Annunciation Circle Newsletter Exclusive Member MediaAnnunciation Circle Monthly | September 2023 We’re almost a month into our new academic year! Campus has been buzzing; it’s great to see all the returning students and meet our new transfers and freshmen. Just in the past four weeks we’ve had a visit from Archbishop Cordileone, watched our students battle it out in the annual Dorm Wars, and celebrated the best season our women’s soccer team has had so far. On behalf of the entire University community, I’d like to sincerely thank you for your continued support through Annunciation Circle! This month, we’re honoring the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and consoling the heart of Mary. Coming Up This Month The Catholic Roots of Halloween with Dr. Alexander CrawfordWebinar | October 26, 2023 | 7 PM EST Join us for our second Annunciation Circle webinar featuring our faculty and staff! Dr. Alexander Crawford (’13), Assistant Dean of Student Success, will be teaching us about the Catholic roots of Halloween, and how we can celebrate in a way that honors our faith. Register NowUpcoming Feast Days 9/15 — Our Lady of Sorrows 9/21 — St. Matthew 9/23 — St. Padre Pio 9/29 — The Feast of the Archangels (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael) 10/01 — St. Therese of Lisieux 10/04 — St. Francis of Assisi 10/05 — St. Faustina 10/07 — Our Lady of the Rosary 10/15 — St. Teresa of Avila All you holy men and women, pray for us! A Reflection from Our ChaplainsOur Lady of SorrowsFr. Rick Martignetti, O.F.M. What a strange thing to celebrate: the sorrows of Our Lady! Why would we boast about and ponder how much heartache and pain the innocent Blessed Virgin Mary had to endure? Well, whether we consider the things that frightened her—like the prophecy of Simeon about a sword piercing her heart—or the personal pain she and St. Joseph experienced during the flight into Egypt and the loss of the child Jesus, Mary’s pain has something to teach us about life, love, and God. She teaches us that sorrow can be redemptive. Pain is an opportunity to either abandon our relationship with God the Father or to take it to the next level—to take even greater refuge in His love. Pain has a way of stripping everything that is not essential. It is through pain and heartache that we learn all things in life are passing and the only thing we truly have that endures beyond the grave is our relationship with God. Pain is the great equalizer. Every life knows pain, and every experience of sorrow has the potential to strip away the false gods we cling to for comfort, allowing us to give our hearts more fully to the one true God. In addition to that call to meet God in our pain, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is also an opportunity to reflect on the compassionate love that the greatest Mother has for the greatest Son, and for us. The compassionate heart of Mary was torn apart and broken open when her beloved Jesus was sentenced to death, beaten and crucified, taken down from the cross, placed in her arms, and ultimately buried in a tomb. Our Lady of Sorrows, the woman of compassionate love, felt the Lord’s pain at every stage as if it were happening to her. And she feels our pain as well. It was precisely at the most sorrowful moment of her life—with her heart broken open and her body collapsed at the foot of her Son’s cross—that she became the Mother of the beloved disciple and Mother of us all. In her immense sorrow, the Mother of Jesus became Our Mother that day. She feels for all her Son’s beloved disciples as she felt for Jesus in His agony. She is there with us in our darkest moments; she weeps with us whenever we shed tears. She holds all her children in her immaculate, sorrowful heart which has the power now to transform our pain into something precious. Because of all she endured, Our Lady of Sorrows has been entrusted with the grace of God to transform our pain into moments of encounter. She is with us and makes all things new. Our Lady of Sorrows, stay with us in our pain… pray for us now and always! See What's Happening Around CampusIntroducing the Pursuit of Wisdom Introducing a series of short courses presented by the faculty of Ave Maria University. Each professor will provide practical wisdom and insights around important topics and themes to help you lead a more inspired, meaningful, and joyful life. EXPLORE COURSES Orientation Recap Experience orientation as if you were there! Our newest students immersed themselves in the Ave Maria experience meeting our dedicated staff, connecting with fellow classmates, experiencing communal prayer, and exploring our beautiful campus. Archbishop Cordileone Addresses AMU The 2023-24 school year kicked off with the Academic Convocation. This year, we were honored to have the Archbishop of San Francisco, the Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone, deliver the Convocation Address. Archbishop Cordileone discussed the significance of Catholic higher education as a modern solution to guide an age that has lost its way. 2023 Dorm Wars An annual tradition of almost 10 years, Dorm Wars consists of a series of competitive events between the six dorms on campus, with the goal of accumulating the most points and securing bragging rights as the best dorm on campus. This year, St. Joseph Men’s Hall took the trophy home, ending the three-year winning streak for St. Sebastian Men’s Hall. Recent Events Around Campus In the first four weeks of school, we’ve had a visit from the Archbishop, Dorm Wars, and over 400 students begin their journey at Our Lady’s University. Here’s a look back at the past few weeks. Victorious St. Joseph Men's Hall ends a three-year winning streak for St. Sebastian Men's Hall. Representatives from AMU clubs and households get new students involved. FSP scholars meet for their first Rescue Project dinner. Students celebrate their first week with a dodgeball tournament on the lawn! Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone speaks at 2023 Academic Convocation. Campus priests bless dorm rooms with a Eucharistic procession. Bishop Dewane celebrates Mass for AMU on the first day of classes. Students dance during annual Swampfest event. Parents help their student move in as he starts his journey at AMU! Membership Updates Join Our Facebook Group! Joining the Annunciation Circle Facebook group will give you exclusive access to feast day reflections, webinar links, community novenas, and exclusive content featuring our faculty and staff! JOIN TODAYTell Your Friends About Annunciation Circle! You already play an indispensable role in supporting our faculty and staff, now help us make an even larger impact! Please share this email with your friends and family and invite them to support the people who make Ave so incredible. Please Keep Us in Your Prayers as We Keep You in Ours Every week, our Campus Ministry team offers a Mass for your intentions. Our student households also offer a rosary for you every week on the nightly rosary walk. As you generously continue to support our faculty and staff through your monthly donation, please continue to keep our University and community in your prayers. May God bless you!
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