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On October 15, 2015 in the Butler Reception Room, Kerry Weber, the managing editor of America magazine, joined Saint Xavier University in collaboration with SXU’s Office for Mission Integration and Mercy Heritage.
Weber presented a lecture about mercy and compassion in everyday life. This event was presented in part with the Catholic Colloquium Lecture Series. In an interview via email, Dr. Andrea Stapleton, director of Mission Integration and Mercy Heritage and director for the Center of Religion and Public Discourse, shared some information about Kerry Weber and the university’s lecture series.
“The Catholic Colloquium Lecture Series is an annual series sponsored by SXU’s Office for Mission and Heritage to provide opportunities for our staff, faculty, students, and community, to examine significant social questions in the light of values and faith,” said Stapleton.
With SXU being a Catholic institution, it is important to be open to ideas revolving around the Catholic faith. The lecture series helps students expand upon their existing knowledge of this religion and open their mind to new ideas and perspectives.
“The series fosters scholarly discussion on the roles and responsibilities of a Catholic university and illustrates how Catholic universities are resources for examining contemporary civic and social questions,” said Stapleton.
In this specific lecture, Kerry Weber was the speaker. About 110 students, community members, sisters, and mercy associates came out for this presentation. Weber has been the managing editor of America since 2009 and has earned several awards from the Catholic Press Association for her writing and multimedia work.
In 2013, Weber reported from Rwanda as a recipient of Catholic Relief Services’ Egan Journalism Fellowship award which recognized excellence in the Catholic media. She frequently appears as a co-host on “America This Week,” a weekly radio program on SiriusXM 129, The Catholic Channel.
In addition to these accomplishments, Weber is the author of a book entitled Mercy in the City: How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the imprisoned, and Keep Your Day Job (Loyola Press).
This book received a 2014 Christopher Award as well as awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Association of Catholic Publishers. Weber is a graduate of Providence College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Previously, she has worked as an editor for Catholic Digest, a local reporter, and a diocesan television producer. During 2004-2005, she has volunteered with the Mercy Volunteer Corps as a special-education teacher in the Navajo reservation in St. Michael’s Arizona and currently serves as a support person for the MVC volunteers in New York City.
Since 2012, Weber has been a Mercy Associate. Even though Weber was never a student at SXU, it is important for students to realize that she has a strong connection to the university’s mission and core values.
Stapleton expands upon this idea and explains how she is connected to SXU’s students.“Kerry Weber, as a Mercy Associate, has a strong connection to the same heritage as Saint Xavier University – the Sisters of Mercy. Kerry was also in Mercy Volunteer Corps, one of the after-college service experiences that some SXU students go into after graduations. Kerry has written books for college students and speaks at other Mercy universities. She came very highly recommended by our friends at other Mercy universities,” said Stapleton.
Stapleton shares a few of her ideas on the lecture and some of her favorite points from Weber’s presentation. “I enjoyed how practical her ideas are about doing the works of mercy in our everyday lives,” said Stapleton.
Weber’s idea is that all people can live a life full of mercy with acts of kindnes both big and small. This was something that Stapleton particularly enjoyed about Weber’s presentation and believes that everyone can live their lives in this manner.
“She has tried it out and made a life of it, and shows us how any of us can do these acts of mercy every day. Whether they seem like big efforts or whether they seem insignificant, any little thing we do amounts to a lot, and we can show each other that it is not impossible,” said Stapleton.
No matter what level of mercy a person is on, Stapleton believes that people just need to begin somewhere. The only way to reach a goal is to begin with small steps to eventually reach the desired goal.
Everyone has the ability to make a difference in the live of others.“We just need to start somewhere and find what areas of service ignite our passion — and then go with it. Everyone can make a difference, and there is enough need in the world for everyone do a part,” said Stapleton.
Stapleton encourages all students are to attend one of these lectures during their time at SXU. Stapleton shares her idea on these lectures and why they are beneficial for students to attend.
“These lectures offer additional insights into what our University stands for, and offers real-world perspectives on some things we might study in our classes and in our majors. While the courses offered here give us a great deal of knowledge, these lectures integrate concepts from many different perspectives and put them in conversation with social and cultural issues,” said Stapleton.
By attending these lectures, students are expanding their knowledge. Stapleton explains that this knowledge will be important in the careers of all students at SXU, no matter what their major may be.
“It expands the conversations begun in our classrooms, and shows us why the values of SXU matter in the world around us. This is important when students consider the world they will enter as professionals and as people who are knowledgeable, engaged members of society,” said Stapleton.
If a student was interested in attending a future lecture in this series, there are few opportunities do so next semester. Archbishop Cupich will visit on March 31, 2016, and there will be an Interdisciplinary Panel discussion on the environment with responses to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si on caring for the common home on April 15, 2016.
Stapleton encourages students to provide feedback on these events and suggestions for future events and programs. Stapleton elaborated on why she thinks it is important for students to take advantage of these opportunities to gain insightful information about their university and community.
“We love hearing from students what issues and topics interest them, and what speakers they might like to see at SXU,” Stapleton said. Stapleton elaborated that these events relate not only to students who are in the religious disciplines, but to those who are studying a variety of career paths.
“As graduates, students will find that these questions help people to consider more than data or the details of a particular profession. When it comes to being active and engaged members of communities, we must also consider the value and meaning of things. This is one reason you find so many community members at our events,” said Stapleton.
On final notes, Stapleton explains how students at SXU can stay connected with the Office of Mission and Heritage and the Center of Religion. She encourages students to reach out with their opinions, suggestions, and comments about the events that the Ofifice of Mission Integration and Mercy Heritage holds for the students and communy members.
If the Office of Mission and Mercy Heritage is aware of the programs that students would like to see, they can reach out to a greater number of students. Stay connected with SXU’s Office for Mission Integration and Mercy Heritage by liking them on Facebook.
There are many opportunites offered by this office. “Students can keep up with events, news, and discussions by these offices on Facebook. We also post opportunities for students, such as service trips, justice advocacy trips, and other things we sponsor for students. On Facebook, search for SXU Office of Mission and Heritage and SXU Center of Religion and Public Discourse” said Stapleton.
Julie Gardner
Senior News Editor
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