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.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please use this form to send your comments to the Cardinal Online editor.
If you would like to remain anonymous include ONLY your e-mail address along with your comment. If you want your name along with your comment, include your name and your e-mail address.
E-mail addresses will be taken out of the comment before they are posted. It only gives us a way to verify who submitted the comment.
Comments without email addresses will NOT be published.
IMPORTANT: You must select Anonymous as your Identity (below the box for entering your comment).
Comments submitted using the Google/Blogger identity will not be published.
If you have not read them, please review our commenting guidelines before you submit your comments.