Dear Students,
Christ is Risen, Alleluia! He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!
I hope you all are having a blessed Easter season, despite the challenges of our current situation. The gospel readings for the week of the Octave of Easter tell of the different encounters people had with the Resurrected Christ. These encounters teach us about the many ways Christ continues to be present with us today (check out our YouTube videos below for more on that). My prayer is that you have had an encounter with Christ this past week.
One of the ways Christ has been present to me recently is in the way we are able to still fellowship with one another despite our physical distance. Last Sunday we wrapped up our virtual Holy Week Mission, and as we were talking about how we missed going to Mass on Easter, I asked the students if they thought it was true that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Some shared about boyfriends or girlfriends who attend a different university, or family members in the military that are stationed overseas. While they all missed their loved ones, they commented on how quickly you can get used to someone's absence. If "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is true, so is "out of sight, out of mind."
How do keep Jesus from being "out of sight, out of mind" during this time? The key is to be intentional about kindling our longing for the sacraments. Some of the ways students shared on how to do this are by looking at religious art, listening to Christian music, reading the scriptures or other devotional material, and above all maintaining a regular prayer schedule.
You can access all the talks from our Holy Week mission on our YouTube channel
Holy Week Playlist
. Scroll down for links to our other reflections this week, including information on Divine Mercy Sunday, online small groups and hangout times, and our upcoming Senior-Send-Off and Baccalaureate Mass!
In Christ's Peace,
