HuskerCatholic Newsletter 2020

STEPPING OUT

By Father Robert Matya, I remember praying, “Lord, You have been encouraged by his doctor to get
Pastor to show me what to do because I just more exercise. In a spirit of helping a
don’t know.” In relating my anxieties friend follow the doctor’s orders, she
When I was assigned to to a friend, he suggested that I read the asked him to walk through the slums
the Newman Center over book Dear Father by Catherine Doherty. of Toronto each day, particularly
twenty years ago, I was a down a street that Catherine and
young priest who was still very green. The book had a lot of good advice her companions had been trying to
To be honest, I was at a loss over for priests, but I was particularly evangelize for quite some time. The
where to begin this new apostolate. struck by one story within. Catherine people who lived there had been
visited her priest friend who had greatly influenced by communism

2020

Newsletter

and, despite their great efforts, the meet with me on a regular basis. Even studies in so many of the dormitory halls.
attempt to evangelize them had been after he graduated, I had the privilege I’ve recommitted to my walk because
largely unsuccessful. Father initially of preparing Joe and his fiancée for I want our students to have the
declined the invitation to walk, saying marriage and celebrating their nuptial opportunity to encounter Christ. Not
this wasn’t his “type” of ministerial Mass. Today he teaches on the east just the students that already know
work, but after a while agreed to walk coast but always gets
down the street each afternoon. in touch when he’s Him, but those who have never heard
visiting Lincoln. His name. (I kind of wish the reminder
At first, nothing seemed to happen hadn’t come in January, but it did.)
other than receiving a few scowls and Joe once shared with I’ll admit the Roman collar gives me an
comments behind his back. But he me how grateful advantage, but we can all be present
boldly persevered. he was for having to others, be kind to them, and pray
seen me walking that God’s grace will be given to them,
One day, a woman ran out of her house by the stadium that providing them with hope. God just
and begged Father to pray for her ill day, calling it “a might surprise you by giving you an
son. Over the coming days Father held moment that the opportunity to speak about His love.
her prayer request close, and upon Lord intervened. God Thank you for your continued support
running into her again handed her a knows I would’ve and encouragement of our apostolate
medal of Our Lady of La Salette. The never walked to the to the students which allows us to step
very next day, the woman emerged Newman Center to out and be seen! ■
from her house thanking him profusely schedule a meeting
for the healing of her son. It was then with you!” If it weren’t
that her neighbors’ hearts began to for that walk, the
soften. Slowly and surely, and quite friendship Joe and I
dramatically, many of them returned to share probably never
the Church. would have happened.

After reading this, I brought it up to the When things began to pick up around
friend who had suggested the book. the Newman Center, it became more
“Don’t you think it would be a good difficult for me to commit to my daily
idea for you to start walking through stroll and eventually I stopped doing
campus every day?” he asked. After it. But recently, God reminded me of
some prayer, I agreed that it couldn’t a truth that nudged me to pick up the
be a bad thing to try. practice again.

Just like in the story, nothing seemed to The truth was this: While we
happen at first. But it did not take long are living through challenging
before students began to recognize me times in the Church, the longing
and then approach me. I remember in every human heart stays
a football player asking me to bless consistent. This longing is for
his religious medal and many other God and He is ever-able to touch
students asking to talk with me. and move hearts.

One encounter was with a young man Because I know this truth, I have the
who approached me near the stadium. obligation to be seen and not hide. This
Joe introduced himself and asked if I is precisely why our FOCUS missionaries
had a moment to chat. We sat down on are out on campus every day, this is why
a nearby bench and had a wonderful we take the Eucharist around campus
conversation in which he asked to each November, this is why we hold Bible

By Payton Bergkamp, sophomore,
and Mollie Sundermeier

The book I’m Possible reveals the
heart of Jeremy Cowart, who went
from proclaiming himself a failure to
recognizing a God-given gift for giving back
to communities everywhere. In 2008, he
founded Help-Portrait: a global movement
of photographers, hairstylists, and makeup
artists using their time, tools, and expertise
to give back to those in need. Last spring,
Payton Bergkamp was given the book as a
gift. “Reading it, I felt like God was tugging
on my heart,” she remembered. Cowart’s
bold generosity stuck with her through her
move to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
as a transfer student last August.

Upon arriving at UNL, Bergkamp knew she
wanted to be involved in the Catholic student
community. She attended the Newman
Center’s fall retreat, where the development
staff presented an opportunity for students to
be awarded a grant through a new, privately-
sponsored fund. Students could apply with
their idea of any humanitarian project that
served a population in need. “I couldn’t
believe it!” Bergkamp said. “When I found out
that bringing Help-Portrait to Lincoln could be
fully funded, I knew I had to apply.” She was
awarded the grant in September.

Bergkamp spent the next few months creating
a project timeline, budgeting, advertising,
and ordering supplies. The first of the two-
day event arrived, and Bergkamp and others
set up at St. Gianna Women’s Home, a local
residence assisting women and their children

1. FIND SOMEONE IN NEED 2. TAKE THEIR PICTURE 3. PRINT THEIR PICTURE 4. GIVE THEM THEIR PICTURE

fleeing domestic violence. Throughout the evening, St. Gianna on the enthusiasm and kept it going! Several
was abuzz with photographers, beauty professionals, and the children had wild smiles and acrobatic poses
women, children, and Marian Sisters, who live in and run the home. for the camera.”

Sister Carol Hohmeier observed, “We saw a beautiful Families left with framed portraits ready to
transformation in the ladies who had their hair and makeup hang on their apartment walls. Bergkamp
done. What was beautiful on the outside was actually was elated to be able to provide the families
transferred on the inside and was displayed in joyous laughter, a happy memory in the midst of the deep
perky smiles, and confident strides. The children picked up healing process.

“Through providing these families a
beautiful photo of themselves, we are
recognizing their dignity and value.
The St. Gianna night went better than
I could’ve ever imagined,” Bergkamp
reflected.

A week later, the event was repeated in the
Newman Center’s basement. All afternoon,
the place was happy with smiles, camera
flashes, and cookies. “We invited everyone to
come, and they did! We hung posters in food
kitchens, employment agencies, social service
organizations, and on campus.” Still, Bergkamp
was amazed at the variety of individuals that
showed up. “We helped families from all
different faith backgrounds, a woman looking
to use the photo as an eventual obituary photo,
and a man in his first weeks of adjusting to life
outside of prison.”

In total, 769 photos were taken of 46
individuals with the aid of 62 students and
other contributors over two days. Upon leaving
the event, printed photo in hand, one middle-
aged woman exclaimed, “I haven’t had makeup

on since I was 19.” Another particularly
jolly man opened up about his past drug
addiction and said he had hardly laughed
in the past three years. “You guys made
my day… and month!”

Bergkamp would love to see Help-
Portrait Lincoln continue for many years.
“Lincoln is a big city with lots of people in
need and I learned that so many people
want to help! I hope that Help-Portrait
continues to make an impact on the
Lincoln community for years to come
and that photographers, hair stylists,
and makeup artists see this as an annual
opportunity to give back their talents. ■

Sharing Jesus
By Cassie Jorges, senior

I was manning the printer station at the St. Gianna night when one
little boy, about five years old, picked up a picture of the crucified
Jesus that was sitting next to the printer. I asked the boy if he knew
who was in the picture, to which he responded, “No!”

I proceeded to tell him, “Jesus died on the cross to save you from
your sins because He loves you and your family so much!” His eyes
lit up in amazement and he bounced off, photo in hand, announcing
to his mother and siblings what he had just learned.

My interaction with this little boy surprised me, as I’m usually not
so straightforward with telling the gospel story. I had experienced
the Holy Spirit prompting me to share simply and purely. And
moments later, the little boy did the same! We needn’t be “fancy”
when telling people about Jesus. It’s a moment I won’t forget!

Freshmen Fiesta
Newman Institute Students in St. Peter’s Basilica

Pro-Life Banquet Eucharistic Procession

First Mass of the School Year

Community Building Nightfever

Koinonia Retreat PKT Speaker Joe Ricketts

FOCUS Live!

New Aquinas Statue PKT Halloween Formal Backyard BBQ

Board Christmas Party Concert Reception

Admiring the Windows UNL FOCUS Missionaries Pi Alpha Chi Big/Little Reveal

THIRSTING
for more
From Atheist to Catholic

Mikayla receiving Confirmation, April 2019 By Mikayla Dorff, sophomore

My freshman year at UNL, I walked past
the Newman Center every day on my way
to class, and sometimes on my way to
fraternity parties. I was a hardcore atheist, adamant
against the existence of God since a negative
experience in my middle school years. And I couldn’t
believe there were so many students always going in
and coming out.

Only God knows what happened over the next year, but
it was then that I found myself walking into the Newman
Center for my first RCIA class. I think a huge piece of it
was the faithful influence of girls in my sorority, Gamma
Phi Beta. They made me curious enough to want to
find out what this whole “religion” thing was about.
Immediately, I was struck by the RCIA teachers—Father
Mills and Father Matya—who brought the faith alive.
Just seeing their passion and conviction would have
been enough to hook me.

But the Eucharist was what really drew me closer. After
a few weeks of RCIA, I had yet to step foot inside the
chapel—I was actually quite nervous about going in! But
when my sweet sorority sister Clare suggested that we
go in together, I succumbed. I watched her bow before
the monstrance, and my gaze rested on what I had
learned to be Jesus in the Eucharist.

I knew that it couldn’t just be bread, or I wouldn’t be
experiencing the intense love and devotion that I was.
From that moment, I knew that if Jesus is who He says
He is and the Catholic Church really has Him, I couldn’t
go anywhere else. I was home, and there was nowhere
I would rather have been than the Newman Center: my
own personal slice of heaven.

As the year progressed and I Through the people and beauty My heart swelled and I knew I had
became closer to entering the there, I began to find the truth and been led to the source of all love
Church, I attended FOCUS’s SEEK goodness I had been searching for and peace.
Conference. In adoration there, throughout my whole life. Someone
I felt the presence of the Father, was always available to answer the I thought that was the climax,
holding my hand and delighting in questions of a budding Christian, that my journey had ended. Little
my very presence. I was convicted which I am forever grateful for. did I know, it had just begun!
I had to live my life bringing souls Every day since April 20, 2019, I
to Jesus and striving to console His By the grace of God (and the help have continued to fall deeper and
Sacred Heart. of the priests and my new Newman deeper in love with our Lord, and
friends) I made it to the Easter Vigil. I feel more and more intensely
Coming back to campus, I For months leading up to that day, His passionate love. I am now
suddenly realized what a I had been thirsting to receive our discerning my vocation and am
hostile environment I was Lord’s Body. As I went through the not sure if I am called to marriage
in. Sin was being glorified all sacraments, getting baptized and or religious life, but know that no
around me, and I felt at odds confirmed, I couldn’t stop thinking matter what, the Newman Center
with the world. The only about the moment I would receive will always be my home. ■
thing that kept me going and Our Lord in the Eucharist. I went
striving towards heaven was up to the communion rail, knelt
the support I found at the down, and Father Mills placed the
Newman Center. Body of Jesus Christ on my tongue.

“Being in Rome Last October, eleven Newman
among all those amazing saints, I could feel them beckoning Institute pilgrims travelled to
me to join in their greatness or even surpass it. This was Rome to celebrate the canonization
particularly true when I visited the tombs of St. John Paul of Saint John Henry Newman.
II and St. Paul, but also with St. John Henry Newman. I was Learn more about the Institute at
able to see some of myself in Newman, relate to his desire
to teach and love on an individual level. Throughout my newmaninstitute.com.
college experience, I have seen the need for loving and
respecting the individual, and I can look to Newman as a
shining example.”

Maureen Winter, senior
Newman Institute Student

BIRTHPLAOCF HEOLY ZEAL

By Drew Hines, leaders, Newman board members, FOCUS The Hines Family
Assoc. Development Director Greek leaders and fraternity faith chairmen.
Now they are active in their parishes around
It’s a typical Sunday morning Mass Lincoln, serving on parish stewardship
experience. I’m trying to get our newborn committees and finance boards, heading up
to fall asleep, while my wife is attempting small faith groups, starting apostolates, and
to keep our toddler daughter from licking leading evangelization teams and marriage
the missalette, and our four-year-old wants preparation. There are priests, religious,
me to hold him so he can see the procession. FOCUS missionaries, marriages, and kids.
Challenging, yes, but it’s comforting that five So many kids.
other young families in proximity have similar
battles raging. It’s also comforting knowing And I am only seeing a snapshot of the impact. A blip. The amazing thing is
this isn’t the only battle we’re in together. that there have been so many world-changers before and there are thousands
We’re all trying to grow in holiness and raise yet to come. They will serve our Church in countless capacities not just in
our kids well in a not-so-Christian culture!
Lincoln, but around the globe.
My priorities and desire for holiness weren’t
something I always had, especially when I This holy zeal comes from an encounter with our Lord. By the grace of God,
first arrived at UNL. I came to college for a the Newman Center has been the means for so many to meet our Lord, to
classroom education but I got an education know that God has a plan for them, and to change the course of their lives.
I wasn’t expecting: coming to know Christ Please consider supporting the Newman Center and the students who will
and, with that, a new lens through which to soon be your fellow parishioners, your Church committee heads and tithers,
view the world. your evangelizers, and models for strong families! ■

In my six years post-graduation, I’ve witnessed “ Encountering Jesus at the Newman Center changed the
my college classmates I met through the entire trajectory of my life. I went from a following-the-Church
Newman Center have an incredible impact on teachings-that-suit-my-lifestyle-type-of-Catholic to someone who is
their communities, on their churches, and in a former full-time Catholic missionary, a nurse desiring to bring Jesus to
their families. It was while attending UNL that my patients, and a wife and mother striving for holiness. I owe it all to the
many became daily Mass-goers, Bible study grace I received during my time at the Newman Center.”

Megan McDermott, Newman Center Alumna

Give Opportunity
to the Next Generation

Philanthropic planning that benefits the Newman Center can fit your charitable giving
and estate plan. Let The Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska show you how.
Call 402.488.2142 to learn more.

3700 Sheridan Blvd, Ste. 9 | Lincoln, NE 68506 | www.catholicgift.org

GIVE

AND IT WILL BE GIVEN

By Holden Adams, junior

Holden, Marion, and Ariel, January 2020 SLS2020 held many memorable moments, including
participating in Mass with 8,000 others and
85 of our student leaders encountering so many priests and religious in one
got equipped for mission place, whose existence alone is striking! But I think the
at FOCUS’s SLS20 most memorable of all came completely unexpectedly,
Conference, where they outside of the conference center in Phoenix.
also rang in the new year.
My good friend Ariel and I went to seek someone
who could use some pizza, leftover from our lunch.
Outside on a bench, Marion gladly accepted our
lunch and thanked us again and again for thinking
of her. We promised to come back the next day,
this time bringing some gloves and a hat for her.
It was then that she opened up to us, saying that
she had recently been abused and felt “like dirt.” As
she spoke, a deep sadness came over me. “No one
should have to endure this,” I thought. We tried
to encourage her, and she replied, “I’ve never met
someone that really treated me like a person.”

In that encounter, God moved in my heart. It taught
me to acknowledge everyone around me and
understand that I don’t know what they’re going
through, but I should act out in love regardless.
God’s truth came alive for me: “Give, and it will be
given to you.” —Luke 6:38

NEWMAN CENTER STAFF

Father Robert Matya Patti Montgomery Drew Hines Mary Pat McBride

Pastor Controller & HR Manager Associate Development Director FOCUS Administrative Assistant
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Father Steve Mills Dr. John Freeh Mollie Sundermeier Peter Martin, Psy.D., LP

Associate Pastor Director of the Newman Institute for Associate Director of Licensed Psychologist
[email protected] Catholic Thought and Culture Annual Giving and Marketing Catholic Social Services
[email protected] [email protected]
Marlene Beyke [email protected]
Luke Miller Keri Timmerman, J.D.
University Director Kaleb Long, M.S., PLMHP
[email protected] FOCUS Team Director Senior Administrative Assistant
[email protected] to the Development Office Predoctoral Intern,
Jude Werner, CFRE Clinical Psychology
Robert Creal [email protected] Catholic Social Services
Director of Development
402-770-1509 Maintenance Supervisor Tessa Contreras Marcus Schneider
[email protected]
[email protected] Program Coordinator for the Newman Center Board President
Noah Miller Newman Institute [email protected]

Staff Accountant/Parish Secretary [email protected]
[email protected]

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SAVE THE DATE!
Newman Center Golf Tournament as part of our upcoming
May 17 & 18, 2020 Phone-A-Thon!
HuskerCatholic Live! Dinner
November 20, 2020 Your generosity during
Phone-A-Thon supports the
life-changing ministries and
programs for thousands of college
students. We ask you to prayerfully
consider a donation to help us

reach our $160,000 goal!