Friday, September 25, 2009

Campus ministry makes changes to reflect mission

By Ryan Briscoe
Copy Editor

Although some recent changes in the Office of Campus Ministry (OCM) may be more obvious than others, all of them are based on the development of OCM’s Lasallian Mission.

This fall, OCM has moved across the hall in the Michael H. Toner Student Center’s basement. The move is not only a space-swap but is also a physical demonstration of the deeper organizational restructuring of OCM. Since Lasallian ministry is described as being rooted in three main principles faith, service and community OCM’s new structures are designed in imitation of these virtues.

By striving to make connections among different student groups and build new relationships, Lynn Streefland, assistant director of campus ministry, said. OCM hopes to increase the number of ways Saint Mary’s Univeristy’s Campus Ministers are able to share in students’ faith. This coordination of efforts will allow SMU organizations to share resources and more effectively participate in and exemplify the Lasallian Mission. Katie LaPlant now coordinates volunteer efforts as the assistant director of campus ministry alongside Streefland and OCM Director Chris McClead.

“Each change is intended to help each student to develop him or herself in the light of our Catholic Lasallian identity,” said McClead. The programs, which have recently experienced growth and re-direction are too numerous to mention; McClead said the bottom line was working to improve students’ relationships with Christ and that the goal of OCM is to help students grow. McClead spoke of the intention to address certain social injustices.

OCM’s office now includes 16 different ministries and coordinates the efforts of over 60 student leaders. McClead said that OCM intends to be constantly evolving; he realizes that many students do not feel a connection to OCM or SMU’s Lasallian Catholic identity. According to the OCM Mission Statement, the goal of both of these institutions is to “celebrate the image of God in each person.”

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