1. Saint John’s Bible exhibit in AMU ends today

A Heritage Edition, or replica, of the Saint John’s Bible, a handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible, is available for public viewing in the AMU rotunda until 11:45 p.m. today. Marquette is displaying four volumes.

The original Saint John’s Bible is a seven-volume, one-of-a-kind work housed at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. It was commissioned in 1998 by the university and its Benedictine monks and took 10 years to handwrite and illuminate.

In conjunction with the St. James Bible exhibit, Raynor Memorial Libraries are hosting “Sacred and Spiritual Writings from the Rare Book Collection” through Saturday, Feb. 19. The exhibit, on the second floor of Raynor Library near the staircase, includes a 1483 gold-illuminated Bible by printer and goldsmith Anton Koberger, a 19th century manuscript Qur'an, an 1880 Catholic prayerbook in the Otchipwe Indian language, and spiritual works by Merton, Donne, Hopkins and more.

After Mission Week, the Heritage Edition — which includes the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Books, Psalms, Prophets, Gospels and Acts, and Letters and Revelation — will be preserved and permanently displayed in the Prucha Archives Reading Room on the third floor of the Raynor Memorial Libraries. A different illumination will be presented each day. The university will purchase the remaining three volumes of the edition as they become available in 2011–12, according to Janice Welburn, dean of libraries.

2. Catholic social thought/environmental stewardship is topic of Simmons Lecture

Lucia Silecchia, professor of law at the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, will deliver the 2011 Simmons Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 4:30 p.m. in Eckstein Hall.

Silecchia, executive board member of the Association of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools and the 2008-2009 chair of the Conference on Catholic Legal Thought, will present “More Will be Expected: Catholic Social Thought and International Environmental Stewardship.” Applying principles of Catholic social thought and traditional ethical principles, she will respond to modern questions of environmental responsibility. Silecchia will also explore how the principles are reflected in international environmental law — specifically, separate but differentiated responsibilities, the preferential option for the poor and the allocation of responsibilities through subsidiarity.

In April 2007, Silecchia was one of nine Americans to participate in a Vatican conference on Climate Change and Development, organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

3. The Laramie Project to be performed, Matthew Shepard’s mother to speak

The Department of Performing Arts will present The Laramie Project, Feb. 24 to March 6 at Helfaer Theatre.

In October 1998 Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wy., and left to die. The Laramie Project, which chronicles the incident and the sentiment it invokes, is a theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink, and the heights of compassion of which we are also capable, according to Debra Krajec, director. Talkbacks about the show are planned after the performances.

“First Fridays Dinner and a Show” will be offered at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 in the AMU Lunda Room. The $45 price includes dinner and the show. Dinner alone is $30. Dinner will be followed by a talk from Krajec and members of the production team. For more information or to RSVP contact Kevin Wlekinski, box office coordinator, at 8-7505.

This play is partially supported by the Theatre and Social Justice Fund. The performance will run:

• Thursday, Feb. 24, through Saturday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 27, 2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 2, through Saturday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 6, 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for students cost $10 and for the general public $16 to $20. Discounts are offered to senior citizens and alumni. Call the theatre box office at 8-7504 for more information.

Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, will speak Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. A Q&A session and book signing will follow her presentation.

“The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” a single-performance staged reading, will be performed Sunday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Helfaer Theatre. Tickets for the play, an epilogue to The Laramie Project, are available through the theatre box office for $6.

4. Young, black professionals featured at today’s roundtable discussion

The Office of Student Development’s Division of Multicultural Affairs is sponsoring “Young, Black, Successful” today, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. in the AMU Lunda Room. Community leaders and professionals from the Milwaukee area will share stories of their success and offer real life perspectives during roundtable discussions. Featured speakers include Jason Fields, Wisconsin State representative; Marquette Baylor, caseworker in the local office of Sen. Herb Kohl; Dr. Ramel Smith, psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital; and entrepreneur Kevin Newell.

For more information contact the Office of Student Development at 8-1412.

5. Honors Program hosting Ho-Chunk medicine man and Lakota woman

The Honors Program is presenting a contemplative lecture Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Raynor Beaumier Suite A. Michael Day, a Ho-Chunk medicine man, and Nancy DoveSong, a Lakota, will discuss the notion of spirituality and its relationship to theology, religion, psychology, ethics and philosophy.

The lecture, “Maintaining Native American Traditions in Modern Times,” is hosted by Dr. Anthony Peressini, director of the Honors Program, and is supported in part by the Simmons Religious Commitment Fund.

6. Ribbons to support ending violence against women

HAVEN and the student organization Men Serving Others will hand out free, white ribbons next week in support of ending violence toward women and young girls. Participants can pick up a ribbon and sign a pledge to "never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls" outside the AMU Brew from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 14-18.

7. $250 prize for comedy competition

Late Night Marquette and the Diederich College of Communication are sponsoring “Last Comic Standing,” a comedy competition Thursday, Feb. 24, at 9 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium.

The winner of the competition, judged on originality, universal appeal and creativity, will receive $250.

Competitors interested in performing a five- to 10-minute stand-up comedy act need to apply online by 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. For more information contact the Office of Student Development at 8-1412.

8. Eastern Orthodox vespers service to be held Tuesday

Campus Ministry and the Marquette Chapter of Orthodox Christian Fellowship will hold an Eastern Orthodox Vespers service Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. in the Saint Joan of Arc Chapel. Vespers is an evening prayer service that is spiritually beautiful and peaceful, filled with God’s love in Christ through the Holy Spirit, according to Campus Ministry. For more information, contact Rev. John Jones, professor of philosophy, or Agust Magnusson, president of OCF.

9. DPS plunging into Lake Michigan for Special Olympics

The Department of Public Safety is coordinating a team for the 2011 Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin.

The Polar Plunge will take place at Bradford Beach on Saturday, March 5, at noon. DPS is providing free round-trip transportation from the DPS office to Bradford Beach beginning at 11 a.m. Plungers and non-plunging supporters can register online for the Marquette team.

For more information, contact Sue Cooper, crime prevention officer, at 8-5244.

10. Italian Club hosting fundraiser at Pizzeria Piccola

Italian Club is hosting a fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 13, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Pizzeria Piccola, 7606 W. State St., Wauwatosa. A percentage of all sales and tips will benefit the club’s March 5 Carnivale Dance.

11. A Mission Week prayer — Suscipe

On each day of Mission Week, a different poem is being offered to the campus community for reflection. Instead of a traditional prayer or reflection, these poems are suggested as ways to explore one’s religious imagination.

Prayer for Suscipe
From Spiritual Exercises

Take, Lord, all my liberty.
Receive my memory,
my intellect, and will.
Whatever I have or hold
you have given to me;
so I return them to you
to be used according to your will.
Give us only your love
and your grace,
and with these we are rich enough
and ask for nothing more.