By Alora Peters, Editor-in-Chief
College is an experience like no other when it comes to learning, development, and self-realization. However, while everyone can agree that the college experience is far from being solely academic, not everyone realizes that college can also be a time for spiritual growth.
At Saint Leo University, University Ministry is an invaluable resource for students who are interested in flourishing spiritually or in finding out more about the Catholic Faith that Saint Leo was originally founded upon.
Incoming Lions in the fall of 2021 will be given an unprecedented opportunity to become quickly involved with University Ministry by attending the first-ever “Freshman and New Student Retreat.” The retreat will begin on Saturday, Aug. 28th at 10:00A.M. and will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 29th at noon, giving participants the opportunity to meet other incoming students before classes begin on Aug. 31st.
“It’s a big transition to college, and we are here to help you,” said Deidre Merrill, Saint Leo’s campus minister. “This retreat will provide new students an opportunity to meet the Ministry Team and Student Leaders, meet new friends, grow in your faith through prayer and the sacraments, and enjoy some activities in the beautiful outdoors of Florida!”
Students can sign up for the retreat online at https://ministry.saintleo.edu/freshman-retreat-sign-up.
The Holy Mass is at the center of the Catholic Faith; during the school year, students can join University Ministry for Mass in the Saint Leo Abbey Church at 7:00P.M. on Sundays and at 5:30P.M. on Monday-Friday. Additionally, Confession will take place from 6:15P.M.-6:45P.M. on Sundays and from 6:00P.M.-6:45P.M. on Tuesdays. Adoration will also be held from 6:00P.M.-7:00P.M. every Tuesday.
In addition to the Sacraments, University Ministry will host a variety of events throughout the semester to help foster faith and friendship.
Once a month, University Ministry will host Theology on Tap, where students will meet at a local restaurant for dinner and to listen to a guest speaker. The first Theology on Tap will be held Sep. 23rd.
Other upcoming events include Kirkchella—an outdoor concert and coffeehouse—on Sep. 9th outside the Student Activities Building, a community kayak trip on Sep. 18th, and the fall weekend retreat from Oct. 22nd-24th.
Another way for students to become involved with University Ministry and to meet other young adults seeking to grow in faith is to attend the men’s and women’s groups. Both groups plan to meet weekly on Monday nights for learning and discussion.
For the men’s group, a typical meeting will include prayer, reading of Scripture, insightful videos, and small group discussions, explained Adam Keselicka—a junior majoring in criminal justice with a specialization in homeland security—and James Schellenberg—a sophomore majoring in business management—who are co-leading the group.
“We hope to learn as a group how to identify and overcome the struggles, sins, and temptations that Christian men face in the present world, and to take what we talk about and apply it to our daily lives—on campus and beyond,” said Keselicka and Schellenberg.
Similarly, the women’s group will begin and end with prayer, as well as include small group discussions. Each night, the group will focus on a different topic.
“Our meeting topics will revolve around out identity as daughters of God and what it means to fully live that identity,” said Hannah Wiand, a senior majoring in religion and psychology with a specialization in clinical counseling, who is one of the co-leaders of the women’s group. “We’ll study women in the Bible, hear talks from different women in the community or guest speakers, and dive into popular topics pertaining to women striving to live their faith in college.”
Both groups are excited for the opportunities for growth and personal development that the men’s and women’s groups will provide.
“We hope that, over the course of the year, each of the women who attends grows in her identity as an authentic daughter of God and truly comes to know who the Lord is and who he calls her to be,” said Wiand. “We pray that we foster a community of true sisterhood in which we build friendships rooted in Christ, walk with one another in our faith journeys, and, ultimately, grow in holiness.”
“You do not have to be close to God to come,” Keselicka and Schellenberg concluded. “Wherever we are in our journey to Christ, there is always room to grow closer to Him. That journey is a difficult one… it is best to do it with others.”
To find out more information about University Ministry and their events, visit their website at https://ministry.saintleo.edu/, follow them on social media at @saintleouniversityministry, or stop by their office in St. Francis Hall room 211.
