CECILIA ENGBERT
STAFF WRITER
Over 70 students, faculty and staff members gathered in Christ the King Chapel Friday, Sept. 6, for a holy hour in thanksgiving for the new school year at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
The first Friday holy hour was an opportunity for members of the university to gather in the candlelit chapel and offer the first fruits of the new academic year to the Lord. The Rev. Luke Robertson, TOR, led the reflection during adoration, following which the congregation prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy together.
In keeping with the theme for this academic year, “I am the Bread of Life,” Robertson’s reflection centered on the call to be a Eucharistic people.
“We are not simply a Eucharistic people inside the church, and then once we walk outside the door, it leaves us,” said Robertson. “We are a Eucharistic people all the time. One of the ways in which we celebrate that and express that is in how we reach out to others.”
Building on the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s famous quote, “Do small things with great love,” Robertson talked about how even the least significant of deeds can have incredible value.
The reflection left a particular impact on junior Regina Schnipke. “It reminded me so much of what I want to do in my life,” she said. “Everybody around here on campus is like that, doing small things with great love. And I desire to do the same thing. Everyone is an example here at Franciscan, and that is beautiful.”
Students in attendance recognized what a unique blessing it is to have Eucharistic adoration on campus and that, as Robertson said, it should never be taken for granted but should bring great joy and gratitude.
“I would encourage people to take advantage of this for sure,” said freshman Clare McGahan. “We literally have Jesus’ physical presence on campus, and that we have that accessible to us is a wonderful blessing. It definitely impacts your life, going to adoration.”