A Little History

Campus ministry began in 1883 when Mrs. Melvin invited some Catholic students from the University of Wisconsin to Thanksgiving dinner. During the course of the dinner, the students complained about the “anti-Catholic” attitude of some of their professors. Mrs. Melvin suggested they begin a literary club – which were very popular at that time – to help them grow in their understanding of Catholicism.

One of the students involved in the Melvin Club – Timothy Harrington – later started a similar group at the University of Pennsylvania. He named it the “Newman Club” after reading John Henry Cardinal Newman’s The Idea of the University.

The “Newman” movement grew along with Catholic student movements. Bishops appointed chaplains to these groups. Centers were built. After World War II, there was a great surge of Catholic students entering college.

Today there are also University Parishes, Campus Ministry Departments, Campus Ministry Office and Catholic Associations.

University

A lot of hopes and dreams are caught up in that one word. Many fond memories. Sadness and disappointment, as well.
Somehow, we continue to think of college as a “fringe experience”. It is temporary, but its impact on the lives of our people is incalculable

Did you know there are 5 million Catholic college age students enrolled in our country alone?

As Catholics assimilated into the American culture, more and more of them enrolled in state or private independent schools. Today, less than 400,000 Catholic students attend Catholic colleges or universities.

Campus Ministry is the church’s ministry in higher education in both Catholic and non-Catholic schools. Our ministry begins with the education of our students in our faith. It also involves ministry to the faculty and staff, engaging the university as an institution and bringing the Gospel to the world of ideas.

What is happening on campus? Should medical students be forced to learn how to perform an abortion? Can student fees support a student publication even if its purpose is religious? What is hate speech? Are there significant differences among the races that can predict educational achievements? How old is the universe and how fast is it expanding? What is the foundation for human consciousness?

These are just some of the questions our students encounter in college. Not to mention the historical underpinnings of our civilization, philosophy, ethics, and the arts.

In 1985, the National Conference of Catholic Bishop’s wrote a pastoral letter, Empowered By The Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces The Future. In that letter, the bishops said: “Campus ministry gathers the Catholics on campus for prayer, worship, and learning in order that they might bring the light of the Gospel to illumine the concerns and hopes of the academic community.”

One cannot meet with college and university students anywhere in the world without hearing their questions and sensing their anxieties. In their hearts your students have many questions about faith, religious practice and holiness in life.
Pope John Paul II

Get Involved

There are a lot of ways to get involved in campus ministry.
Get Involved

Students

Join the Catholic Newman Center on campus. The Hobson memorial Union or Office of Student Affairs will have a list of all the student groups.

Introduce yourself to the campus ministers. At many universities, there is a Catholic University Center. Stop or call for the Mass schedule.

Volunteer. There are a lot of activities you can get involved with such as:
Students

  • Choir
  • Retreats
  • Lectoring
  • Eucharistic Ministers
  • Service Activities
  • Educational Programs
  • Social Events
  • Peer Ministry

 

Parents - Friends - Alumni

Visit the Newman Center. Learn about the program that are being offered. Volunteer. Many campus ministers want to develop a mentoring relationship between students and older adults in that field

Students On Campus Ministry

“Campus ministry helped me see how I fit into the world and helped me discover my purpose in life.”
Joe Brock
University of Missouri – Columbia

“It is very easy to get to college and forget about your faith, but campus ministry has kept me in touch with what is important.”
Jamie Williams
Michigan State University

“I don’t understand how students can not be involved with campus ministry. It has been such an inspiration to me. Especially when school has gotten tough.”
Jon Page
Purdue University

Students On Campus Ministry

National Organizations

The Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA) promotes the mission of the Church in Higher Education and fosters the professional development of campus ministers.

The National Catholic Student Coalition (NCSC) is a network of college students seeking to strengthen their identity as Catholics.

CCMA/NCSC
300 College Park Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45469-2515
tel. (513) 229-4648 (CCMA)
tel. (513) 229-3590 (NCSC)
fax (513) 229-4024