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Christian Leadership Formation: A New Vocation: JP2-MC: Integritas Institute for Ethics: Catholic Studies: |
The John Paul II Newman Center is fast becoming a new model for Catholic Higher Education while striving to provide opportunities for students to grow in character, gain spiritual guidance, and become leaders in the Church and everyday life.
Students who contemplate a calling to the priesthood and religious life find a resource and home at JP2. Together, students work, live, and learn about this calling in a comfortable environment with great opportunities. 
There is a recognized need to provide college students with service learning opportunities while helping at risk youth. JP2-MC also partners underclassmen with upperclassmen students in an effort to help graduation retention with experienced mentorship. 
In an effort to educate our future business and healthcare practitioners, the Institute provides opportunities for students to learn moral leadership through personal and professional ethics. 
In one of the most prominent partnerships established, UIC and JP2 offer college classes for graduation credit to students interested in understanding Roman Catholicism’s contributions to the intellectual, institutional, political, and cultural life of humanity. | Our Lady of Guadalupe Reflection |
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Sagrario Moreno, Senior
If you have ever heard the phrase “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” you might be wondering just who she actually is. I would like to tell you a little bit of the beautiful history surrounding our lovely mother. On December 9th, 1531, an indigenous man named Juan Diego was walking to mass early in the morning in Mexico City. He was passing by the Tepeyac Hill when he heard a beautiful voice calling him; it was the Virgin Mary! She told Juan Diego that she wanted him to be the special messenger to the Bishop of Mexico City. She wanted a church to be built where she could manifest her son and where she could hear the petitions of the people, whom she considered her own children. Juan Diego went to see the Bishop, but the Bishop did not believe him and told Juan Diego to come back the next day. Now secretly, the Bishop was praying and invoking Mary for help. He wondered if Juan Diego was telling the truth. Juan Diego went to talk to Mary and he wanted for her to choose someone else for the task; however, Our Lady of Guadalupe said that he was the worthy one who needed to do this. He went to the Bishop again and he still didn’t believe Juan Diego. The Bishop wanted a sign, so Juan Diego told the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary assured Juan Diego that he would get a sign upon telling the Bishop. On December 12th Juan Diego ran to get a priest because his uncle was dying and he wanted him to administer his last rites. However, Our Lady of Guadalupe met him on the way and told him not to worry, she said his uncle was healed, and he was! Juan Diego saw flowers growing in the middle of the frost and was amazed that there were flowers growing during that time of the year. He took it as the sign, so he gathered them, put them in his cloak and went to see the Bishop. When he presented himself to the Bishop and dropped the flowers, everybody was in awe. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe had appeared on his cloak. The Bishop felt guilty for not believing Juan Diego, and he had the church built. An amazing and beautiful true story! In Mexico, every December 12th is celebrated for our Lady of Guadalupe. We start of with “Las Mañanitas” at 5:00am. “Las Mañanitas” is a song similar to the English happy birthday song, but it is very poetic and full of figurative language. “Las Mañanitas” are sung to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and there is a mariachi band that sings them. Later on throughout the day there are special masses for Our Lady of Guadalupe. For example, in my parish the kids dress up in indigenous clothing and do a dance bringing the offerings. They also reenact the story of Juan Diego. There are beautiful celebrations that the community shares. Our Holy Mother is very important in our lives. Due to this beautiful history that the Mexican community has with Mary, we are very devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are many stories of miracles she has done for people. In fact there is even a TV show called “Las Rosas de Guadalupe” where people write their story and their connection with “La Virgen” and how she helped them. As for me, I am very thankful for Our Lady of Guadalupe. My mom is very devoted to her and she even gave me the middle name Guadalupe. In my house we have a big Our Lady of Guadalupe frame surrounded with beautiful lights and flowers. This is where we go if we want to pray to her. Every morning before I go to school, I ask her to guide me through the day and to help me learn not just in school but in my spiritual life. I also ask her to make me into a stronger woman like she is. I pray to her for so many things and like the people from the show she too has helped out a lot! My little brother is going through a bad stage and I was so concerned that he would have to go to the local high school, where people get killed due to gang violence. The thought of him going to such a dangerous school really frightened me. Everyday I would pray to Our Lady de Guadalupe to help us out, and one day he got an acceptance letter to the UIC College Prep. I was amazed, and very thankful! Our Lady of Guadalupe truly does miracles; I mean, what mother wouldn’t help her children out? She has a special place for us in her heart, and frankly, she occupies a big space in mine. |
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