VT Catholic Campus Ministries Vol 2 Issue 2023

From the Chaplain This was a year of big changes for me as I moved from a wonderful parish in heavily-suburban Alexandria, VA to the small town of Blacksburg in order to become the new Chaplain for the Catholic Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech. For years I have been hearing from so many in the Youth Apostles community about the exciting things happening at Fro the haplain This was a year of big changes for me as I moved from a wonderful parish in heavily-suburban Alexandria, VA to the small town of Blacksburg in order to become the new Chaplain for the Catholic Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech. For years I have been hearing from so many in the Youth Apostles co munity about th exciting things happe ing at

Student Leaders Student Leaders

Joseph Clement, Student Campus Minister Megan Flockhart, Asst. Student Campus Minister Michael Albrigo, Music Minister Nick Eastman, Community Minister Sofia Garcia, New Evangelization Minister Joseph Clement, Student Campus Minister Megan Flockhart, Asst. Student Campus Minister Michael Albrigo, Music Minister Nick Eastman, Co munity Minister Sofia Garcia, New Evangelization Minister

Eric Hasenbein, Liturgy Minister John Lebron, Outreach Minister Eric Hasenbein, Liturgy Minister John Lebron, Outreach Minister

Meg Luciani, Communications Minister Stephen DeCelle, Formation Minister Vincent Parente, Service & Justice Minister Meg Luciani, Co munications Minister Stephen D C lle, Formation Minister Vincent Parente, Service & Justice Minister

the Newman House and in the lives of the students. In the past few months, I have learned it’s all true. There is great joy and energy here at the CCM@VT. Many students come here for prayer and the sacraments as well as building Christian friendships. Remembering my own experience, some of my best memories from college involved being on retreat. It was on a retreat in college where I really became involved with Youth Apostles and started thinking about the Priesthood – full disclosure – it was at William and Mary, not Virginia Tech! Being at Tech these past few months has reminded me of so much of the ministry that opened me to the idea of serving the Church and making a radical yes with my life. Now in 2023, I was privileged to be with 120 students on our Fall Retreat and to help them ask those big questions themselves. The Newman Community provides students a comfortable space to continue exploring God’s calling for their lives. On October 9, we celebrated the feast of Saint John Henry Newman, our patron. He was canonized in 2019. As a young man, he was on a ship at sea going through an uncertain time in his life. He had an experience while the ship was becalmed wherein he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit leading him as a Light, and he would refer to this event later in life. Friends, may we all find the presence of the Holy Spirit leading us through the intercession of St. John Henry Newman. Please enjoy the below poem that I shared with the students on his feast day. the Newman House and in the lives of the students. In the past few months, I have learned it’s all true. Th re is great joy and energy h re at the CM@VT. Many students come h re for prayer and the sacraments as well as building Christian friendships. Remembering my own experience, some of my best memories from college involved being on retreat. It was on a retreat in college wh re I really became involved with Youth Apostles and started thinking about the Priesthood – full disclosure – it was at William and Mary, not Virginia Tech! Being at Tech these past few months has reminded me of so much of the ministry that opened me to the idea of serving the Church and making a radical yes with my life. Now in 2023, I was privileged to be with 120 students on our Fall Retreat and to help them ask those big questions themselves. The Newman Co munity provide students a comfortable space to continu exploring God’s calling for their lives. On October 9, we c lebrated the feast of Saint John Henry Newman, our patron. He was canonized in 2019. As a young man, he was on a ship at sea going through an uncertain time in his life. He had an experience while the ship was becalmed wh rein he felt the pr sence of the Holy Spirit leading him as a Light, and he would r fer to this vent later in life. Friends, may we all find the pr sence of the Holy Spirit leading us through the intercession of St. John Henry Newman. Pleas enjoy the below poem that I shared with the students on his feast day.

Leadership Council Dave Bernero - Springfield, VA Bob and Glenda Canfield - Colorado Springs, CO Deacon Mike Ellerbrock - Blacksburg, VA Michael Faulkner - Blacksburg, VA Amy Hogan - Blacksburg, VA Tim Hurley - Woodbridge, VA Eric Johannigmeier - Blacksburg, VA Amy Rusnak - Corning, NY FOCUS Missionaries Leadership Council Dave Bernero - Springfield, VA Bob and Glenda Canfield - Colorado Springs, CO Deacon Mike Ellerbrock - Blacksburg, VA Michael Faulkner - Blacksburg, VA Amy Hogan - Blacksburg, VA Tim Hurley - Woodbridge, VA Eric Johannigm ier - Blacksburg, VA Amy Rusnak - Cor ing, NY FOCUS Mi sionaries

Prayerfully,

Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on. Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on. Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encirclin gloom, Lead Thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on. Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant sc ne; one step enough for me. I was not ver thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on.

Prayerfully,

Andy Eastman, Kathleen Calvin, Mary Kolesar, and Matt Iannone (from left to right) Andy Eastman, Kathleen Calvin, Mary Kolesar, and Matt Ian one (from left to right)

Father Tom Yehl, Y.A. Chaplain Father Tom Yehl, Y.A. Chaplain

I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years. I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, S long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost a while. And with the morn those angel face smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost a while.

John Henry Newman, 1833 John Henry Newman, 1833

Our Mission Our mission is to support, challenge, and inspire students, faculty, and staff to grow in their faith and live out their call to be true disciples of Christ on campus and in their daily lives. Founded on Christ’s teachings and the Eucharist, we prepare Catholic leaders for service to the Church and world through the pillars of faith, community, and service. ur ission Our mission is to support, challenge, and inspire students, faculty, and staff to grow in their faith and live out their call to be true disciples of Christ on campus and in their daily lives. Founded on Christ’s teachings and the Eucharist, we prepare Catholic leaders for service to the Church and world through the pillars of faith, community, and service.