On the week of September 21-25, the Boston College Church in the 21st Century (C21) Center, in partnership with Campus Ministry, hosted its eighth annual Espresso Your Faith Week. Described as a “week-long celebration of faith that highlights the gift of God working in our lives,” this week offers opportunities to “espresso” faith with over 25 different events; however, it looked different this year due to COVID-19.
Espresso Your Faith week began as an extension of the popular Agape Latte program, which started in 2006. Hosted monthly in Hillside Cafe, Agape Latte features a Boston College faculty or staff member speaking on their experiences with faith and spirituality. With the addition of free desserts, coffee, and t-shirts, Hillside is usually packed to the brim with hundreds of students during Agape Latte nights. The name comes from the Greek word agape, a kind of love that expects nothing in return, which fits in well with the intention of the event: to spark more meaningful conversation about faith, love, and discernment among the students. The event has become so popular that it has extended beyond Boston College’s campus, with almost 70 universities and high schools adopting it.
Agape Latte grew so popular that about five years ago, students told Karen Kiefer, Associate Director of the C21 Center, they wanted even more Agape Latte nights. This eventually led to Espresso Your Faith, a week-long program hosted every year designed to bring faith into students’ lives and conversations at BC. The first Espresso Your Faith week took place in April, but encouraged by BC President Fr. William Leahy, S.J., the week was moved to the fall so that freshmen and newcomers to campus could learn about programs hosted by students and Campus Ministry.
This year marks the eighth anniversary of Espresso Your Faith week. Each year, Agape Latte has been slightly different, but some beloved programs remain the same from year to year. Bob the Bagpiper, for instance, plays at 8 a.m. on the Bapst Library Lawn; the popular prayer ribbon project, in which anyone can write an intention on a ribbon and tie it on the Gasson fence, has returned as well. Mass, praying the Rosary, Confession, and even a “pause and pray retreat moment” are offered for students and faculty members, as well as some more, non-traditional ways to interact with faith. For instance, Drawing God Kids’ Book Club was offered, where students could meet children’s authors who wrote books inspired by their faith.
This year, some Espresso Your Faith programs centered around conversations about the coronavirus. University Counseling Services’ Anxiety and COVID Drop-In Workshop hosted by University Counseling Services, in order to help students develop skills to better manage their anxiety and emotional experiences in the midst of uncertainty and loss. Events were hosted virtually when possible, and attendants were also asked to follow certain guidelines, including completing their daily health check, washing their hands, staying 6+ feet apart, and wearing masks.
The week also focused on conversations about the relationship between faith, racism and politics. In the Educating for Racial Justice Through Art and Faith program, artist and educator Orin Carpenter led a visual-art workshop where participants created their own art as a way of processing personal experiences of racism and injustice.
The School of Theology and Ministry hosted a virtual Faith and Citizenship Panel, meant to explore a Catholic perspective on American politics as the 2020 presidential election approaches. Panelists included Fr. Matt Malone, S.J., who is the President and Editor-in-Chief of America Media; Fr. Sam Sawyer, S.J., Executive Editor and Director of Digital Strategy of America Media; and Kerry Weber, Executive Editor of America Media.
One of the main events of Espresso Your Faith was the Agape Latte talk, which featured Fr. Pat Nolan, S.J. Fr. Nolan spoke about working in the sports marketing industry before becoming a priest, and how as a priest he has worked in a cancer hospital, visited inmates, taught, coached, and served as a college counselor. Due to social distancing regulations, there was a lottery for a limited number of in-person tickets, and the event was also offered virtually.
Featured image courtesy of Campus Ministry
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