Campus Ministry

[pax]

+JMJ+

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I realize that it's probably been almost a year since I've been on CF, but I just wanted to drop in and say "hello" to everyone and ask a quick question.

I go to a public university where Catholic campus ministry is in the process of building some strong programs (we started last year from basically nothing). We have one group that is really strong with about 30 people coming weekly to do a rosary, bible study, fellowship, etc... but not much else. I was wondering if any of the other college students could share information about any effective programs/groups they have at their universities and if anyone else could provide me with information from their own experiences with Catholic Campus ministry.

We have a great pastor and he's been doing a great job. I'm part of the Campus Ministry group and wanted to have some more ideas for when we return.


Thanks a lot!

 

[DJ B.K.]

The campus minstry at my University does retreat each quarter and does Spring Break mission trips.

 

[FullyMT]

+JMJ+

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I realize that it's probably been almost a year since I've been on CF, but I just wanted to drop in and say "hello" to everyone and ask a quick question.

I go to a public university where Catholic campus ministry is in the process of building some strong programs (we started last year from basically nothing). We have one group that is really strong with about 30 people coming weekly to do a rosary, bible study, fellowship, etc... but not much else. I was wondering if any of the other college students could share information about any effective programs/groups they have at their universities and if anyone else could provide me with information from their own experiences with Catholic Campus ministry.

We have a great pastor and he's been doing a great job. I'm part of the Campus Ministry group and wanted to have some more ideas for when we return.


Thanks a lot!

Adoration is pretty important for any good ministry program. Do you meet weekly for Mass? Are there any young adult conferences to attend in the area ever? Keep your ears and eyes open for those (and fyi, there's a really great young adult conference in AZ every May, if you guys ever want to consider fundraising for that or something, it's through ARISE North America.)

30 people is a good size. Although if you ever offer a reconciliation service or a Mass for feast days, maybe try and find a way to publicize it? Not sure what the rules are for public campuses.

Also, offering a retreat for the whole group is another great idea. Try and pick a weekend where there are no major events planned and stick with that day. If your campus group has a theme for the semester or year, you should try and stick with that theme...maybe make it the "top off" for it.

Hope that helps

 

[colleen]

Hi Pax! I lived and worked for a ministry strongly envolved with college age student. One of my favorite activities was working with the Missionaries of Charity Sisters (Mother Theresa's order). Every Sunday they feed the homeless in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. They would bring donuts and we would make oatmeal and bring all the fixins for the oatmeal. Everyone would gather, the sisters would lead grace, and then we would serve the homeless. After breakfast we would all say a rosary with the homeless that wanted to join us. And, once a month a father would come and say mass for the homeless in the park. He also heard confession from many of the people. Over time you could really see the power of the Sisters and the Real Prescence working in them. In the year I was there a man was baptized and confirmed, and him and his girlfriend will probably get married sometime this year.

We also had adoration available four nights a week. On Saturday mornings (killing day) we would pray the rosary outside of Planned Parenthood.

 

[pax]

Thanks for the posts. I should have added that our church is actually in the middle of campus and we do have daily Mass and adoration once a week for a few hours (our pastor gets pretty excited about Adoration). We also normally offer penance services during Advent and Lent.

Retreats are a good idea. We tried to offer 2 last year, but neither went off the ground because of lack of interest, but we're hoping to have something this year.

 

[pax]

Hi Pax! I lived and worked for a ministry strongly envolved with college age student. One of my favorite activities was working with the Missionaries of Charity Sisters (Mother Theresa's order). Every Sunday they feed the homeless in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. They would bring donuts and we would make oatmeal and bring all the fixins for the oatmeal. Everyone would gather, the sisters would lead grace, and then we would serve the homeless. After breakfast we would all say a rosary with the homeless that wanted to join us. And, once a month a father would come and say mass for the homeless in the park. He also heard confession from many of the people. Over time you could really see the power of the Sisters and the Real Prescence working in them. In the year I was there a man was baptized and confirmed, and him and his girlfriend will probably get married sometime this year.

We also had adoration available four nights a week. On Saturday mornings (killing day) we would pray the rosary outside of Planned Parenthood.

Thanks for that as well, service activities are definitely something we could work on...

 

[FullyMT]

So I'm guessing everyone adjusted to Fr. Will pretty quickly then

 

[colleen]

Serving with the Missionary Sisters was amazing. It was the perfect start to my week, and the intimate setting meant we really got to know the men and women we were helping. St. Therese once gave me a rose through one of the men we served

Father always explains who can receive the Eucharist, and they were really respectful of those limits. I remember kneeling on the grass after recieving communion, and hearing two people in front of me talking about how they wished they could receive the Lord. Isn't that amazing! I'm sure watching the sister completely prostrate helped them see they were in the real prescence.

 

[pax]

So I'm guessing everyone adjusted to Fr. Will pretty quickly then

That's one way of saying it .

We've been really blessed to have him and most of the students love him. He's a great pastor and has done a lot of great things with campus ministry so far.

 

[PoliticalGuru]

+JMJ+

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I realize that it's probably been almost a year since I've been on CF, but I just wanted to drop in and say "hello" to everyone and ask a quick question.

I go to a public university where Catholic campus ministry is in the process of building some strong programs (we started last year from basically nothing). We have one group that is really strong with about 30 people coming weekly to do a rosary, bible study, fellowship, etc... but not much else. I was wondering if any of the other college students could share information about any effective programs/groups they have at their universities and if anyone else could provide me with information from their own experiences with Catholic Campus ministry.

We have a great pastor and he's been doing a great job. I'm part of the Campus Ministry group and wanted to have some more ideas for when we return.


Thanks a lot!

I've often thought about how often do all of the Christian groups together on a campus get together to do things. It's made me interested in starting a Ecumencial iniative on my campus.