Greetings, fellow Newmanites! The following are the announcements from the Newman Centre and the Newman Catholic Students’ Society for the upcoming week.
— Michael
“Wisdom & Transcendence in the Modern University”: Lecture with Fr. Philippe Capelle-Dumont
Thursday, October 1st (5:00pm)
The Newman Centre at McGill kicks off its series of annual lectures with a talk by Fr. Philippe Capelle-Dumont, a distinguished French scholar serving as a key Vatican consultant on higher education.
Elaborating on a theme of John Henry Newman, the great 19th-century intellectual and English convert to Catholicism, Fr. Capelle-Dumont will argue that wisdom and transcendence are essential components of higher education, even within secular colleges and universities! Whether you are studying in the humanities or in the sciences, Fr. Capelle-Dumont will have something for you to chew on.
Join us on Thursday, October 1st at 5:00 p.m. at the Newman Centre, with a reception to follow. Free event. Visit the Newman Centre’s website for more details.
YOUCAT on Tap: “Why should I go to Mass on Sunday?”
Friday, October 2nd (5:00-7:00pm)
Imagine that midterm season has already hit, and papers and exams are beginning to overwhelm you, and you are in the library at 4:55pm on a Sunday afternoon, and all of a sudden you remember “ooh, it’s almost time for Mass.” A part of you feels like you should probably go to Mass but you are not sure why. It would definitely be more convenient to keep studying. Then maybe you say to yourself, “Well, I need a study break anyways so I may as well go to Mass…although, I could also go for dinner, or go for a jog, or take a nap…” The real question here is why do we even need to go to Mass on Sunday anyways? Does it really matter? Why is it important?
Join us for our next YOUCAT on Tap on Friday, October 2nd, as we explore what the Mass is really all about and answer the question “Why should we bother to go every Sunday?” Beer and pizza service begins at 5:00pm while our topic discussion begins at 5:30pm. All are welcome!
Weekly Social Activity: Laser Tag!
Friday, October 2nd (7:00pm)
Come join us at our next social activity – laser tag! We will be going to Laser Quest on Friday, October 2nd to take part in some heart-pumping, action-filled games, so bring your energy and enthusiasm! The price is $15 per person and includes two games of laser tag as well as some hanging out in the party room afterwards. We will be meeting at 7:00pm at the Newman Centre. We will then walk down to Laser Quest, arriving by 7:30pm.
Please RSVP on the Facebook event page by Wednesday, September 30th. We need to let Laser Quest know how many people will be attending by then. Hope to see you there!
Saturday Night Supper – Rise Up Fundraiser
Saturday, October 3rd (6:00pm)
The Newman Catholic Students’ Society has a longstanding tradition of hosting a supper every Saturday night, prepared by members of the Newman community. For only $5, you get a full meal, including dessert.
This week’s Saturday Night Supper is special: all proceeds are going to a group of Newman students to help cover the costs of attending the Rise Up National Catholic Youth Conference in December. It will be on Saturday, October 3rd at 6:00pm as usual, though please note that you will not be able to redeem your free membership SNS on this date. Please come join us and share a great meal and great conversation!
If you’re interested in signing up to help prepare a meal, please contact our VP Saturday Night Suppers, Josephina Lee, at .
World Youth Day 2016 Poland Information Session
Sunday, October 4th (6:15pm)
Pope Francis has invited all the youth of the world to join him in Poland next summer (July 2016) to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD). The international WYD is a powerful experience of the universality of the Catholic Church. Millions of young people (yes, I said millions!) from all corners of the world gather for two weeks of intercultural exchange and celebration of our common faith in Jesus Christ.
The Newman Centre is in the process of organizing a group of students to travel together to Poland to participate in this pilgrimage of a lifetime. If you would like to learn more about what WYD is about, and what is involved in joining the Newman Centre WYD group, then please join us for a short information session after Mass on Sunday, October 4th at 6:15pm.
Newman Bible Study on Mercy
Wednesday, October 7th (7:00pm)
Join us for the next Newman Bible Study, exploring God’s mercy throughout the Bible. Come to our second session on Wednesday, October 7th at 7:00pm—led by Samuel Farrugia and Julian Paparella, and continuing biweekly. See you there!
Council Meetings
Thursday, October 8th (7:00pm)
Make your voice heard! Did you know that every member of the NCSS is also a member of Council, the Society’s legislative body? Tell the executive about your new event idea at our next Council meeting on Thursday, September 24th at 7:00pm, continuing biweekly.
Soup and Bagel Lunch Program
Weekdays (12:30-2:00pm)
Every weekday, from 12:30-2:00pm, enjoy all-you-can-eat hot soup and Montreal bagels in the Newman Centre’s Bagelounge for the low price of $3.50, courtesy of our administrative coordinator, Linda Diez.
Thanksgiving Clothing Drive
September 13th-October 13th
It’s the start of another school year, moving, unpacking from summer, finding space for all your things… maybe it’s time you sorted through your clothes and gave some of that old stuff away. But where to?
Well, we might be able to help you in that department! From September 13th until October 13th, the Newman Catholic Students’ Society will be hosting a Thanksgiving clothing drive. Please drop off any clothing you wish to donate in the Bagelounge, next to the downstairs entrance to the Newman Centre. Everything collected will be donated to Benedict Labre House, a day center for the homeless in Montreal.
“Called to Love” – The Canadian Catholic Students Association (CCSA) Central Region Conference
October 23rd-25th
All Catholic post-secondary students are invited to the University of Toronto Newman Centre for the 2015 Canadian Catholic Students Association Regional Conference. Throughout the course of the weekend, there will be opportunities for prayer, worship, talks, workshops, networking with other students, sightseeing, and more!
Our theme is formed around the Synod on Marriage and Family that will be concluding the same weekend as the conference. Keynotes and workshops will aim to give us a better understanding of many of the topics covered during the Synod, and will be given by accomplished speakers from Regis College, St. Augustine’s Seminary and even beyond the Archdiocese! Participants can expect to depart from the weekend having met many other amazing students, being strengthened in their faith, and gaining a deeper understanding of the vocation to marriage and family life, as well as other vocations in the Church and how they spring from authentic and strong family life.
The registration deadline is Friday, October 9, 2015. While everyone is welcome to attend, the NCSS has pledged to sponsor one student to attend and represent the McGill Newman Centre at this conference. If you are interested, please contact our campus minister, Terrel Joseph, at .
Faith Studies
Do you have questions about your faith? Are you looking to make God more relevant in your life? Would it be helpful to have useful tools with which to present the Gospel message clearly and simply in any situation? Faith studies are small groups of students, led by a trained student guide, that meet once a week over the course of six weeks during the semester to learn about the Catholic faith using specially prepared study guides from Catholic Christian Outreach.
If you are interested in participating, please sign up using one of the sign-up sheets at the Newman Centre or by emailing our VP Spiritual, Katerina Leung, at .
Become a Newman Catholic Students’ Society Member
Membership in the Society is open to everyone and comes with the following benefits:
- one free Saturday Night Supper (normally $5),
- right to attend Council meetings,
- right to vote in Society elections (if you are a SSMU or PGSS member), and
- a snazzy red membership card!
Memberships cost $2 and can be purchased from our VP Finance, Tim Vuksic, at .
Parking at Newman
Parking spaces are reserved for staff, all others by permission only. Fees apply. See a member of staff before parking. Unidentified vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Mass Schedule
The Newman Centre has Mass every Sunday at 5:00pm. Weekday Masses are held from Tuesday to Friday at 4:00pm, with Eucharistic Adoration from 4:30-5:30pm. Confessions are heard before all Masses.
Centre Hours
The Newman Centre is open weekdays from 10:00am-5:00pm (extended hours on some days) and on weekends during scheduled events such as Mass.
