Summer 2013 Newsletter - Ragin Cajun Catholics

The Ragin’ Cajun
Serving the community at
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Catholic
Summer 2013
Geaux UL and
viva il PAPA!
T
BY FATHER BRYCE SIBLEY, S.T.L.
PASTOR & CHAPLAIN
“To evangelize, then, we must be open to
the action of the Spirit of God, without fear
of what He asks us or where He leads us.
Let us entrust ourselves to Him! He enables
us to live and bear witness to our faith, and
enlighten the hearts of those we meet.”
--Pope Francis
he spring semester at Our Lady
of Wisdom is always filled with a
sense of excitement - a new slate
of classes, the festivity of Mardi Gras,
the journey of Lent, the drama of the
Living Stations of the Cross, the joy of
Easter, and of course, the anticipation
of graduation. However, this spring is
one the Ragin’ Cajun Catholics will
not soon forget for it was highlighted
by the surprise abdication of Pope
Benedict and the fervor leading up the
the conclave and the election of Pope
Francis.
I personally will never forget the vivacity
and exuberance in the Student Center
after the white smoke was spotted.
The students on campus heard the
chapel bell peal and soon began
pouring in to watch the proclamation of
Habemus Papam, and with the rest of
the Church, welcome the new Pope.
During this ongoing Year of Faith, it
was a powerful reminder to me of how
important their Catholic faith is to our
students. They know how important
the Holy Father is to their identity as
Catholics, and they wanted to be
with their friends in the Ragin’ Cajun
Catholics community to witness the
monumental event in the life of the
universal Church and in their faith life
here on campus.
Along with all of the other retreats,
conferences, Bible studies, and
meetings this semester - this gathering
serves as a testimony to our alumni and
benefactors of how your support of our
ministry here at UL is making an impact
on a new generation of Catholics.
As we begin the hot and humid summer
months, I want to assure you of my
prayer, and the prayer of the students,
for you and your families. Thank you for
all you do to make what we do here at
Our Lady of Wisdom possible. Geaux
UL and Viva il Papa!
Living Stations
of the
Cross
10
th
Anniversary
BY MARY HERNANDEZ,
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
[email protected]
This year, Good Friday marked the 10th year in which
students from Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic
Student Center have carried out their devotion to Christ’s
suffering and passion through the Living Stations of the
Cross, performed in neighboring Girard Park.
In 2003, Brandt Broussard was a senior at UL Lafayette
when he took on the role as the first Jesus Christ. He recalls
collaborating with other students and the ministry team
from Our Lady of Wisdom “to raise awareness of Jesus’
true sacrifice and to help others grow in their relationship
with Jesus by conceptualizing his passion.”
Treville Belcher, a UL Junior from Lake Charles, assumed
the solemn role in front of a record crowd of approximately
1,200 participants! Father Sibley remarked “This year’s
record-setting participation was an incredible example of
why the Living Stations of the Cross is not only a powerful
devotion, but it is also a remarkable tool for evangelization.
Over the years, thousands of hearts have been touched by
the passion and piety of our students.”
For 10 Years, young men have
carried on tradition by portraying
the suffering and passion of Jesus
Christ in Our Lady of Wisdom’s Living
Stations of the Cross. The following
men who portrayed Jesus have
since dedicated themselves to full
time service in spreading the Gospel
message. Joseph Summers (20042005) serves as Director of Family
Missions Company; Alex Albert (2009)
is a Seminarian at Notre Dame in New
Orleans; and Drew Lege (2011) is a full
time FOCUS Missionary (Fellowship of
Catholic University Students).
Role of Jesus Christ
2003-2013
2013 Treville Belcher, Lake Charles
2012 Andrew Chauvin, Franklin
2011 Drew Lege, Erath
2010 Tyrone Bufkin, New Orleans
2009 Alex Albert, Kenner
2008 Sean Comiskey, La Place
2007 Saul Hernandez, Lafayette
2006 Chris Waguespack, Erath
2005 Joseph Summers, Abbeville
2004 Joseph Summers, Abbeville
2003 Brandt Broussard, Lafayette
STUDENT
Gabriella
Barlabé
Senior in Business Management
Guatemala
During the fall and spring semesters, Wednesday mornings
are devoted to a unique outreach effort on UL’s campus.
Rather than wait for students to cross the threshold of the
Church, Fr. Sibley sets up shop at the “Ask a Catholic Priest
a Question” booth at the prime intersection of St. Mary
Boulevard and Rex Street, where thousands of students
catch the University transit shuttle. The goal is that his
regular presence will be both a reminder of the Church’s
presence on campus and an invitation to students and
faculty to think and inquire about matters of faith.
In that sea of students was Gabriella Barlabé, who traveled
from her home country of Guatemala to attend UL
Lafayette. While she grew up in the faith, Gabby quickly
fell into the 85% of Catholic college students nationwide,
who do not attend Sunday Mass. College students face
many barriers when they seek to balance their spiritual life
with their life on campus. But one thing is true for most:
the longer one is away from the Sacraments, the easier it
is to stay away from them.
Gabby returned to Mass nearly a year later at an offcampus church. Although she was grateful to find her
way back to the Eucharist, she missed worshiping with a
community where she felt at home. Already so far away
from family, her yearning was understandable.
God is truly faithful to hearing our deepest desires. And on
one particular Wednesday in 2012, His response to Gabby
was an open invitation from a priest, sitting at the corner of
the most traveled intersection on campus, inviting her to
ask a question. She asked: “How can I get involved in my
faith?” Fr. Sibley responded by inviting her to 501 Student
Night that very night at the Catholic Student Center. More
importantly, he and several students were waiting there to
greet her and introduce her to others when she arrived. In
that instant, a vital connection between college students
on a journey of faith was established.
SPOTLIGHT
SPOT
Gabby nurtured her spiritual life by worshiping at the
student Mass at Our Lady of Wisdom, attending bible
studies, 501 Student Nights, and the Lenten retreat.
Soon, she felt compelled to give the greatest gift of faith,
that is - to share it. Here, our outreach story comes full
circle! In the upcoming fall semester, Gabby will be a part
of the Catholic Student Center’s discipleship team and
lead another unique outreach effort: a bible study for the
Hispanic community.
Overjoyed by the new path her college life had taken, she
called her mom and said, “This is the best day of my life!”
To the benefactors who support Ragin’ Cajun Catholic
Student Ministry, Gabby beamed with gratitude when she
said, “Thanks to everyone for helping us to build the faith
and spread God’s Kingdom here on Earth!”
Gabriella is one among 16,000 students at UL Lafayette.
Because Ragin’ Cajun Catholics Student Ministry is
fervently dedicated to our mission to Geaux Therefore and
Make Disciples of All Cajuns, we joyfully continue until all
16,000 students come to know the person of our Lord,
Jesus Christ!
Greek
Retreat
O
ver 160 Men and women
from ten Greek houses came
together to worship, reflect,
and pray as a Greek community at the
first annual Greek Retreat. The Greek
retreat was born out of the enthusiasm
of a small group of Greek students who
attended last fall’s Encounter Retreat.
Excited by the possibility of offering
a powerful retreat weekend focused
particularly on issues facing Greeks,
this small group of students rallied
together a group of thirty-seven Greek
leaders who collaborated with FOCUS
missionaries and our Ragin’ Cajun
Catholics Student Ministry team to
spread the Gospel of Christ to parts of
campus previously unreached.
Megan Rhodes, Senior in Delta Delta
BY KATIE AUSTIN,
PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR & CHI OMEGA ALUMNA
[email protected]
Delta, said her favorite part of this
year’s Greek retreat was “coming
together as a Greek community to
take a break from our busy lives to
grow closer to God. I enjoyed getting
to know people from the other houses
and growing closer to my sisters.”
The retreat included music, talks,
Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and
a special catechetical Mass by Father
Bryce Sibley.
“Overall 17 of my fraternity brothers
attended. Not all of them were
Catholic, but they loved it and said they
were definitely coming back next year,”
said Braxton Callen, Junior, member of
Kappa Sigma. “One fraternity brother
said ‘When did they change the words
in the Mass?’ He hadn’t been to Mass
in five years. Almost all of my brothers
went to Confession at the retreat –
most of them said they haven’t been
since they started college.”
Megan added, “The retreat impacted
my semester by helping me to realize
that when I put God first all things are
possible. It was a great reminder that
no matter how hectic life gets taking
time to spend in the Lord’s presence is
very important to any and all success.”
In fact, the lessons Megan learned at
the Greek Retreat will be put to good
use as she leaves Lafayette to serve
as a Missionary for the Fellowship of
Catholic University Students (FOCUS)
the next two years!
RAGIN’ CAJUN
CATHOLICS GREEK
LIFE PROGRAM
LAUNCHED
GREEK BIBLE
STUDIES FLOURISH
As a result of the Spirit-filled
Greek Retreat, weekly Bible
studies within the Greek
community flourished. “Since
the retreat, Kappa Sigma
has started Brotherhood
Night (bible study) in the
house. We’ve had around 20
people attend every week,”
said Braxton Callen, Junior,
member of Kappa Sigma.
Also representing the men’s
interfraternity council were
Kappa Alpha and Lambda Chi
fraternities. Approximately
45 men participated in Bible
studies this spring compared
to 20 one year ago!
Each of the 5 PanHellenic
sororities held weekly Bible
studies, including Alpha
Omicron Pi, Delta Delta
Delta, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu
and Sigma Sigma Sigma.
Approximately 65 women
participated this spring,
compared to 20 women one
year ago!
Stemming off of the success of the first
annual Greek Retreat, evangelization
and outreach efforts in the Greek
community continue through the
launch of the Ragin’ Cajun Catholics’
Greek Life Program. Monthly Greek
Life nights and activities are centered
in prayer for and within the Greek
community, and include Bible studies,
social gatherings, and other outreach
opportunities. Gatherings are held
at the Catholic Student Center and
are planned by student leaders on
the Ragin’ Cajun Catholics Greek Life
Team.
Thanks to the generosity of Greek
alumni and benefactors like you, and
the movement of the Holy Spirit,
the second annual Greek Retreat is
scheduled for January 2014! Like our
fall Enounter retreat, Students are
asked to pay $35 to attend the retreat
although the actual cost per student
is $150. Greek alumni who are
interested in getting involved with our
Greek Life Program or supporting it
by sponsoring a student to attend the
retreat are encouraged to contact our
Programming Director, Katie Austin,
[email protected].
Braxton Callen, who will be one of the
leaders of the 2013-2014 Greek Life
Team added, “I would love to thank all
the benefactors who have helped fund
these Greek events. Know that they
are working! Know that the people
you are investing in are leaders! And if
we get them to lead people down the
right path many will follow. Thank you
for all that you do.”
Vocation
Update
WHAT’S IN A NAME? 501
Students have gathered at the Catholic Student Center on Wednesday nights for years. This
year, the format of the night evolved into 501. The name 501 comes from our physical
address, 501 E. St. Mary Blvd., which is the “center” of faith on UL Lafayette’s campus. It was
also inspired by the Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 501, which states, “Jesus is
Mary’s only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom indeed He came to
save,” which is very fitting for our mission here at Our Lady of Wisdom!
Over the 2012-2013 school year, our 501 student night of teaching, prayer and adoration
maxed out at over 200 students for some nights and averaged over 100 students attending
each week throughout the whole year. It is encouraging to see our students nourish their
spiritual and community life through 501.
Mat Ardoin
St. Ben’s Seminary
Sponsored by St. Peter’s
in Carencro
Entered Spring 2013
Ben Bernard
St. Ben’s Seminary
Sponsored by Our Lady of Wisdom
Entering Fall 2013
Jacob Falgout
St. Ben’s Seminary
Sponsored by Our Lady of Wisdom
Entering Fall 2013
Josh Wilson
St. Ben’s Seminary
Sponsored by St. Mary Magdalene in
Abbeville
Entering Fall 2013
Mary Didier
Bethlehem Monastery of the Poor Clares
in Barhamsville, VA
Entered December 2012
Keli Jo Conner
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the
Eucharist in Ann Arbor, MI
Entering Fall 2013
RAGIN’ CAJUN
CATHOLIC GRADUATES
Faculty, graduates and their families recently joined together for
the Baccalaureate Mass in honor of the Spring 2013 graduating
class. A reception was also held to celebrate the accomplishment
of these graduates who have been nurtured by Ragin’ Cajun
Catholics Student Ministry throughout their college careers.
Heather Sikes
Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows
Entering Fall 2013
Demi Varuso
Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows
Entering Fall 2013
Joanna Casabadan
Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows
Entering Fall 2013
RAGIN’ CAJUN CATHOLICS
EVANGELIZATION & MEDIA
BY PAUL GEORGE,
CAMPUS MINISTER
[email protected]
M
ost people “live life”
today with the help of
computers, internet, tablets,
smartphones, apps and much more.
The generation of students on campus
today are the most technologically
advanced generation ever, making
advances in communication a blessing,
and at times a curse. Yet each
advancement in technology gives us
an opportunity and a great means for
spreading the Gospel.
Over the course of the last few years,
Our Lady of Wisdom has sought to use
technology to help reach students with
the Gospel message. We have a great
website and a very active Facebook
page. This past year we launched our
Ragin’ Cajun Catholics App! All three
platforms give students and Ragin’
Cajun Catholics world wide access to
Sunday homilies and 501 audio talks at
the touch of a button.
This
semester,
our
media
evangelization hit the airwaves with
the launch of “The Padre and Paul
Show.” The weekly radio show features
a dynamic duo, Fr. Bryce Sibley and
myself, talking on relevant topics of
faith and culture on campus and in the
world. The show airs on KLFT, 90.5 FM
on Fridays at 4:00 PM Central Time
LIFE ON THE ROCK
and re-airs on Saturday. It is available
through live streaming at klftradio.com
and it can also be heard on our Ragin’
Cajun Catholics media platforms (web,
Facebook, and app). The show has
been a huge hit for our students as well
as listeners throughout the Acadiana
area and beyond.
It is our hope and goal to continue to
spread the Gospel and reach more
students through media evangelization
because they are enmeshed in a social
media world. If you are interested in
supporting our media evangelization
efforts, please contact me. Thank
you, in advance, for your prayers and
support of this important outreach
effort.
Father Sibley and two Ragin’ Cajun Catholics appeared on EWTN’s
Life on the Rock at the peak of the spring semester. Philip Young,
representing UL Fellowship of Catholic University Students, shared
that he was “grateful for the opportunity to tell others about all of
the awesome things happening at Our Lady of Wisdom. For incoming
freshmen, it is critical to keep faith as the center of life. If Christ is
first, then all other priorities will follow.” Ali Zeik, a Ragin’ Cajun Catholics Leadership Team
Member and Spring 2013 Magna Cum Laude graduate in Biology, said “The opportunity to
promote our college ministry on national television was an incredible gift from the Holy Spirit. I
believe the promotion will bring many new faces to our student center and college students to
the Church as a whole. Staying close to the Church in college is pivotal to becoming a Christ-like
person for the rest of our lives!”
Download the
Ragin’ Cajun Catholics App
Ragin’ Cajun Catholics
Parents’ Weekend
Friday Oct. 4
Noon Mass, followed by
Lunch with the Lord
Saturday, Oct. 5
Tailgating and Ragin’ Cajuns Home Football Game
Sunday, Oct. 6
11AM Mass, followed by Students’ and
Parents’ Luncheon
Cardinal Newman Lecture
Tuesday, Sept. 24
George Weigel,
Authorized Biographer of
Blessed Pope John Paul II
Encounter Retreat
The 2013-2014 academic year marks
90 years of Catholic student ministry
at the University of Louisiana at
Lafayette. Celebrate with us all year
long during these 90th anniversary
edition events.
Friday, Sept. 27 – Sunday, Sept. 29
Tall Timbers Retreat Center
Register at www.ragincajuncatholics.org
Homecoming
Sunday, Oct. 27
11 AM Homecoming Mass
& UL Newman
Alumni Chapter Luncheon
Saturday, Nov. 1
Homecoming Parade and Game
Boilin’ Bash &
UL Newman Alumni Reunion
Saturday. March 29, 2014
6:00 PM at Blackham Coliseum
Do you know a
soon-to-be
graduate?
Baccalaureate Mass
Schedule:
Fall 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
5:30 PM Mass
Reception following.
Spring 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
5:30 PM Mass
Reception following.