May you find the stirrings of new life as we pass through this Triduum apart, and yet together. 

Dear JST Community,

As we enter into Holy Week, we witness the suffering of the world in the midst of COVID-19 and all its effects. As a school community engaged in our mission of theological education and formation for ministry, may we be attuned to what God is revealing to us, and what our unique role is in responding to the pandemic.

This Tuesday evening, April  7, at 6:45 p.m., all JST students are welcome to a conversation with Interim Dean Alison Benders, who will share some perspectives on COVID-19 and invite students’ questions, reflections and concerns.  Please see the calendar entry below for further information and the zoom link.

Blessings of Holy Week!  May we die and rise once again with Christ, our light and our hope.

Paul

• Good Friday, April 10, is a GTU and SCU holiday.  There are no classes. The Magis will be published on Thursday, April 9.
• JST updates on COVID-19 can be found here.   This page links also to the SCU and GTU updates.
• If you are a JST student and need financial assistance as a result of COVID-19 developments, please see the list of resources on the JST COVID-19 page - see the March 27 update.
• Here are some virtual resources for mental health for JST students:
  • SilverCloud:    This is a clinically proven online mental health platform, available through August 2020 to all JST-SCU students.  To sign up, please visit gsh.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/ and choose “Santa Clara University” from the drop-down menu to get started.   To confirm your eligibility, you will need to use your school-issued scu.edu e-mail address.
  • BetterHelp:   BetterHelp provides professional counseling by licensed therapists 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via phone, video-conferencing, text, or chat.  JST students on the SCU health insurance plan may access this free of charge at this link.  If you are not on the SCU student health insurance, this service is available for $40-70/week at this link.  
• For assistance with Moodle, visit the Moodle Help page for students. You can also access the help page by logging into Moodle, and clicking "site home" on the left side of your screen.
• If you are a JST student and would like to lead or participate in a faith-sharing or prayer group virtually with other students, please e-mail pkircher@scu.edu.

Sara Postlethwaite, VDMF, JST S.T.L. student, created this video reflection for the Art & Pilgrimage seminar taught by Kate Barush. Sara composed and performed the music. Virtual Labyrinth Walk

To all that is chaotic

in you,

let there come silence.

 

Let there be

a calming

of the clamoring,

a stilling

of the voices that

have laid their claim

on you,

that have made their

home in you,

 

that go with you

even to the

holy places

but will not

let you rest,

will not let you

hear your life

with wholeness

or feel the grace

that fashioned you.

 

Let what distracts you

cease.

Let what divides you

cease.

Let there come an end

to what diminishes

and demeans,

and let depart

all that keeps you

in its cage.

 

Let there be

an opening

into the quiet

that lies beneath

the chaos,

where you find

the peace

you did not think

possible

and see what shimmers

within the storm.

 

from The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief

Submitted by Mary Beth Lamb, received from Suzanne Gagne Bregman, JST Alumna