Meet Your Class Chaplains

Marybeth Kearns Barrett '84 & Greg Lynch, S.J.
Chaplains, Class of 2016

 


 

Dear Member of the Class of 2016:

Welcome to Holy Cross from your Class Chaplains! The Office of the College Chaplains supports the mission of Holy Cross in its commitment to building community through worship, dialogue, service, outreach, prayer, and ecumenism. We encourage all members of the campus community to participate in the intellectual life of the College in the search for truth and the integration of faith and justice.

At Holy Cross we take our Jesuit and Catholic identity seriously, which means we are committed to educating the whole person and providing you with a rich array of opportunities to help you integrate your faith -- regardless of your religious tradition -- with your intellectual and moral development. We know that undergraduate years can be a time of questioning, decision-making, and growth. It is our hope that a central part of that growing will include the deepening of your self-awareness of God's love for you and a strong desire to respond to that love with freedom and generosity of a vibrant faith. We invite you to encounter God through liturgy and prayer, service and immersion programs, retreats, and through various leadership development opportunities.

As your Class Chaplains, we look forward to accompanying you throughout your four years at Holy Cross. Our first opportunity to celebrate this new beginning will be the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Saturday, August 25, 4:00 PM, which inaugurates the new academic year and welcomes the Class of 2016. You and your family are encouraged and welcome to participate in this service which is open to people of all religious traditions.

To learn more about our many offerings -- and so that we may learn more about you -- we encourage you to fill out the online Campus Ministry questionnaire, and to browse our website. Additionally, you are always welcome to stop by Campion House, the home of the Chaplains' Office and the Campus Ministry Center. Campion, which is open during the school year 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 11 p.m. Sunday, features wireless internet, comfortable places to study or hold meetings, free coffee/tea, and homemade cookies.

With warm regards,


Marybeth Kearns Barrett '84 & Greg Lynch, S.J.
Chaplains, Class of 2016

Escape Retreat

A great way to get involved in Campus Ministry at Holy Cross is to participate in the Escape Retreat which will be offered twice this year: September 7-8, 2012 and November 9-10, 2012. Held at a retreat center located near Holy Cross, the Escape Retreats are designed especially for first-year students, and will help you develop a greater sense of belonging and community as you begin your time at the College. Escape Retreats are rooted in the Jesuit ideal of educating the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Through a combination of reflection talks and community-building activities, you will have the opportunity to become acquainted with other members of the Class of 2016.

Participants on the Escape Retreats will meet fantastic upper-class mentors, chaplains, and members of the faculty. You will be afforded an opportunity to grow in your understanding of Montserrat, how Ignatian spirituality can shape your education, and what makes a Holy Cross education unique.

The cost of the Escape Retreat is $25; transportation, meals, and all other needs are covered in this cost. Financial aid is available. Registration information will be sent to you on campus when you arrive in August.