Ministry Embracing Gift of Diversity
Campus ministry is at the heart of a strong Catholic university. To ensure we are able to offer spiritual resources and support to all on campus regardless of spiritual tradition or background, the university recently conducted a review of our services, planning a revitalization of campus ministry and the appointment of a new Director.
Theology professor Dr. Jean-Pierre Fortin; St. Basil’s Pastor Fr. Morgan Rice, CSB; theology student Ann Sairah Mathew; Greg Rupik who is executive assistant to President Sylvester; and Emily Van Berkum, Dean of Loretto College, made up the committee that created, with the help of expertise from the University of Toronto, a campus ministry revitalization survey. The questionnaire was sent out this past December to more than 5,000 people to discover the current make-up of the St. Michael’s community and to hear how they envision Campus Ministry at St. Mike’s.
“Certain themes were quite common. There is a huge concern about mental health, for example, and a desire that we as a community be more inclusive,” says Fortin, who notes that St. Michael’s has a significant Muslim population, as well as of Christians from traditions other than Roman Catholic.
Faculty of Theology
To talk about building a more inclusive community “is not about losing our identity but about embracing the gift of diversity,” he says. “We have to be Catholic in a way that speaks to the community. We need to build on our mission and values and ensure our ministerial approach is grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. We want to be examples of what it means to be Catholic.”
That means, for example, that while campus ministry will still organize liturgies and support the prayer life of Catholics on campus, there will also be an enhanced effort to answer others’ spiritual needs—for example, working with members of various traditions who want to arrange their own events.
Survey results will help tailor the job description that will be posted later this spring for the hiring of a new Director of Campus Ministry. Long-term goals for the revised office include an assistant to the director, as well as new space to call home.
We need to build on our mission and values and ensure our ministerial approach is grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. We want to be examples of what it means to be Catholic.
We need to be open to others without denying our own traditions. When you say no to some things and yes to only certain others you shut yourself off. Leaning to one side isn’t helpful.
Be Open to Others
A work-study placement with U of T’s Multi-Faith Centre led Christianity and Culture grad, Ann Sairah Mathew, to serve as the student representative on the campus ministry review committee.
Mathew, now working on a Master of Divinity degree at the Faculty of Theology, says her exposure to the discussions the committee had, as well as meetings with her peers at the Multi-Faith Centre, have strengthened her desire to work in the area of multi-faith dialogue.
“It’s always been a topic close to my heart, thinking of immigrant families who need help, whether it’s immediate worship space or a community to belong to,” she says.
Ann was able to bring the knowledge and experience gained at weekly meetings with her peers at the Multi-Faith Centre to the committee discussions at St. Mike’s, an experience she says has helped her become more creative in thinking.
She felt the conversations were particularly helpful as the team received survey answers from various communities.
“I get why people get turned off by religion when people say ‘I’d rather do my own thing,’” she says. “We need to be open to others without denying our own traditions. When you say no to some things and yes to only certain others you shut yourself off. Leaning to one side isn’t helpful.”
St. Mike’s Christianity and Culture grad