Joining campus ministry was one of the best decisions Brynna made in college

2018 Cal U of PA Graduate

I always say that the three best decisions I made in college were to join the marching band, to be a part of the honors program, and to become involved in campus ministry.  I remember walking to Mass the first Sunday of freshman year with my roommate.  I was extremely grateful that she suggested going together because I was worried about arriving at an event and not knowing anyone.  I shouldn’t have worried. I felt so welcome at Mass that before the end of the semester I already felt like part of the campus ministry
community. 

Through campus ministry, I found a loving and diverse group of friends and an environment where I could learn about myself and grow in my faith.  College is where I went to my first bible study and later led small groups.  I took advantage of the opportunity to go on retreats, and a couple of conferences.  I learned about different types of prayer and styles of worship. Through campus ministry, I developed a deep appreciation of Catholicism, outside of what I was taught growing up. 

This is going to sound dramatic, but if I hadn’t been involved in campus ministry, I would be leading a very different life right now.  Like many seniors, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after graduation. Through Meghan, Cal U’s campus minister, and Fr. Al, our chaplain at the time, that I learned about service programs and decided to do a year of service with Cap Corps in Washington DC. While in DC, I learned about the position I currently have as a residence life and community service coordinator at a Catholic high school in Illinois. 

Campus ministry opened doors and taught me many things. The incredible people I met inspired me in my faith and taught me the value of being part of a Catholic community.