With strict societal measures in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Canisius College offices of Campus Ministry and Mission & Identity are finding novel ways for the faithful on campus to participate in liturgical celebrations leading up to Easter.
The Seven Last Words of Christ
Beginning this Sunday, April 5 and continuing each day through Holy Week, Campus Ministry will offer “The Seven Last Words of Christ.”
The seven last words of Jesus Christ are actually seven short phrases. In the Gospel, these passages provide a moving account of Jesus’ dying words.
This year, Campus Ministry invited seven Canisius students to read and reflect on one passage each day, during Holy Week. Some offered written reflections; others provided video reflections. All will be published in The Dome, on the Campus Ministry blog and on the college’s Facebook and Twitter accounts during Holy Week.
Stations of the Cross
Perhaps the most powerful way to pray and meditate on Christ’s sacrifice for us is to contemplate the Stations of the Cross.
This ancient exercise has been offered at Christ the King Chapel in past years. But as national circumstances prevent this devotion from continuing in-person, some faith-based organizations are innovating and presenting the traditional devotion in virtual ways. For those wishing to fulfill the Stations of the Cross devotion, Campus Ministry recommends the following:
- Busted Halo is an online ministry that created a virtual Stations of the Cross, designed for personal devotion. Click here to participate.
- Similarly, the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns is presenting a more contemporary (yet still virtual) version of the Stations of the Cross. The live, online gathering, scheduled for Good Friday at 12:00 noon, will cast the story of Jesus’ final days in the context of the current economic and ecological issues of the world. Interested participants can click here to RSVP to this event.
Live Liturgies
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is encouraging the faithful to come together in prayer -virtually- during Holy Week and beyond. Several local parishes are offering live-stream feeds for Sunday and weekday Masses. Click here for the full list of parishes participating and the various Mass days and times.
One Minute Meditations and Evening Examen
Finally, Campus Ministry has been hosting “One Minute Meditations” and “Evening Examen.” Both are led, daily, by Campus Ministry Director Mike Hayes.
One Minute Meditations offer the faithful a brief prayer break in their day and a chance to reflect on a Scripture passage. The final One Minute Meditation is today, Friday, April 3, around noon and can be viewed on the Campus Ministry Instagram page (@CanisiusCampMIN), where all past editions of One Minute Meditations can also be seen.
The Evening Examen offers a deeper and more prayerful reflection on the events of the day. Under the direction of Mike Hayes, participants are guided through 10 to 20 minute reflections that lead participants to detect God’s presence in their day and to discern His direction for them. The final Evening Examen will take place, “live,” tonight at 8:30 p.m. on Campus Ministry’s Facebook page. Past editions of the Evening Examen are also available for viewing on the Facebook page.
Submitted by: College Communications
