Welcoming New & Returning Students

UH CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER

Welcoming New & Returning Students, August 23, 2009

4805 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77004 (713) 748 - 2529

Catholic Newman Center E-Mail: catholic [at] uh [dot] edu

Catholic Newman Center Website: http://uhcatholic.org/

Serving the University of Houston, Main Campus

Supported by the Archdiocese of Galveston – Houston Diocesan Services Fund

 

 CONTENTS:

1. NEW AND RETURNING STUDENT WELCOME

2. UH CATHOLIC CENTER WELCOME WEEK AUGUST 24th – SEPTEMBER 4th

3. WELCOME MASS AND LUNCH SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th

4. CALENDAR FALL 2009

5. WEEKLY EVENTS

6. CONTACT INFORMATION

7. CATHOLIC STUDENT ORGANIZATION OFFICERS

8. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS (R.C.I.A.) AND

9. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

10. RETREAT OPPORTUNITY BAYOU AWAKENING # 13

Welcome to the UH Catholic Newman Center!  This is your new home away from home during your college years at the University of Houston.  We are blessed to have you with us.  We want you to be part of the various activities here at the UH Catholic Newman Center during the school year 2009-2010.  The UH Catholic Newman Center is here to provide students, faculty and staff with opportunities for spiritual growth, social enrichment and leadership in ministry. We offer weekly and monthly programs including R.C.I.A. and Confirmation classes.  We also provide for the regular celebration of the sacraments especially Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Dan Walsh, C.S.Sp., and Giovan Cuchapin are your campus ministers.  If you’re looking for a place to hang out, meet new friends, and make Christ part of your college formation come and see. Remember, Christ is always inviting you. How will you respond?

 

Our first Sunday evening Mass will be at the UH Catholic Newman Center on August 23rd @ 6:00 PM. The UH Catholic Newman Center will be open from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM August 24th thru September 4th.  The Open House at the UH Catholic Newman Center is on August 24th thru September 4th.  We will have Free Ice Cream Sundaes from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  Please remember the Catholic Student Organization’s first meeting is on September 10th @ 7:00 PM at the UH Catholic Newman Center. 

 

The tradition of invoking the graces and blessings of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the academic year is longstanding and we are very fortunate to have Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto, D.D. come to UH to celebrate with us.  On Sunday, August 30th at 10:45 AM at the A D Bruce Religion Center, we’ll welcome back all members of the UH Catholic Newman Center Community with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.  At this Mass we will formally present the new Catholic Student Organization Officers to the community.  Following the Mass a Welcome Lunch will be served at the UH Catholic Newman Center.  All are welcome, so invite your families and friends.

 

August 24th - UH First Day of Class

August 30th - UH Catholic Newman Mass of the Holy Spirit and Cookout Lunch

September 7th - UH Labor Day Holiday

September 13th - UH 1st R.C.I.A. Class Begins

September 18th - 20th - Bayou Awakening Young Adult’s Retreat

October 18th - 22nd - UH Busy Persons’ Retreat

November 23rd - UH Catholic Newman Thanksgiving Potluck

November 25th - 27th - UH Thanksgiving Holidays

December 5th - UH Last Day of Class

December 9th - 16th - UH Final Study Nights

Sunday:    Mass @ 10:45 AM @ A D Bruce Religion Center Main Chapel

 

Monday:    Mass @ 12:00 Noon @ UH Catholic Center

 

Tuesday:  Mass @ 12:00 Noon @ UH Catholic Center

Wednesday: Mass @ 12:00 Noon @ UH Catholic Center

Thursday: Mass @ 12:00 Noon @ UH Catholic Center

 

Friday:         UH Catholic Newman Center Open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

 

Saturday:      Center Closed

 

If you wish to be notified of upcoming events at the UH Catholic Newman Center, please call (713) 748 - 2529 and let us know if you have changed your address, telephone number or e-mail address.

 

President: Matthew DeForke, Vice President Events: Ruth Bernay, Vice President Outreach: Robert Truong, Secretary: Norma Vasquez, Treasurer: Arjan Lim, Historian: Josephine Viajar, and Sponsor: Giovan Cuchapin

 

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) is a program for those who want to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church (receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist). It is also a program for those who have completed part of their initiation, but still lack catechesis (formation in Church doctrine). Those who are seeking only Adult Confirmation can also join this program. Classes begin on Sunday, September 13th from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM at the UH Catholic Newman Center. We are also seeking sponsors (spiritual companions) for those who are preparing to receive the sacraments this year. Sponsors must be practicing Catholics who are willing to commit to accompanying a candidate or catechumen on their faith journey. If you are interested in becoming Catholic, being Confirmed, or in being a sponsor for one of these individuals, please contact Giovan Cuchapin at (713) 748 – 2529 or e-mail at fcuchapin [at] uh [dot] edu

 

We gather to worship and we are always looking for volunteers to help make our celebrations the high point of our day or week.  We are looking for the following:

Altar Server:  Male and female students are invited to assist the priest at Mass. Altar servers make sure that all of the elements needed for Mass are prepared before our celebration and assist the priest during the celebration.  After Mass the acolytes make sure that everything is put away.  Altar servers are needed especially for Sunday celebrations.

Choir, Instrumentalists and Cantor:  To paraphrase St. Augustine: “He who sings well, prays twice.”  Students with a gift for and interest in helping the assembled community to sing during the Mass are most welcome.  Rehearsals are scheduled before and after Mass or as needed.

Ministers of Hospitality:  Ministers of hospitality are ready to serve as needs arise.  They help to seat those who arrive for Mass, take up the weekly collection, assist the offertory procession and help pass out information (i.e. bulletins, announcements, etc.).

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion:  This ministry is for fully initiated Catholics (those who have received Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist).  In the absence of the ordinary ministers (priest or deacon) they serve as ministers of communion distributing the Body and Blood of our Lord to those who come forward to receive Holy Communion.  The Extraordinary Minister of Communion must be invited by the priest and formally commissioned.

 

Bayou Awakening is a retreat for college age young adults (18-25), focusing on deepening your relationship with Christ.  There are several talks on topics like, "What is a Christian?" "Prayer," "Faith," "The Mystical Body of Christ."  There are opportunities for small group conversation, quiet prayer time, mass, and reconciliation.  Join us for a great weekend of spiritual renewal! For retreatant applications, see http://www.archgh.org/youngacm/awakening.htm The next Bayou Awakening Retreat is coming up on September 18th – 20th, at Camp Kappe in Plantersville, TX.  Applications are being received by mail at the Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry at 2403 E Holcombe Blvd Houston, TX 77021, by e-mail at agomez [at] archgh [dot] org  or call America Gomez at (713) 741 - 8778. 

MINISTRY TEAM & STAFF:
Fr. Dan Walsh, C.S.Sp. - Director dwalshcssp [at] yahoo [dot] com

Giovan Cuchapin - Campus Minister  fcuchapin [at] uh [dot] edu (fcuchapin [at] uh [dot] edu)

Dolores Perez - Office Manager  dperez7 [at] uh [dot] edu (dperez7 [at] uh [dot] edu )

Bryan Bilocura - Choir Director  bjbilocura [at] uh [dot] edu (bjbilocura [at] uh [dot] edu)

(Revised 08-21-09)