Events:

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Do I have to be part of the Newman Club to attend events?

Anyone is welcome to attend any and every Newman Club event!

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How do I sign up for events?

To sign up for events, find the event listed on either Pioneer Link for Alfred State students or AU Connect for Alfred University students and click "attend" by the deadline.

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Can I suggest events?  How do I go about doing that?

The Newman Club and our three committees - spiritual, service, and social - plan upcoming events for the club.  If you're interested in joining any one of these, be sure to join us during our meetings! Both the Alfred State and Alfred University Newman Club meeting times will be announced soon.  

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The Mass:

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It's been a while since I've been to Mass, and I'm nervous to come back.  What do I do?

You're welcome to come back at any time.  Mass is held at 9:45am every Sunday.  St. Jude's parish is filled with students and community members who are very helpful and cordial.  Odds are the Mass hasn't changed too much since your last time attending, but it may feel different to you depending on when you last attended.  When we're younger, we may have viewed Mass as boring or dull, but when we're older we have the ability to see and comprehend the beauty and depth of it.

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I've messed up pretty bad since I last went to Mass, am I still welcome?

A lot of the time, people have a preconceived notion that if they messed up they are no longer welcome in church.  This isn't the case.  A church isn't for perfect people, especially since there are no perfect people on earth.  The church is there for people who are striving to become better, and God is always waiting for you to come back to Him with open arms.  Even some of our greatest Saints - such as St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Paul were at the lowest of points before reaching for God.

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I'm not Catholic, but I'm interested in checking out the Mass to see what it's about.  Would it be weird if I did?

It wouldn't be weird at all!  Any student of any faith background is more than welcome to attend Mass, and we have a few students with different faith backgrounds who attend most of the Masses we offer.  Since the Catholic Mass is different than most services, be sure to check out the order of the Mass so you can have a better idea of what happens during the Mass.

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Confession:

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When is confession offered?

Confession is offered at St. Jude chapel by appointment with Fr. Jim or Fr. Jeffrey, or you can go to regularly scheduled confession times at local parishes, found here.

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I haven't been to confession in a while, and I'm not sure what to do.

That's okay!  The first thing to do is do a good examination of conscience.  There are several online, such as this one, which will help you reflect on past actions.  When you're ready (and there's no one in the confessional), approach the priest.  Most confessionals have a kneeler with a screen in front of it and a chair so you can talk face to face with the priest.  Once the priest is ready, you can say, “Bless me, Father.  It’s been _________ long since my last Confession."  If you don't remember what to say once your into the confessional, don't be afraid to ask the priest!  They went to school for this, and they are more than willing to help you.

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I'm nervous to go to confession, what do I do?

Going to confession can be pretty daunting, whether you use the privacy screen or go face to face with the priest.  It seems like he'll recognize your voice later on and remember what you did, or he'll judge you for something that you've done.  In reality, the priest rarely remembers sins said in the confessional (and who said them), and they've heard it all.  You're not going to say something that will shock them.  Also, priests don't just hear confessions because it's part of their job.  They listen to confessions because they want to help you come closer to God.  Still a bit nervous?  Check out this article about confession from the priest's point of view.