This is a tough time for all of us. Please know that we continue to be here for you - even if it is virtually.

if there are other offerings or ways that we can be serving or reaching out to you where you are, please don’t hesitate to send a message to cmcommunications@villanova.edu. We can connect you to the right person. We are happy to set up a call or video meeting. We would love to see your faces too!

Even, and perhaps especially, in times like these, we're reminded that we have Good News to proclaim, indeed, that we are to be that Good News for one another and for the world. Through understanding and compassion, encouragement and attentiveness, generosity and mercy, we make the world a better place for those around us. We friars keep all of you in prayer and we say with St. Augustine:

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake,

or watch or weep tonight,

and give your angels and saints

charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.

Rest your weary ones.

Bless your dying ones.

Soothe your suffering ones.

Pity your afflicted ones.

Shield your joyous ones

and all for your love's sake. Amen.

- Saint Augustine

Campus Ministry has created a Campus Ministry SLACK group. We invite you to join us and stay connected at this time! (click on the words for the link :)

• First Year Escape is a retreat hosted by the Campus Ministry Interns and led by Sophomore and Junior undergraduate students.
• Escape is a time for first years to spend a weekend away from campus in an environment that inspires personal and spiritual growth while creating the space to foster new friendships or strengthen current ones.
• On Escape, leaders are asked to facilitate small groups (typically in leader pairs), share a short testimony/story about an aspect of their life and/or lead a large group reflection activity. Leaders serve as the guide for the week, managing the timeline of events and boosting morale throughout the weekend. It is not a requirement to have attended an Escape retreat to be a leader.

Escape will take place on October 23-25, 2020 and January 29-31, 2021. If you choose to apply, you have the ability to denote a preference for leading in the Fall or in the Spring.
It is an expectation that all Escape leaders attend 7 meetings leading up to the retreat weekend they are leading. These meetings will take place at 9:00pm on Thursday evenings. These meetings are mandatory.

We are looking for a leadership team who is enthusiastic, open to sharing, and dedicated to creating a positive experience for First Year students at Villanova.

The deadline to apply is 11:59pm on April 8, 2020.

Click Here to Apply!

The University Counseling Center has updated information on their website: https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/health/counselingcenter.html includind a document with resources for Coping with anxiety at this time.

There is a Student Emergency Fund available for those who are in need. The fund is administered by the Office of Enrollment Management, led by Dean Leon Washington and his staff, with support from CASA. Students, and the faculty and staff who support them, can contact Enrollment Management – best to contact finaid@villanova.edu -- or CASA directly.

If you would like to donate to the fund, information is here.

VU Seniors Committee Email to Seniors, has a lot of good information for seniors.

Join Campus Ministry in praying a Way of the Cross for Service and Justice.

Through the Stations of the Cross we will pray for the various community partners where Service and Justice Experiences occur.

The reflection for each station will point to the presence of Jesus in the many communities where we serve.

The interactive Way of the Cross for Service and Justice will be held on Wednesday, April 8th at 3pm. Attendees can join using the following

Zoom link: https://villanova.zoom.us/j/4431866581

Take part in the Liturgy with the St. Thomas of Villanova Parish. Click here for the Virtual Mass Link.

• Monday - Friday 12pm Daily Mass
• Saturday, 9:00am daily mass and 5:00pm vigil mass
• Sunday 7:30am, 9:00am, and 10:30am masses

Texts of Sunday homilies from Augustinian friars are available: https://www.augustinian.org/homilies

Gather with Christians of all backgrounds for a time of reflection on a passage of scripture and shared prayer.

Zoom: https://villanova.zoom.us/j/746144357

Meeting ID: 746 144 357

Phone: +1 253 215 8782 US

Tuesday Centering Prayer:

Zoom: https://villanova.zoom.us/j/532950859, Meeting ID: 532 950 859

Phone: 16465588656,,532950859#

Thursday Centering Prayer:

Zoom: https://villanova.zoom.us/j/435273057, Meeting ID: 435 273 057

Phone: 16465588656,,435273057#

Join the Campus Ministry Community in the Rosary every week on Thursdays at 3pm via Zoom: https://villanova.zoom.us/j/320802064

Meeting ID: 320 802 064

Phone:
+13126266799,,320802064# or +16465588656,,320802064#

There are many resources on the Campus Ministry Spirituality Page that we hope can be helpful at this time. Notably, you may see:

• Contemplative Outreach resource on Centering Prayer
• Calm Clarity Resources
• YouTube resources by Fr. Thomas Keating, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, Tara Brach, Pema Chodron

Join us on April 22, 2020 for Part 2 in an interactive community building webinar where we collaborate together on important social issues.

Register here: https://www.augustinian.org/news/justice-peace-online-community

You are invited to accompany Augustine on his journey “home” by means of a personal and communal reflection on your own journey, drawing you closer to God, to yourself, to others and to the magnificent manifestation of our loving God in nature.

The journey begins with this introductory video and will be followed, weekly, by a video meditation on each of the 13 books of St Augustine’s master work: The Confessions. Join the legion of saints and searchers throughout sixteen centuries who have found, in Augustine, a spiritual companion on the path toward a more personal relationship with Christ. God is the source and origin, Jesus himself is the path, the Way, and the Spirit is our common guide.

https://www.augustinian.org/confessions-of-saint-augustine-video-series

Join together to engage with students and alumni of various Universities to build a sense of community and solidarity during the virtual Solidarity on Tap each Wednesday evening.

THIS WEEK!!

Wednesday, April 1 at 9PM ET (8CT/7MT/6PT)

Join us, with your beverage of choice in hand, for a conversation about Radical Kinship with Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries.

Do you have a question for Fr. Greg? Submit it here.

Join us right from this page or on Facebook Live during the event on April 1.

Applications are due Monday, April 6th!

If you are looking to support some local Philly organizations that are in need of help during this tough time, This document provides a list of organizations looking for either donations from afar or volunteers. Those highlighted in green indicate organizations that we work with through COV, so please be sure to take a look at how you might be able to support them in particular!

If you do find you are able to donate or volunteer, please let us know by filling out this brief Donation / Volunteer Form. We would like to both be able to keep track of what is being sent where / when people are volunteering, and also to be able to recognize you for your generosity! Even if you are not assisting with any of the organizations listed, please let us know via the form if you are supporting another organization or volunteering anywhere in your community!

The New Yorker produced a beautiful piece on the House of Grace Catholic Worker and the St. Francis Inn titled, "How do you Shelter in Place when you don't have a home?" You can read it here.