February 14th, 2010

What’s great about going to Chestnut Hill College (CHC) is that it’s easy to be kept in the know about what’s happening on campus. CHC prides itself on being able to constantly communicate with its students about campus affairs. Though students can easily check out the many flyers that are posted around campus to find out when the Spring Formal is, or read the decorated bulletin boards that line the main hallway in Fournier to see what the ALD honors society is up too, many students on campus are connecting with CHC clubs through Facebook.

Almost every major club on campus and department has a Facebook page. It’s easy to be kept informed with all the happenings on campus when students become fans of their favorite campus groups, clubs, and organizations.

There are several CHC Facebook pages that students join, but I wanted to offer my top Facebook picks to YOU future Griffins.

Chestnut Hill College: CHC has its very own Facebook page where you can access pictures, great informational resources, contact information, access to a CHC calendar, and get the low down on past events and traditions that the college has. Also, through this page you are able to get updates on other departments such as CHC athletics and Logue Library. To become a fan of this page click the following link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/ChestnutHillCollege?v=wall.

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Tagged As: Campus Ministry, Chestnut Hill College, Clubs, groups, Student Activities
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February 5th, 2010

Over the last weekend in January I went on the Life Choices retreat with Campus Ministry. 10 students, along with Father Rick Malloy, the campus chaplain, and Sister Mindy, the Campus Ministry director, took the weekend to discuss, share, reflect, and think about the discernment process and the choices we are facing.

The discernment process, with many variations, is helpful when making any type of decision in your life. The process is broken up in order to make you slow down and take your time in making the right choice for you and the people in your life.

Throughout the weekend, we were encouraged to take time out for ourselves, reflect on how we’ve made our choices in the past and figure out if we’ve been true to ourselves and our happiness.

One of the most important things I learned about discernment is that the decisions we make effect the people in our lives just as much as they affect us. It is both crucial and very helpful to talk to your family, your friends, and your teachers in order to get their feedback when you need to bounce an idea off of someone.

Whether you’re deciding on a college, what you want your major to be, or what you want to be when you grow up (we can’t all be Toys ‘R’ Us kids) the discernment process can certainly be a helpful tool for you.
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Tagged As: Campus Ministry, Life Choices Retreat
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April 1st, 2009

There are many places that I have always wanted to go to help those in need. CHC presents so many great opportunities for students to help serve others, and show them what being a part of the CHC community is about. A great example of this is last summer when students from CHC traveled to Africa and tutored at a school there. Also, during spring break, students went to Appalachia for a week to volunteer to help people in the community clean their homes and offer them company.

What I love about being a part of the CHC community is that there is always an opportunity for service, and there is never a service to great or two small. I learned that today when I had an opportunity to check another amazing service experience of my list of semester goals.

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Tagged As: Campus Ministry, Community Service, Heart of Camden
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December 13th, 2008

No, not that kind of crunch…

As we approach finals week, students start to buckle down turning in major assignments, tying up loose ends in dorms, and most importantly—studying for exams. Some teachers use this last week for in-class review sessions. It’s tempting to cut these classes since you’re not learning new material, but it is always a great benefit to those who show up. If a teacher is nice enough to plan a day like this, you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity and be sure to ask any questions to clarify material you know will be on the exam.

It’s also important to be sure you get enough rest and relaxation before taking exams. A tired brain is an ineffective one! Be sure to get out all of the excess energy the weekend before exams. Decorating Night, Carol Night, and Winter Formal are perfect ways to end the semester with a bang before studying and resting up for tests the following week.

CHC offers great ways to be sure you’re well prepared to handle the pressure of finals. Sunday is Stress Free Night, where massages are offered, as well as games and snacks, to help students relax and ease their minds. Wednesday night is the annual Pancake Dinner, where students are encouraged to take a study break to munch on some delicious pancakes cooked and served by the college faculty themselves. Wednesday night is also Ladies Spa Night in Campus Ministry, focusing on relaxation and meditation while doing facials or nails and talking to friends. The invitation is generally directed towards females, but males are allowed to join the festivities if they so wish.

Check out CHC’s Google Calendar to find events you may be interested in attending. And good luck to all exam-takers next week!

Tagged As: Campus Ministry, Carol Night, Decorating Night, Exams, Finals Week, Pancake Dinner, Stress Free Night
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November 4th, 2008

Weekly masses at CHC are small, intimate, and comforting affairs. Masses are held in the chapel (on the right side of the hallway when you’re walking from the security desk to the dining hall) and organized by Sister Mindy, our campus ministry leader. Each week Sister Mindy, myself, and a few other people show up to the chapel early to practice music to provide for our congregation. I think that the music really adds a lot to the mass, but we still have yet to draw people in from the streets to get in on the mass action, a la Sister Act. We are a rockin’ group though, no lie. On a day where all of our musicians are present, we have a flute, violin, a couple guitars, a bass, tenor saxophone, piano, and some singers. There have been rare occasions where we’ve dragged and assembled a drum set in the chapel too, but that’s proven to be a bit difficult. We are an eccentric group, but you’d love us if you heard or joined us.

Father Tribs used to celebrate weekly masses, but this year Father Rick Malloy has taken the reins (except when he’s away cheering for CHC’s Quidditch Team at the World Cup! Father Kevin visited and helped that day, thankfully). Father Rick never fails in delivering powerful and thought-provoking homilies, and he often performs songs relevant to the points he wants to get across to us, using only his guitar and deep, resonant voice.

I, for one, love going to mass because it’s a nice break from the abyss of homework that I’m usually swamped with on Sundays. I know, I know…I shouldn’t put it off until Sunday, but who wants to do homework on the weekends? I save the work for Sunday and take a nice break in the evening to see friends and have some quiet time to meditate on the week past and ahead.

P.S.
If you ever get the chance, visit the chapel in the Motherhouse behind St. Joe’s too!  It’s beauuutiful.  I’ll try to write about it and include pictures of its majesty in the future.

Tagged As: Campus Ministry, Chapel, Father Rick, Father Tribs, Mass, Sister Mindy, Sundays
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September 24th, 2008

“What were some of the challenges that you have faced coming to college?”

“What were you most nervous about entering into a new school?”

“Where do you see yourself fitting in on campus?”

“Was it difficult leaving home?”

These questions, and others, were some that were discussed at the Campus Ministry girl’s night. Girls from first years to seniors shared their insight, experiences, concerns, wisdom, and fears about college. I am sure many of you find yourselves asking versions of these questions as you prepare for college. At Chestnut Hill College you are given the opportunity to express your feelings about all the uncertainties you have about college.

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Tagged As: Campus Ministry, friendship, gil's night
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September 4th, 2008

Tagged As: Campus Ministry, Diversity, Ronald McDonald House, Shiner's Hospital
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