FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS MINISTRY
Greetings in Christ North Catholic Friends and Families! What a privilege to address you about the goings on in Campus Ministry!
Mass continues to nourish our school with Eucharistic grace. Masses have returned at least twice monthly on Thursdays at 8:35 a.m. with excellent student readers and a committed team of altar servers. We have reintroduced senior ushers and sacristans and will soon be seeing student musicians and cantors lead us in prayer through song, thanks to Mrs. Engelhardt and Mr. Stapleton. Mass is also offered alternating Thursdays at 7:30 am and on every Friday home game of the football season at 3 pm.
Year after year, the students humble us in their devotion to Jesus Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every First Friday, religion classes report to the Chapel to adore Our Lord, pray, sing, and avail themselves of the sacrament of reconciliation. The power of your child’s witness of going to Confession inspires the faculty, staff and chaplains in their own need and desire to receive the sacraments more regularly. I have to admit, it makes me proud when students walk out of confession and say, “Mr. Bayardi, I feel so good right now!”
An integral part of North Catholic culture is Kairos, a student-led four-day retreat that facilitates the opportune moment to meet Jesus Christ in a personal way. The weekend is full of talks, small group discussions, Eucharistic liturgies, games and fellowship. We have planned two Kairos weekends this year! K4 November 10-13, 2022 and K5 February 23-26, 2023. Once the student core team is finalized, we will send out a registration link, first to seniors and then to the rest of the student body. Space is limited to 35 student retreatants, so do not delay once the form opens.
A treasure of campus ministry is the Living in Faith Experience or LIFE program. LIFE is open to all students and has a large gathering every Friday from 2:45-4:15p for fellowship, fun, spiritual enrichment and prayer. During the week LIFE members gather in the Chapel at 7:40 a.m. for Liturgy of the Hours, praise and worship, the rosary, or Lectio Divina. Mrs. Maria Campbell has built and led the LIFE program at North for five years. The time and talent she has put in to the daily prayers and weekly meeting are bearing fruit in in the lives of the students.
Finally, I will mention the return of Amen to Action on November 25th starting promptly at 8:00 AM and lasting until 12 noon. That day we will join with other sites in packing one million meals for the poor in a single day. Sign ups are limited to 325 and we already have 160 plus. Be sure to look for the links in the Newsletter to reserve your spot as a volunteer at Amen to Action.
I could continue about all the exciting things campus ministry has planned in partnership with Mrs. Noell Boyer and Student Life. Remember you are the primary educators of your children in the faith, and we are here to help. Please pray for us and the success of all our programs as we forge ahead, strong in the Catholic Faith so that the world may know Jesus Christ and His overwhelming love for each and every one of us.
Yours In Christ,
Director of Campus Ministry
