Home Away from Home | Sydney Fisher

The last few months, I’ve been given this beautiful desire to pray, specifically the desire to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It’s as if the Father is saying, “Come, sit with Me. I want to be with you.” I’m often filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and love when I’m invited by Jesus Himself to sit at His feet and tell Him everything in my heart. What an honor! However, I didn’t always value the power of prayer until I came to college and immersed myself in the St. Teresa of Calcutta Newman Center at the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK).

It was on a college visit as a senior in high school when I first walked through the doors of the Newman Center. I hadn’t decided where I was going to college, and I was curious whether or not I could envision myself at this particular place that I had heard so much about. As soon as I walked into the chapel, I found our Lord exposed in a monstrance sitting upon the altar. I knew at that moment that if I chose to attend UNK, I would have a home.

Now, with an entire semester of college at UNK in the books, I can say that I have definitely found a home in the Newman Center, and I’ve grown immensely in my spiritual life because of it. This would not be possible without the passion that Father Hock, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionaries and the rest of the Newman staff exhibit to form us in the Catholic faith.

The Newman Center’s focus on community provides an atmosphere of love and support, which removed the fear of loneliness I felt when I first entered college. The residential houses at Newman have provided me and many others with a place to do homework, relax and to simply feel at home when our tiny dorm rooms aren’t doing the trick. It’s an incredibly supportive community that encourages you to dive deeper into a relationship with Christ. Not only does the community draw me in, but the opportunities the Newman Center gives are just as formative.

One of the first opportunities we were given to deepen our faith life was the Emmaus Retreat. This retreat allowed us to attend spiritual direction and provided us with prayer meditations over the Scripture story of the road to Emmaus. My spiritual director was Sister Lumen from the Sisters of Life, who traveled from Denver to be with us for the week. It was an amazing experience to see her reliance on God and our Mother Mary and how she lives out her vocation. I saw so many graces come from this retreat, which was my first experience with spiritual direction. I began to understand more deeply how I can better put my identity in Christ.

Additionally, we’re made aware of many prayer opportunities such as novenas that we’re encouraged to participate in together, and many of us students are currently partaking in a 33-Day Marian consecration that will end on Dec. 8 — the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

The most recent opportunity that the Newman Center has offered for the faith formation of students was the Father’s House Retreat. It took place Nov. 4-6 at St. Ann’s in Lexington. In the midst of a very busy few weeks of school, it was a much-needed weekend of prayer and rest. Going in with little to no expectations, I was able to anticipate nothing and appreciate everything. It was encouraged that we turn our cell phones off for the weekend, and by doing this, I realized how much more we can let God into our day, as well as build relationships with those around us when we’re not constantly reaching for a source of comfort that ultimately leaves us feeling more isolated than connected.

The purpose of the retreat was clear: to view God, our heavenly Father, in a way that we may never have before. Through the guided meditations on the parable of the prodigal son and talks given by Father Hock and the FOCUS missionaries, we were able to more deeply encounter God’s love in our own, individual ways.

During this retreat, many things were revealed to me. First, that God has enlisted me to fight in this spiritual battle we’re in and has given me a role that I need to actively discern more intently. Second, that I need to surrender myself to Him in a much deeper way. And third, that He is very present in preparing me to answer the call to my vocation that I’m not fully aware of yet. I was also filled with the knowledge that God will eventually reveal these things to me in his own perfect timing.

Throughout this weekend retreat, I was able to truly allow the Lord to gaze upon my face, and I on Him. For the first time, I felt a sense of peace in everything I brought to the Lord. I felt as though I was able to place my burdens at the feet of Jesus and move forward trusting that He’ll be with me through it all. I finally felt as though I’m worthy of discerning and answering God’s call for my life, even when I feel God is calling me higher.

I’m confident that I would not be the same person I am today without the influence that the Newman Center has had on me and the experiences it provides the students who get involved. I encourage any high school student visiting UNK to stop by the Newman Center, because you’ll find exactly what I found when I came — our Lord living truly present in the Eucharist and in all of those around us.

Sydney Fisher is a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Kearney pursuing a degree in elementary education. 

Read our latest issue of West Nebraska Catholic magazine and Mother's article here: https://catholicmagazines.org/magazine-archive/west-nebraska-catholic/gi012