events has been my purpose and goal here at Elon University, and I thank everyone for their prayers and support.

Meet Matthew MerryPeer Ministry Coordinator

Beach RetreatSmall Groups

The Catholic PhoenixCCM Newsletter

Catholic Campus MinistryCampus Box 2960Elon, NC 27244-2010Phone: 336-278-7355

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Get more online!All the articles in this newsletter can be found on our website, including exclusive online-only articles and additional photos. You can also find video recordings of Fr. Gerry’s Sunday homilies under the Media section.

Please visit www.elon.edu/ccm and click on the “Newsletters” link to read the following articles:

“Paws and Parishioners: Annual Blessing of the Animals” The Pendulum by Ashley Watkins

“Taco Tuesdays and Crockpot Stewsdays” by Seth Kahl

“I Am Not a Sports Person” by Ruth Sturm

“Elon Homecoming Weekend: CCM Tailgate Welcomes Alumni” by Erin Bradley

Follow us online!

With Heartfelt GratitudeThank you. Catholic Campus Ministry at Elon University is incredibly grateful for the generous financial support we have received. We rely on our donors as our primary revenue source to fund our programs, events, supplies, and personnel. Thanks to you, we were able to acquire our Catholic Newman Center last year, which has been a vital resource and facility for our students. To the right, you will find a few of our needs for the upcoming year. We hope that you will prayerfully consider sponsoring some of these opportunities for our students to grow and live out their faith on campus and beyond.

We have made donating even easier! You may now donate online by visiting:

www.elon.edu/ccm/donate

Wish ListSpring Break: Jamaica Mission Trip ($1100/student - 14 total).........$15,400

Catholic Speaker Series.............$5,000

Spring Break: Habitat Service Trip ($250/student - 10 total)............$2,500

Spring Spiritual Retreat for 30 Students....................................$2,000

Study Materials for Small Groups...$500

Sponsor Materials for RCIA and Confirmation...............................$400

Electric Mixer for Newman Center Kitchen.........................................$300