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Welcome to the ODU Panther Pages eNewsletter for Parents of High School Seniors!
Spring has arrived at Ohio Dominican University! The warm weather means not only is our beautiful campus in full bloom but our students are too! Outdoor study sessions, Frisbee games and sporting events are drawing everyone to the campus Oval and areas beyond. Our Campus Ministry program is also in full swing, planning for the Spring Retreat as well as the weekly activities that go on throughout the year. Read on to learn more about Campus Ministry at ODU!
CAMPUS MINISTRY AT OHIO DOMINICAN
The Campus Ministry office at Ohio Dominican University is open to serve students of all faiths. The office consists of three full time staff members who counsel, plan programs and assist students with their spiritual needs.
Programs range from prayer services, Catholic church services, volunteer opportunities and retreats…..plus much more! The offerings are always expanding according to student need and involvement. Opportunities for student involvement abound through leading Bible studies, travel to youth conferences and mission trips and participation in sacraments such as baptism. Campus ministry also serves as a safe place for students to talk if they are going through a difficult time in their lives.
Getting involved is easy….email sign-up at the Fall Activities Fair, joining the Facebook group “Ohio Dominican University Campus Ministry,” contacting the office via email at campusministry@ohiodominican.edu or by just showing up to one of the offices. To learn more about the activities Campus Ministry plans, read the Campus Ministry Newsletter .
Fr. John Boll
 Father John Boll, O.P serves as the Campus Chaplin. He is a Dominican priest as well as an alumnus of Ohio Dominican.
What is the role of the Campus Chaplain?
I have two roles here at ODU; Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry. As chaplain, I am responsible to provide pastoral care to the ODU community. This includes organizing the prayer life of the community, providing spiritual guidance, and educating the community and individuals and community about the faith. As Director of Campus Ministry, I am responsible to provide leadership and administration for the Campus Ministry office.
What has is meant to you to serve ODU as an alum?
It is gratifying to be able to give something back to the Ohio Dominican community. I have desired to do this ever since I graduated and joined the Dominican Order. I care about what happens to this community. It nurtured me and I have an opportunity to participate in shaping and nurturing its growth. In addition, as a member of the Dominican order, I feel at home at Ohio Dominican. It is just great to share the Dominican inspiration and charism so openly and deeply.
Another aspect is that, after working as a campus minister at secular universities for twenty-five years, it is a wonderful challenge and delight to work at a Catholic university. It is my observation that we have a unique opportunity to provide a TRULY holistic educational experience for our students. As opposed to secular education where faith, spirituality, and ethics are most often ignored and at best compartmentalized. These and all that makes us human, can be explored, discussed and integrated within ANY academic discipline. This kind of freedom is just not available at many other universities.
How often is Mass offered at ODU?
During the fall and spring semesters Mass is celebrated every day except Saturday in the university chapel. In addition Mass is celebrated at both the Dominican Sister’s Motherhouse and Mohun Hall (their health care facility) every day year round and the students are welcome to attend.
Are there opportunities for student involvement at Mass?
You bet! Students can participate as Readers, Extraordinary Ministers, Musicians, Singers, Artists, Sacristans, and Servers. They can also participate in planning the liturgies. Outside of the Mass there are opportunities to organize devotions such as Adoration, Praise and Worship, Stations of the Cross, Morning and Evening Prayer, the Rosary, and many other types of prayer.
What opportunities are there for students who are looking to grow in their Catholic Faith? What opportunities for worship are there for students who are not of the Catholic faith?
Most of our spiritual growth programs fit what is common to any Christian and, as one might expect, are in harmony with the Catholic Faith. Some programs are more specific to Catholics and others include students of any faith. We have retreats, bible studies, speakers, service outreach, prayer and worship programs that vary according to student interest and appeal to all Christians. For Catholics there is the Sacramental and devotional schedule. For other Christians we started a Praise and Worship gathering this year and encourage them to be creative in setting it up as they may need. Once the new Student Center is open we will have a “Prayer Room” designed to be welcoming to people of all faiths. We also have several Faith or service based student organizations on campus.
I encourage students to bring ideas for faith activities to Campus Ministry, we will do our best to help them set up whatever programs they would find helpful for their spiritual growth.
What types of activities do you lead?
I lead the celebration of the Mass and other Sacraments. I teach faith classes and help to guide student groups in their activities. I do a lot of one on one pastoral counseling. As time goes along I hope to lead a bible study and teach folk guitar for liturgical music. I am deeply involved in planning for most campus ministry activities. And I find that connecting with what Students are doing is more important than setting up programs myself.
What do you most enjoy about your role at Ohio Dominican?
I enjoy working with the students, especially as they take leadership of various events. I enjoy listening to students and helping them find their way in life. I also enjoy question and answer sessions and bible studies where they ask and explore their questions. Marriage preparation is one of my favorite things to do; I believe it rally makes a difference in people’s lives. Finally, at Ohio Dominican I find there is a great opportunity to help the University and its community to grow it the Dominican identity.
Students who are involved with the Campus Ministry programs reap numerous benefits. Learning about their faith, growing in their prayer life and hanging out with others who have similar values are just a few. Two of the students involved in different aspects of Campus Ministry share their experiences.
Khadija Garrison, Residence Hall Minister
 Khadija is the Residence Hall minister at Ohio Dominican and resides in Fitzpatrick Hall, our primary freshman residence.
What is the role of a residence hall minister?
As
Resident Minister, I work primarily with freshman students who live on campus. My main goal is to help them discover how their faith can/should connect with their lives.
How do you reach out to students?
I meet students in a variety of ways. Whether in the Underground or in Hamilton Hall, on facebook, or hanging out with other students, it's pretty easy to find me out and about. I host movie nights, tea parties, and travel around the hall with treats I've made with other students. I also host a weekly Bible study in my apartment, a knitting circle, and service trips.
Why might students seek you out?
Students seek me out for a variety of reasons. I meet with a few students for counseling and coaching. I also help to connect students to other folks on campus who might be able to offer assistance with a social, academic, or emotional issues that are beyond my area of expertise. I'm also a great person to talk to if a student is struggling to connect their faith life to their life in the classroom, or for a kitchen in which they could make some food from home (I live on the 2nd floor of the freshman hall).
What opportunities for worship are there for students who are not of the Catholic faith?
There are places of worship for students of nearly every background in the Columbus area. The Office of Campus Ministry keeps the contact info of several houses of worship on file, along with a list of persons on campus who attend those places regularly. Baptist students are welcome to hop into my station wagon on Sundays for a ride to my church.
What do you most enjoy about your role at Ohio Dominican?
I enjoy being able to share my life with students. It's wonderful to watch them discover that being a Christian can actually be fun!
ODU Student Amanda Zurface
 Amanda is a junior Theology major and is an active participant in many ministry activities and organizations.
How did you get involved with Campus Ministry?
I have always been very active in my faith life, so when I came to ODU it was my intention to continue that involvement throughout my college career. When looking back three years ago now, I remember becoming involved in Campus Ministry through attending mass and Eucharistic ministering, just stopping by the Campus Ministry Office to chat with the Campus Minister and in doing so inquiring about opportunities to get involved… however, I really started to get involved after attending the Dominican Preaching and Action Conference in the Summer of 2006, with two other ODU students and our Campus Minister. This conference truly opened my eyes to what it means to live out my faith… it held me accountable and pushed me to get more involved on campus.
Which groups are you involved with?
Campus Ministry and the ODU Social Justice Club.
What is your favorite aspect of our campus ministry program?
My favorite aspect is that our campus ministry program is open to all walks of faith… it is not just limited to Catholics. There are many opportunities for all of our students to grow in their faith whether it is through prayer, service, study or community.
What has it meant to you to be involved in these programs?
These programs have pushed me to live out my faith on a higher level than I could have ever imagined… These programs have helped me figure out who I am… today I can truly identify with the work and mission of these particular groups…
What would you like to tell prospective students about campus ministry at Ohio Dominican University?
I encourage you to look into all that Ohio Dominican’s campus ministry has to offer... and take advantage of every opportunity that comes you way. You will meet kind and loving people, you will grow deeper in your faith than you could have ever imagined and you will have the time of your life!
Amanda also spent the week of April 14th in Washington D.C. for Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to the United States. She shares her reflection with us....
"This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend the Papal Mass with his Holiness Pope Benedict the XVI in Washington D.C., with over 46,000 people in attendance. This experience for me and many others was one filled with many emotions.
The Holy Father’s time with us was to be a witness to Christ our hope; a time to proclaim Jesus as Lord. Benedict spoke many words, ones filled with thankfulness to the U.S. Church, words of encouragement, reconciliation, forgiveness and hope.
Personally, his message as a whole touched my heart… however, his words to the young people in particular were very important for my generation and when looking ahead to the future of our Church.
The Pope asked us to step forward and to take up the responsibility which our faith in Christ sets before us! We are to find the courage to proclaim Christ in all we do… including respecting the dignity of each human being. He pleas with us to let our faith and love bear rich fruit in the outreach to the poor, the needy and those without a voice. Along with this powerful message, he did not forget, to urge us young people into opening our hearts to the Lord’s call to follow him to our specific vocation.
The Holy Father challenged the young and old alike to follow our calling of being a light of hope, a light to the Gospel for the United States and generations to come.
This experience was a once and a lifetime opportunity and I was very blessed to be present. The Apostolic visit was truly needed for our Church in the U.S. and I think we will be seeing positive change in the near future. The Holy Father brought a message of hope and that hope has come alive in our Church and will guide us into our bright and promising future."
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