Prayers and Messages

Images of St. Paul's Cathedral and the University Church

A New Day, a Timeless Call to Service

It’s a new day! That is not only literally but also metaphorically true this Easter season. I have joined the Development and University Relations team here at Fordham University as the alumni chaplain. My name is Father Francis (Frank) Chambers, O.S.A., and I come to Fordham after many years in higher education at three universities.

You’ll notice by the three initials appended to my name that I am not a Jesuit. I am an Augustinian friar of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. (O.S.A. stands for the Order of St. Augustine.) But I know that both Jesuits and Augustinians share a desire to serve God and God’s people. While we might articulate it somewhat differently, it is the same call. And it is the call of all baptized Christians—to serve others. What gives focus and energy to that call is what we celebrate these days, the Resurrection.

The Resurrection was itself a new day for Jesus’ disciples and all disciples down through the ages. It is the apex of our belief as Christians. It is the affirmation, the confirmation by the Father of all that Jesus said and did, and it is what sends all disciples forward on mission. It is the focus and energy of our belief and service.

As I begin my service to the Fordham alumni community, I hope that this column will be an opportunity to offer a religious perspective on some of the issues that we face in our lives and in our culture. So many voices surround us that it is not always easy to think clearly about a given subject, particularly from a faith-based perspective. I hope that a few thoughts about a particular subject might help any one of us think more clearly about how to proceed in this minefield called life in the 21st century. Perhaps this column could be something like St. Ignatius’ letters. The founder of the Jesuits was a prolific letter writer, on topics ranging from the religious to the secular, and he encouraged his companions to write to him and to each other in turn.

I would be interested in hearing from you as well. I’d like to learn what is on your mind and discover how we as a community might assist one another in being the faithful disciples that we have been called to be. I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings,

Father Frank

Frank Chambers, O.S.A.
fchambers1@fordham.edu


Read Father Damian’s 2021 Christmas message, An Adult Christmas. 
Read Father Damian's 2021 Fall message, On the Purpose of Ignatian Work.
Read Father Damian's 2021 Spring message, Life as a Work of Art. 
Read Father Damian's 2021 Lenten message, Seize These Days. 
Read Father Damian's 2020 holiday message. 
Read Father Damian's Fall 2020 message. 
Read Father Daly's 2018 Christmas message. 
Read Father Gatti's thoughts on our turbulent times. 
Read Father Gatti's 2018 Summer message. 
Read Father Gatti's 2018 message, Springtime at Fordham and in Your Heart.
Read Father Gatti's Lent 2018 message. 
Read Father Gatti's Christmas 2017 message. 
Read Father Gatti's 2017 Reflection on the Recent Natural Disasters.
Read Father Daly's Summer 2017 message. 
Read Father Gatti's 2017 Springtime message. 
Read Father Daly's 2017 Lenten message.
Read Father Gatti's 2017 message, The Work of Christmas. 
Read Father Gatti's 2016 Christmas message. 
Read Father Daly's 2016 Thanksgiving message.
Read Father Gatti's Summer 2016 message.
Read Father Daly's 2016 Easter message.
Read Father Gatti's 2016 message for Lent.
Read Father Daly's 2015 Christmas message. 
Read Father Gatti's 2015 message, Holiness and Giving Thanks. 
Read Father Gatti's 2015 Fall Message: Here Comes the Pope. 
Read Father Gatti's 2015 Spring message. 
Read Father Gatti's 2015 Lenten message.
Read Father Gatti's 2014 Christmas message. 
Read Father Gatti's 2014 Thanksgiving prayer.
Read Father Gatti's 2014 message, Creating Peace Through Interfaith Understanding.
Read Father Gatti's 2014 message, Called to Be Saints. 
Read Father Gatti's 2013 Christmas message, A Season of Hope.