UB St. Joe's

Pope Leo XIV has written a social encyclical which addresses one of the principal challenges of the contemporary age: artificial intelligence.

Some key quotes to get you thinking:
“Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.”

Magnifica humanitas has an underlying premise: technology is not “a force antagonistic to humanity” (4), nor is it “inherently evil” (9). However, “technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.

Therefore, Pope Leo XIV appeals for people to build “for the common good” and to “remain human,” following a courageous mentality of shared responsibility and communion, so that the world “will come to recognize the human heart as the place where God desires to dwell” (16).

“Humanity—in all its grandeur and woundedness—must never be replaced or surpassed,” he says. Technology can alleviate humanity’s sufferings and open new possibilities, but it must not deny the essence of humanity, which is our “capacity for relationship and love” (126). In the face of AI, says the Pope, “the true alternative is not between enthusiasm and fear, but between two paths of development: a progress that serves individuals and peoples, or a progress that subjects them to the mentality of power” (129).

Magnifica Humanitas - Safeguarding the human person in the time of Artificial Intelligence Magnifica Humanitas, the first encyclical of 🙏An encyclical dedicated to you. Dedicated to your magnificent humanity, which we must care for and...

🥼Lila and Maria went to visit students on their first day of Gross Anatomy! Lila offered much needed snuggles to ease their anxiety before going in to the lab and then Maria led a short reflection of thanks for their silent teachers (those who donated their body to medicine). Please keep the PT, OT, and exercise science students in your prayers 🩵

Tomorrow is the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Mass times are:
St. Joe's: Wednesday, May 13 at 7 PM and Thursday, May 14 at 8:30
UB Newman: Thursday, May 14 at 12 PM and 6 PM

Join us for a Game Night with Fr. Dan next week! All students welcome - come and bring a friend!
🗓 Thursday, May 14 at 7 PM in the Student Lounge at St. Joe's
🎲 Board games
♟️Chess
⚽️ Video games
🍽️ Food and drinks

Happy Cinco de Mayo! We had a lovely celebration at our last student dinner with a taco bar, churros, Jarritos, and lots of yummy food 🌮 Students also received care packages from parishioners packed with goodies to get them through exam week. We also had a little birthday celebration 🎉

Thank you for another great semester! Good luck on your exams and congratulations to our graduating students!

Tomorrow is our last Student Mass and Dinner of the semester! Join us for a special Mass with the Blessing of Brains and Blessing of Graduates, followed by a yummy taco bar dinner 🌮

UB Choirs Concert - Saturday, April 25 at 7 PM at St. Joe’s - free admission - come support your fellow students!

This past weekend, students from UB and Fredonia gathered at the Abbey of the Genesee for our Spring Retreat: Images of God 🙏 Time for prayer and reflection, fun and games, Mass and Liturgy of the Hours with the monks, and of course — the famous Monks Bread 🍞

Out of weather concerns, we are cancelling the 7 PM Student Mass & Dinner this Sunday, January 25th. We hope to see you next Sunday! 

You are welcome to join us for our regular weekend Masses - Saturday at 4 PM, Sunday at 8:30 AM, 10 AM & 11:30 AM. Please watch the St. Joseph University Parish page for any weather updates regarding those Masses. 

Stay safe and warm!

Start the new year by caring for your body, mind, and heart 💜
Join us for a FREE yoga class—all are welcome, no experience needed.

🧘‍♀️ Mats & blocks provided
📅 Wednesdays at 6 PM

Come as you are and begin again.