The Catechism of the Catholic Church reads, “To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is ‘the world reconciled’” (#845).
On Friday, Sept. 13, Fr. Bob Dowd echoed the Catechism’s sentiment in the Notre Dame context. He said in his inaugural address, “As bridge-builders, we must use [Notre Dame’s moral] foundation to reach out even further, stretching ourselves beyond the familiar and the comfortable ... during this academic year and throughout my presidency, we will redouble our efforts to create an environment and cultivate a culture that allows us to have difficult conversations and become the bridge-builders the world needs.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, two meaningful opportunities for bridge building were offered to the campus community in the Coleman-Morse Building. From 6:30-8:00 p.m., Black Student Ministry hosted a prayer service, dinner and talk about Black Catholic History Month and the Black Catholic experience. At 8:15 p.m., the Gender Relations Center hosted a prayer service for the 2024 Trans Day of Remembrance, ending at the Grotto. The first service was provided by Campus Ministry, and the second was co-sponsored by Campus Ministry.
In full disclosure, I am a Campus Ministry graduate student intern, but these views are solely my own. I attended these events in a student capacity. The relevance of both events was valuable to me as a committed Catholic who supports the Church at every level of Her teaching. As Catholics, we celebrate culture and history, especially of historically underrepresented minorities; the Black Catholic History Prayer Service did this, sharing the Black Catholic experience and six African-American causes for canonization. As Catholics, we remember and mourn the deaths of any persons, all of whom are created in the image and likeness of God; the Trans Day of Remembrance did this, grieving those trans persons who were killed by others’ acts of violence.
I am thankful to everyone involved for offering each event, and for the providential timing which allows me to reflect on both events together. In prayer at the Grotto, I found myself asking the question: Where are the Catholic bridge builders?
There was nothing, absolutely nothing, about the programming on Nov. 19 that was anti-Catholic. Perhaps the only “anti-Catholic” element I found was the underwhelming presence of Catholic students, and white students, who were present to support these important causes. To be specific, there were approximately three white students present (myself included) at the Black Catholic Prayer Service; approximately 20 people total. At the Trans Day of Remembrance service, there were approximately fifteen people total, and at least five of us were graduate students or staff. In both programs, we were united in prayer and fellowship.
Of course, there are many reasons why a given event may be under-attended. Campus life is very full! Organizers may not promote events effectively, and/or the campus may believe the program is for an “in” group of which they are not a part. It may seem that even a certain agenda will be promoted. And yet, for the sake of Our Lady’s University, I want to dig a little deeper. My reflection is about more than event attendance, but living in solidarity with the marginalized.
When we hear the subjects for these prayer services — Black Catholic History (celebrating its legacy) and Trans Remembrance (mourning those who have been killed, praying for peace) — do we believe that these events can both be essentially Catholic? That they can be part of a holistic pro-life ethic?
Catholics have the responsibility to take causes of unity seriously, especially in prayer. “The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit” (CCC #820). Catholics are called to be both “catholic” and “apostolic.” The Church is Catholic because “She has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race” (CCC #831), and “all members of the Church share in this mission, though in various ways” (#863). If we do not engage in the mission of unity within campus, it will be only more difficult, more busy and less opportune to do so in “the real world” beyond the Dome.
So, how can we live out our mission for unity across differences? I myself am a Catholic who grapples almost daily with the difficult topics of bridge-building. It is uncomfortable to do so, and yet I am too uncomfortable not to do so. Jesus’ desire for oneness and unity convicts me. He prays to the Father “So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” (John 17:21).
In all humility, here are some questions I grapple with. Do we have a preferential option — one which is living and operative — for marginalized communities, through a unifying way of life? Or do we take the preferential option only for those who look like us, think like us or serve as our closest friends? How are we working against our own biases?
At a certain point, bridge-building requires that we intentionally move out of our comfort zone and exactly to the space where we may feel uncomfortable. We stand fully with the Church while we reach out to those on the margins. God’s grace is sufficient. The love of Christ and service for His Church compels us forward.
How are groups such as Rover readers, Right to Life club members, Sorin Fellows and theology majors, taking seriously Fr. Dowd’s call to bridge-building, and the Church’s call to unity? I value each of those groups, and I know they desire unity for the Church. Many of them support engagement toward that end. I intend this reflection as an invitation for them and for all of us, not only to more events but to a deeper “living solidarity.” How are we standing with our partners across campus for the sake of unity?
In addition to events, we might engage with written and online resources, thoughtful conversation and prayerful reflection on difference and unity with the love of Jesus. There are a variety of questions, to be sure, even regarding November’s campus programming. How do I engage in cultural celebration from a white majority background? How do I care for people in the LGBTQ+ community with love from the heart of the Church, while I stand with Church teaching? What does it mean to be a Catholic bridge-builder?
I will be living with questions like this for the rest of my life, and I don’t intend to speak for anyone else. I humbly share my thoughts from prayer here, and an encouragement to consider more events and engagement on topics of apparent “difference.” We have so many opportunities to experience the universal Church at Notre Dame. And I reflect on Our Mother Mary’s heart, who desires all children to be united under Her mantle — most especially at Her university, as we develop our community toward our heavenly home.
Maureen Schweninger
graduate student, Master of Divinity program
Dec. 8
