Young Catholics unite in faith and fellowship during intercollegiate hike
Earlier this fall, over 40 young Catholics from five New Jersey colleges gathered at Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah for an intercollegiate faith hike organized by the Archdiocese of Newark’s Campus Ministry program.
Students and campus ministers from Kean University, Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Ramapo College, and the Stevens Institute of Technology joined in the afternoon of prayer, reflection, and community.
On a sunny, brisk day, the group embarked on the nature trail, pausing occasionally to admire the lush canopy of multicolored leaves that surrounded them. Students told stories, discussed their faith journeys, and connected over shared values as young adults committed to their Catholic faith.
Upon reaching the trail’s peak overlooking the Ramapo Valley, the group settled around a rock formation resembling an altar, where Father Jim Chern, director of campus ministry for the Archdiocese and chaplain at Montclair State, and Fr. Jarek Zaniewski, chaplain of Ramapo College and Stevens Institute, concelebrated Mass. Observers noted that as the Eucharist was elevated, the winds that had been strong throughout the hike briefly stilled — adding a sense of peace to the ceremony.
Following Mass, the group enjoyed lunch together before completing the hike, exchanging contact information and pledging to stay in touch.
“To say that our first intercollegiate event of the semester was a success would be an understatement,” said Sebastian Perez, Montclair State’s campus minister and a co-organizer of the hike. “It could not have gone better if we tried. I’m thankful to all the students who participated and to God for bringing us together for a special afternoon.”
The faith hike is intended to be the first in a series of intercollegiate events to unite young adult Catholics across New Jersey. The next gathering, a daylong gospel reflection retreat, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16, at Montclair State University. More information is available at www.keancatholics.squarespace.com/calendar/rescue-retreat-day.
“Pope St. John Paul II once said, ‘Life with Christ is an adventure,’” said Lucia Pasternak, campus minister at Kean University and co-organizer of the hike. “Adventuring the trails in fellowship with other college Catholics was a highlight of our fall semester. We look forward to more intercollegiate activities to come.”
For more information about campus ministry within the Archdiocese of Newark, visit www.rcan.org/campus-ministry/.
Photos courtesy of the Archdiocese of Newark
Featured image: Father Jarek Zaniewski, chaplain of Ramapo College and the Stevens Institute (left), and Father Jim Chern, director of campus ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark and chaplain at Montclair State (right), celebrated Mass for over 40 young Catholics from five New Jersey colleges during an intercollegiate faith hike in Mahwah’s Ramapo Valley County Reservation earlier this fall.
