In order to keep spirituality alive, the GSU Catholic Students Organization (CSO) has been involved in a series of activities. In the past semesters we have done so much, and there are great plans and many future events in the works.Over the past years, we have attended numerous spiritual retreats where we, as students, take a few days from our busy, scholastic schedule to just relax in silence and reverence. We have been to Minden, Eunice, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Natchitoches among many other small towns. We have also engaged in Busy Students retreats; there students were given a spiritual mentor who would work around our schedule for an entire week.
We do this in an attempt to enhance our relationship with God. We work very closely with the Louisiana Catholic College Students (LCCS) of which our own Jonathan Tatum of GSU is the president. Neeysah Francis and Melicia Etienne serve as GSU representatives on the board. Along with LCCS, the members of GSU-CSO have participated in conferences all over the nation.
As community service we helped out the Katrina victims in Baton Rouge by handing out food supplies. At our own CSO center, right opposite the police station, we have tried to keep our spirituality alive by having various sessions of bible studies and praise and worship. We also coordinated a Marian retreat, where persons in Grambling with doubts about Mary were welcome to learn more and voice their opinions and questions.
We work closely with Campus Ministry and as one of our events together, we have celebrated a night of prayer and song with the children at the Methodist Nursing Home in Ruston. Last semester our Beloved Father Nicholas was sent back to Africa and our former president of CSO, Jonathan Tatum accompanied him. On that trip they spent some days in the holy land before moving on to Kenya – the home of Father Nicholas. At the end of every semester we close out with an end of semester party where we feast as a family of love.
For this semester we have a few events in which we invite all students to participate. Our standard schedule comprises of weekly activities. The Catholic Student Center is open from noon to 10 p.m. every day of the week. There, you can meet people who share in your faith and you can build a family – a home away from home.
On Mondays and Wednesdays we have prayer and adoration; there is a room in the chapel where you are welcome to come in and pray at any time between noon and 10 p.m. You can come in for as long as you wish; the Blessed Sacrament will also be exposed for adoration.
From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. every Wednesday there is our Dollar Lunch; it is a satisfying meal for just $1. Our $1 Lunches are a means of fund-raising for the CSO.
On Tuesday nights at 8-8:30 p.m. we have our weekly students’ mass where we gather and continue to give praise and thanks. On Thursdays we have bible study at 8 p.m., and on Friday nights there will be movie and games. Saturdays will be used for community services and the cleaning of the center. On Sundays we join with the parishioners of St. Benedict the Moor at noon for mass.
The last Sunday of every month will be a student mass, where our much diversified student body will take over the mass and show that we are happy in the Lord.