by Reagan Scott
for the Register
An estimated 560 people attended the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center’s 17th annual “Husker Catholic Live!” event at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln Friday, Nov. 3.
The event raised more than $250,000 for the Newman Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
Jude Werner, director of development, said all funds raised will go directly to support student ministries at the Newman Center such as retreats, FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) ministry and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).
Werner said he hoped Husker Catholic Live would be a source of joy and encouragement for attendees, and a way to glorify God and the work he’s doing at the Newman Center.
“It’s a broad celebration of the growth in ministry that’s happening here,” he said.
The event also marked the first Husker Catholic Live for Father Ryan Kaup as pastor of the Newman Center, an appointment he began in June. Having attended the event as a seminarian, he said he was excited to celebrate Husker Catholic Live for the first time as he lives out the rhythm of his first year in the role.
Attendees had the opportunity to celebrate Mass at the Newman Center before taking shuttles to the Embassy Suites to begin the evening’s social hour, and then enjoy dinner.
Lauren Gage was the emcee for the evening. A UNL graduate and FOCUS missionary for seven years, she now serves as the Nebraska State Director for the American Federation for Children.
Father Alec Sasse, the associate pastor for the Newman Center, gave the opening blessing.
Christine Cremer, UNL’s FOCUS team director, shared a missionary testimonial, and Jacob Brouillette, a senior at the university and president of the Newman Board shared his testimony as a student.
Brouillette said that as he was stepping into his role as president, he asked the Lord, “Jesus, what do you want your students to hear this year?”
Both times he asked, before the start of the summer, and again at the start of the school year, he heard the response, “Before all else, be my children.”
Brouillette said his vision for the year has been to share this message.
“Before anything, place your identity in Him first, then go out and do mission,” he said.
During his talk, Brouillette was able to share his experience at Newman, and said that while college promises many things, the Newman Center has been able to fulfill the purest desires of what he and other college students seek from their university experience – real connection and a place to belong.
Father Kaup gave the keynote address for the night. He said that in his talk, he really wanted to emphasize that everyone in attendance was a part of the Newman Center’s mission.
“It’s a true partnership to reach Husker Catholic students with us,” he said.
Bishop James Conley was also in attendance, and gave the closing blessing.
During the course of the event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a matching gift challenge. Anonymous donors came together to offer $60,000, which they would match dollar for dollar. The challenge exceeded this goal, raising $75,000.
The event had 35 corporate and individual sponsors, and attendees included current stu-dents, parents and grandparents of students, alumni and friends of the Newman Center. Those in attendance represented all three of Nebraska’s dioceses, as well as other states.
Werner said Husker Catholic Live is growing every year. After getting too large for the student union on campus a few years ago, the event was moved to the Embassy Suites. The goal is to eventually fill the room to 600.
Werner said the broad attendance Husker Catholic Live garners is a testament to the impact the Newman Center has statewide and beyond.
Father Kaup and Werner said the event would not have been possible without the help of three dozen student volunteers who helped prepare invitations, volunteered as greeters during the event and will send thank-you notes now that the event is over.
“Without those students we couldn’t have made the event work,” Werner said. “Their help constitutes hours of work even prior to the event.”
During Husker Catholic Live, the students had the opportunity to share their personal faith journeys and the ways the Newman Center has effected their lives with attendees.
“Authentic joy is something you want to share,” Werner said. “The students had the opportunity to radiate their joy and share their experiences with the other guests, what God’s doing at the Newman Center. It’s a dinner-table witnessing that happens.”
Brouillette said Husker Catholic Live is one of his favorite Newman events of the year, and that the room is filled with new life by the end of the night.
“Even at each of the tables you can hear how the Newman Center has impacted people, whether they’re students or whether they’re parents,” he said.
Patricia Jones has attended Husker Catholic Live a few times. Having been associated with FOCUS for more than a decade, she said she’s always believed in the mission of the organization. She was struck by the number of connections she had, and was able to form, with attendees this year.
She was able to reintroduce herself to Father Sasse, who’d had an encounter with her niece on campus at a speaking event that had left her upset. Father Sasse offered to pray with her, and Jones was able to thank him for providing her niece with comfort in that moment. They took a selfie together, which Jones sent to her. The two plan to attend Mass at the Newman Center together this weekend.
“It was just touchpoint after touchpoint,” she said. “It was just cool how God works in mysterious ways.”
Jones said she was encouraged to hear all of the speakers throughout the night.
“It’s heartwarming because it seemed for a time that Catholicism was waning,” she said. “But it’s certainly not in the Lincoln Diocese, and it’s certainly not on campus. The presence of Jesus is there, and that’s good to see.”
The Newman Center’s theme for the year is “Only the lover sings,” a quote from one of Saint Augustine’s sermons, and that theme was woven into the evening.
“There is a song that rings in the depths of each of our hearts from the very moment of our creation,” Father Kaup said. “Jesus as the Perfect Lover sings a tune in perfect harmony with that innermost song.”
He said the songs of the world are loud and enticing, but they draw us away from the True Song. We are made not for the songs of the world, but the Lover’s song, to sing in harmony with Him throughout our lives.
“Through our preaching and programming this year at the Newman Center, we hope that our students will hear the Lover sing the song of their deepest desires and find the abundant life,” Father Kaup said.
Werner said all of the imagery for the event used the Monstrance to radiate the beauty of the relationship that happens between the adorer and the adored.
“We’re celebrating the fruit of what’s happening,” Werner said, “because of Christ in the Monstrance and the grace that comes from that.”
Father Kaup expressed his appreciation for all of the people who came together to make the event a success.
“It was a wonderful evening, celebrating the hard work of so many in the past and ushering in the next chapter of the Newman Center,” he said. “I’m so grateful for everyone’s continued generosity and excited for what God has in store in the years to come.”
SNR photos | Natalie Bender
