Mass and Dinner with Bishop Douglas Lucia, Diocese of Syracuse
Bishop Douglas Lucia, sitting Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse, came to campus on Nov. 11 to celebrate Mass and join our community for dinner. Attendees enjoyed the Bishop’s favorite Italian meal, featuring chicken and eggplant parmesan, baked ziti, salad, and carrot cake for dessert. Fr. Gerry Waterman, Catholic Chaplain, and the Diocese arranged a “listening session” with the Bishop for the upcoming Synod in Rome. The theme of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” 25 students returned to the small chapel following dinner to have a question-and-answer session with Bishop Lucia. The Catholic Center extends their gratitude to Bishop Lucia, Sr. Katie Eiffe, Director of Synodal Planning, and the students for their participation in the listening session.
Sandwich Ministry
Each month following Thursday Mass and dinner, the SU Catholic community “pays it forward” by making sandwiches and donating them to the local Assumption Food Pantry. Nov. 18 marked the final sandwich-making event for the Fall semester. Students made a combination of baloney and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a total count of 450 sandwiches! The Catholic Center extends their gratitude to the volunteers and to members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Francis Core for their help preparing over 1,400 sandwiches this semester. The sandwich ministry will resume in January for the Spring 2022 semester.
Celebration of the Sacrament’s of Confirmation and First Communion with Jediel Ponnudurai
The SU Catholic community celebrated with Jediel Henrik Ponnudurai as a new, fully initiated member of the Catholic Church on Dec. 2 during Mass. Chaplain Fr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv, administered the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion in the presence of the gathered community. Jediel, enrolled in the School of Architecture at Syracuse University, is from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and will be studying abroad during the next two semesters.
Service to our local community
A group of 15 students from the SU Catholic community spent their Saturday on Nov. 13 working with volunteers at Joseph’s House on the Northside of Syracuse, raking leaves and trimming plants around the property. Then, on Dec. 2, students participated in a card-writing event where they created Christmas cards for people living in long-term facilitated living and homeless shelters, with the assistance of Tehnaya Brewer ’24. A special thanks to SU Catholic’s Co-Service Chairs, Camila Tirado ’23, and Nate Erickson ’24, for organizing these service projects!