Catholic Cardinal Reflections

July 21, 2013 - Martha's sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and assumed a role that wasn't considered hers in those days. It was shameful of her in Martha's eyes, but Jesus did not mind. Rather, Jesus associated with people that society looked down upon. Jesus entered the home of Martha and Mary, but He was the one providing hospitality. Jesus was feeding Mary with the Father's love and life. This "divine" hospitality was of God's new house, the Kindgom. Our job in our lives today is to live out the belovedness God has for us, to live out God's hospitality for others, and to therefore, be alive.

Preacher: Father Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Western Dominican Province

July 14, 2013 - The story of the good Samaritan. The law student in it thought that he knew more than Jesus. Jesus could have easily shown His own superiority, but His Jesus' job was to unify, not divide. Instead, Jesus reached into the student's heart to find the goodness that was there. Like He does the law student, Jesus takes us on a journey and walks it with us. The student first lived in his mind, but Jesus showed him how to live in his heart, just as we are called to live in ours.

Preacher: Father Nathan Castle, OP, Pastor/Director of the Catholic Community.

July 7, 2013 - Jesus wants us to have the entire universe as a home, feeling as if we belong everywhere. The Lord sees what we are capable of even when we don't see it, and He invites us along in His journey. Jesus sends us out to proclaim His Word, giving us His blessing and sometimes even directing us beyond security and safety. He teaches us how to be a citizen of the universe and is with us wherever we go.

Preacher: Father Nathan Castle, OP, Pastor/Director of the Catholic Community.

June 30, 2013 - The goal of Jesus' life was to ascend to Heaven, but He could only do that if He took the road to death and resurrection, or the Road to Jerusalem. He calls us to a new humanity and consciousness because God cannot use us for His works unless we undergo a change of mind. We are called to bind together the human and the divine by recognizing God in everyone. We are called to make this "new" humanity a reality.

Preacher: Fr. Richard M. Kingsley, Pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Tucson, AZ.

June 6, 2013 - Jesus asks a most important question: "Who do you say I am?". The answer to that question tells more about ourselves than about Jesus. All our awards, accolades and achievements are of little consequence relative to our being a Christian.

Preacher: Fr. Isaiah Mary Molano, OP, Parochial Vicar andAssociate Director of the CCAS.

June 9, 2013 - Elijah and Jesus both went to upper chambers; Elijah to pray for a boy's life, and Jesus to give all of humanity new life through the body and blood of the Eucharist. May we receive God's grace and remember his love for us throughout each day.

Preacher: Father Isaiah Mary Molano, OP, Parochial Vicar/Associate Director CCAS.

June 4, 2013 - The last lecture for the Spring quarter, this discussion focuses on the rich use of iconography in the Catholic Church over the centuries- its rise, decline and re-emergence.

Lecturer: Colleen Power, MA, Director of student services at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology

June 3, 2013 - The final lecture in the course focuses on the reception of Gaudium et spes in the US, unresolved tensions between the spirit of renewal from Vatican II and retrenchment of the Church to a siege mentality, and signs of renewed growth inJoy and Hope.

Speakers: Prof. Bryan Massingale, Marquette University Prof. Kristen Heyer, Santa Clara University.

June 2, 2013 - Father Nathan talks about the "Crypto-Catholic", one who does not wish to advertise his faith, and that Christ so loves us that he becomes small enough to be brought inside our own boidies. Brother Pius noted that when he was in college he was a Crypto-Cathloc who denied the meaning of his name, until one day a friend intrduced him to a priest whose influence ended up changing Brother Pius' life.

Preachers: Fr. Nathan Castle, OP, Pastor and Director of the CCAS; Brother Pius, Dominican Novice.

May 26, 2013 - Three persons, but one Lord of all. Today we gaze into the depths of heaven to try to understand this mystery. With the end of the academic quarter, there are many pressures to finish, but we are guided by our God to find Truth. Truth is hard, because it demands we recall memories of things lost, but also blessings gained. Truth resides in the soul.

Preacher: Teresa Pleins, Chaplain of CCAS, intro by Fr. Isaiah M. Molano, OP, Parochial Vicar/Associate Director