Campus Involvement: The Liturgy at Fordham

My favorite activities on campus that I am involved in are Fordham's masses, held in the University Church at Rose Hill. The masses are primarily student run, and make up one part of Fordham's large and diverse Campus Ministry. Currently, I am an Altar Co-Chair on Fordham's Liturgy Board. This role gives me the opportunity to help run the masses at Fordham, train new campus ministers, and get involved with the many other interfaith and community service-based activities Fordham's Campus

Ministry has to offer. I have been involved with Fordham's liturgy since my freshman year, and it has been a very unique and rewarding campus experience for me.

Fordham's Liturgy celebrations are held in
the University Church on the Rose Hill campus

Fordham's liturgy offers masses every Saturday and Sunday, but some of the most exciting liturgy events are special masses that occur at different times during the semesters.  One exciting mass on Fordham's campus is the Mass of the Holy Spirit that occurs every September. This mass reminds students of Fordham's Jesuit values of education and service to others as the fall semester begins. Another one of the most popular liturgy events at Fordham's Rose Hill campus is the Gaudete Sunday mass to celebrate the holiday season. The mass is presided by the University's president, and is a great opportunity for Fordham students to gather together as a community near the end of the fall semester.

Although Fordham's liturgy is Catholic, students of all different faiths and beliefs enjoy attending the masses on campus. Since most Sunday masses and special masses are led by Jesuit priests and scholars, Fordham's liturgy has a very academic and practical tone that applies to students of all backgrounds. The inclusive environment of Fordham's liturgy is my favorite part about the masses on campus. The liturgy at Fordham welcomes and accepts every type of student, which makes mass at Fordham an event for all interested students to become involved in. 

A great outdoor view of the
University Church

The masses and liturgy at Fordham are only one part of Fordham's rich and diverse Campus Ministry! For more information about the liturgy as well as the wide variety of service projects, retreats, interfaith ministries, and other Campus Ministry opportunities, follow the link below!

http://www.fordham.edu/info/20094/campus_ministry

One of Fordham's Best Kept "Secrets"

One of the best-kept secrets at Fordham is the Saturday night mass in Keating Blue Chapel. I say “secret” because it is a small, intimate mass that generally only about twenty or so members of the Fordham community attend. Since Sunday masses are so popular and lively most of the community will begin their week/end their weekend by attending the 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM, or 8:00 PM masses on Sundays.

This is a photo taken from the back of Keating Blue Chapel. You can see it is beautiful, little chapel. 

However, Saturday night mass is offered at 5:30 in Keating Blue Chapel for people who are unable to attend mass on Sundays due to their busy schedules. The Blue Chapel is on the third floor of Keating and it is a small, beautifully decorated chapel in which I find myself able to reflect deeply on my Jesuit values. The chapel seats about 20 people, but recently I have noticed more and more members of the campus community attending. I enjoy celebrating mass in this smaller setting and was glad when my friend and I came across this mass time last year when we were unable to attend mass one Sunday.  If you like attending mass on the weekends, but find Sundays too hectic you should definitely try going to Saturday night mass!  

Holiday Season: Campus Ministry Edition

Campus Ministry is always planning something, and that especially holds true now that the holidays are coming up!  Over the past month there has been a Thanksgiving Food Drive collecting all nonperishable, canned, and baby foods as well as monetary donations.  The drop-off locations included the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses, making it convenient for all Fordham students to participate.  Countless donations were collected to help provide for our neighbors and friends in need this holiday season.

Keating Hall in the snow

Now that Advent is around the corner, kicking off right after we return from Thanksgiving break, those programs are getting planned as well.  On December 3rd at 8pm there will be a Praise and Worship Advent Special, and the following night at 5:15pm there will be an Advent Reconciliation Service.  For students interested in retreats, there will be an Advent Mini-Retreat on December 7th from 10am-2:30pm.  This will be followed by a Fordham favorite, Lessons and Carols at 3pm in the University Church.  (The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.)  Also, the annual Campus Ministry Holiday Party will take place on December 10th at 5:30pm in the Ignatius Room.

University Church decorated for Christmas

Starting tomorrow, November 24th, there will be Holiday Coat and Toy Drives through December 17th.  They will be accepting donations of clean and gently used coats, gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, and boots in good condition.  The three campuses will also be collecting new unwrapped toys appropriate for children ages newborn to teenager, and each campus will be donating to a different cause.  Toys collected at Rose Hill will be distributed by Fordham Big Brothers and Big Sisters to our local community partners.  Donations from Lincoln Center will benefit Hour Children, and those from Westchester will be given to the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center.  There are endless ways to get involved and help out during the holidays at Fordham!

Nativity Scene by the entrance to campus

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Every December, many members of the Fordham community attend the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols as part of their unofficial start to the Christmas season. Taking place one weekend each year with performances at St. Paul's Church (across the street from Fordham's Lincoln Center campus) on Saturday and in the University Church on Sunday, this event kicks off the Christmas season with music and reflection.

University Church on Sunday, December 8th for this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols

People filled the pews and stood in the aisles of the beautifully decorated University Church to experience this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols. Fordham's University Choir and Women's Choir each perform a multitude of songs, impressing attendees with their beautiful renditions of traditional holiday carols and other musical pieces. Readings and reflections allowed the community to embrace the spirit of the season.

It was a wonderful way to start the Christmas season at Fordham!