Catching Up with Ministry at Immaculata University
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January 3, 2024Another semester of ministry at Immaculata University has ended. The university saw a significant increase in enrollment this academic year, and that increase was evident in the upswing of student involvement and participation in campus ministry. As the Redemptorists of Baltimore Province began a second year of ministry at the university, the success of the first year paved the way for an interesting and hopeful second year.
The team comprising of, Sr. Laura Downing, IHM, Amanda Bielat, and Fr. Royce Thomas, C.Ss.R., began at full speed with an enthusiastic group of freshmen and an energized returning student population.
This semester we offered five different retreats; Awakening, Ignite, Busy Persons, Half-Time, a Silent Retreat and an all-Girls sleepover/retreat morning. Each of the retreats we offer were specially designed using Redemptorists and IHM spirituality. All retreats saw students taking time away from the regular schedule to listen deeply to God and to form community.
The tradition of a Community Night on Tuesdays was yet again successful. I claim this success off the fact that the buzz for this night grew among the campus. Students are given the space to grow in friendship and at the same time engage with each other in Theological, Spiritual and Social discussions throughout the nights.
Community Nights were blessed this semester to have had Fr. Anthony Michalik, C.Ss.R., who presented on our Mother of Perpetual Help, Fr. John Collins, C.Ss.R., who spoke about the importance of Mental Health and the Spiritual Life, and Fr. Ako Walker, C.Ss.R., who led the students in an excellent Advent Reflection. Another Redemptorist that graced the university this semester was Fr. Paul Borowski, C.Ss.R., who visited the campus and presided at the two Sunday masses on November 12. Fr. Paul spent the day on campus with the team and the students, leaving everyone grateful his visit.
Fall Semester of 2023, saw us continuing Movie Nights on Wednesdays, on Thursdays nights God-chat with Fr. Royce and Holy Hour with praise and worship. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays saw a score of students taking advantage of service opportunities, at the school garden project, the IHM nursing and retirement home, and a after school study program at a nearby parish. All service projects are led by campus ministry.
We added to the schedule on Monday nights, a Men’s Group meeting and a Silent Holy Hour, and Faith and Fun on Fridays. On Sundays after the 11am mass, there was RCIA formation classes for students missing Sacraments or desiring to become Catholic.
The highlight for me this pass semester was preparing three students to receive their Sacraments. One student was fully Initiated and the other two receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. I witnessed the growth and joy of the students as they prepared to commit their lives to God in a formal way. I was just as much elated to see the wider campus ministry student body excited and supportive of the students who received their Sacraments.
As we break for the Christmas season, we look forward to an even more hectic but fruitful Spring 2024 semester. On the horizon we have Six retreats, a Lenten Mission, a Service Trip to North Carolina, and the regular weekly events. We are also excited to welcome, Fr. Ed Faliskie, C.Ss.R., Fr. Kevin O’Neil, C.Ss.R., Fr. Peter Hill, C.Ss.R., and Fr. John Kingsbury, C.Ss.R., at various points during the semester.
Though my days are structured, I must remain open to the needs of the students and university as they arise. Some days I can spend hours in pastoral counseling and accompaniment, and some days my time is filled with spiritual direction sessions. There are days when the confession line is long, and times when simply sitting and chatting with a group of students in the office takes priority. On the flip side there are the quiet moments, though those days are far and few in between, nonetheless, it allows for recharging and preparing for what’s next.
A priority of the Redemptorists is outreach to young-adults, and I can attest that we are in one way achieving this goal here at Immaculata. As campus ministry continues to grow and expand, more young adults are feeling a sense of community, renewing, and forming their commitment to the Church and most importantly falling in love with Jesus Christ.
