Catholics celebrate, commemorate the Council of Trent on Halloween
Party intended to bridge gap between Catholicism and Protestanism through light-hearted fun
Joshua Rice
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Focus
Hillsdale College's Catholic Society has something different in mind for Halloween.
Starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Grewcock Student Union's formal lounge, the group will host the first-ever Council of Trent party on campus.
The party - the brainchild of sophomore Catherine Sims - will commemorate a council which took place over 25 sessions between 1545 and 1563. According to senior Anna Williams, president of the Catholic Society, the purpose of the council was to "make reforms, define doctrines and respond to Protestant objections."
The party will feature trivia and quizzes assembled by Sims which will relate to Church doctrines and heresy. The Catholic Society will also provide food and drinks.
"We'll read documents from the church council, say some prayers together, probably sing some hymns, hang out," Williams said.
Senior Julie Robison, the social events chair for the Catholic Society, said the party will preserve the spirit of the original council. Robison also writes book reviews for The Collegian.
"We wanted to have it as a fun, very ecumenical party to encourage discussion about the Protestant/Catholic split," she said. "We'd love both Catholics and non-Catholics to come and ask questions about the church."
The timing of the party is intentional.
"Oct. 31 is Reformation Day," Williams said. "According to rumors, Protestants in the past have burned pictures of the Pope."
Despite this, Williams and Robison each stressed the party's intention of fostering discussion, not division.
"We want to make light of the misconceptions Protestants and Catholics have about one another," Williams said. "It's not Protestant bashing and it's not exclusive."
"We're all Christians, this is us sharing church history with the rest of campus," Robison said.
The party is also not necessarily intended as an alternative to Halloween.
"We're purposefully scheduling it early so people can go to Halloween parties," Williams said.
Robison said there are many conflicting views of Halloween in Catholicism. Her parents, for example, take different positions on the holiday.
"My father would say it's a pagan holiday, my mother would say it's all in good fun," she said. "Halloween needs to be emphasized as a chance for families and friends to get together and have a good time."
Other holidays should possess greater value for Catholics, she said.
"The following days are more important to us," she said. "Nov. 1 is the Feast of All Saints' Day, which honors all the saints in the Church, and the next day is All Souls' Day, when we pray for the souls of the faithfully departed."
Starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Grewcock Student Union's formal lounge, the group will host the first-ever Council of Trent party on campus.
The party - the brainchild of sophomore Catherine Sims - will commemorate a council which took place over 25 sessions between 1545 and 1563. According to senior Anna Williams, president of the Catholic Society, the purpose of the council was to "make reforms, define doctrines and respond to Protestant objections."
The party will feature trivia and quizzes assembled by Sims which will relate to Church doctrines and heresy. The Catholic Society will also provide food and drinks.
"We'll read documents from the church council, say some prayers together, probably sing some hymns, hang out," Williams said.
Senior Julie Robison, the social events chair for the Catholic Society, said the party will preserve the spirit of the original council. Robison also writes book reviews for The Collegian.
"We wanted to have it as a fun, very ecumenical party to encourage discussion about the Protestant/Catholic split," she said. "We'd love both Catholics and non-Catholics to come and ask questions about the church."
The timing of the party is intentional.
"Oct. 31 is Reformation Day," Williams said. "According to rumors, Protestants in the past have burned pictures of the Pope."
Despite this, Williams and Robison each stressed the party's intention of fostering discussion, not division.
"We want to make light of the misconceptions Protestants and Catholics have about one another," Williams said. "It's not Protestant bashing and it's not exclusive."
"We're all Christians, this is us sharing church history with the rest of campus," Robison said.
The party is also not necessarily intended as an alternative to Halloween.
"We're purposefully scheduling it early so people can go to Halloween parties," Williams said.
Robison said there are many conflicting views of Halloween in Catholicism. Her parents, for example, take different positions on the holiday.
"My father would say it's a pagan holiday, my mother would say it's all in good fun," she said. "Halloween needs to be emphasized as a chance for families and friends to get together and have a good time."
Other holidays should possess greater value for Catholics, she said.
"The following days are more important to us," she said. "Nov. 1 is the Feast of All Saints' Day, which honors all the saints in the Church, and the next day is All Souls' Day, when we pray for the souls of the faithfully departed."
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