Sr. Cynthia Hruby serves as Campus Ministry Coordinator and Catholic Newman Council Advisor at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. http://www.wsccatholic.org/ In April 2010, she is helping sponsor a Catholic experience for students. She sends this information:

THE BIG VISION: Future leaders of Catholicism are young adults today who have experienced a life-changing encounter with Christ through the Church (Deus Caritas Est 1). We need to find more ways to bridge the gap young adults often experience between contemporary culture and the Catholic faith.

THE LOCAL VISON: We are called to enhance the faith community by being more present and engaging with students in hopes that they continue participation in their Catholic faith (2007-2009). We envision more parish connections and increase of relationships with the parishioners (2009-2010). ~ Catholic Newman Council

OFFERING “A WAY” TO BRIDGE THE GAP: For April 16-17, we invited Jason Simon, the director of Evangelical Catholic (www.evangelicalcatholic.com) to facilitate a “Wide Awake in Wayne” experience. He will focus on conversion to Jesus and what is needed to be grounded a life of faith. The desired outcome is for each parish and campus participant to bring renewed life to the local ministry as well as to dioceses to which each returns.

"The transition we are experiencing as a Notre Dame community is on many levels and we keep reminding each other that we are walking into something new! Taking the steps necessary to arrive at the new destination can take a great deal of energy and trust. The most challenging things in life take a deep commitment of faith, hope and love.
So why are the Notre Dame Sisters making such big changes and what do these mean for the community? Why would a group of women who deeply value prayer, community and service give up their motherhouse so that it can be re-developed into affordable senior housing? And what will these changes mean for the future of mission and community life for the Notre Dame Sisters?
As I reflect on the journey we have been on it has been the faith, hope and love of each member of our community, living and dead, that has brought us to this point. Our founder, Fr. Gabriel Schneider said: “My trust in God is as great as the obstacles God places in my path.” As a community we have felt the challenge of our diminishment – aging members, a limiting financial reality, and property that is difficult to maintain. We have taken this to God in prayer; we do this by looking at our reality, listening to one another and discerning where God is leading us. And through this discernment we have felt called to embrace a community life with fewer possessions and great energy for the service we can offer to our church and world. We have heard God’s voice directing us to something new and we know that these steps we take in faith are of God."

On Ash Wednesday, Sr. Joan Polak spoke to the elementary school children at St. Wenceslaus School in Omaha, Nebraska. Joined by Sr. Ann Marie of the Servants of Mary, she talked about what it means to live as a vowed religious and what it means to "retire" from paid ministry into a life of volunteer work and prayer. The young people of St. Wenceslaus School prayed and thought about almsgiving all during Lent, and at the end of 40 days they presented the retired Notre Dame Sisters with a gift of more than $3,000.00 that they raised themselves.