Empowered by the Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces the Future
A Pastoral Letter on Campus Ministry Issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
IV. Aspects of Campus Ministry
A. Forming the Faith Community
1. Community and Alienation on Campus
34. Campus ministry attempts to form faith communities in an
academic environment that knows both a healthy sense of solidarity and a
good deal of alienation. Ideally, colleges and universities gather
teachers and students together into a community of shared values and
common dedication to the pursuit of truth. In fact, on campuses there is
a good deal of collaborative effort. Organizations abound, close
friendships are formed, interest groups gather the like-minded. Many
administrators, faculty members, and students move easily in this world
and find that it satisfies their needs for companionship and
involvement. Many Christians freely gather into communities of faith in
which they share their strengths and gifts with others.
35. On the other hand, lonely voices on campus cry out for
intimacy, and mildly estranged individuals express a desire for more
personal interaction. Students who leave home and come to large
universities often feel lost in the vast impersonal world. The world of
research and scholarship can seem cold and demeaning to graduate
students. Commuter students who are on campus only briefly for classes
do not have the opportunity to form close bonds with others. Some sense
of alienation seems inevitable for international students who must cope
with a new culture. Recently arrived immigrant and refugee students
experience the isolation and loneliness of being separated from family
and homeland. Older students worry about fitting in and being accepted
and, at times, have the added complication of marital and family
pressures. Even students in small private colleges can experience a lack
of depth in their relationships and a consequent sense of estrangement.
Complaints are also heard from faculty members about the superficiality
of their relationships with close colleagues and the lack of
opportunities for interaction with those in other departments. Some feel
cut off from the centers of power as important academic decisions are
made without their input. The difficulty of gathering students for
anything except social events and concerts is a continuing problem for
student affairs leaders. Administrators speak openly about the
fragmentation of campus life and search for ways to overcome it. The
voices of estrangement are many and varied. Campus ministers who listen
well know that there is a genuine hunger for community in the academic
world, as well as a strong sense of solidarity.
2. The Importance of Christian Community
36. The call to form communities of faith flows both from the
very nature of the Gospel itself and from the pastoral situation on
campus. Christianity is ecclesial by its very nature. The communal
character of salvation is already clear in the Hebrew Scriptures: "It
has pleased God, however, to make [human beings] holy and save them not
merely as individuals without any mutual bonds, but by making them into a
single people, a people which acknowledges Him in truth and serves Him
in holiness."26 This truth was exemplified in the life of
Jesus Christ who, led by the Spirit, gathered together a community of
followers. The Twelve served as official witnesses of his saving mission
and symbolic representation of the new People of God. Through his
striking parables and miraculous signs he proclaimed the kingdom in
which all human beings, animated by the Spirit, were to live in peace
and harmony. The death and resurrection of Jesus brought a new
outpouring of the Spirit which "makes the Church grow, perpetually
renews Her and leads Her to perfect union with Her Spouse."27
Under the influence of the Spirit, the Church remembers the prayer of
Jesus that "all may be one, Father, as you are in me and I am in you, so
that the world may believe" Jn 17:21). All the baptized, empowered by
the Spirit, share responsibility for forming the Church into a genuine
community of worship and service. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church
is called, with all of its limitations and sinfulness, to wend its way
through history as the visible sign of the unity of the whole human
family and as an instrument of reconciliation for all.28
37. Today, the Church on campus is challenged to be a credible
sign of unity and a living reminder of the essential interdependence and
solidarity of all people. Thus, the faith community seeks to gather
those who wish to serve others and to bring healing to those in the
academic world who are restricted by artificial barriers and wounded by
alienating practices. The Church gains credibility when the dream of
community produces genuine commitment and intelligent effort. In the
ideal community of faith, the Mystery that rules over our lives is named
and worshiped. Dedication to Christ is fostered, and openness to all
truth, goodness, and beauty is maintained. The life of the Spirit is
nourished and discussed. Positive images of God, Christ, Mary, and the
afterlife warm the heart and structure the imagination. The common good
is emphasized and personal development encouraged. Individuals
experience true freedom and at the same time accept responsibility for
the well-being of the group. Traditional wisdom is available and the
best contemporary insights are valued. Prayerful liturgies enable us to
praise God with full hearts and create a sense of belonging, as well as
nourish people for a life of service. Members are known by name and
newcomers are welcomed. Unity of faith is celebrated while legitimate
pluralism is recognized. Individuals find both support and challenge and
can share their joys and sorrows. The members hunger for justice and
have the courage to fight the dehumanizing tendencies in the culture.
The community knows the sorrows of life but remains a people of hope. In
this ideal community of faith, the members are of one heart and mind
(Acts 4:32) and receive the spirit of wisdom which brings them to full
knowledge of Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church (Eph 1:17-23).
38. By working toward the dream of genuine community, campus
ministry unleashes human potential and contributes to the common
struggle against the forces of alienation. A Church serious about
building community reminds others of the beauty and nobility of a life
lived in harmony and peace. The baptized who experience acceptance,
healing, and empowerment in the faith community are better prepared to
bring an understanding ear, a reconciling touch, and an encouraging
voice to alienated persons on campus.
3. The Challenge of Forming the Faith Community
39. When the dream of a genuine faith community is alive, then
the search for effective strategies is intensified. Attitudes are
crucial. Campus ministers whose personal outreach is warm and welcoming
are likely to gain the active participation of others in the community.
The ministry of presence in which leaders of the faith community make
themselves available by being on campus regularly and getting involved
in activities and events is a valuable way of making initial contact
with potential members of the faith community and of enhancing existing
relationships. Administrators, faculty members, and students who sense
that they are valued as persons and that their talents and initiatives
are appreciated, will find involvement more attractive.
40. On many campuses, Mass and communion services have proven
to be powerful means of building community. Ministers who put a great
deal of effort into preparing liturgies that are in accord with the
Church's liturgical directives and are prayerful, coherent, and
aesthetically pleasing, generally find an enthusiastic response. If they
keep in mind the sensibilities of the academic community and strive for
wide participation, the broad use of legitimate liturgical options, and
a flexible style, the inherent community-building power of the
Eucharist is enhanced. There is a greater recognition today that
stimulating homilies that apply the Gospel realistically and convey
positive religious images are especially important in fostering genuine
religious conversion and a sense of closeness to the worshiping
community and the Church as a whole.29 It is a sign of hope
for the future that so many collegians are gaining a deeper appreciation
of the power of the Eucharist to raise the mind and heart to God and to
serve as "a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity."30
41. In many sacramentally oriented campus ministries, the adult
catechumenate process has become an especially valuable means of
incorporating new members into the Catholic Church and strengthening the
faith of those who are already members. As a result, the Catholic faith
community becomes stronger, more attractive, and inviting. The presence
of adults who have freely chosen to join the Church moves some members
to think more deeply about their own relationships to the Church. Those
who serve as sponsors often gain a new appreciation of their faith and a
renewed sense of the Church as a community of committed believers. A
community will attract newcomers as more and more of its members
demonstrate enthusiasm for the faith and an attractive style of
Christian living.
42. On other campuses, different forms of community building
predominate. For example, campus ministers at some commuter colleges
form community through bible study programs. Through personal contact,
they gather together faculty members and students for shared reading and
discussion of the Scriptures. This leads into group prayer and joint
projects to serve others. Such programs reveal the power of the
Scriptures to call individuals out of their isolation and to give them a
sense of solidarity as they struggle to live out the Christian life in
the academic world.
43. The experience of Christian community on campus is
important to the life of the whole Church. Students who have such a
positive experience and are taught their responsibilities to the larger
Church will continue to be a very valuable resource for family, parish,
and diocesan life when they leave school. Campus ministers can prepare
for this by maintaining good ties with local parishes and giving
students the opportunity to be of service there.
44. Building up the community of faith on campus is the
responsibility of all baptized persons. The desire to serve and the
hunger for community must be tapped. Individuals who are personally
invited to join in this task and given freedom and encouragement to use
their gifts and talents for the benefit of the community are more likely
to respond. It is the duty of leaders to provide vision and encourage
others to accept their responsibilities. The task of forming Christian
communities on campus encounters great difficulties but also brings deep
satisfaction. This crucial aspect of campus ministry is worthy of
vigorous and creative efforts so that the Catholic community can be an
authentic sign and instrument of the kingdom on campus.
Notes
26 "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church," no. 927 Ibid., no. 4.
28 Ibid, no. 48.
29 Fee et al., Young Catholics (New York: William H. Sadler, Inc., 1980), pp. 154-155.
Issued by NCCB/USCC, November 15, 1985. Copyright © 1985, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved.