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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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New Campus Ministry Model Brings
Best Practices to Long Island’s Secular College Campuses
Campus Ministry Part Of ‘The New Evangelization’ |
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ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, March 29, 2005 – After a two
year collaborative assessment process, the Diocese of
Rockville Centre announced today the launching of new
initiative designed to reinvigorate and strengthen the
ministry it offers to the more than 50,000 Catholic
college students attending the ten secular college
campuses located within the diocese.
The initiative involves the introduction of a new vision
and model for campus ministry which is based on the best
practices of college campus ministry programs
nation-wide, as well as a realignment of resources to
more effectively meet the unique spiritual and pastoral
needs of each campus.
“I consider campus ministry to be one of the most
important things we do and that college students are
among those who are most surely a part of my life and my
hope for the future,” said The Most Reverend William
Murphy, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
“In the apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Inuente, the
Pope invites us, at the beginning of the new millennium,
‘to put out into the deep’ and renew our commitment to
evangelize the world by the witness of our words and
actions. He invites us to renew our life as church as
‘together in hope’ we build up the Body of Christ and
make our Church the ever spirit-filled mystery of life
and salvation for all the world,” said Bishop Murphy.
When Father Brian Barr was appointed administrator of
the campus parish and director of campus ministry in
2004, the diocese was at the midpoint of a comprehensive
self-study of the campus ministry program. “Last year,
when I appointed Father Barr, I asked him to continue
the review process began by his predecessor. I asked
that he look at campus ministry on Long Island through
the lens of the new evangelization,” said Bishop Murphy.
“I was asked by Bishop Murphy to think outside the box
and to study the different models of campus ministry out
there and bring the best practices from those programs
here to the diocese,” said Father Barr.
“There are some extremely exciting models of campus
ministry throughout the country, where faith is on fire,
where participation at Mass and in the sacramental life
of the Church is phenomenal,” Father Barr said. “The
purpose of the two-year study was to study our own
program and determine how can we make it a world-class
ministry. A ministry that’s alive with the Holy Spirit.
A ministry where young people embrace the message of
Jesus and the Gospel,” said Father Barr.
Out of this study emerged a new model for Long Island
campuses. “It’s a dynamic approach,” said Father Barr.
The primary shift in this plan will be from that of a
traditional campus minister model to one, which supports
the value of peer ministry. “Consistently, the ‘peer
ministry’ approach has reached considerable levels of
effectiveness elsewhere,” said Father Barr.
“An effective campus ministry program is essential as
its mission is to prepare future leaders of the Church,”
said Reverend Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv., director of
campus ministry and university chaplain, Catholic
University of America. “If students are involved in
their faith in college, they’ll tend to be involved in
their Church when they graduate,” said Father Schlageter.
A successful campus ministry program is one where young
adults, no matter where they are from, feel welcome and
challenged by the Gospel, where students make other
students feel welcome,” said Father Schlageter.
“Chronically, young adults are the most underserved
group in our Church. Anyone can look in the pews and see
that young adults find it hard to find a place in
church. And when push comes to shove, young adults are
in a much better place to reach out to peers. We’ve
found that young adults listen to young adults,” said
Father Schlageter.
It makes sense to have younger people involved in campus
ministry. “Shepherds don’t make sheep, sheep make
sheep,” said Father Roy Tvrdik, S.M.M., S.U.N.Y. at Old
Westbury campus minister. To build on that point, Father
Barr said, “If I walk into a classroom of 30 sophomores
and talk about going to Mass, I will get one reaction.
But, if someone who was a senior walked in and talked
about the same subject, they would be more likely to
listen to him or her.”
The new model will also not only enliven campus ministry
at each of the campuses but also facilitate the
networking of Catholic students between the campuses.
“We’re hoping to have access to the gifts of students
from the other campuses. S.U.N.Y. at Old Westbury
students will begin to know students from different
schools. If you have a good core group made of students
from different campuses, they’re going to want to share
their faith. That’s what we’re looking to do,” said
Father Tvrdik.
“They are doing some incredible things at other
campuses,” said Father Roy. “One thousand people
attending Mass each week. Vibrant and beautiful Masses.
Theological discussions that are engaging. I’m hoping we
can bring some of that to our campus parish here in this
diocese,” said Father Tvrdik.
Celebration of the Mass is the most essential element to
effective campus ministry and greater graces will flow
from it. “It is the most important thing we do. That is
our moment to strike with these kids. It is our
evangelical moment,” said Father Barr. “Mass has to be
done well. If the music is contemporary and the homily
is relevant then we’ll connect with young people. I like
to think of it as a dynamic Catholicism and dynamic
orthodoxy.”
“Brian has been wonderful,” said Sister Margaret Landry,
R.S.H.M., campus minister at Stony Brook University.
“The students love him. They relate very well to him. He
relates very well to young people and has a good sense
of humor,” said Sister Margaret. While Stony Brook has a
strong campus ministry program, Sister Margaret sees the
new peer ministry model as a good way to connect with
students. “What Father Barr is doing is very positive,”
added Sister Margaret.
The campus parish will also undergo a realignment, which
will enable resources to be allocated to meet the unique
spiritual and pastoral needs of each campus. The ten
secular campuses on Long Island will be regrouped into
three new categories:
1. Residential campuses
2. Commuter campuses
3. Combination campuses
Residential campuses are where a majority of the student
body resides on campus. In these environments, the
mission of the campus parish requires a more
theologically consistent presence and regular
participation in the on-campus and day-to-day life of
the student body. Residential campuses include: Hofstra
University, C.W. Post University, and Stony Brook
University.
Commuter campuses are where the student body does not
reside on campus or in student housing but instead,
participates in the celebration of the Mass in “home”
parishes. In these environments, it would appear that
the mission of the campus parish requires encouragement
and motivation to bring back to an active home parish
life the spirituality and vitaility maintained and
nourished by the campus parish. These campuses include:
Nassau Community College and Suffolk Community College.
Combination campuses are where there is a balanced mix
of students who commute and those who reside on-campus
in student housing. In these environments, the campus
parish would need to provide a variety of
services/ministries to meet the needs of both the
commuter student and resident. These campuses include:
S.U.N.Y. Farmingdale, Dowling College, N.Y. Institute of
Technology, S.U.N.Y. at Old Westbury and Adelphi
University.
Evangelization of young people be it on a college
campus, or elsewhere, is helping to build the future
church on Long Island. Renewed excitement and enthusiasm
and love for their faith has spillover effects in all of
the ministries of the Catholic Church. “Wouldn’t it be
wonderful if we witness young men and women being called
to a vocation in the priesthood or religious life
through a vibrant campus ministry program,” said Father
Barr.
About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was formed in 1957 and
covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk
Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.5 million
Catholics (total population in both counties is
approximately 3 million). There are 134 parishes in 119
towns. Last year over 21,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 21,000 first communions and 5,000
marriages took place in the diocese. There are 2,622
students in kindergarten, 26,738 in primary or
elementary school, 11,979 in secondary school and 9,310
in higher institutions. There are 77 Catholic elementary
schools, high schools and colleges/universities in the
diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two
home care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. These facilities served over 743,000 people
last year. For more information visit
www.drvc.org
For more information:
Sean P. Dolan
sdolan@drvc.org
516-678-5800, ext. 625
Cell: 516-510-0473 |
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