Dear Friends, Greetings from the University of Illinois. I have a question. My roomate just got back from a Koinonia retreat (we live in the newman center). I didn't go. I noticed that the group that went seems to act kinda cliquish. When I ask about something she tells me that I have to experience it for myself like it is some big secret. I and a few others can't help but feel like the peopel who went think less of us. They segregate themselves. She is trying to subtly force me to go on the next one. She keeps telling me that I have to see it for myself. Isn't this kinda like a doubting Thomas complex? Shouldn't she be able to tell me things and I should be able to beleive and understand? What the heck is Koinonia?
-Katie g
Dear Katie,
'Koinonia' means 'community' in Greek.
A quick google search turned up some small Christian faith groups at different universities.
I suspect that is what it is.
It seems that at the University of Illinois, it is called 'Koinonia Christian Cooperative' and it is considered an organization along with other religious organizations.
These girls are making it sound quite exclusive, and they don't seem like they want to 'share the wealth'. Their attitude definitely doesn't sound very Christian to me.
In Christ,
Alice
Dear Alice,
You forgot to mention that Koinonia also means Communion, like in Aghia Koinonia (Holy Communion), in Greek. Now you know that?
Zenovia
Katie,
Maybe their approach is like ours when trying to explain Byzantine or Orthodox worship. I explain to my students but until they go they do not know.
On the other hand, if this is just another Protestant group you have much more to offer them, many more secrets you hold, than they will ever know until they experience. Strike a bargain with them. When they go an equivalent number of hours to a Byzantine liturgy you will go to Koinonia. Keep the invitation on a light hearted basis. They may someday turn out to be life long friends, especially if you can gently encourage their curiosity for your secret.
Perhaps their experience is like moving from a room lit only by one candle to moving to a room lit by a 15 watt bulb. They are very excited as one might imagine. However, you are used to being in a room lit by a series of 1000 watt bulbs.
CDL, Who was a Protestant minister for 27 years.
Tim,
It would appear that is not what Katie is talking about. Those are links to a men's only house. I don't think we've quite discerned what she's talking about.
CDL
If you read through the group's site, the second link, their activities are not limited to men.
--tim
I see what you mean. Stratford house.
CDL
Sounds gnostic/occult to me - but then I have a strong aversion to exclusive clubs of whatever variety.
Fr. Serge
The "Newman Center" (St. John's Catholic Newman Center) at the U. of I, Urbana/Champaign, is one of the 70 or so Newman Centers in colleges and universities in the Midwest.
These are Catholic chaplaincies or Catholic campus ministries but accept non-Catholics into their student residential halls.
There are so many activities offered by the Newman Center that going to or joining the "Koinonia Christian Cooperative" should be a surplusage and the fact that it is sponsored by Baptists.
In a sense, they are in competition with the Catholic Newman Center.
Amado
"the fact that it is sponsored by Baptists."
Ah, I see why Father Serge detected a Gnostic overlay.
CDL
From what Katie has posted it appears that these students are not willing to share about their experience and seem somewhat uppity about it. Anyway, time will tell if the fruit of their experience was really of the Holy Spirit or just a temporary "high."
What concerns me is if the Newman Center is not providing a seamless access to Eastern Catholics like Katie.
Then, Eastern Catholics should rattle the Roman Catholic Chaplain's cage a little bit and present their case for integration into the various outreach programs of the Newman Center.
Or, package an outreach program, within the Newman Center, manned by Eastern Catholics if there are a handful of them at the U. of I, Urbana/Champaign.
Amado
Amado,
Father Loya goes down to Champaign every so often and offers a liturgy under the auspices of the Newman center. It's difficult to have an ongoing presence there. There are so few of us to go around, yet Katie and a couple of others we know, may be able to plant a seed for an eventual ongoing ministry there.
CDL
Dan:
Is it possible to haul the Peoria attendees to Champaign to beef up the presence of Byzantines when Fr. Tom goes there?
And for Fr. Tom to arrange with the RC priest to have the Divine Liturgy celebrated instead of the Mass to "force" RC students to attend (with explanations, of course)?
Amado
Amado,
I haven't discussed this with Fr. Loya much. I do know that at least some of the liturgies were given for the entire community. I don't think that he has invited Peoria to attend the liturgy at Champaign. Perhaps I can alert him to the question.
CDL
Thanks for all of the helpful information. There is not a very strong Eastern Catholic presence at the Newman Center. I think I am the only one here now that my sister in an RA in another dorm. In fact, one of the first Sundays I went to the Latin Rite Liturgy and the Priest said in his homily that he was proud the St John's Catholic Church/Center was 100%(drumroll please) Roman Catholic. Yeah, needless to say I was a little mift. I really wish they would sponsor something where Newman kids could get together with Eastern Christian kids and talk and stuff. Fr Tom does come down once a year. Does anyone know how long it takes to get from Champaign to Peoria?
-Katie
Down I-74 It's about 95 miles and would take around 1 1/2 hours to drive. It seems close enough to suggest it.
CDL