A Day in the Life of... A Campus Minister

I am the Associate Director of Calvert House (Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Chicago). As I write this, I am embarking on the 4^th year of the wonderful journey of grace and blessings at Calvert House. My major responsibilities include working one on one with each of our student leaders and student workers, supervising 3 Student Organizations for the University (Catholic Student Association, Calvert House Tutoring, and the Homeless Food Run), coordinating 2 annual service trips, local service opportunities, and mentoring for long term service commitments for graduating students. In addition, I coordinate with groups of student leaders to plan and recruit for several annual retreats and provide support for any new student leaders or ideas for groups or ministries. As anyone who works in campus ministry knows, there is much more to this work than a job description. My true work I believe is more about a ministry of presence and remaining rooted in faith and prayer.

What feeds me working in ministry? Being around the students… journeying with them, watching them grow in faith and relationships with one another, listening to their stories, praying for and with them. The students teach me every single day how to slow down, how to embrace the small everyday graces, how to be a presence and witness to the work of the Holy Spirit. Those who work in ministry know that no two days are ever the same. You never know what might happen or who might stop in with news to share or to seek your counsel. As in each of our lives, you never really know what gifts and even trials might come your way any day or moment. The wholesome component is being able to reflect on how each one of these parts of the day can be embraced as graces, whether challenging or simple gifts, they are all given. To receive these as gift is what fills me. To be reminded to slow down and recognize these graces in the unplanned parts of each day is a joy that fills me with a true sense of Christ’s love. This includes the pain and joy that comes with each day. Taking the time everyday to reflect and pray, as each and every one of us needs in order to be filled.

In all ministry work, I believe there are always challenges of discernment and establishing boundaries, gifts, and goals. What do I say yes to? When is it important to say no? How do I avoid stretching myself too thin/ burnout? How can I learn and grow from my relationships with others? How do I nurture my faith and spiritual needs? These are incredibly important questions for anyone working in ministry to prayerfully discern. And I truly believe that discerning once is really not the key here. I believe it is integral to discern and pray with these questions and others like them over and over again. Seek counsel and direction from others who work in ministry and be careful to not let your own spiritual journey and prayer be what falls to the back burner.

In a more direct reflection of the continued challenges in ministering at the University of Chicago for me is seeking to understand “what it is like to be a student at the University of Chicago?” I am always trying to understand more deeply the needs of the students at the University of Chicago. All campuses are different in their own unique ways, as are the students. Furthermore, both the universities and the students are always changing. I strongly believe there is always more to learn, and often the best “learnings” come from time and experience. It has been a healthy reminder to have an open heart so as to not become complacent in this work. There is always room to grow in understanding. As a young campus minister, about 5 years removed from my own undergraduate career, I am always reminding myself that my experiences then, though similar, are not the same as each of the students I work with each day here. For me it is important to continually reflect on the environment I am in, the needs and life experiences of the community I am ministering with, and an openness to grow and recognize my own limitations.

A very wise campus minister mentor and friend of mine has reminded me often that in campus ministry, “It’s not about you”. At the end of the day, it is about our rootedness in Christ, our share of the journey. That advice has helped me so I wanted to share my deeper reflections on it with you. I believe you cannot set your own agenda out as the agenda for the campus ministry. The agenda must be collaborative, reflecting the needs and gifts of the community. Yes, as ministers and as Christians I can’t reiterate enough the importance of our call to nurture ourselves in that we must be open to growth and further knowing who we are as a minister and tending to those needs. This is non-negotiable I believe, because it gives a sense of balance. It takes true work and steadfast commitment. However, in our role, we are called to be servant leaders, which means letting go and listening to God’s call in our hearts. Servant leaders are on a journey of serving out of love and self-surrender; therefore becoming leaders because we are rooted in Christ’s love… not rooted in the power that can come with leadership. Jesus must continue to be our primary model as the exemplary servant leader, whose life we are ever striving to exemplify and live out. How has Christ called and nourished you into your vocation as servant leader? May God Bless you as you continue to discern your call to ministry and grow into the person God has created and called you to be.

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