Longhorn
Catholic
Ministry Team
Director
Fr. Dave Farnum, CSP
ext. 14, frdave@utcatholic.org
Associate Director
Fr. Ed Koharchik, CSP
ext. 12, edcsp@utcatholic.org
Pastoral Staff
Fr. Bob Scott, CSP
bscott@staustin.org
Deacon John De La Garza, Jr.
ext. 18, john@utcatholic.org
Business Administrator
Pat Martin
ext. 11, pat@utcatholic.org
Receptionist
Beth Boren
ext. 10, frontdesk@utcatholic.org
Administrative Assistant
Brandon Kraft
kraft@utcatholic.org
Mass Schedule
Sunday Mass
9AM 11:30AM, 5PM & 8PM
Daily Mass
Mon, Wed, Fri: 12:05PM
Tues, Thurs: 12:30PM
Vol.1, Iss. 1 • December 2005
University Catholic Center
A MESSAGE
from the Director...
Fr. Dave Farnum, CSP
W e lcome to the “new and improved” Catholic Center at The University of Texas in Austin! For those of
you who haven’t been by the corner of 21st and University in a while, exciting changes have taken
place. Three years ago we opened the doors to a new campus ministry facility equipped to serve the needs of
Catholic UT students into the 21st Century. In the fall of 2004, I arrived as the new director (some of you will
remember me from an earlier assignment as associate director from 1998-2001). What I encountered upon my
return was exciting:
† A premiere secular university with an estimated 13,000 Catholic students on campus
† 4 spirit-filled Sunday masses attended by 1,300 students, faculty, staff and resident community
(undergrads make up 80% of our attendance)
† 25 student leaders coordinating over a dozen different social, service and spiritual organizations
† A financially generous faith community, with room to grow in the area of cultivating student
stewardship
What are today’s Catholic students like? Many come to the UCC from active youth programs in their parishes
and dioceses. These young men and women are familiar with youth retreats, service projects and frequent Mass
attendance. Other students have very little faith formation and participation in parish life. They are seekers who
are looking for answers, meaningful relationships, and a life purpose. Today’s UT students are smart and at the
top of their game academically. As a campus minister at a large state university, I want to make sure that a
graduating senior leaves UT not only with an excellent academic degree, but with a mature and strong Catholic
Christian identity.
The future is bright at the University Catholic
Center! In the months ahead, you will hear
more about how the Holy Spirit is energizing
the students, the prayer and UCC activities.
In the meantime, drop me a note or email
(frdave@utcatholic.org) and let me know what’s
going on in your life. If it’s been a while since
you’ve visited The University of Texas, stop by the
corner of 21st and University, your spiritual home
here in Austin, introduce yourself, and discover
the new and improved UCC!
 Longhorn Catholic
Student
The University Catholic Center is a faith community serving students, faculty,
and staff of the University of Texas at Austin. At the heart of this community

LEADERSHIP
is an assembly of over 25 student leaders who form the Student Leadership
Group. Here’s a snapshot of these good people and their ministries:

Group
† Long-time resident community
member Kathy Hackett coordinates
UCC students to lead Communion
services for the residents of the
Austin State School for mentally
handicapped people each Sunday
(see article on pg. 5).

† Co-Coordinators Lauren Morton

and Christina Castro will lead
Longhorn Awakening #40, a retreat
held every semester with personal
discussions, prayer, spiritual activities,
faith sharing, and community building
† Jeffrey Jose, Norson Fernandez and † Jenn Svetlik, along with long-time
(see article on pg. 3).
Rachel Sanchez lead Couples for resident community member
Christ Youth – a Filipino student group Jim Harrington, coordinates the
† Michael Raia leads Before the Throne,
meeting weekly for fellowship and Social Justice Team – this group is
the UCC Praise and Worship music
spiritual development. responsible for the UCC study,
group composed of a 10-student
advocacy, and service projects in
band. They create bi-weekly services
† Brandon Kraft is the president of the Austin area putting Catholic
at the UCC as well as events
Lambda Omega Alpha – the Catholic spirituality into action.
throughout the state.
fraternity focused on service,
social and spiritual activities for † Cathy Bundy is the president of
† Adam Schons is head chef of Carbos
undergraduate Catholic men. More STRONG (Sharing The Rewards Of
for Christ – a weekly luncheon
than 50 UT students are active in kNowing God). This UCC student
following the Wednesday noon
this organization that just celebrated group leads high school retreat
Mass, cooked by students. This meal
its 15th anniversary. programs for parishes throughout
regularly attracts 70 hungry students
the Diocese of Austin.
allowing for great fellowship.
† Alison Lawrence and Matt Stehling
coordinate the Arteaga Mission Trip † Adam Bossy heads up
† David Bierschenk stewards Catholic
– an alternative Spring break mission Communications – a group of
Longhorns for Life – a pro-life
trip to Mexico to serve the poor students who create, update, and
advocacy student group which raises
and grow in faith. Approximately maintain the UCC website and other
funds, awareness and the level of
35 students participate each spring. communications materials used to
discussion related to life issues from
In addition, Brandon Kraft leads a evangelize the community of faith.
conception to natural death.
summer mission trip to an Indian
reservation in Bapchule, Arizona † Nate Erickson, Claudia Torres and
† Lauren Morton heads up the
along with Catholic students from Hyun Gu Kang shepherd University
Catholic Student Association – the
the University of Notre Dame in Graduates and Professionals (UGAP)
officially recognized Catholic student
South Bend. – this graduate student and young
organization at the University of
business professionals group meets
Texas. This group sponsors spiritual,
† Laura Shrader is the president of Mu weekly for faith sharing, social
social and service activities for the
Epsilon Theta – a Catholic sorority activities, and service projects.
UCC community.
focused on service, social and
spiritual activities for undergraduate † Mary Phan and Linda Pham convene
† Vanessa Mena leads Compass
Catholic women at UT. More than the Vietnamese Student Group which
– a student-led bible study and
100 female students participate in meets weekly for fellowship and
catechism reflection group which
this vibrant organization. spiritual development.
meets weekly.

University Catholic Center

2 December 2005
 Longhorn Catholic

LONGHORN AWAKENING For the 39th time, 63 retreatants gathered in Jarrell,

#39 Texas to deepen their faith and build up the Body
of Christ. Coordinated by UCC students Michaela
Palmieri and George Malinoff, 110 staffers helped the
retreatants explore the theme, “Called to Serve.”

Many of the students who attended the retreat were

freshmen, getting their introduction to the UCC faith
community by meeting spirit-filled Catholic students.
The power of this kind of retreat is its emphasis on
peer-to-peer ministry. Paulist Fathers Dave Farnum and
Ed Koharchik were on site throughout the weekend to
offer spiritual support and to celebrate the Sacraments
of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

Awakening is the highlight of the semester for students

Are you a Longhorn Awakening alumni? Let Father Dave
know of your experiences by sending him an email at
frdave@utcatholic.org. We’ll publish some of your memories
in future editions of LONGHORN CATHOLIC.
at the University Catholic Center. From this weekend,
students return to Austin energized to join other UCC
service and spiritual organizations such as Mu Epsilon
Theta (the Catholic sorority), Lambda Omega Alpha
(the Catholic fraternity), and STRONG (the retreat
team that goes out to area parishes to lead youth
retreats).

Stewardship Corner ...offering gifts of time, talent & treasure

$6,000

$5,000
$5,581

A new way of giving has been introduced to University Catholic Center $4,355 $4,364
benefactors. ParishPay allows alumni, parents, students, resident community $4,000
$3,723
members, and friends of the University Catholic Center to quickly, easily, and $3,523
$3,193
safely contribute regularly to the Catholic ministry for students at The University $3,000 $2,743
of Texas. Through ParishPay, gifts can be automatically debited from checking
or savings accounts and credit cards. Gifts are processed on the 5th of every
month. $2,000

In the few short months since the UCC joined the ParishPay program, more than
$1,000
68 individuals have taken advantage of this offering program and contribute
more than $72,000 per year. Could you give $20 per month to support the
ministry? Please consider making the UCC part of your stewardship plan. Sign $0
May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
up at www.parishpay.com or call 866-Parish-1.

University Catholic Center

3 December 2005
 Longhorn Catholic

ALUMNI PROFILE
Rachel Herrera
Rachel Herrera graduated from UT with a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American
Studies. She just began her two-year commitment as a missionary at the Finca
del Niño orphanage in Honduras with Children of the Farm. While a member
of the University Catholic Center, she was active with Longhorn Awakening and
the Social Justice Committee. Before Rachel left for Honduras, she remained
active at the UCC while working for Posada Esperanza, a shelter for immigrant
women and children. Listen to Rachel’s first impressions as a foreign missionary
in her own words...
Rachel and her parents, just before her departure

monday, 19 september 2005

Only 7 more days until we leave for Honduras...the
timeline for Finca volunteers includes 2 months of
language school in Guatemala prior to arrival then job
training for the months of October and November.
sunday, 23 october 2005
This past week we had a good scare with Hurricane
Wilma. As the hurricane hit a level 5, the army sent
in huge tarp-covered trucks to evacuate the Finca and
the surrounding areas. We spent two days at the local
convent in Trujillo. Imagine an entire orphanage, plus
Finca neighbors crammed into three rooms. Upon our
return to the orphanage almost every member of our
house was promptly attacked by head lice that multi-
plied at rates worthy of making it to the Guinness Book
of World Records.
In my three short weeks here I have experienced quite a
bit: we found a pig and dubbed him the Finca mascot,
exploded an oven, went crab chasing on the soccer
field, made crab stew, battled hurricanes, and head
lice...and I have met some of the most awesome kids in
my entire life.
Through it all, the kids have been the source of keep-
ing my spirits high and offering kind smiles each time I
see them...which is constantly. This place is basically a
huge family made up of volunteers, house parents, kids,
support staff, and three religious sisters; we live, eat,
play, cry, learn, pray, laugh, and grow together. I real-
ized very quickly that each of us are just a brief moment
in these kids’ lives and the only real consistency they
will ever know as family is one another.
I received my position; Auxilio Comunal, which literally
translates to Community Aid, but encompasses a bit
more. I felt that community outreach should be more
than just the orphanage as an institution or individual
volunteers building and maintaining relationships with
the surrounding communities...On Wednesday after-
noons I work with two other girls heading up a local
girls group, kind of like a girl scouts program; I also run
the food bodega/store for the local communities; and I
serve as a tutor on an as-needed basis...
We are slowly learning about each of the children and
how they came to end up at the Finca. The human spir-
it and what it can endure never ceases to amaze me...

Each day begins promptly at 5:45 with a prayer service Muchisimo paz,
and a chance to enjoy the most refreshing moment Rachel (Raquelita)
of the day...My first two weeks here were filled with
meetings, orientations, and training sessions. So, even
though I’ve been here several weeks, for the first time I
finally feel like I’m actually HERE.

University Catholic Center

4 December 2005
 Longhorn Catholic

COMMUNITY OUTREACH † AUSTIN STATE SCHOOL

Each Sunday, more than 25 students these UT students providing an a unique chance to communicate
meet at the University Catholic opportunity for Catholic worship, with typical college students.
Center under the guidance of but they are also allowing the This is a meaningful experience

“
longtime UCC resident community residents of the Austin State School of interaction they would not
member, Kathy Hackett, to drive to otherwise receive.
the Austin State School.

The Austin State School is a

This is a The residents of the school in
turn offer a unique experience to
residential facility serving individuals
with mental retardation and other
meaningful UT students. The college students
have a chance to see God’s love
developmental disabilities. The
UT student ministers escort the
experience of shining through the lives of these
residents. Our archives reveal that
residents to the chapel for a Sunday
communion service.
interaction the the spiritual relationship between
the University Catholic community

The residents of the Austin State Austin State and Austin State School goes back
to 1943 and possibly earlier.
School are typically severely
mentally challenged adults who School residents During the month of December,
would have no other access to
would not otherwise Kathy and our student volunteers

”
Catholic worship. The UT students will be distributing over 150
sit with the residents on an
individual basis and sing, pray and receive. Christmas presents from the UCC
community to the Austin State
follow the service. Not only are School residents.

Each Sunday, UCC students attend mass with Austin State School residents—this relationship
between the two dates back to 1943.

University Catholic Center

5 December 2005
 Longhorn
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