UT-C students welcome Bishop Beckman to Newman Center for food and fellowship
By Claire Collins
Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated Mass on Sept. 29 at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Newman Center for the students, staff, and FOCUS team serving the campus.
The UT-C Newman Center has been in its current building since 1989, but its status was made official by UT-C’s president in 1962. The ministry hosts social events, small groups, and sacraments for the Catholic students in Chattanooga, including two weeknight Mass and dinner events, where students on campus are invited to join for food and fellowship.
The campus also boasts a team of missionaries from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students whose mission is to share the Gospel on campus and invite students into lifelong Catholic mission through small group Bible studies and intentional mentorship.
David Hamilton, FOCUS team director at UT-C and a seventh-year missionary from Knoxville, was thankful for the time Bishop Beckman spent with the students.
Bishop Mark Beckman talks with David Hamilton, FOCUS team director at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, as the bishop visits the UT-C Newman Center on Sept. 29. Mr. Hamilton is holding his young son, Augustine. (Photo Claire Collins)
“We are deeply grateful that our bishop, Bishop Beckman, made time to come down to UT-C, celebrate the holy Mass, and connect with us FOCUS missionaries and our students. As a prince of the Church and descendent of the Apostles, his presence lifted our hearts and kindled greater love and excitement for his episcopacy,” Mr. Hamilton said.
Bishop Beckman shared with the students that he fondly remembered spending time with Monsignor Al Humbrecht in Chattanooga as a seminarian, and that he was glad to be able to spend time celebrating Mass with them. He also shared details about his crosier’s East Tennessee roots, being made from cedar in Lebanon, Tenn., a nod to the historic cedar trees of Lebanon.
Bishop Beckman was joined by the UT-C chaplain, Father Michael Hendershott, and Deacon Brian Gabor, who serves as a campus minister at the UT-C Newman Center.
Bishop Beckman’s homily reminded the students of the hope we should all have knowing the humanity of those whom God called to begin His Church and ministry, specifically those Apostles whom he called to be shepherds and to make disciples.
“One of the things that I love about Mark’s Gospel is that his portrayal of the disciples is so human. He does not hesitate to point out their shortcomings, their failures, their weakness, and even their betrayals. And that should give all of us hope when we fail,” the bishop said.
Bishop Beckman then spoke about the Gospel reading in which John is recorded speaking with Jesus about a man driving out demons in Jesus’ name but not following in His company. Jesus rebukes John, reminding him that, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41).
Bishop Beckman then humorously recounted a time when his cousin paid a visit to him as a child. She was playing with his neighbor, someone he was not fond of, and when he asked why, she said, “grow up.”
In the same way, he said, Jesus was calling on John to “grow up” in a sense, and realize that those who do good in the name of Jesus are not against him, but with him. And similarly, we ought to see the good of others, whether they are seemingly with us or against us, and be willing to acknowledge and join their efforts and be inspired by them to actions of love.
“If something is causing you to have a closed heart to others, then do what Jesus said, cut it off,” Bishop Beckman said, reminding them that this hardness of heart is what we have to ask God to remove in order to let love propel us forward and drive out divisions in our Church and world.
Bishop Beckman then closed his homily, recounting the words of his good priest friend in response to his nervousness about accepting the call to be bishop.
“You’re going to be a successor of the Apostles. Remember what those Twelve were like and how many mistakes they made,” he noted.
Bishop Beckman is with, from left, Deacon Brian Gabor, Father Michael Hendershott, and altar servers Tony Zglav, Collins Self, and Kestutis Dubininkas. (Photo Claire Collins)
He spoke of the humanness of the Apostles and how their own failings in the midst of their faithfulness gave him comfort to accept this invitation of the Holy Spirit to be the next bishop of Knoxville.
Bishop Beckman then shared a meal with the students and staff at the Mayor’s Inn Bed and Breakfast next door that was hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
Chloe Wesson, a sophomore at UT-C and co-director of events for the Newman Center, spoke about how important it was for the community to have the presence of Bishop Beckman at their student Mass.
“It’s really great, and it means a lot that he’s here. I think this is pretty big for our community, and it shows just how much he cares about us. This community is small, but it’s growing, and I think the fact that the bishop (came) is showing that we are growing and even he wants us to succeed in our mission,” Chloe said.
Collins Self, a junior and a recent convert to the Catholic faith, was able to experience his first time serving at Mass during Bishop Beckman’s visit.
“It means a lot that Bishop Beckman came to celebrate Mass,” Collins said. “Just having the fullness of the Church in our little Catholic center was amazing. I can tell the community really enjoyed it, and it brought so many people here together.”
Collins also quoted St. Ignatius of Antioch, who said, “Where your bishop is, there is Christ,” to emphasize just how important Bishop Beckman’s presence was, uniting their small Catholic center with the whole of the Church throughout the ages.
