Faith in Action: Student Helps Others Weigh What's Important

May 7, 2004

by Felix Hoover
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

COSI Columbus has its Foucault pendulum.

Ohio Dominican University has "Emily's scales."

Unlike the COSI attraction that demonstrates the rotation of the Earth, sophomore Emily Witter's Lady Justice routine points to actions leading to the world beyond.

With her palms turned up, the 19-year-old creates scales that help students weigh choices, such as, "Which is more important, going to a concert or winning the game of eternal life?"

Steering students to the Wednesday noon Mass at the 2,600-student campus on Sunbury Road is part of Witter's part-time job in the campus ministry office.

Her efforts in promoting the love for Jesus in the Eucharist draw praise from Sister Mary Ann Fatula, professor of theology.

"I am inspired to see a young person so happy in living her Catholic faith and so unafraid to let others know the source of her happiness," Fatula said.

"She truly loves being a Catholic, and the joy she finds in her faith is contagious."

"The kids don't grasp how deep it is to be in the presence of Christ at every Mass," Witter said.

For many college students, especially those away from home for the first time, church attendance becomes a rite of passage.

"It's when it starts being your faith and stops being your parents' faith because you have the option not to go," Witter said.

Brian DeLay, 20, of Sunbury said he's glad he responded to the persistent nudging by Witter and fellow student Kathy Haninger to attend midweek Mass and to get involved with campus life. He has become a regular at Mass and at the pizza gathering students often conduct afterward.

"Emily is . . . a person who wants to get people involved," said Delay, her boyfriend. He has witnessed her influence on others, such as Haninger, 20, of Grandview Heights, whom he describes as "a smiling face around campus" who "always is bringing everybody into a better mood." Haninger's personality might not have blossomed but for Witter.

"She helped me break out of my shell," said Haninger, an emcee at campus events and an announcer on the university radio station.

"Emily is the torchbearer of campus ministry." Witter and Haninger have volunteered together on many community and campus projects, including Project Open Heart, a weeklong winter effort at several social-services agencies.

"Emily is very convicted about her faith," said Sharon L. Reed, director of counseling services, who supervised the project.

Such conviction began in the Diocese of Toledo, where Witter continues to serve at St. Joseph Church in Marblehead when she's home.

"When she came here, she was right from the get-go wanting to put faith in action on campus," Reed said.

Motherhood with a large family is part of Witter's long-range plan, she said. So is continued service to the church for the theology major.

"My goal is to be the director of youth and young adult ministry for the (Toledo) diocese," she said.

For now she's pleased to organize trips to homeless shelters, food banks and spiritual retreats and for visits with retired nuns.

And to keep her manual scales limbered up.

Reprinted with permission. The Columbus Dispatch, 2004.