Each Sunday
evening, students and staff gather in the Chapel of Mercy to celebrate
God's greatest gift to His church, the Eucharist. Many say that
it's the best hour of the week. Coming together for Mass wraps
up the Mount Mercy weekend. At the same time, our worship announces
a new week with new challenges just ahead. Eucharist brings us
together in community so that we can say thanks to God, listen
to His word, open ourselves to the gift of love and forgiveness
and receive the body and blood of the risen Lord.
Of course,
celebrating well means that lots of people are involved. Mass
at Mount Mercy is a community event, At the beginning of the first
semester, students are asked to sign up for the different liturgical
ministries that serv each Sunday evening. These include lectors,
Eucharistic ministers, greeters and musicians. Being a liturgical
minister is a great way to share the gifts that God has given
to us
and at the same time a way to participate more fully in the Mass
than ever before.
After Mass,
the celebration continues with a social gathering in the Campus
Ministry lobby. There is always food and pop to keep the socializing
going.
Antioch
Our relationship with God changes when we come to college, too.
In fact, many say that it's during this time that we truly recognize
how important God and Church really are. That's what Antioch is
all about -- recognizing that God is inviting us to share in a
community of faith.
Antioch is
a three-day retreat sponsored by Campus Ministry during the first
semester of each year. During these days, students are invited
to leave campus as a group and spend time with each other and
with God. People come home from Antioch changed, alive in God's
love as never before.
One of the
best parts of Antioch involves the people who work so hard to
ensure its success. There are talks to prepare, meals to plot
out and lots and lots of prayers to be said.
Antioch is
a testimony to how God works in our lives. God comes to us in
community. Antioch tunes us in to this truth, it helps us see
God at work in this place and Antioch gives us the strength to
seek out His will together.
The
Sisters of Mercy
Sometimes the best things in life aren’t the most visible
or obvious. That’s how it is at Mount Mercy with the Sisters
who live here. You have to look to find them, yet their presence
here makes a huge impact on the identity of our college.
Much of this
has to do with prayer. Each day the Sisters begin and end their
day offering prayers to God. Just think, for nearly 100 years
a group of women religious have been praying in this exact spot.
No wonder Mount Mercy College feels holy. It is a great thing
to know that each day these holy women are praying to God on our
behalf.
Throughout
your time at Mount Mercy you will no doubt come into contact with
the Sisters. When you do, introduce yourself and make a special
effort to get to know them. You won’t regret it!
