Mercy Mondays: Chaplain’s Corner – A spiritual welcome for the new school year

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Friends of Salve,

It’s so good to be here on campus! As many of you know, I began at my time here at Salve Regina during the pandemic, and I am thrilled to be on campus and mask-free (fingers-crossed). Over the past two years, I have been able to get to know the community and become part of it. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue our spiritual journey together.

As many of you know, I am the University chaplain who happens to be a Catholic priest — but as a chaplain, I tend to see myself as the spiritual director for anyone of any faith at the University. I am here for everyone, and I welcome all who are seeking God, wherever you are at on your spiritual journey. No matter from what faith tradition you come from, we are all encouraged to grow spiritually during our time here.

The Mercy Center for Spiritual Life is a place where there are many opportunities to help us all grow through prayer, meditation, devotions, public worship and much more. During the last few years, I’ve been working with numerous members of different faith traditions on Aquidneck Island, and I welcome the opportunity to speak with anyone who is seeking direction in finding a place of worship or space to encounter God.

Our Lady of Mercy Chapel is open to all students, faculty and staff of all faith traditions. It’s a place to encounter the Divine in the silence of the day when the beauty of God the Creator can be seen through the sunshine in its various stained-glass windows. It’s a place to enter the meditative prayer in the style of Taizé, while allowing time for other essential practices. The chapel is a peaceful place to come and listen to Sacred Scriptures during the various Mass times without the need to be Catholic or “religious.”

That being said, as a Catholic University, our spiritual heritage believes that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith.

“The Eucharist is a marvelous event in which Jesus Christ, our life, makes His presence felt,” Pope Francis once said during a homily at Mass at Santa Marta in February 2014. “To participate in Mass is to live once again the passion and the redemptive death of the Lord. It is a theophany: the Lord makes Himself present on the altar.”

Following the example of Pope Francis, I would like to invite you to rediscover the beauty that is concealed in the Eucharistic celebration of the Mass.

This year a new Mass time to partake in the Eucharist has been added to the schedule on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. This is to encourage students to take 20-30 minutes out of their weekly schedule to spend time with God, break open the Bible and share fellowship.

Please join me for Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel on Sundays at 5 p.m., Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

I look forward to seeing you there! Also, feel free to please stop by my office anytime. I am in the garden level of the chapel in Room 006.

Peace,
Fr. Scott
scott.pontes@salve.edu

This post is part of an ongoing series called Mercy Mondays that highlights Salve Regina’s dedication to its Mercy Mission. Search the tag Mercy Mission for more updates on the Mercy branches of Salve Regina.