Dear Catholic Community,

If I said, this was “the best of times”, people would think I’m delusional, but agree if I said, it is the “the worst of times.” It is easy to point out the foolishness and incredulity of our times, but miss the opportunities for faith and wisdom. I’ve seen people’s pain and been inspired by their faith.

With every challenge, there is grace. I’ve seen God at work. I’ve seen it in the graduate students’ initiative to reflect on our racial divide and their planning to serve disadvantaged youth. I see it in unexpected piety: the picture of a student kneeling in prayer on hard concrete, facing a wall. He wanted a very personal moment with God. Your God touching hearts in their coming together and in their going deep in prayer.

This past year, we put a greater emphasis on belonging to small groups and in taking advantage of “one-on-one” spiritual direction. We all need spiritual companions to walk with us on faith’s journey. Small groups and one-on-ones take students to a deeper “felt” awareness of God acting in them and through them. That is truly an instance of grace. Students have reached out on campus and online to meet and welcome new people. They are connecting in faith and friendship. The more they share, the more they want to share. Students have become a lifeline in difficult times. One student commented with the joy of a new discovery, I have discovered a new way to meet people.

I’ve been so impressed with staff and student leaders. In this pandemic and era of social distancing, they did old things in really new ways. Most of our activities have moved online: retreats, leadership training, talks, religious education classes, seminars, counseling, spiritual direction, etc. Our Alternative Fall Break immersed students virtually in the experiences of immigrants at the US border through the Kino Border Initiative.

I’ve seen God’s grace working in the Year-Round Community. More are taking communion to the homebound. We hear it in weekly live streamed Mass in the extraordinary commitment of our choir, tech crew and ministers. I have seen the dedication and creativity of our catechists reworking our Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program for children into a home program. Each household now has activities and materials to engage its children. Parents are teaching their own children their religion. (Isn’t that how it should be?)

Certainly, our wings have been clipped. It’s hard not being on campus to hear confession, do counseling, say Mass or just to have a chance encounter and regular conversations. The work continues online! Technology has made our global outreach possible. Our staff, student leaders and students are reaching out locally and globally. 

This summer I commissioned a stellar group of professionals, professors and alumni in a Dream Team to expand our CC@S vision. It offers a practical guide for the future. The Executive Summary and report are on our website. At its heart is the idea that everyone is called to be a leader; everyone is to become a minister of the Gospel. We are designing a program that offers the education and training to make it real. That includes you, if you wish. 

The Report outlines the focus for the coming year based on our themes: Connectedness, Leaders and Leadership Training, Spiritual and Faith Formation, the Church’s Social Teaching, and the Liturgy. Just don’t read it; know that you are invited to participate. Your insights are always welcome!

CC@S and its members are unique, but we are challenged by precarious times. It is vitally important for each of us now to connect, engage and live our faith more deeply with each other and for each other.

It may indeed feel like the worst of times, but the Spirit is inviting you to make it better!

Please read through the 2019-2020 IMPACT report and see just what a difference you and your fellow CC@S members have already made.

Live Jesus in Your Hearts!

Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, O.P.