Culver Academies Catholic Ministry

September 16, 2024

CIA walked to the Park n Shop in town to restock the Culver Food Pantry. Thank you for your financial support.

We arrived to examine how low the bin was, then reviewed the items the pantry needs. The students divided into teams, were given a budget, and were assigned aisles. They were to see how much, or how little, food could be purchased without going over the budget. The teams came in $6.63 over budget and the next person in line paid the overage. Others notice when Christian deeds of charity are in action, and they want to be engaged. Christ in Action. The donor said that they observed the group last spring when we were last there and this time wanted to help in her small way.

September 10, 2024

We are nearing the end of the first grading period. Students have settled in.

The exciting news is that we have 27 students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation in April. We also have 12 students preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation and 13 students preparing to become in Full Communion with the Church! The Holy Spirit is gathering souls on campus. We gather on Monday evenings and after Mass on Sunday mornings.

Band of Brothers bible study for CMA, The Narrative bible study, Thursday morning Prayer Breakfast, CIA and the HUB are ministries which began last week. We have a broad group of students participating. There is a student run bible study in one of the barracks an in a dorm too. If you are on campus, you are welcome to join us.

If you would like to provide a meal for the Prayer Breakfast, CIA, or the HUB, you can go to this link to indicate you will provide a meal. Check in with me for specifics on the quantity needed.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4DADA72EA7F58-51095107-culver#/

If you would like to financially support our ministries, please go to culver.org, select GIVE near the upper right corner, which will take you to the GIVING TO CULVER page. Scroll down to select an arrow adjacent to GIVE. Once there complete the blanks as requested. At the DESIGNATION click the arrow to select OTHER which will ask you to ADD DESIGNATION HERE. Type in Catholic ministries, or Spiritual Life, or CIA, or Prayer Breakfast, or Confirmation Class, or Day of Spirit. Thank you in advance for your support. That link is below.

Giving – Culver Academies

August 23, 2024

Welcome back to school. I know you are not here physically, but I count on you being here in spirit. The first academic week is now complete, and many students have been here over a week. We gathered for Mass in the Culver Memorial Chapel to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and then the back-to-school Mass last Saturday evening. We have 288 Catholic students registered this year.

Thursday Morning Prayer Breakfast began yesterday. We had 67 students join us in prayer and fellowship. Confirmation Preparation will begin on Monday September 2nd, for those students who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation yet. Band of Brothers and The Narrative bible studies will begin the first week in September. CIA, Christ in Action, will begin on Saturday, September 7th.

This year we have many students who wish to become Catholic or come into Full Communion with the Church. As a result, we will meet on Sunday mornings after Mass for brunch beginning September 8th for OCIA Sacramental Preparation. this will be supplemental to the Monday evening Confirmation Preparation classes.

If you wish to support your children in our ministries by attending when you are on campus or with financial support, please contact me directly for details. Your support is needed and always welcome.

Your students serve as Mass Ministers each Sunday. They are readers proclaiming the word in English and Spanish, singers in the choir, greeters welcoming the students while passing out the worship aides, gift bearers at the Offertory, and servers at the altar. Several students have been trained to be altar servers. I am blessed to have so many students who wish to participate. Please encourage your children to engage at Mass by serving the community as a Mass Minister.

I will continue to be available at lunches to meet with students.

August 1, 2024

Culver Summer Schools and Camps is about to end with graduations on Saturday morning. My heart fills with joy when about 800 campers and another 100 or so staff fill Culver Memorial Chapel for Mass each week for six weeks! The pews, balcony and chairs set up along the side aisle walls are nearly full. During Homecoming Weekend, we have to move Mass to Eppley Auditorium to accommodate the alumni and parents who join us.

Fr. Stephen celebrates Mass each Sunday, then stays for the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the Upper School students. Fr. Stephen is so committed to administering the sacrament that twice he stayed causing a delay to the start of Mass at the parish in town.

On Thursdays at noon each week at Woodcraft Camp, Lt. Denis Bernardino and I led many girls and staff in the rosary. Rosaries were provided for the participants to keep if they did not have one.

In two weeks, the students begin the return to campus as a new freshman class matriculates, being aided by the upper-class boys and girls. We expect about 270 of the students will be attending Mass. Our first opportunity to celebrate together will be on Thursday, August 15th at 3:00 for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Then, due to conflicts on Sunday morning, Mass will be celebrated on Saturday evening, August 17th at 6:00. Regular Sunday Masses will continue beginning on August 25th at 9:00

We will follow the lead of the National Eucharistic Congress with focus on the mission of bringing Jesus to others through the Eucharist. We will renew our relationship with Jesus and evangelize the Good News to others during CIA and Thursday Morning Prayer Breakfast. Our student leaders are Caroline and Katherine Alderfer, Joshua Neary, Alexandrine Harig, and Jack Collins.

Mrs. Beth Schmiedlin will continue to lead preparation of the students for the Sacrament of Confirmation, assisted by Mrs. Amy Ditmire and me.

May 30, 2024

On Sunday, May 18th, the 79 students who served as Mass Ministers throughout the year earned recognition and were awarded pins to wear on their uniforms. The students performed as ministers by being greeters, gift bearers, lectors in Spanish and English, altar serving, distributing Holy Communion, and singing in the choir. Fr. Stephen and I are so proud of them, and I am pleased with the number of students who wish to serve at Mass. Many have requested to serve again next year.

On Saturday evening, May 25th, CIA (Christ in Action) held cookout on campus to celebrate the end of the schoolyear. Three students cooked hamburgers, turkey burgers, and vegetable baskets of green beans, mushrooms and onions on the large grill for about 25 students.

On Sunday, May 26th, during Mass, we recognized our Seniors/First Classmen with a special blessing from Fr. Stephen and a gift of a journal embossed with the Culver Memorial Chapel on it from the Spiritual Life Department.

Later, on Sunday afternoon, eight Academy students walked from Logansport Gate to join the Marian Procession at St. Mary of the Lake Parish which walked through the neighborhood adjacent the parish. The rosary was prayed as a group as we left campus and we continued to pray with the parish community during the procession. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was placed on a bier with flowers and carried on the shoulders of young men. When we were done the community crowned the permanent statue of the BVM and shared fruit and deserts in fellowship. The community welcomed the students encaging them in conversation before we walked back to campus.

We have one more Mass on Saturday evening before the students say goodbye for the summer.

Thank you all for your prayers and financial support of the ministries we provide to your students. They are growing in their faith as a community as well as sacramentally.

May 9, 2024

At Thursday Morning Prayer Breakfast this morning we discussed and prayed about the Ascension of the Lord. Next week we will celebrate the Church’s birthday with cake, song, and prayers. Our last gathering will be a discussion and challenge/commitment about how we will continue our prayers over the summer.

Friday evening is Light the Night fellowship sponsored by the Spiritual Life Department.

This Saturday at CIA we will have a panel of selected adults for a Q & A session about faith and practices. It is an opportunity for students to ask in writing questions which are on their minds or hearts. We have an upcoming cookout as well for our last gathering before the end of the year.