Medugorje: Redemption Through & Through

A blog post by Maria Rocha, Spring 2011

Medugorje is a simple kind of beautiful. The kind of beautiful that makes you feel like you are a child again. The kind of beautiful that makes you want to lie down in a field and nap, run around barefoot, and sing. This is the kind of beautiful that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning.

It’s not the kind of beautiful that makes you feel hideous. It’s not a production. Rather, it just is. It invites you to join in the unspeakable beauty.

We climbed Apparition Hill on our first day. We were to reach the top just in time for Our Lady to appear to the visionaries, who were somewhere in the city. As we climbed, I noticed a very, very old Italian woman climbing up in front of us. Her back was hunched over and her grey hair was disheveled. She wore a deep green dress and wore black worn shoes that contained her gnarled feet. Her walk up the mountain looked painful. As our group passed her, anyone who was near her would take her hand and help her for a second. The guys would take her arm and walk with her until she waved them away. The woman had a will as unrelenting as the mountain she climbed. With every difficult step she let out an exclamation like “issaahh!” She was determined to overcome this mountain. Determination does not die with age.

The next day we all climbed Cross Mountain. Most of us were barefoot. As we walked we picked our way up the mountain looking for smooth stones to set our feet upon. However, Cross Mountain was not smooth for any of us. Yet, it showed me the true men that have emerged in our group. Those men that took the time to do the littlest things like, offer others water before they took a sip, carry other people’s shoes, run down the mountain to retrieve shoes for the ladies, carry a woman down the mountain, and those who trailed behind to be available to those who would not make it to the top alone. This is the kind of man that is not always present in American society, this is the kind of man who is formed, built and molded by the hand of God through our Blessed Mother. These men were an incredible witness of male redemption to a jaded cynic like me. These are the men that will change the world for the better.

That weekend wasn’t earth shattering. I didn’t have an intense emotional experience. I didn’t see the sun dance or Our Lady in the hills. I didn’t need to see anything to know She was there. I didn’t have to be shaken, pushed, or pulled to know I’d come to see my Mother. I was a quiet feeling that crept into my soul the way a child climbs onto your lap. Our Mother has a funny way of showing you the things you have forgotten about yourself, a unique ability to reveal to you your true self, to gently push you back to who you really are. That’s what happened in Medugorje.

Many of my peers went in looking for answers about the future and I’m sure they received the words they needed. I, however, came in empty with nothing but my guitar and a few broken prayers, left Medugorje alive. I left with a song in my heart that was not new but a lovely revision of the one my very being has sung for years. I left knowing and embracing the girl I forgot I was. I left full of grace and love for our Mother and her Son.

JPII Beautification Pictures & Comments

Attending the beatification of Pope John Paul II was a once in a lifetime experience. JPII had a great love for the youth of the Church so being in Rome to celebrate as he became Blessed JPII was an honor. We're so thankful for the opportunity and we're thankful the staff in Gaming made the trip a possibility in the midst of finals! -Maria Deuchar & Brie Lund

There was a glorious moment in realizing the universality of the Church: At Mass, people from all ends of the earth were praying and singing together in the same language to honor God and His servant, John Paul II. -Emily Rolla

The trip was amazing. I hope it continues to become more special to me

as I reflect and reaize the signicance of it. It really was a great

opportunity. -Joe Stallings

American Breakfast Night Photos

Every semester the faculty & staff in Gaming prepare an American breakfast for the students on the evening before finals begin. Here are some photos below of the event. It is quite the feat to serve 200 hungry college age students, but the smiles and "thank you's" always make up for the work.

Spring 2011 Easter Ball Photos

JPII Beautification Super Trip: Testimonial

Written by MaryKate Ruminski, Spring 2011

However the trip was more of a blessing than anything else. Despite one of our buses leaking fuel on the way there, we made it safely and with the help of our professors were able to navigate the city which ,at 6am, was already overflowing. As we made our way towards St. Peter’s what became the most evident was the love of the Church for JP II. Millions of people were cramming and pushing and literally packed themselves shoulder to shoulder throughout the streets, just to show their love and respect for him.

As mass began and Pope Benedict gave the title of ‘Blessed” to JP II and unveiled his picture, the streets erupted with pure joy. People were crying, singing and clapping and as the relic of John Paul II ,a vial of his blood, was brought to the Holy Father and then placed on a stand for the whole world to venerate the crowds began to chant and cheer. Nevertheless I believe the most touching moment was when the Holy Father was giving him homily and spoke of John Paul as his dear friend, and that he would always be loved and now he was blessed, and you could see the tears streaming from people’s eyes.

The only word that could truly describe the trip to Rome for the Beatification of JohnPaul II would be ‘Adventure’. Taking a break in the middle of finals, spending all night on a bus, literally fighting through the crowds just to get a peak of the Holy Father, and riding a bus all night again to get back just in enough time to study for finals the next day.

It was such an incredible experience to be surrounded by people who love him so much, and who with us had traveled thousands of miles to their spiritual home on earth to honor him. It was such a mind-blowing experience, and I would like to thank the Gaming staff for allowing us to make such a great pilgrimage during our final week in here. I hope future students who come here will have the chance to experience what we were privileged to. Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!