I hope you are all doing well and getting back into the swing of things.  If, like me, you are overwhelmed with your beginning of the semester to-do list on top of routine work, just know that Christ is always waiting to lighten your load.  

Last week, we had no meeting...you are most welcome for this information.  

For our FIRST general meeting this evening at 8:00pm, we will be kicking things off with a talk from Br. Jacob on temptation, prayer, and perseverance with Christ through this new semester.  We will open the floor afterwards for some small group discussion. This is a great way to start off the semester as we can carry with us the knowledge that many other men are striving alongside us towards Christ.  You can find us in Newman Hall!  Cannot wait to see you all there.

Also today, continuing the Bacon Boys tradition, we will head over to Mad Mush for some super-sized pizzas.  We will meet in the gathering space after the 5:30pm Daily Mass (around 6:05pm) and head down from there.  You are more than welcome to just meet us at the restaurant too!

Just a reminder that all men, regardless of where you are at in your professional life or spiritual journey (Catholic or not) are more than welcome at BCM.  Whether or not you have never been, or this is your first time in a while, you can always find a home here.  

This Friday, we will be going to the St. Francis Perpetual Adoration Chapel at 6:00pm.  This is an incredible opportunity to soak in the beauty of the chapel, and most importantly to allow Jesus to hold you as He is present in the Eucharist.  More information on the chapel can be found in the GroupMe.   

As per usual, we will continue our weekly Rosary Walks this upcoming Monday after the 5:30pm Daily Mass (around 6:05pm).  Join us for this 20-minute prayerful walk around campus in which we have the opportunity to pray to Our Blessed Mother on our behalf.  As Father Gabriel Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican states, "Anyone who goes to Mary and prays the Rosary cannot be touched by Satan".  

Lastly mark your calendars: on January 30th, BCM will host its 10th year anniversary Super Smash Bros tournament.  If you haven't already been honing your skills, I would highly recommend starting soon :)  This event is open to any and all men, so make sure to invite your friends who would be interested!

Weekly Reflection:

Before the breakthrough of modern technology, sailing into harbor required an immense amount of trust and skill.  Sailors faced rocky shores and rough water and needed to navigate carefully to avoid damaging their boats.  A vital principle guided them: aligning their boat with two pillars on shore.  The first pillar was close to the shore, and the second one lay hundred if not thousands of yards back from the first pillar.  When these two pillars lined up, the first one would completely cover the pillar behind it, and they would seemingly become one.  This alignment was crucial for safely navigating the hazardous waters.  Much like these pillars, our lives can be viewed in terms of aligning our will with God’s Will.  When our desires align with His, we find safe passage through life’s difficulties.  God desires for us to draw close to Him, as this is where we find true fulfillment—rest, love, restoration, and healing.  He does not complicate the journey.  God simply invites us to align ourselves with Him.  

As we start a new semester or chapter in life, we can feel overwhelmed by numerous responsibilities, such as organizing our schedules, joining new clubs, applying for jobs, and planning for the summer.  Amidst this busyness, maintaining our focus on God is crucial.  It’s easy to overlook His guidance while we check off our to-do lists.  Periodically, we must evaluate our priorities.  Are we allowing our current responsibilities to overshadow our main purpose: to live with complete joy? Mother Teresa laid out a simple model for living with JOY: love and serve Jesus first, then Others, and finally Yourself.  Sometimes amidst these busy periods of our lives, it is easy to move these priorities around, only to find that we are serving ourselves. This, however, is not the purpose of our human lives.  No matter how much the world sells “me-ism”, following this secular doctrine will never lead us to true joy.

So, as you men go forward this week ask yourself, what are my priorities in life?  Am I living each moment to its fullest, presently with God?   What is my purpose and how can I live in accordance with God?  When you begin to order your life as God intended, you will be able to live with true joy.   

 

Hope to see you all tonight!

Praying for all you guys like always :)

St. Benedict, Pray for Us

- BCM Leaders