CATHOLIC

STUDENT ORGANIZATION
ABOUT US

Fellowship: We invite UNH

students to grow in faith,
courage, and service to others
in accordance with Catholic
teaching.

The Catholic Student Organization is home

to about 30 members within the UNH
community who come for prayer, retreats,
fundraisers, community service, music
ministries, and Jesus.

Twitter: @unh_cso
Phone: 603 868-2666, Ext. 113
Website:
https://wildcatlink.unh.edu/organizat
ion/cso

"Ask, and it will be given to

you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be
opened to you. -Matthew 7:7

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Catholic Student Organization

Issue 1: April 2014

Liz Rogers: How CSO retreats form us

The Catholic Student
Organization (CSO) recently
participated in a Fall retreat at
St. Methodios Retreat Center in
Contoocook, New Hampshire.
Each semester, CSO makes a
weekend getaway to reconnect
with their peers, deepen their
relationship with God, and to
have fun!
Many team-building exercises
were offered, as well as
spiritual talks led by members
of the organization. The topics
differed to allow students to
have a choice in the talks they
attended. Members of the
organization are very involved
in the planning process of each
retreat. The itinerary is
planned in a way that allows
for plenty of free time.
Participants have ample time to
explore the nature trails, spend

time by themselves, and also to

be with friends.
Retreats provide a unique
experience for students to get
away from the hustle and
bustle of campus life. CSO
purposefully chooses remote
locations so that the experience
can be fulfilling and calming.
Unforgettable friendships are
formed on these trips. Retreats
emphasize the importance of a
safe zone where participants
may feel comfortable sharing
information that will not leave
the center. This creates an
environment that allows

The primary reason for

evangelization is the love of Jesus.
Pope Francis

At the retreat, students

gathered together for a
group photo for the final
day, holding up the
banner they made during
the last

While a weekend
does not sound like much time, it can be just
enough to help give you the extra push you need
to get through a difficult semester. It also
provides the chance to make friends with people
who you had never met or never had the chance to
get to know. These events are some of the single
most important things that we do as an organization,
simply because of the bonds that are created. These
friendships and connections help to sustain us in
good times and bad, as well as giving us a place to
turn and to call home. Saint Thomas More Church
serves as a home away from home to many of us,
and these opportunities help us to get to know the
other members of this close-knit family.

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Catholic Student Organization

Issue 1: April 2014

The main thing I do is

music ministry, so
singing and playing
music for the 5 p.m.
student masses,
Cunningham said. I love
bringing others closer to
God through music, it's
something I feel called to
do.

Lea Cunningham, UNH sophomore, involved in

many ways
You might be wondering what some of our
students actually do within the Catholic
Student Organization and within the campus
ministry itself. Well, Lea Cunningham
exemplifies what CSO students strive for.

well. Fellow student, Rebecca Austin, and

Cunningham will take over for graduating
senior Ryan Cornelissens faith formation
series.
She does all these things because CSO, and
spreading her faith, are important to
Cunningham.

The main thing I do is music ministry, so

singing and playing music for the 5pm
student masses, Cunningham said. I love
bringing others closer to God through music,
it's something I feel called to do.

I have met some of my best friends through

CSO and music ministry. It truly is such a
welcoming community and new members are
always welcome!

While Cunningham sings at the student

Mass on Sundays, she also volunteers at
Edge, the middle school ministry.

Even with a busy schedule, Cunningham

makes time for the most important thing:
prayer.

I am passionate about working with middle

schoolers, because they're at a very critical
time of their lives and I want to help them to
stay on a good path and make good
decisions.

I try to pray often, but college life can be so

busy! However, when I wake up, I think of an
intention for the day and pray for that person
or situation throughout the day.

Cunningham has plans for next semester, as

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Catholic Student Organization

Issue 1: April 2014

From the Presidents desk: A

Donec
year in review
interdum
About Colleen OLeary, CSO president:
Colleen has been president for two academic years.
Colleen is very involved in the UNH community,
participating in different students organizations on
campus.
Colleen is a senior family studies major.

The Catholic Student Organization (CSO) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH)
believes that faith is central to education and our lives as human beings. CSO seeks to
empower each student with the resources and the support they need to deepen their faith, to
challenge their convictions, to form community, and to share their time in service with others.
Over the past year CSO has seen significant growth and has continued to provide
opportunities for students to develop their faith life. With the support of the St. Thomas More
community CSO has matured into an organization where there can be a balance of both
spiritual and social activities. Each fall and each spring CSO offers a retreat where students
have time away from campus to get to know God, their individual faith, and each other. The
balance CSO has created during these retreats has helped us cultivate a yearlong philosophy of
creating an environment where students from all walks of life can come, learn about
Catholicism, and ask questions to each other within our accepting community.
As a spiritual organization, CSO participates in religious opportunities at St Thomas More
and in the surrounding Catholic community. CSO arranges a student Mass every Sunday
night when UNH is in session. During Mass students lead the music ministry, lector, altar
serve, and are Eucharistic Ministers. Every Sunday following the student Mass there is a free
meal provided by parishioners. Even if students do not make it to Mass they are welcomed at
dinner. Once a month CSO attends adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction in
Portsmouth. For other spiritual activities CSO also prays the rosary, meditates and explores
different types of prayer.
Consectetuer:
CSO engages with the community. On Thursdays, members from CSO spend
the afternoon
passing out food at the St Thomas More Food Pantry. This opportunity for community service
allows students to assist those in need while seeing a side of our community that is not often
even considered. Once a month, members for CSO cook and serve dinner at the Crossroads
House in Portsmouth. With the assistance of the St Thomas More community, UNH, and other
supporting individuals CSO is able to provide many opportunities creating a strong
relationship between the communities of CSO, Saint Thomas More Parish and The University
of New Hampshire.
If you would like to offer monetary support for our campus ministry programs, please send your check to
St. Thomas More Catholic Student Organization, P.O. Box 620, Durham, NH 03824 or use your
credit card to donate via our online website at: stmdurham.org/campusministry.