\u201cHe who was seated on the throne said, \u2018I am making everything new!\u2019\u201d (Revelation 21:5 NIV).<\/p>\n
The word \u201cnew\u201d is most applicable to our lives around this time of the year. Whether is used to describe the start of the New Year, a list of resolutions we wish to make in our daily routines, or a change within ourselves, newness is at the forefront of every person\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Heart of the Hall\u201d is no different than those who use this time of the year to begin again or as it is written in the Bible, \u201cbe born again\u201d (John 3:7). Rather, we have taken the time to make changes within our publication and our own perspectives of the Catholic faith.<\/p>\n
If you are an avid reader of our publication, you may notice the first change our team chose to make in lieu of these new beginnings: a newly-designed cover page! Although the publication could never have become what it is without the beautiful work of Kiersten Lynch, a founding member of \u201cThe Heart of the Hall,\u201d we decided to kickstart the Winter Edition with a fresh look for the front page.<\/p>\n
Not only has the design been affected by our efforts to seek out the new, but our content for this edition is centered around different ways to think about life and faith. Jessica Kelly adds a twist to the popular phrase, \u201cNew Year, New Me,\u201d by considering how God remains the same despite the changes in our lives. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of letting go of the past and moving forward in a race she likes to call \u201cthe race of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma Newgarden, the Editor-in-Chief of Content for \u201cThe Heart of the Hall,\u201d follows Kelly with her thoughts on charity. Specifically, Newgarden revisits the same saying, \u201cNew Year, New Me\u201d and the correlation between transformation and service. When reading her article, you may find yourself reflecting on all those hours spent in U-Life community service as something that helped you become closer to God rather than a useless requirement.<\/p>\n
Next, Sarah Adam contemplates the \u201cwhy\u201d behind prayer and the \u201chow\u201d we can pray to further develop our relationship with God. Questions such as, \u201cWhy should I talk to God about my day if He already knows everything about it?\u201d and \u201cAre we praying from a place of pride or do we approach God with a humble heart?\u201d are proposed by Adam to explain the meaning of prayer that is not often taught to Catholics.<\/p>\n
Christina Murphy explores a different aspect of our lives that needs change\u2014the way we use social media and free will. Murphy\u2019s close reading of the Catechism and other religious writings allow her to unpack the purpose of free will and how it can reduce media-related anxieties.<\/p>\n
Lastly, Andrew Echevarria redefines what leisure means by detailing the difference between time that is filled with distractions and time that brings us closer to the right path of life. His experience with Exodus 90, a ninety-day religious exercise for Catholic men, is included in his article to provide first-hand advice on how to turn your time in leisure into time well-spent.<\/p>\n
New beginnings are essential to the teachings of Catholicism, but are not solely related to those who choose to practice the faith. Every individual can take away value in the newness of life no matter which religion they choose to practice. We hope that the entire Seton Hall community can find this edition of \u201cThe Heart of the Hall\u201d to be just as inspiring as it was to create. As we made \u201ceverything new\u201d (Revelation 21:5 NIV) in this edition, we look forward to hearing the ways you changed your lives and your faith for the better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cHe who was seated on the throne said, \u2018I am making everything new!\u2019\u201d (Revelation 21:5 NIV). The word \u201cnew\u201d is most applicable to our lives…<\/p>\n