Made with FlowPaper - Flipbook Maker
STM The Magazine of The Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University Fall 2024STM MAGAZINE FALL 2024 268 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06511-4714 Phone: 203-777-5537 Fax: 203-777-0144 stmchapel@yale.edu Follow us online: stm.yale.edu From the Editor: In this edition of STM Magazine, we celebrate the universal Church, highlighting the beauty of diversity within faith. A student shares how multicultural ministries enrich faith by bridging cultural identity and spirituality, while another refl ects on fi nding deep connection to heritage and devotion at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Together these stories inspire us to embrace the richness of the global Church and the unity it fosters among all its members. Happy reading! Robin About the Cover: The cover features Alex Monteagudo '26 with his grandmother during his fi rst visit to his family’s home in Mexico. In the days leading up to his planned pilgrimage with the Saint Thomas More community, Alex reconnected with relatives in Toluca and Michoacán, meeting many of them for the fi rst time. Mission Statement Saint Thomas More, The Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale: Helping Catholics serve God and humanity locally and globally. Cover photograph courtesy of Alex Monteagudo STAY CONNECTED! Follow us online at stm.yale.edu and readwatchlisten RUNNING ON STM The Magazine of The Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University Fall 2024Design: Cadwell Art Direction Primary Photography: Nina Filippone STM Magazine Editor: Robin McShane is the Director of Communications at STM. Associate Editor: Julia ChinPh.D. '27 is a fourth-year studying English language and literature and is co-chair of STM’s Graduate Council. STM magazine is published twice a year for our alums, parents, and friends. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the entire STM community. p 3 An Evening of Gratitude p 9 Faith In Color p 17 A Pilgrim's Reflection p 23 Brother Sun, Sister Moon In This Issue 1 FROM THE 5 LISTENING WITH 11 MEET THE CHAPLAINTHE EAR OFNEW FACES OF STM YOUR HEART 13 DONOR 25 WITNESS TO RECOGNITIONGLOBAL SERVICE Features 19 FROM THE ARCHIVES 7 POP! CULTURE 21 THREE QUESTIONS 27 OPEN BOOKDear Friends, As we prepare for the coming of Christ anew into our hearts and into our world, we take up the ancient cry, “O Come Emmanuel,” preparing to welcome the One who is “God with us.” In his recent Apostolic Letter “Dilexit Nos” (“He loved us”), our Holy Father Pope Francis, says that “whenever a person thinks, questions and refl ects on his or her true identity, strives to understand the deeper questions of life and to seek God, or experiences the thrill of catching a glimpse of truth, it leads to the realization that our fulfi lment as human beings is found in love. In loving, we sense that we come to know the purpose and goal of our existence in this world.” In these pages you will meet several of our students, who have come from all over the world seeking lux et veritas, light and truth. While here at Yale — and especially at Saint Thomas More, they think critically and seek answers to those life-changing, life-shaping questions about God, and who they are in relationship to God and neighbor. In this issue you will read about the rich diversity of our community refl ective of the universal Church, go on pilgrimage to Mexico, and learn about a student’s internship with the Holy See at the United Nations. You’ll also get to meet and hear from our newest staff members, who provide leadership and accompaniment for our students. In these ways and so many more, we are all called to experience and bear witness to love, Emmanuel, “God with us,” here at Yale and in the world, at this time in her history. As we prepare for the coming of Christ, let us remember that through putting our faith in action, through love and service, we bear witness to our faith and refl ect the light of Christ to others. Thank you for your continued support of STM, and may you and your loved ones have a peaceful Advent season, a merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year. 1. FROM THE Chaplain’s Desk Fr. Ryan M. Lerner Chaplain Photograph by Robin J. McShane “Being an acolyte at STM has strengthened my faith by allowing me to connect more deeply with God during the Mass. On the altar, I feel God's presence surround me. I love being so close to Jesus and experiencing the wonder and mystery of transubstantiation. Throughout my childhood, I served as an acolyte in my home parish, and I am so blessed to be able to continue to serve Christ through this liturgical ministry.” I am STM – April PruItt Ph.D. '25Students enjoy studying and practicing in the STM garden when it's warm outside.3. n early October, I had the pleasure of attending the Saint Thomas More Medal Dinner in honor of Professor Paul Kennedy, STM trustee, co-founder of the STM Soup Kitchen, and a longtime member of the STM worshipping community. Paul Kennedy is the J. Richardson Dilworth Professor of History at Yale and as such has been my mentor and colleague for the past few years. Though I have seen him give many presentations and receive numerous academic honors, it was only at STM’s Medal Dinner that I finally witnessed the fullness of Paul Kennedy’s vision and impact on others. This realization came to me not out of previous unfamiliarity with Professor Kennedy’s character, but rather out of a revelation that night of just how well he has cultivated the strength of the institutions around him. Indeed, the evening felt like an awards dinner with two equally honored guests: Paul Kennedy and the STM Soup Kitchen. An Evening of Gratitude: Paul Kennedy and the Power of Community Gabriel Mesa '23 Ph.D. '29 WHAT MAKES PROFESSOR KENNEDY SPECIAL IS PRECISELY HIS ABILITY AND DESIRE TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS. " “ – Gabriel Mesa '23 Ph.D. '294. When I fi rst entered the courtyard of the Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Center, it had become unfamiliar in its brilliance. By no small eff ort was it transformed and elevated, complete with decorations, live music, and tables topped with wine and charcuterie. I arrived a bit early, which allowed me to dive deeply into conversation with some of the newer leadership at STM. I had the pleasure of speaking to Assistant Chaplains Pauline Little and Sister Mary Rose Irvine about what brought them to STM this year, and soon saw more familiar faces enter the room. I was glad to catch up with Assistant Chaplains David Rivera and Allan Esteron, who had been incredibly helpful in my conversion journey last year. Then, aft er getting absorbed into a stimulating conversation about the role of tradition in academia with Pauline’s husband, Brent, I looked up to see the room completely full of life, containing myriad overlapping connections and conversations that mirrored my own. As we were called into the dining hall, I noticed Professor Kennedy sitting on the other side of the room, jovially recounting a story. I realized then that his mirth and spirit had already fi lled the Golden Center long before he was to speak. Aft er Professor Kennedy had accepted the medal, he assumed the podium and began to praise the STM community, and in particular the Soup Kitchen. Never one for platitudes—unless one counts the occasional slip of a Bismarckian aphorism— Professor Kennedy delved immediately into the great work that had been done since the founding of the Soup Kitchen. It was only natural that he shared a story about that very founding. Having observed much of his teaching style, I recognized this as one of his didactic digressions, complete with characteristic humor and more than a few lessons to be learned. But one aspect of the story made everything click: Professor Kennedy’s fi rst experience with the Soup Kitchen was greeting people at the door. What makes Professor Kennedy special is precisely his ability and desire to connect with others. This is perhaps best exemplifi ed by the fact that he still serves to greet people at the Soup Kitchen and always remembers their names. But what is more impressive is that Professor Kennedy never has a surface-level conversation. He takes care to learn about people’s families, interests, and life challenges within minutes of meeting them. In this, I am reminded of something Pope Francis said in his Christmas homily last year: “Christ does not look at numbers but at faces.” Professor Kennedy exemplifi es this attitude in his everyday life. Those familiar with his arguments about productive capacity being deterministic in international confl ict may fi nd irony in this characterization, but it could not be more true. It is this quality that I fi nd most admirable about my mentor, and it is one that I know has ripple eff ects throughout the STM community because I have seen them. n Gabriel Mesa '23 Ph.D. '29 is a second-year studying history.Listening With the Ear of Your Heart: A Refl ection on Fall Retreat Kaylin Mahal Smith ′25 5. he crisp, autumn air whispered through the trees, painting the retreat center in shades of crimson and gold. At Sacred Heart on the Lake, I felt as if I’d entered a sanctuary of peace—a place where the beauty of creation invited me to listen more deeply, not just with my ears, but with my heart. Nestled in Higganum, CT, Sacred Heart on the Lake is a ministry of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose mission is to make Christ’s compassionate heart more fully known, loved, and served. Their aim is, in their words, to “put a human face to Divine Love.” The center was a picture of tranquility with a beautiful forest, calming lake waters, and a cozy retreat cabin. It was the perfect space to unwind, disconnect from the demands of college life, and focus on my relationship with God through fellowship and prayer. Each STM retreat is guided by a theme, and this year’s was "Listening With the Ear of Your Heart," inspired by the prologue of The Rule of St. Benedict: “Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.” Throughout the day, we explored what it means to “listen with the ear of your heart,” using diff erent activities to help us discover our personal answers. “We pray not only by speaking to God but by listening with a heart ready to receive.” Photograph upper left courtesy of the Apostles of Sacred Heart of Jesus6. In our morning session, we were introduced to eco divina, a prayer practice that invites us to engage with God in nature by using our senses to encounter Him in creation. Though I had previously practiced lectio divina and visio divina, eco divina was new to me, and I was excited to try it. After discussing the practice as a group, we were given time to walk outside in quiet reflection to experience this prayer method firsthand. I chose to walk along the lakeside path, allowing the sights and sounds of nature to guide my meditation and contemplation. As I walked, I was reminded of a similar moment from my first retreat with STM, when we had a silent reflection activity guided by prompts. One question asked, “When do you feel closest to God?” At that time, as a first-year, I knew right away that I felt closest to God in nature— a feeling that remains true today. I connected wholeheartedly with eco divina because nature has always brought me a sense of peace and rest. Nature, as God’s creation, reflects His intentional design and presence, reminding me of His closeness. Jesus often prayed in nature. Scripture tells us that He withdrew to the wilderness (Luke 5:16), climbed mountains (Mark 6:46; Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12), and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Crucifixion (Matthew 26:36). By spending time in nature, we follow Jesus’s example of retreating from our busy lives to seek God’s presence in the world around us. Reflecting on the retreat theme, I now understand “listening with the ear of your heart” as praying constantly and staying open to God’s presence wherever we are. We pray not only by speaking to God but by listening with a heart ready to receive. As St. Paul encourages us, we can “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), making our lives a continuous prayer. Being in nature is just one of many ways we can do this; by turning ordinary moments into prayers, we invite God’s presence into every aspect of our lives. n Kaylin Mahal Smith '25 is a senior in Timothy Dwight College and a member of STM’s Asian Ministry. Photographs courtesy of Nora HeimannNext >