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CATHOLIC STUDENT ORGANIZATION
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.
ABOUT US
Fellowship: We invite UNH students to grow in faith, courage,
and service to others in accordance with Catholic teaching.
Twitter: @unh_cso Phone: 603 868-2666, Ext. 113 Website:
https://wildcatlink.unh.edu/organization/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
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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
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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
Liz Rogers: How CSO retreats form us
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.
The primary reason for evangelization is the love of Jesus. Pope
Francis
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Catholic Student Organization Issue 1: April 2014
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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.
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.
While Cunningham sings at the student Mass on Sundays, she also
volunteers at Edge, the middle school ministry.
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.
Cunningham has plans for next semester, as
Lea Cunningham, UNH sophomore, involved in many ways
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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.
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!
Even with a busy schedule, Cunningham makes time for the most
important thing: prayer.
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.
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.
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Catholic Student Organization Issue 1: April 2014
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Donec interdum
Consectetuer:
From the Presidents desk: A year in review
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. 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.
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.
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.