Campus ministry can be place to `stretch’ in faith By Fabvienen Taylor
OXFORD — Some members of a college group who traveled to New York City to see Pope Benedict XVI were tourists as well as pilgrims, according to a campus minister.
“Pilgrims because they were going to see the pope, tourists because only a few of us had ever been to New York City,” said Brad Noel, director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
This is Noel’s second year as director, a full-time paid position through St. John the Evangelist Parish. The program is funded by a grant from the annual Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) in the Diocese of Jackson and contributions from the parents of students, he said.
Over 6,000 Catholic college students are served by campus ministry programs with funding from the CSA. In addition to Oxford, programs are available in Starkville, Jackson, Columbus, and other cities.
On his April 15-20 trip to the United States, the pope split his time between Washington D.C. and New York City.
Altogether six students flew with Noel, his wife Christie, and two parishioners to celebrate the papal Mass on Sunday, April 20, in Yankee Stadium.
“In a word, it was wonderful,” said Noel, 29, who also has a job with the the university. “My wife and I are converts to the church so the trip was really special to us. We were really excited.”
Initially, Noel planned to charter a bus for the trip because more students expressed an interest in going,
However, the bus trip would have taken about four days meaning students would miss several classes right before final examinations.
“The timing of the trip was not good academically for many students who felt they couldn’t afford to do that,” Noel said.
Just as thousands of Catholics felt it important to attend the papal Mass, Noel said attendance at Mass is the main focus of campus ministry program at Ole Miss.
“Our church says the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life, so our main mission is to see to it our Catholic students are going to Mass,” he said.
To that end, there is standing room only at the 5 p.m. Sunday Mass in the Paris-Yates Chapel on campus, which seats 225. St. John is building a new church.
In addition to Mass, students can attend weekly Scripture study, Tuesday night dinner, eucharistic adoration and community events..
About 30-40 students attend the dinner and adoration afterwards. “We want every segment of the student Catholic population, their guests and non-Catholic students to feel welcome,” he said.
Participating in campus ministry activities gives students, who are stretching themselves academically and socially, a place to stretch spiritually.
“If nothing else we are available to the students and can provide a steady, strong base, a place where they can ask questions about their faith, where they can recharge themselves spiritually,” Noel said.
He said the program provides students with experiences to build upon their faith.
“For example eucharistic adoration, visiting with our Lord, is a wonderful experience. But there is a dual purpose.”
In the university community, Noel doesn’t shy away from being Catholic. “I don’t think we should cover up the fact we are Catholics.
“Just the fact we have eucharistic adoration leads to students of other faiths asking questions. At least they know there is a viable presence of the Catholic faith on campus.
“We hope the Catholic faith will be a part of our students’ lives for the rest of their lives. Many of them are the future parishioners of the Jackson diocese. We don’t want them to come to Ole Miss and leave non-Catholic,” Noel said.
the pope, tourists because only a few of us had ever been to New York City,” said Brad Noel, director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).