Newman/UNC see the Pope in Washington D.C.:  Seven students, who form the core of our Climate Justice group at the Newman Catholic Student Center Parish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, made pilgrimage to Washington D.C. to participate in events surrounding the Pope’s visit. On Wednesday, they participated in a workshop hosted by Franciscan Action Network, which helps college students to better understand and implement “Laudato Si” on campus. That evening they took part in an interfaith prayer vigil where members of the Franciscan Family and others broke their 10-day fast for Climate Justice. Much to our surprise we were gifted at the last minute two tickets for the outdoor balcony of the Capitol and five other tickets for the Capitol lawn. After the Pope’s speech we all enjoyed the Interfaith Climate Justice Rally/Concert on the National Mall, which was sponsored by Franciscan Action Network.

Giavani verso Assisi Pilgrims with Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. (left) and The Most Reverend Fr. Marco Tasca, OFM Conv., Minister General of the Order of the Friars Minor Conventual (center)

Giovani verso Assisi 2015: Nine young adults (4 from Newman/UNC, 3 from Duke and 2 from the Syracuse area, one of which is an alum of FrancisCorps) represented the USA at this year’s Youth toward Assisi (Giovani verso Assisi 2015) retreat. The experience was totally revamped and included: a scavenger hunt across Assisi (where participants learned about the life of Francis along the way), many workshops on Franciscan themes with the most popular being playing Frisbee while learning about teamwork, serving the hungry in a San Egidio soup kitchen, and street evangelization in the various piazzas throughout the city of Rome. Also new to the program was a testimony of Polish Catholic rappers and an evening of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the lawn of the Seraphicum.

Items presented by Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv.
Parish Administrator of Newman Catholic Student Center Parish