HuskerCatholic Newsletter 2019

T O U C H ofG R A C E
we left the camp so excited to that we are now reaching about
By Father Robert Matya, return to our campuses. Fast 40-50% of the Catholic students
Pastor forward 20 years. There were at UNL in some way, this is at the
over 17,000 participants at same time very unsettling to me.
The year of our Lord this year’s conference! I know The Newman Center is an
2019 started off with I’m biased, but this is the best apostolate working to share the
a bang as we travelled story of evangelization that message of the gospel with college
by bus to the FOCUS SEEK is happening in the Catholic students, and we jokingly say
Conference in Indianapolis. Church in America right now. over and over again that we are in
During one evening of the And yet, there is so much more sales. As my good friend Curtis
conference, I was able to spend work to be done. Martin, the founder of FOCUS,
some time with the founders said to me when I met him, “We
and first missionaries who College is a time when so many have to earn the right to be heard.”
started FOCUS 20 years ago. It of our young Catholics fall away We assume nothing and believe
was such a blessing to reflect on from the practice of the faith. The that we must walk with students
the incredible amount of grace most alarming national statistic where they are when we meet
that God has bestowed on this is that 80% of Catholic college them to develop a relationship
work. I remember well the first students stop participating in of trust. Then, when the time is
national gathering of FOCUS I Mass after they have left home for
attended in Kansas City, Kansas. school. And while I am pleased
There were 100 participants and

2019

Newsletter

husker

right, we can share the message of saying, “I believe. I really believe missionaries next year. When these
the gospel with them. We call this now.” It is God’s grace that has students came to UNL, not one of
work incarnational evangelization, touched her soul. I never tire of them planned on being a missionary
which simply means that we walk witnessing and being a part of these after college. But God’s grace has
with them first and are present to experiences. touched their hearts and they are
them as a friend. Only then do we Will her life be different as a now convicted that God is calling
share the gospel with them. And result of this experience? Of them to serve him in this way after
we have seen over and over again course it will. She has come they graduate. As their chaplain, I
how God blesses this work. to believe in the eternal am edified and a bit overwhelmed
Yesterday, I met with a young promises that our Lord has at their generous response to God’s
woman who has been coming to offered to her. invitation. And I think about the
the Newman Center. She described And her life will look much different college students whose lives will
her experience, “I stopped paying if she perseveres in the life of grace be different because they have said
attention in church at about the age she has found. She will have hope ‘yes’ to this call.
of seven. And later when a friend of and joy no matter what lies ahead. I am so incredibly blessed that God
mine was suffering, I just couldn’t It was so great to see her smile from has called me to be a priest who
believe in a loving God anymore.” ear to ear as she rejoiced in the way gets to see such remarkable things
Last year, a friend invited her to that God has touched her heart. happen in this apostolate.
go to Mass. She went and kept I got to be witness to the work of While we marvel at mass
going after that. These past four incarnational evangelization. conversions that have
months, she has been coming to the Our FOCUS team director, Luke, happened in the Church’s
Newman Center for instruction. told me recently that 12 UNL history through numerous
And yesterday she wept in my students have been offered and holy men and women, we also
office for a long time, repeatedly accepted positions with FOCUS as realize that most of the time
God touches hearts through
this work of incarnational
evangelization one soul at a
time.

I cannot thank you enough for
supporting us in this work. I am
blessed to get to see God’s grace
working in the lives of our students,
but also realize this all happens as a
result of your generosity. Your love
for Jesus and His Church is making
a difference. I promise you that this
is true. ■

Hannes Zetzsche receives Confirmation, March 2018

catholic

HuskerCatholic: Gifting a Legacy

By Jude M. Werner, CFRE, opportunity within the beautiful our paramount gift to future
Director of Development St. Thomas Aquinas Church, we are generations. Yet, left without a
investing now in a spiritual home place to be inspired, nurtured
The eternal reward of God’s for generations we may never meet. and strengthened during the
beatific vision makes for a truly This does not replace our regular, pivotal college years, that gift of
splendid reflection. monthly support of the Newman Faith may not take root.
Center—that remains critical. We
Yet, apart from the saints, few people give today because Stephanie and Thus, including the Newman Center
enjoy pondering their own death. I benefit from the Newman Center, – St. Thomas Aquinas Church in our
The thought of leaving our loved and in a few short years, the faith legacy planning is an essential part
ones behind, coupled with concerns of our children will be enriched and of gifting our Catholic Faith.
for their spiritual and material strengthened by its mission as well.
wellbeing, are valid and merit both Two generations are touched and To learn more about leaving your
consideration and preparation. our regular financial support, in a HuskerCatholic legacy, contact Chris
small way, helps to make it possible. Raun at the Catholic Foundation of
Like most of you, Stephanie and I Southern Nebraska. ■
have had those difficult discussions
and periodically review our plans— Perhaps more importantly though,
not out of enjoyment, but necessity. our legacy gift to the Newman
The one part of our discussion that Center will impact our
does elicit joy and feelings of pride grandchildren, great
is considering the legacy of our grandchildren and
Catholic Faith, which we are gifting those that follow.
to future generations. It’s not “will An unknown
give” but a daily action—today— lineage of ours
through prayer and teaching, family will be enriched
traditions, and sacrificially investing by the modest
in their spiritual home-away-from- sacrifices we
home. make today.

Through the combination of life The inheritance
insurance and a family legacy of their Catholic
Faith will be

The Werner Family

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

husker

Bible Basics Class, September 2018 Newman Institute Lecture, November 2018 Pipe Rolling, September 2018

Homecoming, September 2018

CONGRATULATIONS, LORI! Phi Kappa Theta Philanthropy, Septemb

After 45 years as our parish secretary, Lori treated the office to an
we wish you a very happy retirement, accordian concert on one
Lori! Thank you for everything you’ve of her last days of work!

done for us.We will miss you! Consecration to Jesus through Mary Mass and Ceremony, December 2018
–Your Newman Center Family

Easter Vigil, March 2018
Winter Formal, December 2018

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Pi Alpha Chi Sorority, November 2018

ber 2018 Walk for Life, January 2019 Organ Dedication, October 2018
Koinonia Retreat, November 2018 NewmOlympics, March 2018

Our FOCUS Team 2018-19 UNL at SEEK, January 2019

husker

ONE

SOLDIER

“THEREFORE TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD,
THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL
DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND FIRM.” EPH 6:13

NAME My faith, maturity, my life, to serve Him, and to be a
values and priorities, soldier for Him.
Bryan Keating, senior and relationship with I could write an entire book on
God have drastically changed all the incredible ways that God
HOMETOWN over the past couple years has allowed me to encounter Him
as I slowly let God and the within Newman, but an incredible
Omaha, NE Newman Center become a and humbling fact about the
part of my identity. Newman Center is I am only one
ACADEMICS & UNIVERSITY I’ve come to realize saying “yes” soldier among an army, and there
INVOLVEMENT to being a FOCUS missionary are far better fighters than I.
next year was the first big “yes” I I’d like to share how Newman
Studies include Pre- have said to God. It is a decision is transforming all of our lives
Med, Biological-Systems that has felt and appeared to really and is changing the world. This
Engineering and align my will with His for the first transformation starts with a
Biochemistry time in my life. The graces He has question, is sustained by an
Member of Sigma Phi sent me hereafter, I believe as a opportunity, and is shared and
Epsilon Fraternity & Mortar testament to this alignment, have spread by the community at
Board Honor Society been remarkable and undeserving. Newman.
Senator for UNL’s College Truly, all the glory and praise goes Fear is contagious, but so is Hope.
of Engineering to Him. Living in a culture riddled with
He has instilled in me an incredible
NEWMAN CENTER desire to make Him the center of
INVOLVEMENT

FOCUS Greek VP
Bible study leader
Altar server
Choral Department Pianist

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hate, despair, and fear, it took but Newman provides this by offering
one interaction with the community daily Masses, daily Sacraments, and
at Newman before I began to ask nearly all-day Adoration. Although
myself two questions, “Why is this so encouraged and guided by the priests
attractive?” and “What do these people and FOCUS Missionaries, it was my
have that I do not?”. time spent at Mass, in Adoration,
My friend Joe helped me realize the and through the Sacraments that led
answer to the first question. I distinctly me to encounter Jesus for the first
remember sitting in Rosary Hall after time in my life. I learned what prayer
the Eucharistic Procession when Joe could and should be, what it feels like
turned to me and said, “Bryan, stop to have a genuine, vulnerable, and
and look around for a minute. Literally authentic relationship with God, and
every single person looks happy. what surrendering and aligning your
There is so much joy here.” I’m not will with His truly means.
typically a very outwardly emotional The community at Newman is
person, but as I started to look around constantly sharing and spreading
I was moved to tears. Not only was he this joy and love to others, and, in
right, but you should know this was doing so, providing the world
the middle of a busy, stressful, and with hope. Fr. Matya and Fr.
rainy week… yet, despite the cold Mills are saving lives every
and rain, so many people joined the day. They understand what
Eucharistic Procession that we couldn’t we need, how to relate to us,
fit everyone into the chapel. The and they’re in tune with the Holy
presence and power of joy and love in Spirit, who guides them to
that room was indescribable; it was as the depths of our hearts every
if I could tangibly sense the Holy Spirit single day at Mass and in the
saturating the room. Sacraments. I’ve never seen
The answer to the second question, so many people’s hearts
“What do these people have that continually set on fire.
I don’t?” is the second, yet most This community has
critical, part of my transformation: shown me what it
the opportunity to encounter Jesus. looks like to run at
Perhaps the most important thing God with everything
Newman provides is the abundance of you have, and what it
opportunities to encounter Jesus. really means to strive for
It only takes one encounter, one sainthood.
opportunity for Jesus to open These opportunities and
your heart, to change your life resources the Newman
forever. Center has provided me and
countless others have changed
my heart and life forever.

husker

Newman Winter Formal, December 2018 It’s an investment that is going to make
My time spent at the Newman Center is an every single interaction with these people
investment in every minute, every day, and every more loving, more kind, more caring, more
single interaction I will have, not only in my current forgiving, more hopeful, and more God-
relationships with my parents, siblings, and friends, centered.
but also in my future relationships with my wife, Every interaction I have today is an opportunity for
kids, future friends, coworkers, and hopefully my the other person—and every person in their life—to
future patients as a doctor. meet God and know His love.
When you realize how great in number those
interactions will be over the course of my life, along
with the recognition that I am only one soldier
within an entire army at the Newman Center, you
realize that the potential of spiritual multiplication
is unfathomable. The Newman Center really is
changing the world, one soldier at a time. ■

MAY SAVE THE DATES
NOV
19&20
2019 15

2019

catholic

S E E Kand you shall find C““ ollege students are very
passionate about changing
By Jessica Blum, freshman the world, and on a college
campus you often see both the
Just before we boarded the bus for the SEEK Conference, depth of division between different
Father Mills encouraged us to open our hearts to God worldviews and people taking the
and friendship during the next five days. I prayed a opportunity to cross the ‘battle lines’
quiet little prayer that the Lord would open my heart in in efforts to find unity. Gathering
these ways. to pray for world peace in a church
In Indy, we celebrated Mass everyday with 17,000 other reminds us of the Author of Peace
students, religious, lay faithful, and hundreds of priests (who, and that world peace cannot be
by the way, walked half a mile to get to the front altar to begin obtained without personal inner
Mass). The incorrupt heart of Saint John Vianney was in peace. This personal inner peace is
front of the altar at one of our Masses and resided within the arguably the most valuable first step
chapel for several days and nights. What a blessing to have this toward world peace.
powerful saint with us!
Each morning after Mass, we broke apart for men’s and Every semester that I’ve attended
women’s talks, and then attended smaller breakout sessions the Newman Center Night Fever,
with well-known Catholic speakers throughout the day. Sister the prayerful atmosphere, dark
Miriam James Heidland, Father Mike Schmitz, Sister Bethany anonymity, and knowledge that
Madonna, Jason Evert, and Dr. Scott Hahn were among the everyone there is searching for the
wise people we got to hear from. I listened intently to topics same inner peace have made it
such as how to love yourself, why the Mass is so important in an experience of nearness to God.
our lives, how to forgive, and how to accept our mission day by The prayerful atmosphere, the dark
day, hour by hour, minute by minute. The messages they were anonymity, and the knowledge that
preaching deeply moved my heart. everyone there is searching for the
I also witnessed some of my strong Catholic role models be same peace that I am. Night Fever is
vulnerable in a way I had never seen before. They admitted to one of those events where God is so,
so present.

There’s something special about
lighting a candle, too, that gives me
assurance that, even after I’ve left
the building, my candle still burns
and He remembers the prayer I
made when I lit it.’’

ELIZABETH GEREN
senior

Sister Miriam James, husker
SOLT, gave a keynote
speech at SEEK. failure and stress, crying and sharing with us their human nature. I
felt so connected to them by the grace of God in these moments.
That evening in adoration, I felt like God was sharing a
piece of heaven with me.

I lost myself in thanksgiving of it all and I felt the freedom to cry.
I remember the lights shining on the Blessed Sacrament in
such a way that looked like He was on fire like the sun and
it drew me closer. Over the next hours, I discussed with
God my mission and vocation in life, opening up more
doors for discernment.
I experienced true friendship with my new #strivetribe.
As a group of friends, we committed ourselves to
striving for holiness with one another by going to daily
Mass, truly engaging with everyone we encounter, and
taking time for prayer to our Creator.
On the bus ride home, I realized He had truly answered
my quiet little prayer I had prayed before the conference.
A fire for my faith was enkindled in me and I was
surrounded by new, lasting friends who will push me and
others to BE SAINTS. ■

1/26 Nebraska Walk for Life: “Life is the greatest and most precious
gift we will ever receive. It is the most
WWhAy ILK
fundamental human right because
without it there is no chance at fighting

for liberty or pursuing happiness. I
walk for life and will always defend the

most innocent among us.”
PEY TON WALKER, sophomore

catholic

ON JANUARY THIRD,

325 OF OUR STUDENTS HEADED TO INDIANAPOLIS FOR THE FIVE-DAY SEEK CONFERENCE.

“something more.”MANYRETURNEDHAVINGENCOUNTERED

“I feel like my heart has been “It was fantastic. I went to “I felt alive for the first
strengthened and transformed. confession for the first time in years time in almost a year.”

I experienced healing and and felt so much closer to God.” JOE BENES, STUDENT
forgiveness toward someone in
ALEX FLYNN, STUDENT
my life, and built strong
friendships rooted in Christ.”

MARY BENES, STUDENT

NEWMAN CENTER STAFF Father Robert Matya Mollie Sundermeier SCHOOL YEAR SCHEDULE
Pastor Associate Director of
[email protected] Annual Giving and Marketing Sunday Masses
[email protected] 10:00am, 11:30am, 5:30pm, 10:00pm
Father Steve Mills
Associate Pastor Keri Timmerman, J.D. Weekday Masses
[email protected] Senior Administrative Assistant Monday - Thursday: 5:30pm, 10:00pm
to the Development Office
Marlene Beyke [email protected] Friday: 12:00pm, 5:30pm
University Director Saturday: 8:00am, 12:00pm
[email protected] Tessa Contreras
Program Coordinator for the Confessions
Jude Werner, CFRE Newman Institute Sunday: 4:30pm-5:20pm, 9:00pm-9:50pm
Director of Development [email protected] Monday - Thursday: 4:45pm-5:20pm, 9:15pm-9:50pm
402-770-1509
[email protected] Mary Pat McBride Friday: 4:45pm-5:20pm
FOCUS Administrative Assistant Saturday: 11:15am-11:50am
Patti Montgomery [email protected] Eucharistic Adoration
Controller & HR Manager Monday - Thursday: 10:00am-5:30pm, 6:00pm-10:00pm
[email protected] Peter Martin, Psy.D. LP Friday: 10:00am-12:00pm, 12:30-5:30pm
Catholic Social Services
Dr. John Freeh Licensed Psychologist First Mass of the school year, August 2018
Director of the Newman Institute [email protected]
for Catholic Thought and Culture
[email protected] Alexandra Marcotte, M.S. PLMHP
Catholic Social Services Predoctoral
Luke Miller Psychology Intern
FOCUS Team Director [email protected]
[email protected]
Gus Mattern
Robert Creal Newman Center Board President
Maintenance Supervisor [email protected]
[email protected]

Drew Hines
Associate Development Director
[email protected]

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Between February 17th and WE’RE LOOKING
March 10th, a Newman FORWARD TO
Center student will be
calling you as part of our TALKING WITH YOU!
2019 Phone-A-Thon.

Phone-A-Thon is not only a unique
opportunity for students to share with
you rst-hand their experience at the
Newman Center, but it is also an
essential part of our annual budget.

Your generosity during Phone-A-Thon
supports the life-changing ministries
and programs for thousands of college
students. Our goal is to raise $170,000 so
that students can continue to grow closer
to Christ here at the Newman Center.

THANK YOU
IN ADVANCE FOR
YOUR GENEROSITY!