Albertus Magnus College Observes Lent With Compassion

New Haven, Conn., February 19, 2021 – In keeping with the Four Pillars of the Dominican Tradition:  Study, Prayer, Community, and Service, Albertus Magnus College will observe the season of Lent with a common theme:  Compassion.  A series of virtual and in-person, yet socially distanced events are planned on campus to embrace the teachings of Meister Eckhart – the theologian and philosopher who saw good in all.  The media is invited to cover these community activities and to embrace the gift of compassion.  As Dominican Meister Eckhart reminds us, “Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion.”

February 22 at 5:00 p.m. – Preaching Compassion Through Art:  A Celebration of Fra Angelico.  Art and Art Therapy students and faculty will virtually reflect on pieces of their art through the lens of compassion. 

March 1 at 5:00 p.m. – Pursuing Truth and Justice Panel:  Racial Disparities and Biases in Maternal Health Care.  Leonne Tanis, Student Midwife at the Community of Hope Family Health and Birth Center in Washington, D.C., is the presenter of this virtual event.  Dr. Rosemary Whelan, Associate Professor of Biology is the respondent, and Dr. Robert Bourgeois, Professor and Director of Albertus’ Global Studies Program, is the moderator.  This panel is co-sponsored by Dominican Ministries, the Department of Biology, and the Health Sciences Program.

March 23 (throughout the day) – Easter Cards for Mary Wade Home.  Students and staff will prepare Easter Cards by the fireplace at the Hubert Campus Center (831 Winchester Avenue, New Haven) to express holiday wishes to those residing in this nursing/assisted living facility.  This connection is especially poignant in this COVID-era.

March 27 at 10:00 am – Community Garden Clean-up.  Located between Siena and Sansbury Halls, College volunteers will prepare the area that incorporates sustainability practices and engage neighboring communities.  As of this date, Albertus has donated nearly 684 pounds of produce to St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen and the Keefe Food Pantry in response to the growing issue of food insecurity in the community.

March 30 at 3:30 pm and April 2 (Good Friday) at 11:00 a.m. – Outdoor Stations of the Cross for the Suffering of the World.  Participants from the College community will gather at Rosary Hall (700 Prospect Street, New Haven) to begin a walk to 14 stations on campus – each representing some suffering in our world today such as victims of trafficking; the homeless; victims of COVID-19; the hungry; victims of violence, inequity, and racism in our society; the plight of immigrants and DACA students; and the devastation of the earth.  The rain date is March 31.

 

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”

--Meister Eckhart