Jesuit’s Campus Ministry Program provides students with the opportunity to participate in liturgical celebrations as well as to strengthen their personal faith through different opportunities for spiritual growth.
Parker Thompson ’15, when asked about Campus Ministry, said, “[Campus Ministry] really allows me to give back to the community and live out my Christian calling.”
This year, Campus Ministry is undergoing several changes, including a collaboration with Community Service. Mrs. Gretchen Crowder, Director of Campus Ministry, stated, “This year, one of the big changes is that Diversity moved upstairs and Community Service moved down here, so Campus Ministry and Community Service are working a little bit closer together this year.” This new collaboration will have positive effects because both groups can help support one another. Mrs. Crowder continued, saying, “Mr. Perry and I are having three prayer services this year that connect Community Service and Campus Ministry.”
Another significant change in the program this year is the updated Kairos retreat. When asked about the retreat, Mrs. Crowder responded, “We’ve been working a lot on the Kairos retreat and changing it up a little bit. We wanted to make sure that we were making it more Ignatian, more Jesuit in nature, and more spiritual in nature.”
The many faculty members involved with Campus Ministry help direct these students in their spiritual enrichment.
Campus Ministry has acquired several new staff members, including Mrs. Regina Progar, who was added as a replacement for Mr. Armstrong. Mrs. Progar, a theology teacher, explained her reasoning for joining the Campus Ministry staff: “The idea of joining was presented to me, so I sat down with Mrs. Crowder. I soon came to realize that this is something that I would enjoy and is a good fit for me.” Speaking on how she is enjoying the Ministry staff so far, Mrs. Progar exclaimed, “I like it a lot, and I get to be involved in the school faith in a deeper way than just sitting in a classroom.” Mrs. Progar recently became the chaplain of the golf team and is involved in other “odds and ends” that contribute to the ministry.
When asked about why he involved himself in Campus Ministry, Mr. Joe Nava, an algebra teacher, replied, “I received a degree in theology, and I wanted to use my knowledge to help guide students through retreats and other liturgical practices.” Mr. Nava is involved in several different branches of Campus Ministry. In addition to helping coordinate the morning prayers and liturgy orders, he also serves as the chaplain of the basketball team. Campus Ministry designates members of the staff to be chaplains for different sports teams and other extra-curricular activities.
Nava describes his position in morning liturgies as the “middle man between Campus Ministry and the Music department.” He helps associate the two for morning liturgies, bringing music into our masses. When asked about what he’s involved in that is new in Campus Ministry, Mr. Nava said, “We are always trying to make things new, fresh, and better, and I am currently working on a video for the upcoming Friday Prayer service.”
The ministry is also offering students extra opportunities to pray at school, including lunchtime prayer services. Mr. Nava spoke about these opportunities, saying, “We are trying to give students an extra opportunity to pray during the day, whether it’s the lunchtime prayers or morning masses.”
Students can also become involved in Campus Ministry through additional prayer services and other faith practices. When asked how students can become involved in Campus Ministry, Mrs. Crowder responded, “There’s a variety of different ways depending on how much or how little they want to get involved.” Each week, every grade is responsible for a different day to lead the morning prayer. Another way that students can become involved in Campus Ministry is through the newly-added Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It occurs every Friday and allows students time to pray and reflect with God.
Mr. Knight, who leads Friday Adoration, described it as “a good experience for any student and a great time for prayer and reflection at the end of the week, regardless of if you’re Catholic.”
Reid Hatzmann ’18 recounted, “Friday adoration during lunch is one of my favorite parts of the week. Not only do I get a chance to pray in front of the blessed sacrament, but I get a chance to look back and reflect on my actions over the past week.”
The staff is working hard to help incorporate faith into the daily lives of the student body and will continue to create new opportunities for students to strengthen their faith outside of church or the classroom.
