Professors Susan Stabile and Mark Osler invite faculty, staff, and students to take part in “Mid-Day Dialogue on Faith: Intercession” on Wednesday, November 16 at 12:30 p.m. in room 238 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
In light of the positive response to the mid-day dialogue between Professors Osler and Stabile on the subject of creeds last spring, this is the first of two Dialogues on Faith that will be offered this academic year. The goal of each Dialogue will be to focus on one particular area on which there is disagreement between Catholics and Protestants (or among Protestants) and engage in a dialogue that will help deepen everyone’s understanding of the views of those outside of their own faith tradition.
This Mid-Day Dialogue between Professors Osler and Stabile will focus on Intercession including questions of “What do Catholics understand to be the intercessory role of Mary and/or the saints? Why do they think intercession is important or valuable? Why are Protestants uncomfortable with the idea of intercession?” These and other questions will be explored during this dialogue, which will also invite the participation of those attending.
As lunch will be served, please RVSP to Bethany Fletcher at moel1755@stthomas.edu.
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Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
May I have your attention?
St. Thomas has been a truly wonderful environment for me to grow and deepen my faith, while enduring the most difficult study and stressful times. I can't imagine going through the challenges of law school in any other way. I lead a weekly worship, attend Weekly Manna, and attend a weekly Bible study, all here at the law school. In addition to being involved in several communal faith practices, I am engaged in dialogue with God on a daily basis, most often tucked in the middle of a busy day at school. I pray every day for peace of mind with the stresses de jour, and for my fellow members of the law school community to find the same. For that reason, one might think I have a great sense of peace about exams, papers, and finding a job after law school. Alas, like nearly everyone else, I struggle to place my trust in God that all these things will transpire according to God's will. It seems like no sooner do I turn a care over to God than another pops up; another paper, another prayer request from a friend, another unforeseen obstacle in my path.
Nonetheless, this is the first time in my life I've been so engaged in both a communal faith life and a regular prayer life. Have you ever wondered if the reason we have a lot to pray about, a lot of concerns to give over to God, is so that God has our attention to tell us something?
I'll share an example that has grabbed my attention lately. I attended Susan Stabile's Mid-Day Reflection on the meaning of the saints to our lives last week, here at the law school. (for more on that, see this). When I was thinking about people who've been saints to my life, the life of Dorothy Day came to mind (a short bio can be found here.) I shared with the group that I have been often inspired by her fearless devotion to her faith and her work in God's name. She founded the Catholic Worker, the visible face of which is a regular social justice publication and houses of hospitality throughout the U.S. and Canada, and the world. The houses of hospitality are communal homes for people devoted to work in social justice, often working for little or nothing. Still, Day never worried about how a rent bill would be paid, even though most of the household members of the Catholic Worker houses of hospitality are what we would call indigent. Her faith in God was so strong that she was able to place her trust in God that food would be on the table, lights would be on and rent would be paid because the workers in the house were answering God's call. That trust and faith is an inspiration to me, and my reflection on this lingered long after the lunch gathering.
Just a few days later, I was researching something really quite unrelated when I came across an article that by no means should have been turned up in my search. The article was about the message Dorothy Day's work and words have for the way we think about Work in the modern day. I made a note of the strange coincidence, printed the article, and went on about my work.
Then, a few days later, a guest speaker at Weekly Manna read from a book by Jim Wallis, a social justice activist, writer and theologian. (his bio can be found here). Jim Wallis is another person, though living, who I consider a saint in my life. At least as far as I can tell, every aspect of his life is devoted to living out the social Gospel in real, tangible ways.
You might be wondering how I went from Dorothy Day to Jim Wallis. In 2004, I received a scholarship to attend a two-week pilgrimage to learn about work and social justice. It was then that I learned about Dorothy Day, visited the very first Catholic Worker house in New York City, and saw how the Catholic Worker Newspaper is produced. Two days later, when my clan of pilgrims ventured to Washington, D.C., we stayed in a Catholic Worker house in Georgetown, and visited the Sojourner office, where Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourner Magazine, presided over a weekly worship that is attended by members of the publication staff, their families, friends and neighbors. The worship was followed by a community meal.
I met Jim Wallis and learned about Dorothy Day in the same week. Those moments were part of a pilgrimage that changed my life. I came to law school, motivated in large part by my desire to provide justice for workers.
I haven't figured out exactly what I'm supposed to get from this, but I certainly no longer believe that these moments are coincidences. I will continue to pray about it, and return to the memories and musings from that pilgrimage, to look for the answer. The bottom line is: God has my attention, and I'm listening now.
So we come full circle. I am in constant dialogue with God because I have so many cares on my heart, so many concerns for my life, friends, family, community and world. If I hadn't been so engaged, if I didn't have so many worries, would I have been listening for what God was trying to tell me?
Nonetheless, this is the first time in my life I've been so engaged in both a communal faith life and a regular prayer life. Have you ever wondered if the reason we have a lot to pray about, a lot of concerns to give over to God, is so that God has our attention to tell us something?
I'll share an example that has grabbed my attention lately. I attended Susan Stabile's Mid-Day Reflection on the meaning of the saints to our lives last week, here at the law school. (for more on that, see this). When I was thinking about people who've been saints to my life, the life of Dorothy Day came to mind (a short bio can be found here.) I shared with the group that I have been often inspired by her fearless devotion to her faith and her work in God's name. She founded the Catholic Worker, the visible face of which is a regular social justice publication and houses of hospitality throughout the U.S. and Canada, and the world. The houses of hospitality are communal homes for people devoted to work in social justice, often working for little or nothing. Still, Day never worried about how a rent bill would be paid, even though most of the household members of the Catholic Worker houses of hospitality are what we would call indigent. Her faith in God was so strong that she was able to place her trust in God that food would be on the table, lights would be on and rent would be paid because the workers in the house were answering God's call. That trust and faith is an inspiration to me, and my reflection on this lingered long after the lunch gathering.
Just a few days later, I was researching something really quite unrelated when I came across an article that by no means should have been turned up in my search. The article was about the message Dorothy Day's work and words have for the way we think about Work in the modern day. I made a note of the strange coincidence, printed the article, and went on about my work.
Then, a few days later, a guest speaker at Weekly Manna read from a book by Jim Wallis, a social justice activist, writer and theologian. (his bio can be found here). Jim Wallis is another person, though living, who I consider a saint in my life. At least as far as I can tell, every aspect of his life is devoted to living out the social Gospel in real, tangible ways.
You might be wondering how I went from Dorothy Day to Jim Wallis. In 2004, I received a scholarship to attend a two-week pilgrimage to learn about work and social justice. It was then that I learned about Dorothy Day, visited the very first Catholic Worker house in New York City, and saw how the Catholic Worker Newspaper is produced. Two days later, when my clan of pilgrims ventured to Washington, D.C., we stayed in a Catholic Worker house in Georgetown, and visited the Sojourner office, where Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourner Magazine, presided over a weekly worship that is attended by members of the publication staff, their families, friends and neighbors. The worship was followed by a community meal.
I met Jim Wallis and learned about Dorothy Day in the same week. Those moments were part of a pilgrimage that changed my life. I came to law school, motivated in large part by my desire to provide justice for workers.
I haven't figured out exactly what I'm supposed to get from this, but I certainly no longer believe that these moments are coincidences. I will continue to pray about it, and return to the memories and musings from that pilgrimage, to look for the answer. The bottom line is: God has my attention, and I'm listening now.
So we come full circle. I am in constant dialogue with God because I have so many cares on my heart, so many concerns for my life, friends, family, community and world. If I hadn't been so engaged, if I didn't have so many worries, would I have been listening for what God was trying to tell me?
Interfaith Dialogue
Prof. Susan Stabile shared remarks about yesterday's Weekly Manna reflection on her blog, found here:
We hosted a guest who is now a familiar face at St. Thomas, Neil Willard, rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina. I was delighted to hear him talk about interfaith gatherings with such candor. As Prof. Stabile writes, "Too often, he suggested, interactions between people of different faiths involve suppressing differences and watering down individuals’ expressions of their faith. He described experiencing some interfaith prayer services that seemed dull to him because of the participants’ fear of offending each other, leading to a blandness on what was left to say after everything else was excluded."
Neil went on to tell stories of interfaith dialogues, like a Jewish woman who cut his hair at the barber shop, that were more engaging and deepening than most conversations he had with persons of his own faith. Stabile writes, "He talked about how that for interfaith discussions to be meaningful, we need to be authentically ourselves, to bring our whole selves to the conversation. We cannot have meaningful interfaith dialogue unless we bring our differences to the table rather than pretend they don’t exist. As Neil put it, we need to act with faith, and then talk about it."
If you'd like to hear from other speakers, Weekly Manna gathers each week on Wednesdays from Noon to 12:30 p.m. in MSL 334, with lunch provided.
To read more about Neil Willard's reflection, visit Prof. Susan Stabile's blog.
We hosted a guest who is now a familiar face at St. Thomas, Neil Willard, rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina. I was delighted to hear him talk about interfaith gatherings with such candor. As Prof. Stabile writes, "Too often, he suggested, interactions between people of different faiths involve suppressing differences and watering down individuals’ expressions of their faith. He described experiencing some interfaith prayer services that seemed dull to him because of the participants’ fear of offending each other, leading to a blandness on what was left to say after everything else was excluded."
Neil went on to tell stories of interfaith dialogues, like a Jewish woman who cut his hair at the barber shop, that were more engaging and deepening than most conversations he had with persons of his own faith. Stabile writes, "He talked about how that for interfaith discussions to be meaningful, we need to be authentically ourselves, to bring our whole selves to the conversation. We cannot have meaningful interfaith dialogue unless we bring our differences to the table rather than pretend they don’t exist. As Neil put it, we need to act with faith, and then talk about it."
If you'd like to hear from other speakers, Weekly Manna gathers each week on Wednesdays from Noon to 12:30 p.m. in MSL 334, with lunch provided.
To read more about Neil Willard's reflection, visit Prof. Susan Stabile's blog.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Christian Legal Society Morning Prayer Group
Christian Legal Society has launched a new weekly group that meets every Thursday morning, from 8:15-8:45 in MSL 459. The group shares breakfast and coffee, scripture, prayer requests and then spends the remaining time lifting up the prayer concerns of the St. Thomas Law community.
This morning, this group met for the third time and it was again a great turn out. Two students shared scripture: Psalm 27 and this reading from Phillipians 4 :4-7:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
As we return from our Fall Break at the Law School, I find many of us quickly rushing back into states of (dis)stress. It can be so easy to dive back into that belief that we can resolve our concerns through long hours, hard work, and worry. I love the reminder to turn over our concerns to God, and the reminder that God's peace will "guard [our] hearts and [our] minds."
After sharing the scripture, we took turns sharing petitions and prayers for thanksgiving and then offered up communal prayers. It was a truly centering and uplifting way to begin the day, and a reminder of the many opportunities our community has to gather in Christ. I encourage you to try out the prayer group!
This morning, this group met for the third time and it was again a great turn out. Two students shared scripture: Psalm 27 and this reading from Phillipians 4 :4-7:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
As we return from our Fall Break at the Law School, I find many of us quickly rushing back into states of (dis)stress. It can be so easy to dive back into that belief that we can resolve our concerns through long hours, hard work, and worry. I love the reminder to turn over our concerns to God, and the reminder that God's peace will "guard [our] hearts and [our] minds."
After sharing the scripture, we took turns sharing petitions and prayers for thanksgiving and then offered up communal prayers. It was a truly centering and uplifting way to begin the day, and a reminder of the many opportunities our community has to gather in Christ. I encourage you to try out the prayer group!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Upcoming Event: Mid-Day Reflection - What the Saints Mean to us
Kenneth Woodward, former Newsweek religions editor, defined a saint as “someone through whom we catch a glimpse of what God is like – and of what we are called to be”; in other words, a model and an inspiration to those of us seeking to lead lives of faith.
The Saints occupy an important place in the lives of Catholics, and November 1 this year is All Saints Day. Join us that day for a mid-day reflection that will focus on what it means to call someone a saint and on what the saints who have come before us mean to our lives. It will also afford the opportunity to reflect on Saints (and saints – that is, those who have been identified by the Catholic Church through history and those who have not been so recognized) who have had particular meaning in the lives of the participants.
Since we all benefit and grow from the witness of those who came before us, this session hopes to offer inspiration to non-Catholics as well as Catholics.
The session will be held on Tuesday, November 1, from 12:30-1:30, in Room 242, and includes lunch. Given that lunch will be served, please RSVP to Bethany Fletcher at moel1755@stthomas.edu.
The Saints occupy an important place in the lives of Catholics, and November 1 this year is All Saints Day. Join us that day for a mid-day reflection that will focus on what it means to call someone a saint and on what the saints who have come before us mean to our lives. It will also afford the opportunity to reflect on Saints (and saints – that is, those who have been identified by the Catholic Church through history and those who have not been so recognized) who have had particular meaning in the lives of the participants.
Since we all benefit and grow from the witness of those who came before us, this session hopes to offer inspiration to non-Catholics as well as Catholics.
The session will be held on Tuesday, November 1, from 12:30-1:30, in Room 242, and includes lunch. Given that lunch will be served, please RSVP to Bethany Fletcher at moel1755@stthomas.edu.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
CLS of Minnesota Social
Thursday, April 7 / 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. / Axel's Bonfire (St. Paul)
CLS of Minnesota is hosting a spring social gathering for law students and lawyers on Thursday, April 7. Please come enjoy the fellowship and meet a number of local Christian attorneys! We're going to be at Axel's Bonfire in Saint Paul.
We will have a separate private room (the Red Room) and CLS of Minnesota will provide appetizers and refreshments. We will have an open social from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., but since we'll have the benefit of the private room, we will spend part of the evening doing a roundtable with the lawyers present and asking questions about their practices and about what advice they have for law students. That will happen between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
If you can send an e-mail to Anthony Bushnell at awb@bushnelllawfirm.com to let us know if you're coming, that will help us ensure we have enough seating for everyone. It is not necessary to RSVP, though, so please come either way. Contact Anthony Bushnell (763-458-7652) with any questions.
If you can send an e-mail to Anthony Bushnell at awb@bushnelllawfirm.com to let us know if you're coming, that will help us ensure we have enough seating for everyone. It is not necessary to RSVP, though, so please come either way. Contact Anthony Bushnell (763-458-7652) with any questions.
For directions to Axel's Bonfire visit <here: http://www.axelsbonfire.com/locations/mn/st_paul>. It’s near the corner of Grand Avenue and Victoria Street. The address and phone number are: 850 Grand Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55105; 651-312-1299.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
March Events!
Happy March!
Please join us for the following events. Please RSVP by selecting "attend" on the Facebook Events.
March 8- Sex Selection & Disability Abortion with Professor Paulsen and Schiltz http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168757276505372
March 16- Death Penalty & the Culture of Life with Professor Oslerhttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174665985913741
March 4th: Cor Jesu (8-10) on the UST St. Paul Seminary
March 9th: Ash Wednesday service in the atrium of the Law School (12:00-1:00)
March 10th: STMS Meeting with Professor Dave Bateson (Room 448) 12:35-1:25. Lunch will be provided.
March 15th: Grill the Priest - with Father Rutten. Meet with Father in the atrium of the law school at 4 pm to walk to Brits Pub. Pay for your own. Ask all of your difficult faith questions in a fun-filled one-on-one time with Father Rutten.
Happy Spring Break! Stay safe!!
Please join us for the following events. Please RSVP by selecting "attend" on the Facebook Events.
March 8- Sex Selection & Disability Abortion with Professor Paulsen and Schiltz http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168757276505372
March 16- Death Penalty & the Culture of Life with Professor Oslerhttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174665985913741
March 4th: Cor Jesu (8-10) on the UST St. Paul Seminary
March 9th: Ash Wednesday service in the atrium of the Law School (12:00-1:00)
March 10th: STMS Meeting with Professor Dave Bateson (Room 448) 12:35-1:25. Lunch will be provided.
March 15th: Grill the Priest - with Father Rutten. Meet with Father in the atrium of the law school at 4 pm to walk to Brits Pub. Pay for your own. Ask all of your difficult faith questions in a fun-filled one-on-one time with Father Rutten.
Happy Spring Break! Stay safe!!
Monday, February 21, 2011
“Negotiating with God While Running with the Devil: A Cautionary Tale of How Recreational Drug Use Can Lead to Prison”
March 15 / 12:30-1:25 / Room 235,
The Holloran Center Fellow and former federal prosecutor Hank Shea will moderate a candid presentation by Dave Irvin, former head of HR for a major MN corporation, describing how Mr. Irvin’s recreational drug use led to addiction, dealing to friends, and arrest and prosecution, followed by a plea and imprisonment. Furthermore, Mr. Irvin will talk about the role of God in helping him make sense of his entire ordeal, having received the Lord’s blessings in the form of both forgiveness and the witnesses the Lord sent to intervene in his life, etc. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112233832187671#!/event.php?eid=112233832187671.
The Holloran Center Fellow and former federal prosecutor Hank Shea will moderate a candid presentation by Dave Irvin, former head of HR for a major MN corporation, describing how Mr. Irvin’s recreational drug use led to addiction, dealing to friends, and arrest and prosecution, followed by a plea and imprisonment. Furthermore, Mr. Irvin will talk about the role of God in helping him make sense of his entire ordeal, having received the Lord’s blessings in the form of both forgiveness and the witnesses the Lord sent to intervene in his life, etc. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112233832187671#!/event.php?eid=112233832187671.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
I Believe in God: Assessing the Value of Creeds
Monday February 28 / 12:30-1:30 / Room 242
Catholics and many Protestant denominations profess a creed and both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are broadly accepted in Christianity. Other Christians, such as Quakers, many Evangelicals and Baptists reject the authority of, and need for, a creed. (Non-creedalism largely is found in sects with Anabaptist roots, like Baptists, Quakers and Mennonites.) Bishop John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, has suggested that creeds were merely “a stage in our development…[and] part of our religious childhood.”
This mid-day reflection, led by Professors Osler and Stabile, will explore the question whether there is value (individually and/or communally) to an embrace of a creed and, if so, how one expresses and understands the essential elements of one’s creed. Professor Osler, who proceeds from a non-creedal tradition, and Professor Stabile from a creedal one, will each share some thoughts on these questions. There will also be time for individual reflection and group sharing.
Since lunch will be served, please respond to Bethany Fletcher at moel1755@stthomas.edu.
Alumni Reflections Speaker - TODAY!
Wednesday, February 16, 2010 / 12:30 - 1:15 p.m. / 244
Christian Legal Society, Soma, St. Thomas More Society, Lex Vitae, Federalist Society, and the Alumni Association present Alumni Reflections. Christopher D. Nelson, a 2007 St. Thomas Law alumn, Editor-in-Chief of the Law Journal and winner of the "Living the Mission Award" will be speaking about how he incorporates our law school's mission into his legal practice on a daily basis. Lunch will be provided by Dean Mengler.
Christian Legal Society, Soma, St. Thomas More Society, Lex Vitae, Federalist Society, and the Alumni Association present Alumni Reflections. Christopher D. Nelson, a 2007 St. Thomas Law alumn, Editor-in-Chief of the Law Journal and winner of the "Living the Mission Award" will be speaking about how he incorporates our law school's mission into his legal practice on a daily basis. Lunch will be provided by Dean Mengler.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
STMS Feburary Events!
Happy February STMS!
We have a number of exciting events:
Feburary 4th (8-10 pm) - Cor Jesu at the UST undergrad
Feb 7th (12:30-1:30) - Ecumenical Lunch with Fr. Rutten in Room 244
Feb 15th (12:30-1:30) - RESCHEDULED: Information Session for Joint J.D./Master of Arts in Catholic Studies Program. Professor Lisa Schiltz (who completed the Master of Arts in Catholic Studies program this past spring), and Doctor John F. Boyle, Professor of Theology and Catholic Studies and Director of Graduate Programs in Catholic Studies, will be holding an information session on this exciting program on Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 12:30 – 1:30, in Room 448.
Feb 27th (9:30 am - 1 pm): Professor Collett will be hosting a Mass Review at her home. We will be attending the 10 am Mass at the Nativity Church in St. Paul. Following Mass, Professor Collett and her family will be hosting students in her home for brunch. Please RSVP by Monday Feb. 21 by 5 pm to Stephanie gado0625@stthomas.edu if you will be coming.
Stay tuned for upcoming events.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Lunch with Father Rutten: Catholics in an Ecumenical and Interreligious Society
Monday, February 7, 2011 / 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM / MSL 244
In addition to being Director of Campus Ministry for the University of St. Thomas, Fr. Rutten is Chair of the Archdiocesan Commission on Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs for Minneapolis/Saint Paul. At today’s lunch gathering, he will share some thoughts on being Catholic in an ecumenical and interreligious society. This event is co-sponsored by Office of the Dean, St. Thomas More Society, Christian Legal Society and Soma.
Cor Jesu
Join us for Eucharistic Adoration, Worship, and Reconciliation!!When: Friday Feburary 4 from 8 pm-10 pm
Where: St. Paul Seminary on the University of St. Thomas Undergrad
For more information: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=179165908788827
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Reflection Sampler Week
Soma, St. Thomas More Society, Christian Legal Society and the Spiritual Life Committee are excited to present a weeklong sampler of activities that occur during St. Thomas' daily reflection period. The schedule for the sampler this week (January 24-28) is below. Each event takes place during the 12 to 12:30 reflection period.
Monday, Jan. 24 / Room 334
Come for a Student Panel to hear how 1L Chris Motz, 2L Krista Griffith and 3L Jason Luna stay grounded in their spiritual life.
Tuesday, Jan. 25 / Room 334
UST Alumna Pam Abatte will share her reflections on spiritual life in law school and in practice. Lunch will be served.
Wednesday, Jan. 26 / Room 334
Weekly Manna serves up thoughtful reflection from Prof. Rob Vischer. Lunch will be served.
Thursday, Jan. 27 / Room 448
Soma Worship will blend Word, music, prayer and a reflection on God's purpose for our lives.
Friday, Jan. 28 / Room 324
Join us for a Bible Study led by students from Soma and Christian Legal Society.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Welcome back!
Happy New Year!!!!
Continue to check back soon for more updates.
During the week of January 24th, our three organizations will be hosting a number of exciting speakers and events.
Stay tuned!
Good luck with another semester!!
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