September 14: Discovery of New Friendships

            The beginning of a new semester is filled with excitement and anxiety over the potential of new friendships. May God guide us towards those who will love and support us. May we learn compassion and generosity from Jesus’ example and practice this towards our friends, new and old. We ask God to grant us friendships that not only ease the weight of our struggles, but that challenge us to lead better lives. Ultimately, we place our trust in God to ensure the discovery of new friends in our dorms, our classrooms, our workplaces, and our communities.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 4: Roommate Harmony

            Whether we are living with old friends or new strangers, we naturally feel anxiety when beginning cohabitation with our roommates. We acknowledge that living together can magnify once minor imperfections. Because of this, we ask for grace for ourselves and commit to practicing forgiveness towards our roommates. We ask God to bless the space we inhabit with others and to give us the strength to show love and compassion even in difficulty. May our dorms, apartments, and homes always remain safe spaces where we can create a base for growth and learning on our campus.

Photo by author