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• Register now for all 2020 summer courses.  The last day to register for any course is Tuesday, June 2 (the summer term begins on June 1).  All tuition must be paid ahead of time by Thursday, May 21, no matter when a course actually has its first day.  If you later decide to drop a course you must do so by June 2 in order to get a full refund on the tuition, no matter when a course actually has its first day. Currently, three courses are being offered, LS-8300: Liturgical Music for Ministerial Leaders (3 units) with Christopher Wemp, June 15 - July 17; NT-8270: Paul's Letters: Context and Theology (3 units) with Jean-Francois Racine, June 8 - July 3; and SP-8250: Toward a Spirituality of the Creative Life (3 units) with Carrie Rehak, June 1- July 12. 
• JST updates on COVID-19 can be found here.   This page links also to the SCU and GTU updates.
• The JST Resource page for COVID-19 lists resources for faith and prayer, wellness, financial assistance, and service. 
• JST students who are experiencing financial need as a result of COVID-19 developments:
  1. Please see the SCU Financial Aid page for information on the SCU Special Assistance Fund, and submit the request at this link.  
  2. Those who require additional support may also apply for JST Supplemental Assistance at this link.  The application deadline is April 27, 2020. For more information, please contact Paul Kircher at pkircher@scu.edu

The Road and the Rainbow  Maureen Pratt, JST MTS student, shared this column she wrote for the Catholic News Service, as we continue self-isolation with all of our pent-up joy from Easter! It was published in the Trenton Monitor.

Blissful Surprises

 

One day, somebody placed a plateful of sweets at my door

The next day somebody invited me for a meal

Then came e-mails checking on me

And messages of wisdom from my friends

Give thanks to the Lord, His love endures forever!

 

Early this morning I can only see a bit 

but soon there will be a dazzling light of freedom and peace

If only I can wait.

I can hear from my room the singing of birds.

Reminding me, the shelter-in-place of the moment 

does not prevent me from living.

 

Who is affected when you find things differently from what you expected?

I began to retrace my ways and began complaining

After all, in humility they are just in front of me, though I fail to notice them.

I miss someone close and important things, but these teach me to embrace change

Change in how I perceive things, people and relations 

 

Something new has grown today

Unexpected, uncontrollable and not reduced to a calendar date

Look, He’s not here, He is risen

When you’re surprised and nothing seems fulfilled in your expectations

You’re in the best place of resurrection

 

Without limits, He uncovers what is hidden

Without limits, He moves what blocks one’s heart to action

Without limits, He heals without asking anything in return

So abundant is His compassion

Wondrously, this will continue in our lives and in our world

 

Give thanks to the Lord, His mercy endures forever.

Today is the day that the Lord has made

We know the whole story, it ended lovingly for us and continues to be

With deep gratitude, with hope let this resonate

in our minds, our hearts and in our witnessing.

 

A blessed easter indeed!

Kathryn Barush contributed this little video/blog offering to the Spiritual Care & Ethical Leadership initiative at GTU, Labyrinth: A Pilgrimage in Place. See the video and read the blog.