The Catholic University of America Campus Ministry

ITS ALMOST SUNDAY CARDS!! Our newest Chaplain Fr. Andama brings so much joy, we felt it was only right to show our appreciation with his very own almost Sunday post! TOMORROW WE FEAST!

FIRST KOREAN PRIEST… FIFTH MEMBER OF 30 UNDER 30!

St. Andrew Kim Taegon was born in 1821 to an aristocratic family in Korea during a time of intense unrest and conflict between Western imperialism and the native nationalism, a struggle that in Korea resulted in persecution of Christians. His family converted to Catholicism and his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, as well as his uncle and aunt, were all imprisoned and martyred for practicing the faith. Kim was baptized at age 15 and entered seminary shortly after, traveling 1,300 miles from Korea to Macau, a small coastal region in southern China, where his teachers were impressed by his piety, humility, and love of learning. Despite struggling with his health, he learned many languages and even spent time as an interpreter on a French navy ship. He was ordained at 23 as the first Korean priest. The bishop noted his courage and passion and that he was known for understanding the hearts of his people. He immediately returned to Korea to evangelize and zealously ministered to the Korean church, which was paralyzed by the frequent martyrdoms of church leaders and looked after his mother. He also spent time scouting out possible entry routes to Korea for the other missionaries. He created maps of these routes and was eventually arrested while trying to send a map to his superiors stationed in China via a Chinese fishing boat. He was tortured and imprisoned, where he wrote a letter to Korean Catholics, encouraging them and proclaiming ownership of his faith. He was eventually beheaded, and his final words were asking for his mother to be taken care of. 
He is the patron saint of Korea and Korean clergy. 

St. Andrew Kim Taegon, role model of almsgiving in your zealous evangelization and care for your flock, pray for us!

30 UNDER 30 IS HEADED TO EGYPT! 

St. Catherine of Alexandria was the daughter of the governor of Alexandria, in Roman Egypt. From a young age she loved to learn and study and became Christian after a vision of the Madonna & Child, consecrating her virginity to Christ. When persecutions began, she rebuked the emperor for them. He gathered fifty pagan philosophers and thinkers to debate her. She won, and several of her opponents converted to Christianity and were killed. Catherine herself was tortured and imprisoned, but continued to convert those around her even in prison. The emperor ordered her to be executed with a heavy spiked wheel, which would break her bones and eventually kill her, but as soon as it touched her it shattered. She was then beheaded. She is the patron saint of many groups, including unmarried girls, librarians, knife sharpeners, philosophers, secretaries, archivists, and mechanics.

She is depicted in stained glass in the Busch School of Business.

St. Catherine of Alexandria, role model of fasting in your steadfast faith in the face of physical torment, pray for us!

30 UNDER 30’S THIRD SAINT IS...
St. José Sánchez del Río!

Born in Mexico in 1913, José’s brothers joined the rebel forces in the Cristero War, which was a rebellion against the Mexican government for eliminating religious rights of Catholics. However, “Joselito” was too young, and his mother wouldn’t let him join the revolt. He insisted, seeking to give his life for Christ, and became the rebel flagbearer. In 1928, Joselito was captured by government forces after he gave his horse to a man whose horse had been shot so the man could escape. He was tortured to renounce his faith but refused. He prayed the Rosary daily while in captivity. Two weeks after his capture, his captors cut the bottoms of his feet and forced him to walk to the cemetery as they intermittently stabbed him with bayonets before finally shooting him. Despite the pain, he continued to shout, “Viva Cristo Rey!”  He is the patron saint of persecuted Christians, children, and adolescents.
St. José Sánchez del Río, role model of fasting in your detachment from earthly comforts and fortitude despite suffering, pray for us!

30 UNDER 30 IS BACK WITH OUR SECOND SAINT!

St. Germaine Cousin was a young French woman whose life was marked by suffering and profound humility. She was born in Pibrac, a town in the south of France, and at a very young age, her stepmother separated her from the rest of her family because she had a deformed hand and scrofula, a type of tuberculosis infection. She was a shepherdess, and prioritized the sacraments to such an extent that at Mass time, she left her flocks in the pasture, trusting them to God, and went to Mass. (Her flocks were never harmed when she returned.) She was known in her peasant town for her piety and her almsgiving despite her poverty. She died of natural causes in 1601 and is the patroness of peasant girls, the disabled, shepherdesses, and unattractive people.

St. Germaine Cousin, role model of prayer, pray for us!

IT’S ALMOST SUNDAY CARDS!

First Sunday of Lent tomorrow… best news since the Good News. Break those fasts and celebrate Our Lord’s Resurrection tomorrow ladies and gentlemen!

This will be…the highlight of the semester.
💘

WELCOME TO 30 UNDER 30!

This Lent, to learn more about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we’ve made a list of our top 30 saints under 30 who we recognize as practicing these Lenten pillars, living out holy youth.

St. Pier Giorgio Frassati was an activist for social reform, opposing fascism and communism, and practiced radical generosity in his service to the poor. He was an average student, although at one point he failed his exams and was sent to a Catholic school. His motto was “Verso l’alto” (to the heights), as he loved mountain climbing and other athletics. He died of polio in 1925, and is the patron saint of mountain climbers, skiers, and Catholic action groups.
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, role model of almsgiving, pray for us!

Another amazing Fall Coffeehouse full of talented student performances 🍁 ☕️

Men’s & Women’s Retreats 2025 🌅