At graduation, a Jesuit student is expected to be religious, one of the six integral qualities of The Profile. The Department of Campus Ministry fosters this quality and provides students and faculty alike with opportunities to grow spiritually, proclaim their faith, and develop their relationships with Jesus Christ.
Always seeking to better serve the Jesuit community, Campus Ministry introduces new programs at the beginning of each school year, 2016-2017 being no exception.
Mrs. Gretchen Crowder, the Director of Campus Ministry, explained that a major concern of the Campus Ministry team for this year was “how the students [could] take on leadership roles” in different programs. To solve this dilemma, captains were chosen for the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Acolytes, and Lectors. These captains, who work alongside faculty members, organize the program, explore new opportunities, and recruit new members.
Many students struggle to participate in Campus Ministry because of their hectic schedules. Mrs. Crowder highlighted that she and the other faculty members have made activities “more available and easy for students to take part in,” which illustrates her consideration for the other activities that take up student’s time.
Masses, in the past only offered before school, will now be offered weekly during each lunch period and in the morning. Adding different times for Mass provide more students with the opportunity to attend, fulfilling the Campus Ministry goal of extending its services to more students.
In addition to the weekly masses, the Rosary will be prayed at the beginning of all three lunch periods on Wednesdays, the activity first implemented with immense success last year. Luke Wyand ’18 acknowledged that the students who “pray…the rosary for fifteen minutes then go to lunch” are able to “concentrate on the rest of their day while growing closer to God.” His emphasis on the convenience of the Rosary echoes Mrs. Crowder’s mission to foster greater involvement from across the Jesuit community. Between the weekly Masses, Rosaries on Wednesdays, and the solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during Friday lunch periods, students can take time to participate in Campus Ministry almost any day of the week.
Many Jesuit students who are passionate about their Catholic faith can partake in clubs like the Christian Life Community (CLC). While the CLC has existed in previous years, Mrs. Crowder hoped to “expand the program” because of a lack of knowledge of the club. Through the Christian Life Community, small groups consisting of about eight students and one or two faculty members are able to meet during lunch periods, allowing wider participation. Students in CLC develop bonds with those in their groups through consistent reflection and discussion, which generates deeper spiritual growth.
Not only Christian Life Community but also multiple other student-led organizations meet with the purpose of promoting Catholic faith and values. For example, St. Joseph’s Society was founded at the end of the past school year and promotes respect for life at all stages. In addition to productive discussion, this group seeks to participate in pro-life movements both within and beyond the campus.
These programs and organizations instituted by Campus Ministry have a great impact on many Jesuit students. Junior Nico Elizondo explained, “To be able to worship, pray, and grow in faith together with my Jesuit brothers…is truly a wonderful experience,” displaying the importance of Campus Ministry in his years at Jesuit.
Anyone with questions or interested in growing closer to God through their own experiences with Campus Ministry should contact Mrs. Gretchen Crowder.
