Campus Ministry Leads
the Campus Community
Siena’s Campus Ministry team had just published a full schedule of
activities for September: Bible study and prayer services, community service and social justice activities, movie and pizza night, faith
sharing lunches, “Late Night with Jesus,” Catholic studies, Sunday
Mass, and more. Then came 9/11. Ironically, Campus Ministry had
planned a minute of silence and prayer at noon that day to support
International Day of Peace.
Since then, the team has provided outreach and support in numerous ways throughout the semester. Each Tuesday afternoon since
the attack has been specially designated for prayer and remembrance in Lumen Chapel. A special program on the one-month
anniversary of the attack brought the community together for reflection and support. And, of course, all the activities already on the
schedule have taken on new meaning and importance.
Everyone I spoke with had experienced
abject terror. One example: When U.S.
fighter jets were deployed to fight off further attacks on Manhattan, everyone on the
ground—already blinded by smoke and
ash, disoriented and terrified—assumed the
planes were enemy bombers.
The things I did, just talking with people, listening to them, really made
a difference. I could see
it happen. I saw people
walk in beaten down
and hopeless, and later leave our makeshift
office with some bottled water, a teddy bear,
a voucher for new clothing to replace what
was ruined, and, if not a smile, an expression of purpose or hopefulness.
It amazes me that even in a situation of such
staggering scope and horror, the basic skills
of empathic listening work so well. It amazes
me that the problem solving techniques we
teach actually work when the problems are
so overwhelming. It amazes me that people
really do have such strength, so much to
offer each other, such faith and generosity.
The things I did, just talking with people, listening to them, really made a difference.
the American people who do these things
to us. It is the U.S. government.” At that
moment, I was quite relieved.
Today, as we all pray that our country makes
the best response possible, I remember this
conversation and ask myself, “How do we
know that our response is made to the people
who have done this thing to us?” As we
speak of war, how do we relate our response
to “just war” theory? Will we wage war with
a just cause? Will it be formally declared by
appropriate authority? Will it be conducted
with a proper intention? Is it a last resort?
Is there reasonable hope of success? Are
the means proportionate to the ends? The
answers to some of these questions jump
off the page as positives. The complexities
inherent in answering others of them call us
to careful and prayerful consideration.
A Story: This happened on a crowded
subway. I was always fearful on the subway,
so, to relieve my own anxiety, I started conversations with whoever was near. (The myth
of the cold, uncommunicative New Yorker is
We are al