Ignatian Week 2013 at Fordham

Tomorrow is the first day of Ignatian Week, an annual tradition that celebrates the Jesuit spirituality at the heart of Fordham.

Beginning Nov. 13 and continuing through Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Office of University Mission and Ministry and its partners will sponsor a series of discussions, meals, and prayer centered on the legacy of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and the unique spirituality that characterizes the Jesuit Order.

“The Jesuits are renowned the world over for excellence in education, focusing on liberal arts, value-centered education of the whole person, and a commitment to lifelong learning, social justice, and service,” said Carol Gibney, associate director for campus ministry at Lincoln Center and director of Ignatian Programs.

“As a Jesuit institution, the University's principles are based on the 450-year old teaching traditions of St. Ignatius… The Ignatian Week events highlight our rich Ignatian heritage and what it means to be part of a Jesuit university.”

The festivities commence on the Rose Hill campus with “Law and Order: The Jesuit Factor,” presented by Msgr. Thomas J. Shelley, professor emeritus of theology. Msgr. Shelley will discuss the case of New York-based Jesuit Anthony Kohlmann—after whom Fordham’s Kohlmann Hall is named—who was integral to the landmark legal case about the Seal of the Confessional, which prohibits priests from disclosing information learned during the sacrament of penance.

Ignatian Week continues later that evening at the Lincoln Center campus with the fall McGinley Lecture, “To Be a Pilgrim: A Geography of Faith for Jews, Christians, and Muslims,” presented by Patrick J. Ryan, S.J., the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society.

Other upcoming events include:

• A discussion and guided meditation with Zen roshi (“master”) and Jesuit priest Robert Kennedy, S.J.;
• An outing at Pugsley’s with America Magazine editor-in-chief Matt Malone, S.J., who will discuss the recent interview with Pope Francis;
• A trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Ignatian Family Teach-In, lobbying for issues of humane comprehensive immigration reform and raising minimum wage;
• An interactive video conference with Catholic feminist theologians in Asia;

…and more!

To see a full list of Ignatian Week events, visit Campus Ministry’s website.

— Joanna Klimaski

Zen At Fordham | UPDATE

Roshi Robert Kennedy, S.J., will now be joining us on Tuesday, November 16 (rather than November 9), to sit, give a talk and take questions about interfaith Zen practice.

Sensei Ray Ruzan Cicetti of Empty Bowl Zendo in Morristown will visit on Tuesday, November 30, to give a talk and take questions. A dharma heir of Roshi Kennedy, he is a psychotherapist in private practice.

Sensei Michael Holleran, a Fordham alumnus and former Carthusian monk, joins us on the fourth Tuesday of every month to give a talk and daisan. He is a parish priest in New York City and a dharma heir of Roshi Kennedy.

Zen practice is held every Tuesday evening from 6:10 to 7:45 p.m., in the Blessed Rupert Mayer Chapel at the Lowenstein Center at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus.

Free and open to all, no registration required. Beginner instruction is given whenever ecessary.

For more information on this branch of the White Plum Asanga, visit www.kennedyzen.org.

The Fordham Interfaith Zen Sitting Group is based on the teaching of Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi, who began his Zen practice in Japan when he was sent there as a young priest. He and his dharma heirs support the Fordham Sitting Group by coming to teach each semester.

Sensei Paul Schubert, also a dharma heir of Roshi, joins us the first Tuesday of every month. Sensei Paul was a research chemist, recently taking early retirement to teach science to high school kids. He and his wife Peggy run City Tiger Zen and a sitting group at Xavier.

Roshi Kennedy was interviewed by Tom Fox at the National Catholic Reporter last year: listen to the podcast, in which he describes how he first came to Zen.

For More Information:
Roshi Kennedy: www.kennedyzen.org
Michael Holleran
Paul Schubert

Free and open to all, no registration necessary. Sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry.

Fordham Employees Hit Spiritual Reset Button on Ignatian Retreat

A participant reflects at the Fordham Ignatian retreat.
(Photo courtesy of Campus Ministry)

After a long academic year, silence and reflection can be golden. Just ask a group of faculty and staff members who participated in Fordham University’s most recent Ignatian retreat.

“The demands and distractions of the school year do not leave enough time for me to talk to God,” said Juliana F. Gilheany, Ph.D., adjunct professor of history. “I went on the retreat because I wanted to find the peace and quiet that would let me get closer to Him.”

“Living in the Spirit in Ordinary Time,” was held from May 25 to 28 at the Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center in Ossining, N.Y., and was organized by Campus Ministry.

The setting on the Hudson River was “conducive to quiet reflection on God’s nature, in company with His birds, deer, rabbits, turkeys and chipmunks,” Gilheany added.

The first of the faculty and staff retreats, which also are open to graduate students, was held in 1998, said Joan Cavanagh, associate director of campus ministry. There is a fee to attend, though a limited number of scholarships are available. Activities include prayer, Eucharist, optional confession and conferences on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.

“The purpose of the retreat is to encourage faculty and staff to step back from the busyness of life and spent a few days in prayer and reflection in line with Ignatian spirituality,” Cavanagh said.

Giselle Esquivel, Psy.D., professor of school psychology in the Graduate School of Education, said she found much peace “in silence, walks by the river, conversations with her spiritual director, art work in the creativity room, labyrinth walks and sleeping to soft music.”

“Most of all, I feel a sense of grace in a community of love and inclusiveness. I am awed to be able to kindle and express my spirituality among those with whom I work. It is indeed a rare gift to have such blessings,” Esquivel added.

Melissa Alvarenga, associate coordinator of service learning at Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice, agreed.

“The retreat gave me the opportunity to reflect on my work during the past year while connecting more deeply and intentionally with the University’s mission,” she said. “As a young professional, I was able to take four days to grow my spirituality in a beautiful retreat center in the middle of a serene, picturesque setting on the Hudson. By nurturing my mind and heart, I was able to rejuvenate and center myself.”

For more information on this retreat and other like it, contact Joan Cavanagh at jcavanagh@fordham.edu.

-Gina Vergel

The Hope of the UCA Martyrs

A talk by Mark Ravizza, S.J., on the 20th Anniversary of the slayings in El Salvador. University Church, October 29, 2009. Sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry.

Ignatian Awareness week

Monday, 26 January
12:15 p.m. Rupert Mayer, S.J. Chapel, LL221
Daily Mass*
Presider: George Drance, S.J.
12:45 p.m. South Lounge
“Why are Jesuits in Schools?”
Charles J. Beirne, S.J., Visiting Professor in the Graduate School of Education, consultant on Jesuit Higher Education in Africa, will lead the discussion. Lunch will be served.
5:15 p.m. South Lounge
The Mission
Vincent DeCola, S.J. will lead a discussion of various themes running through this award winning film, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons as Jesuits working among the Guaraní Indians of South America.

Tuesday, 27 January
12:15 p.m. Blessed Rupert Mayer, S.J. Chapel, LL221
Daily Mass*
Presider: Rev. Terrence Klein
5:30 p.m. McMahon 109
Meet the JVC (Jesuit Volunteer Corps)
Come and meet the Jesuit Volunteer Corps members who are currently serving in New York City. It’s a great chance to find out more about life in the JVC. Former JVC Director Vincent DeCola, S.J., will also be on hand with information. Dinner will be provided.
6:10-7:45 p.m. Blessed Rupert Mayer, S.J. Chapel, LL221
Interfaith Zen Meditation
Roshi Robert Kenedy, S.J., Jesuit priest and zen master, will speak about the Jesuit mission on interreligious dialog and lead zen sitting meditation. All are welcome! Healthy refreshments will be available after the meditation.

Wednesday, 28 January
12:15 p.m. Rupert Mayer, S.J. Chapel, LL221
Daily Mass*
Presider: Robert R. Grimes, S.J.
7 p.m. McMahon 205/206
Black Robe
Damian O’Connell, S.J., will lead the discussion, following a viewing of this engaging movie about the challenging relationship between the Jesuits and Native Americans in the 17th century and the implications for interreligious dialogue today. Light dinner will be served.
9:30 p.m. McMahon 6G
Mass in McMahon 6G
Join other students for Mass in an informal setting in Fr. O’Connell’s suite. Refreshments will be served following Mass.

Thursday, 29 January
11:30 a.m. TBA
Ambassador Luncheon
Campus Ministry will host the student ambassadors and will discuss the Jesuit Catholic identity of the University.
12:15 p.m. Rupert Mayer, S.J. Chapel, LL221
Daily Mass*
Presider: Patrick Ryan, S.J.

Friday, 30 January
12:15 p.m. Rupert Mayer, S.J. Chapel, LL221
Daily Mass*
Presider: Damian O'Connell, S.J.
1 p.m. Lowenstein Plaza
Ice Cream Social
Join us on the plaza for some ice cream and good company.

*Themes of the Spiritual Exercises will be addressed at daily Masses.

Ignatian Awareness week celebrates the rich Ignatian heritage
with which Fordham has been blessed.

The events of this week are aimed at helping us to appreciate this heritage
through the work of local Jesuits and their colleagues. For more information, contact Campus Ministry at campusminlc@fordham.edu.
FREE FOOD AT ALL EVENTS!

Food and Clothing Drives

Fordham's Community Service Program and Campus Ministry are once again sponsoring the annual Food and Coat drives to benefit the local community partners in the Bronx and Manhattan. Community-based organizations such as Part of the Solution (POTS), Concourse House, National Student Partnerships (NSP) and Cathedral Community Cares of St. John the Divine will benefit greatly from your generous support.

Thanksgiving Food Drive - November 10 through 21
Local food pantries are struggling to meet the needs of their clients, particularly during the holiday season. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, please make checks out to "Campus Ministry."

Non-perishable food items and checks may be brought to:
ROSE HILL: McGinley Center 101 or 102
LINCOLN CENTER: Lowenstein 217


Winter Clothing Drive - December 1 through 19
As the weather gets colder, we will begin to collect warm winter clothing in good condition to be distributed through our community partners. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, please make checks out to "Campus Ministry."

Coats, sweatshirts, scarves, gloves, sweaters, and socks, as well as checks may be brought to:
ROSE HILL: McGinley Center 102
LINCOLN CENTER: Lowenstein Plaza (bins at the top of the escalator)

For more information, please contact

CAMPUS MINISTRY
Rose Hill: 718-817-4501 or cm@fordham.edu
Lincoln Center: 212-636-6267 or campusminlc@fordham.edu

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
Rose Hill: 718-817-4510 or csp@fordham.edu
Lincoln Center: 212-636-7464 or csplc@fordham.edu

We thank you on behalf of our community partners and neighbors for your generosity.