The CPU - not the Central Processing Unit!

I’m getting to know what my work here will be. I’ve assumed the responsibility of directing the Centro de Proyección Universitaria aka the Centre for University Projection. It makes more sense in Spanish! It’s essentially a chaplaincy aimed (projected?) at university students. Some refer to the work as the University Parish, but there is divided opinion on whether or not it is a real university parish. I might find that out some day…

The local bishop asked the Society of Mary to develop this work, and soon after they built a monolithic three story building to house the work and the Marist community. It is big, very big! The local provincial calls it the bunker! It certainly resembles Soviet era architecture. 

The CPU Building

Soon the building is to have another purpose as well. The third story is being developed – making 10 accommodation rooms for the Mexican seminarians. I’m to have something to do with them as well, it seems. It’s still a little vague just what. For the time being I’m living and helping out at the nearby Marist parish of San Bernardino.

The other two floors have teaching spaces, administration, library, a kitchen and the usual amenities. It also includes an space called the Chapel – a misnomer for a huge auditorium with a sloping floor, with room for seating around 250 people.

The Youth arriving for Mass

There are around 7 or 8 groups that meet in the CPU. They are well organized – at least in theory! Their principle meetings are mostly on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 5.00pm and finishing with Mass at 7.00pm. There are groups for University students, for youth and for adolescents.

The group (called apostolado or apostolate) leaders meet during the week – with at least one meeting beginning at 9.00pm! The emphasis is heavily on formation – human and religious. Each group runs two retreats over a weekend each year. One group is a mission group. They visit a rural village over Holy Week and do mostly catechesis and visitation.

Fr Jean, Seminarian David and "Coco" as altar server during the Saturday night Vigil Mass at the CPU

Each group has leaders involved in coordination of the group, finances and formation. And these meet at least once a month among themselves and with the director of the CPU – me! I’ll be heavily involved in doing some of the formation work with leaders and the groups.

From the little I’ve seen and experienced so far, it seems there is some room for developing these groups – extending them, and in some cases re-directing them back to their original purpose. For example, the University Students’ Group. There are few university students left in the group, they are mostly young adults – and yet there are 50,000 students at the State University across the road!

The local deanery also runs a theological training school for laity out of the building. This isn’t really connected with the CPU, but provides some valuable income for the work. I’m wondering if we could have other learning opportunities offered too...

After Mass

There is also some scope for developing the CPU as a place where students hang out during the day between classes –for study and just for relaxation – with someone on hand to be a support for them, spiritually and humanly. There’s space outside for half a basketball court and maybe court soccer. And I’ve already got my eye on a Ping-Pong table and a Foosball table!