The ice altar has returned! William Hurley (’25) and Andrew Hoeksema (’25) constructed an elaborate altar and other liturgical furnishings so that Fr. Nick could once again celebrate Mass in the frozen Pine Grove. See photos below and read more about the ice altar in an article from The Anchor, Hope College’s student newspaper.
Catholic Art Exhibition at the Kruizenga Art Museum
A new exhibition, Transforming Matter: Incarnation, Sacraments, and Saints in Catholic Art and Devotion, opened at the Hope College Kruizenga Art Museum on January 12 and runs through May 18. The exhibition is free and all are welcome.
Transforming Matter was curated by five students from the Hope Catholics student organization working under the supervision of Professor of Religion and SBI Executive Director Jared Ortiz. The exhibition features 25 artworks that reflect different aspects of Catholic theology and religious practice. Artworks in the exhibition include paintings, prints, sculptures, and liturgical objects that range in date from the late fifteenth to the early twenty-first centuries. All of the artworks in the exhibition belong to the Kruizenga Art Museum’s permanent collection.
“The Christian religion is gritty,” explains Professor Ortiz. “God became flesh and appeared as a baby born in a barn in a forgotten corner of the Roman empire. He lived through every stage of human existence—from a little tiny embryo to a full-grown adult—in order to restore every stage of human life back to communion with God. He was killed on a cross and buried in a stone tomb, but he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. God did this to save us, that is, to redeem us from sin and death so that we might be healed and made “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). This is the great mystery of Christianity: God became what we are so that we can become what he is. The exhibition curated by my students explores the many ways that God enters into created reality to transform it for our salvation.”
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections: Incarnation, Sacraments, Saints, End Times, and the Global Church. Each section contains a selection of artworks that illustrate different aspects of the section’s theme. The artworks were chosen by the five student curators both for their relevance to the themes and for their aesthetic qualities and how they look displayed together. "As a student curator, I was surprised and delighted by how much Catholic artwork was available for us to choose from,” said Karlie Platz. “The pieces we considered came from all over the world and were varied in their artistic style, reminding me of the universality and diversity of the Catholic Church. I think the artwork we chose reflects visibly the often invisible reality of a God who has entered and always continues to enter into our human condition. It was a pleasure and an honor to be part of this exhibition, and I hope visitors are as moved when viewing it as I was when selecting it."
Among the highlights of the exhibition is an astonishing engraving created by French artist Claude Mellan in 1649. It depicts the Veil of Veronica, a cloth that is said to have had the face of Jesus Christ divinely imprinted on it after it was used by a kindly woman to wipe Christ’s face as he was carrying the cross to Golgotha. The entire image of the cloth with the holy face is depicted using a single line that spirals outward from the tip of Christ’s nose, a remarkable feat of printmaking that has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Another notable artwork in the exhibition is a splendid silver monstrance—a vessel used to display the Eucharistic host—that was created by artists in the Philippines in the late eighteenth century. This exhibition marks the first time this monstrance, and several other artworks, have been made available for public viewing.
The Kruizenga Art Museum is located at 271 Columbia Avenue, between 10th and 13th streets. Public visiting hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum is always free.
The Kruizenga Art Museum functions as an educational resource for Hope College and the greater West Michigan community. The museum features two public galleries as well as a study room and climate-controlled storage space for its 7,000-object permanent collection. It is named in honor of a leadership gift from the late Dr. Richard and Margaret Kruizenga of Holland, both of whom graduated from Hope in 1952.
Stephen Barr: Student Reflection, Photos, & Video
Reflection by Andrew Silagi
I grew up going to a handful of different American evangelical megachurches, which unknowingly led me to the belief that evolution and the Big Bang Theory were incompatible with Christianity. I don’t remember exactly where I got this idea, but I’m pretty sure it came mostly from my parents and was not explicitly challenged by any of the churches I attended. I remember an interaction with someone at my public middle school when I plainly stated something about my disbelief in evolution. He reacted with disgust at what to him was utter ignorance. Throughout high school and into college, I only thought about the intense tension I felt between Young Earth Creationism and theistic evolutionary theories every so often, hearing the voices from both sides of the argument that said I was either grievously misguided or patently unbiblical. Because of my desire to avoid conflict and my status as a non-science major, I tried the best I could to stay away from the issue on account of its charged nature. Eventually, my college ministries group back home started a series on controversial questions, one of which was creation. In our breakout group, two friends of mine in STEM talked about their adoption of theistic evolution beliefs, which brought the topic once again to the forefront of my mind.
When I saw that the Saint Benedict Institute had invited Dr. Stephen Barr to give a lecture entitled “The Big Bang, the Beginning, and Creation,” I knew I had to attend. Barr, the president of the Society of Catholic Scientists and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Delaware, was given the opportunity to defend the compatibility of modern science with the Christian faith. He opened by distinguishing two often conflated terms, “beginning” and “creation,” clarifying that “beginning” refers to the temporal starting point of the universe, whereas “creation” refers to the notion that God is the one on whom the existence of the universe depends. Barr disputes the connection between these two terms, asserting instead that while the creation of the universe can be philosophically proven, its beginning is only known by divine revelation.
Admittedly, I was only somewhat following Barr’s argument when he entered a domain that I am much more familiar with: literature. A Secondary English Education major myself, I was delighted to hear Barr use the analogy of a novel and its author to help the audience better understand God’s role in the creation of the universe. To illustrate this point, Barr compared the Big Bang to the beginning of a novel. The Big Bang is not the cause for the universe’s existence any more than the first sentences of the novel are the cause of its existence. The creator, just like a novelist, is the origin of this body of work. The author of a work is the one who brings it into existence; he is not its beginning.
Throughout the rest of the lecture, Barr discussed many convincing arguments for the congruence between faith and science, including the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that an infinitely regressing world would lack any sense of decay, and how God used the laws of physics to create the world rather than some unscientific miracle. He even emphasized the significance of the Belgian Roman Catholic priest Georges Lemaître, who was the first to propose the Big Bang Theory.
While I still have a good deal of prayer and reflection to do on where I stand on this issue, I greatly appreciate Barr’s expertise on this topic. It is clear that many people who have a deep commitment to the historic Christian faith still believe in the theories of modern science. As a non-scientist, I am grateful that the Saint Benedict Institute and Barr recognize the relevance of these questions and the importance of having these conversations on college campuses.
Andrew Silagi is a senior from Arlington Heights, IL. He is majoring in Secondary English Education.
Stephen Barr’s lecture was part of our fall series, Creation, Evolution, and Our Place in the Cosmos.
#GivingTuesday 2023
November 28 is #GivingTuesday! Please consider making a gift to support our ministry at Hope College.
We share stories from our current students every year during October and November. When you give to the Saint Benedict Institute, your generosity will foster many new stories in the lives of students at Hope College in the years to come.
Check out our featured students below!
Molly Leonard on Daily Mass
“Regularly attending daily Mass has been the single most important part of my life at Hope.”
Altar Servers
“What team could be better than serving the Lord with your bros?”
Julia Suss on Freshman Year
“The Catholic life on campus has helped bring me back to what really matters.
Drew Hoeksema on Seeking the Truth
“Even when I don't fully recognize it, I am so grateful to have access to the remarkable ministry of the Saint Benedict Institute.”
Student Stories: Drew Hoeksema on Seeking the Truth
I grew up in the CRC (Christian Reformed Church) and when I was coming into college I knew that I had a good relationship with God. At that time, I was deep into reading the Bible, prayer, and living out my faith through good works. However, now that I look back, I see that I did not have much understanding of faith and the reasons behind why I held such beliefs. That all changed when I was introduced to the beauty and genius of Catholicism through the Saint Benedict Institute.
I think that God touches people in three different ways: goodness, beauty, and truth. Nowhere was this truer for me than in the latter. What led to this new discovery of faith was simply looking for answers, but what I did not expect was falling so much more deeply in love with Jesus and the Church that he gave to us. The explosive passion I feel interiorly comes from my unshakable confidence in Catholicism. This confidence is indispensable in helping me expand my love of God and of others. In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares that he is the Truth. This faith in Christ is not irrational. In fact, it is more rational and truer than any other truth that I’ve encountered. As someone whose curiosity led me to more intimacy with God, I am an unrelenting advocate for the idea that people deserve answers to their questions. There is no better place for this than at Hope College.
Even when I don't fully recognize it, I am so grateful to have access to the remarkable ministry of the Saint Benedict Institute. My faith journey has led me to my Confirmation, which will be held on November 26, 2023, on the campus of Hope College. Spera in Deo.
Drew Hoeksema a junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is studying business.
Photos of Drew’s Reception into the Catholic Church at On-Campus Mass
Student Stories: Julia Suss on Freshman Year
As a freshman moving from another country, it was easy to feel overwhelmed at the beginning of the semester, being caught up in adapting to a completely different environment. The Catholic life on campus has helped bring me back to what really matters. Especially going to daily Mass and having the commitment of going to adoration every week has allowed me to ground myself in God. It is fantastic to be able to slow down during the day to go to daily Mass and have the chance to take part in the Eucharistic mystery. This has been crucial to bringing me closer to Christ and not letting me drift away from him during the craziness of freshman year.
Julia Suss is a freshman from Curitiba, Brazil. She plans to declare a major in political science.
Student Stories: Altar Servers
I've come to realize that being a part of a team is something deeply fulfilling for me. My perfectionism plays a role in how much I enjoy altar serving, but it is helping me to humble that part of myself. Besides, what team could be better than serving the Lord with your bros?
Altar serving has really given me a physical connection to the concept of being part of the sacrifice at Mass. As someone in the crowd, it's easy for me to feel like I'm on the outside and that I'm simply a bystander. Being a server reminds me that we are all active participants in what is occurring on the altar.
Personally, it has given me more reverence for the Mass. Especially at Hope, altar serving has a certain duty to it. When serving, you are an example for the congregation, and as such one needs to have the utmost respect and attention for what is happening on the altar. In this way, altar serving has reminded me to try to be a Catholic, and a servant, in every part of my life and not just at Mass.
Joseph “Joey” Flynn is a sophomore from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is majoring in Biology.
I think what I enjoy most about being an altar server is what I learned about the Mass itself and the fact that I can participate in it now. I get to be a part of something much larger than myself and that is pretty special to me. Being an altar server, I now understand the significance of this incredible event that happens every day and I can even take part in its mystery. Aside from the knowledge I've gained, being an altar server forces me to go to daily Mass at least once a week, which is always healthy. Even when my faith is weak, I still go because I have made a commitment that I can't back out of just because I don't feel like it.
Luke Brady is a sophomore from Hillsdale, Michigan. He is majoring in Biology.
Video and Photos of Bishop Perry: African American Saints in the Making
On October 16, 2023, Bishop Joseph Perry joined us to discuss the path to sainthood for six African American Catholics. Watch his lecture below and view photos from the event.
Photo Credit: Haniah Kring
The Big Bang, the Beginning, and Creation
Thursday, November 16, 7:00 p.m.
Maas Auditorium at Hope College
Did the universe have a beginning? Was it created? Are these the same question? And will the universe come to an end or last forever? This talk will discuss what Christian revelation, philosophy, and contemporary science have to say about these questions.
This event is cosponsored by the Dean for the Natural and Applied Sciences, the Physics Department, the Religion Department, and the Magi Project at the Collegium Institute. It is the second lecture in the Creation, Evolution, and Our Place in the Cosmos series hosted by the Saint Benedict Institute in fall 2023.
Stephen Barr is President of the Society of Catholic Scientists, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Delaware, and former Director of the Bartol Research Institute. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 1978. Professor Barr does research in theoretical particle physics, especially grand unified theories, theories of CP violation, neutrino oscillations, and particle cosmology. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (2011). He is the author of Modern Physics and Ancient Faith (University of Notre Dame Press, 2003).
Student Stories: Molly Leonard on Daily Mass
Regularly attending daily Mass has been the single most important part of my life at Hope. What had originally set Hope apart from other schools in my college search quickly became the anchor of my daily prayer life. Whether my day is great or tough, perfectly ordinary or wrapped up in the craziness of my student-athlete schedule, I am able to find a steady reminder of what really matters praying with my peers in St. Anne’s. It is a wonderful gift that, even in between classes, I can be brought into the central mysteries of the Christian faith and share in the self-same body of Christ.
Molly Leonard is a junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is majoring in mathematics.
Ecology, Evolution, and Faith: Video, Student Reactions, and Photos
On September 7, 2023, the Saint Benedict Institute welcomed Sr. Damien Marie Savino for a lecture titled What Is Man that You Are Mindful of Him? Ecology, Evolution, and Faith. We are grateful to Sr. Damien Marie and our co-sponsors for this wonderful talk showing the compatibility of faith and science. You can watch the full lecture, read student reactions, and see photos from the event below.
Student Reactions:
“One thing I took home from is that it’s super important to emphasize how science and religion don’t have to conflict.”
“Great lecture and dinner, food was great, and Sr. Damien Marie Savino was great company. I loved hearing her story about the northern lights and hearing about her love of nature and creation.”
“I learned about new theories in the field of evolution.”
“It was very beautiful to see how Sr. Damien Marie's heart for God impacted the way she approached her studies with the warmth of humility and piety. Her talk helped me better understand why evolution does not threaten Christianity, but is actually quite compatible with it. I want to be #bestiesfortheresties with her.”
“I loved the event and enjoyed hearing from Sr. Damien Marie. The dinner was insightful to learn about vocation, God and creation, and how evolution is viewed by the Catholic Church. This lecture did a great job of appealing to different disciplines: religion, biology, and philosophy.”
Photo credit: Haniah Kring
African American Saints in the Making with Bishop Perry
Monday, October 16, 7:00 p.m.
Haworth Hotel at Hope College
African American Catholics have a rich and complicated history. At present, there are three million African American Catholics in the United States. Six African American Catholics have active formal causes for sainthood before the Vatican. Some of these figures escaped slavery and others died as recently as 1990. Any one (or more) of them could become the first canonized African American saint. Come hear Bishop Joseph N. Perry discuss the path to sainthood for some of these important figures.
Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, a recently retired Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, is a professor of canon law at Mundelein Seminary, chair of African American Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the postulator for the cause of sainthood for Venerable Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), and a past vice-president of the board of the National Black Catholic Congress.
This event is co-sponsored by the Hope College Religion Department, the History Department, the Center for Ministry Studies, Campus Ministries, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and Hope Catholics.