Campus ministries bring Catholic faith to campus supporting students through their college journeys
We never know where or how someone will encounter Christ. As Christians and Catholics, we love and find comfort in how Christ began His public ministry by meeting with not only a select, certain few people… but with everyone. He “met people where they were at.” We often use the phrase, “meet them where they’re at,” but what does this mean? We’ve taken this as a goal and a sort of mission statement for the growth of the Catholic Campus Ministry Office at Kean University. It is a goal for our office to encounter students, all students, and support them in their search for God and support them on their faith journey through such a significant developmental time in their lives: College.
The Office of Catholic Campus Ministry at Kean University is an outreach project of the Archdiocese of Newark, and is an office dedicated to bringing faith-based events to students and the community. Together with the student-run Catholic Newman Club, we bring our Catholic faith to campus as “Kean Catholics.” As a ministry that has gone through many changes in the past year, such as new staff, new office location, and new students, Kean Catholics tries to bring a variety of programs, events, and information to the students and community of Kean in order to gauge not only what the students are looking for, but what they need.
Navigating college life: Being a new adult, out on your own for possibly the first time, more responsibilities, new schedules, balancing classes and jobs, especially in a pandemic, is challenging. Now more than ever, students need community and opportunities to connect with like-minded peers. That is where the Office of Campus Ministry steps in. Creative programming is needed to help students navigate their college experience and navigate being a young adult through a spiritual lens; to help them find their true, authentic selves through prayer, community, fellowship, education, and service.
On Catholic campuses this may be much easier to find and participate in, whereas at a public university like Kean, which happens to be one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, it can be more difficult to focus on your faith journey. In an effort to revitalize the Catholic community on campus, the office has found itself trying a variety of several types of programming to find students, meet them where they are at, and to see what works best for them.
Opportunities to encounter the Eucharist are the most obvious way to let students know that there is a Catholic presence on campus. We have held Sunday Masses and have also held Eucharistic Adoration for the students. Without a chapel on campus, we need an unconventional, but innovative space to bring Christ to students. With the help of the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons team, Campus Ministry transforms Kean’s Visualization and Immersive Studio for Education and Research into a 270-degree stained-glass chapel; allowing students to step away from their chaotic schedule and classwork and to step closer to a personal encounter with Christ on their public campus.
Besides Mass and Adoration, it has been a priority for Catholic Campus Ministry to connect and partner with other offices, departments, and student organizations on campus. Doing so allows for the community to see just how easily our faith can impact and guide the college experience in many ways.
What about students who are concerned with health and wellness? Campus Ministry and Student Health Services teamed up to encourage students to learn and support Catholic Relief Services’ advocacy for global vaccine distribution equity. Mental health awareness and support is, of course, a critical topic for college students today as well. Campus Ministry joined forces with the Counseling Center and other departments for mental health tabling, as well as a speaker panel to explain how our spiritual life and practices can go together with mental health treatment and support.
What about the students who are passionate about the environment? Campus Ministry supports the university’s Sustainability Task Force. With a student population that cares deeply about the planet, our office is guided by Laudato Si, and provides educational and environmentally friendly events. For example, alongside the student-run Gardening Club, in the spring students had the chance to learn about flowers and pollinators from the club, while our ministry provided information on why we are called to care for God’s creation.
What about the students on campus who are not Catholic? Campus Ministry has made multiple interfaith connections over the past year. The Catholic Newman Club and Campus Ministry have connected with the Muslim Student Association and other Christian Clubs such as Cru to do group events, allowing for each faith to learn more about each other’s practices and beliefs. Campus Ministry also takes part in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Interfaith Council. This council ensures that a public institution such as Kean can support student spirituality and faith.
What about students who are not sure what Catholic Campus Ministry even is? Some of the examples above illustrate ways that our ministry has reached out to different areas of campus may not appeal to everyone. Revitalizing the Catholic community on our campus sometimes calls for events that are simply meant to let students know who and what we are, and let students know that there is a Catholic community present at their school. Social events such as brunches, arts and crafts, and study breaks may be easier for students to attend first before feeling like they can step out of their comfort zone for a weekly Bible study or prayer meeting – and that is okay!
No matter where a student is in their journey through college, the goal of Kean Catholics is to meet them where they are at. Whether they are a freshman or a senior, a biology major or an English major, extraverted or shy, there is always a spot for each student in Campus Ministry. We might always be doing something different every day- like handing out a hundred roses to students in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, organizing donations in the university’s food pantry, or perhaps turning an immersive video studio into a prayer room for the community- but we are consistent in being open to all students, wherever they are at.
We pray for the start of your fall semester, and hope your upcoming academic year provides you with exciting new opportunities to encounter Christ. Blessings from Kean Catholics!
Editor’s note: The Archdiocese of Newark Office of College Campus Ministry supports eight universities and colleges in assisting students to develop spiritually. In addition to Kean, those schools include Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey City University, Montclair State University, Ramapo College, Rutgers University/ NJ Institute of Technology, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Union County College.
Local contacts for campus ministries:
Kean University
Contact: Lucia Pasternak Lucia.Pasternak@rcan.org
Website: keancatholics.org
Montclair State University
Contact: Rev. Jim Chern chernjam@comcast.net
Website: msunewman.com
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Website: ccm-nj.com
New Jersey City University
Website: njcunewmancatholic.com
Stevens Institute of Technology
Contact: Dan Apadula daniel.apadula@rcan.org
Website: stevensnewmancatholic.com
Ramapo College
Website: ramaponewman.com
Rutgers University/ NJ Institute of Technology
Subscribe to Newman Newsletter @ Newman Newsletter (mailchi.mp)
Union County College
*Works with Kean’s Campus Ministry
Website: keancatholics.org
Featured image: Kean University’s Campus Ministry transforms the Visualization and Immersive Studio for Education and Research into a 270-degree stained-glass chapel for Mass on Sunday.
