Lent 2009
“God, where in the world are you taking us and WHEN are we finally going to get there? No, wait! Do you even KNOW where you are taking us and IF we will ever get there?” Translate these questions into ancient Hebrew and you would certainly sound like a member of “God’s Chosen People,” 5000 years or so ago. At times I’ve asked those questions myself - often about our new Chapel project.
Are you asking these questions too? In this current recession, many of us are feeling conflicted about expressing our own fears to God regarding our current economic struggles. Often when we read about the ancient Israelites complaining on their journey, we dismiss them as ungrateful whiners. However, to be fair, they really did have reason to be concerned and to legitimately express those concerns to God. After all, it looked like they very well might die at times. Yet, just as God never gave up on the Israelites when they were fearful about the unknown, neither will God be surprised or offended by our own expression of fears. We should go easy on ourselves.
Our Chapel plans are progressing. One roadblock that we can’t ignore is the economy; it has forced us to re-evaluate and take some time to consider our options so we can move forward with a thoughtful, sustainable plan. We continue to hope that the plan will include a new chapel, social hall, campus ministry center, classrooms and residence hall. At the very least, it will be a beautiful new chapel that accommodates more people in a sacred worship environment. The leadership at the City of Tempe, the Diocese and Arizona State University continue to support and encourage our efforts. I know that this project will have a significant impact on our mission to spread the gospel at the largest public university in the country and it has been worth the risk of an extended construction timeline. Please know I’m grateful for your patience as we continue our due diligence to make this come to fruition. During this time, we are refining our contingency plans to meet the challenges of the current economic climate. These plans will ensure that no time is wasted as we work to accommodate a rapidly growing Catholic community here at Newman.
And we ARE rapidly growing. That’s the great news – the manna from heaven perhaps. While we are wandering in the desert waiting for the new facilities, I can’t help but stop and take a look at where we are and how far we’ve come. In this dilapidated auditorium – complete with bad plumbing, broken air conditioning units and waning funding resources – our mission to extend the love of Jesus to ASU is thriving. At a critical time in their lives, when students are living in an isolated and very secular world, we are successfully inviting more of them into a faith community and a return to Christian values. Our facilities are tired but our staff is energized and providing exceptional programming that would rival any Catholic college.
I am so grateful for good and holy people like you who faithfully support our work here. When Moses invited the Israelites to go for a little hike in the Desert to live in a new paradise on earth, as it were, none of them including Moses expected to still be hiking 40 years later. But 5000 years after the fact would any of us seriously question whether it was a good decision to leave their slavery in Egypt. Now, during this period of waiting for our new home, it is the time for prayer. During this Lenten season, as we work hard to move this project forward quickly, I ask you to please keep it in your prayers. Please know that you remain in mine.
Blessings,
Fr. Fred Lucci, O.P.
