Summer at Immaculata University
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August 8, 2023Ending the semester at St. John’s, and then going back to college for the summer was the last thing I would’ve expected for my summer ministry. Yet, I’m privileged to have the opportunity to join the team here at Immaculata University’s Campus Ministry – Fr. Royce Thomas C.Ss.R., Sr. Laura Downing IHM, and Amanda Bielat – as they power through the summer and prepare for the upcoming school year.
Campus ministry for me always felt like an integral part of our ministry, and often, I think it’s overlooked because there is either a lack of ability, motivation, or often resources. This summer I’ve seen what it takes to run an incredible ministry that creates a lively spiritual home for students.
The most important quality for an amazing campus ministry office is availability, and these past few weeks, even though its summer, students are still coming through our office doors – and we are most definitely here for whatever they need.
A typical day for me starts with morning prayer at the Sisters’ over in Gillet Hall, followed by Mass. If I’m giving the reflection that day, I’ll stay in the vestibule of the chapel after mass for feedback from the sisters and then meet with Fr. Royce and Sr. Laura in the office for feedback.
At 8:30 I’m usually in the office where some days I’m helping reorganize the office to prepare for remodeling and the upcoming school year, or I’ll be at my desk working on the new website or designing a resource book for the semester. Some events that I’ll go to with Fr. Royce in the evenings have been the baccalaureate masses for the surrounding schools, or Kairos retreats, or heading to the Shrine in Philly. I even had the opportunity to give a presentation on St. Alphonsus’ life, legacy and spirituality to a summer camp of 160 kids preparing for Confirmation.
Besides attending the online Encuentros with the Superior General for the Students of North America, I’m learning the various ways campus ministry hosts summer service trips for students, on campus events, and plans for the upcoming school year.
Recently, the 2023 Nun Run, a fundraiser for the IHM Sisters’ retirement home, Camila Hall, brought people to run or walk the 5k loop that weaved through campus.
Amanda and I went with the students to Shenandoah, PA, where we helped the sisters there clean and clear out the former school building. We carried thousands of books from the third-floor library down to the basement where others set them up for people to browse and take home whatever they like.
We also hosted a service trip to St. Monica’s in South Philadelphia to repaint classrooms in early July. The students had a blast using their creativity to paint the walls in bright colors that will hopefully create a delightful environment for students to learn in the coming school year.
During the school year, the IHM sisters have many existing projects that students usually volunteer at ... well, those needs don’t stop when the semester ends. One of these projects is the Sustainable Garden, managed by Sr. Susan Cronin, and Camila Hall, the Sisters’ retirement home down the street from Immaculata.
A new experience that I discovered this summer were Kairos retreats. I didn’t grow up going to a private Catholic school for middle school and high school, so I never knew what these retreats were and how essential they are for those my age.
With Kairos, students can reflect on their relationship with God, family, and friends while allowing them to step back from the demands of higher education. Dropping in on other schools’ retreats with Fr. Royce gave me a new perspective on contemplation and how ministry evolves to meet people where they are.
My highlight was the Camp Out that Campus Ministry hosted in late June on back campus where students returned to campus and slept outside. We started with a Vigil Mass celebrated by Father Royce, followed by a night of fun, food, and friends – emphasizing one of our main goals of building community. After our service trip to Shenandoah, we all went to Knoebels, an amusement park nearby, for students to unwind, hop on rides, and grab a bite to eat before coming back to campus.
I’ve had an incredible opportunity to add my own skills to our incredible team here at Immaculata. I’ve been given many opportunities to create resources that students can use throughout the school year from the prayers of the faithful for the semester to novena books.
Redesigning the website, www.iucampusministry.com, consolidated all the various information sources into one where students could find the calendar of events, register for retreats, find their photos from previous events, and find worship sites not on campus.
Getting to sit in on planning meetings for the upcoming year, I can say that the team creates community nights, masses, service trips, volunteering, and other events that students can simply attend what benefits them, to help the team meet students where they need.There are a host of opportunities for ministry here at Campus Ministry and that’s just what I’m able to experience during summer. I’m grateful that this summer is allowing me to explore new methods of ministry beyond the usual Redemptorists ministries that I’ve been exposed to.
I hope that this dedication to ministering to those my age expands beyond just Immaculata’s campus, that Fr. Royce, Sr. Laura, and Amanda’s experience ministering at Immaculata can inspire others in their own ministry, to build bridges to the next generation of Catholics, and maybe, inspire the next generation of Redemptorists and IHM Sisters.
