To the Seniors at Wisdom...

When I was a Senior at UL (a million moons ago) I remember going through something very distinct- something I would learn a little about as I then left Louisiana for 'higher' goals.......the feeling of detachment. It's hard you know, to come to a University, to get comfortable, to make friends and to find that home away from home - and then it seems in such a short time..you've got 21, 18, 12 hours left and Graduation is around the corner. What do you do with that home you've made and the new family you've found?
I found that emotionally I started to detach long before graduation. Luckily physically I stayed put for the most part and tried to savor every last minute of certain community that I could. I'm saying all this because lately I've been praying for and reflecting alot on you-the Seniors (and some Juniors) at Wisdom. I've been watching closely and noticed something a little troubling to me- you've all been vanishing. Oh, I know graduation and even upper level classes require alot of time and attention. Maybe you've just got the 'socializing' out of your system. Maybe not.
I've heard some say that they feel Wisdom doesnt feed them anymore. They want something deeper, something to challenge them. I've read survey responses, clearly from older students saying these things and more-some nice, some hard to hear and I've prayed with them and I've wracked my brain and I've asked some of you individually and I've ended up here.
It's not about numbers for me, though I know sometimes ministry and evangelization can become that. I really could care less if we have 'the most popular thing on campus' or not. True Christianity won't ever be the most popular thing on campus. As C.S. Lewis once said "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried." And it's true, if we arent wildly unpopular in some sense then we're doing something wrong. We all know that those seeking faith are the most authentically human...unfortunately the rest of the campus hasn't figured that out yet. I'm praying that they do and I'll pass out flyers and chalk sidewalks and plan conferences until they all come home, if thats what it takes.
No, I don't have a naturally 'evangelistic' spirit in me. What I have is a strong, driven (call it motherly) need to care for those that have been entrusted to me...I.E. You. You especially, as older students are of concern to me because you are about to get spit into the 'real world' and that is a memory that is still somewhat fresh in my mind.
I've watched a good majority of my friends (love you if you're reading this) lose their faith and their moral compass in that 'real world' and I've done the same myself on more than one occasion. The only reason I'm 'still standing' is solely by the grace of God and by clinging to every 'Church' job, community, opportunity that I've found since I said goodbye to Wisdom in 2002.
It is a reality and if it's not my job to ensure that you have ALL of the tools you need to be able to stay in, form and find good Catholic communities to grow in faith with- then I don't know what is.
I'll be honest with you, you need formation in the faith, you need friends to pray with, you need to give your time to those younger and less formed than yourself and you need the grace of God.
So, now that I've told you what you need...why don't you do the same.

What do you need? What is it that you need from Wisdom? How can I get you involved again? What can I do better?
Feel free to be honest. I can take it :) I love all of you and I'm looking forward to your responses.


http://ragincajuncatholics.blogspot.com

Uprising against the CONDOMnation

This Friday on Campus an organization called Women Organizing Women will be hosting there annual Valentine Condom Event. Yes, the day before Valentines day, known as a day of excessive passion and love (and perhaps careless love-making) 'goodie' bags will be handed out by this group containing chocolates, valentine cards and among other things- Condoms. This organization has been fighting for 5 or so years now to have permission to hand out condoms on campus and they are slowly getting their way. This year they will have some opposition.

The Catholic Student Organization will also be out on campus this Friday handing out Abstinence information, flowers, and among other things- the Truth. I have asked (and am asking) any and everyone who feels compelled to help us with this effort to contact me. I want everyones help of course but I have a special job for the guys. I'm asking all of our men to dress in their best suit, or shirt and tie and to simply go out on campus giving out our information, a flower, a sticker with the message "I'm worth waiting for" and an invitation to a community where the truth of 'saving sex' is upheld and strived for. As a woman, I can't think of a better witness to a life of Abstinence than a nice, intelligent, clean cut man who wants nothing more than a woman of God who's willing to wait.

We wont be out there to start a fight, which is why I didnt reserve a table next to W.O.W. on Rex Street. I did however get permission for us to be everywhere (and I do mean everywhere) on campus- handing out flyers and flowers and an invitation to our next Bible Study- All day.
Our Bible Study on February 18th will be about the dignity of Sexuality...a look through the Scriptures at the Theology of the Body.

Why are we doing this you might ask? You might have heard the 'statistics' about condoms so many times that you are starting to buy into the lie. Any sincere study of the facts however shows that Condoms are not 100% effective in 'preventing' pregnancy and therefore lead to MORE unwanted pregnancies and more abortions. Condoms are not effective in protecting from the vast majority of STD's that we know exist, certainly not HPV which can cause cervical cancer and infertility (why do you think the push for this horrible vaccine has been so popular?- because the rubbers aint doin the trick thats why). They are 'effective' alot of the time WHEN they are used correctly - which as you can imagine in a nervous moment isn't -most- of the time.

But here is the final and overwhelming truth of why we want to stand up against this front and something you can share with those who will no doubt begin to toss pamphlets of numbers about 'safe sex' at you:

Even if Condoms were 100% effective 100% of the time - The Church would still not condone their use. Why? because the truth is the meaning of your body is greater than that. You are 'Wonderfully Made' as the Psalmist tell us- and that means the marital act which is a beautiful and fruitful image of communion and an earthly reflection of the trinitarian God is not meant to be treated like a disposable event. You are worth more than a night of frivolous activity and a false promise. You are not an animal and we do not believe we have to give you contraception because "you will do it anyway". You are a child of God standing on 2000 years of tradition and truth with a 'great cloud of winesses' cheering you on.

So stand up for what you know is true- even if you've faltered in the past- and help us to share the dignity of their bodies with the rest of the campus.

aelemoine@gmail.com - contact me if you want to help in any way.