175th Anniversary Mass

College students take initiative in proclaiming the Gospel on campus

Butler University students Colin Brodmerkel, left, and Ann Govert share in a discussion about their Catholic faith in a meeting on Oct. 30, 2008, with Father Rick Nagel, the director of young adult ministry for the archdiocese. The archdiocese’s young adult ministry program has deepened its commitment to connecting with college students this year, meeting with students at Butler, Indiana University, Marian College, Indiana State University and Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By John Shaughnessy

At Christmas, the Catholic college students sang carols at nursing homes and sold candy canes on campus, raising money to make the holiday a special one for a family in need.

On Valentine’s Day, they sold carnations to help support pro-life efforts, and they’ve also prayed for expectant mothers as they’ve kept vigil outside an abortion clinic.

Still, the proudest moment of this school year for the members of the Catholic Student Association at the University of Indianapolis came at Easter when two non-Catholic students chose to enter the Church.

“It was wonderful,” says Scott Knust, the president of the Catholic Student Association at the University of Indianapolis. “We just try to be a presence on campus, to teach the real truth of Catholicism. Not just to teach it, but to live it and help people be transformed—myself as well—into the image and likeness of Christ.”

The efforts at the University of Indianapolis reflect the increased commitment that Catholic college students and the archdiocese are making to deepen the faith of other Catholic students and to evangelize to non-Catholic students.

Since July 1, 2008—at the request of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein—Father Rick Nagel and Mary Schaffner have been leading a renewed archdiocesan effort to connect with young people, including making campus ministry visits to Butler University in Indianapolis, Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University in Bloomington, DePauw University in Greencastle, and Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

“What the students are doing inspires me,” says Mary Schaffner, the program coordinator of the archdiocese’s young adult ministry. “It’s what all Catholics should be doing. I’m struck by how important it is to them to evangelize and be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Rather than just doing things, they’re trying to be a presence.”

She shares the story of how Catholic students at Indiana State took a different approach to collecting cans of food for the poor.

“They said they just weren’t doing it as a social service project,” Schaffner notes. “They were doing it as a spiritual service—taking the presence of Jesus Christ to the people they were helping, and also to the people who were helping them.”

She also mentions conversations with Catholic students at Indiana University in Bloomington who want to establish at the beginning of the next school year a more visible and welcoming presence to all students, no matter what their faith background.

That was the approach that Knust and a core group of about 20 other students at the University of Indianapolis have taken for the past three years on campus.

The Catholic Student Association created car pools on campus so that Catholic students could have a ride to nearby Good Shepherd Church on Sundays for Mass. They performed service projects, raking leaves for the elderly in the fall. They also held a Bible study session on Monday evenings.

“One thing that bugs me about Catholics is that we tend not to read the Bible as much as we should,” said Knust, 22, who also competed in track and field in college as a pole vaulter. “If you want to try to find out what God wants for you, it’s in Scripture. When you’re talking to Protestants, that’s where you have to start. It’s essential to help you stand up for your faith.”

Lindsey Loffer was another leader of the Catholic Student Association this year, a year in which she and another non-Catholic student entered the Church at Easter.

“I was so hungry for the Eucharist and being part of everything in the Church,” said Loffer, who is 22.

Her path to becoming a Catholic in college has also made her realize just how important it is to help Catholic college students keep their faith and deepen it during this crucial time in their lives.

“People are so vulnerable at this age,” she says. “They’re away for the first time from the guidance of their parents. That’s why we try to reach freshmen in the first six weeks they’re on campus.

“If you don’t connect with them and let them know that they can continue to grow in their faith, they’ll fall away. I’ve seen so many people fall away because they start to get involved with the wrong crowd and wrong activities.”

As dedicated as the members of the Catholic Student Association are to their faith, they are also equally “very inviting,” says David Wilson, the parish life coordinator at Good Shepherd Parish in Indianapolis.

“Their faith is deep, and they’re very sincere in bringing other students into the faith and encouraging other Catholics on campus to deepen their faith,” Wilson says. “They’re wonderful. No one is telling them to do this. This is all self-initiated on their part.”

Knust believes it’s the best way for Catholics to approach their faith in college and in their lives.

“You have to be a voice for Christ and the Church,” he says. “You want people to know what Christ did for them. The more people know about Jesus Christ, the better. The more we follow him, the better.”

Having graduated in early May, Knust will pursue a master’s degree in education, hoping to become a physics teacher in high school.

He leaves college knowing that two students have already agreed to continue the leadership of the Catholic Student Association on campus. He also mentions that Father Nagel plans to help him get involved with the archdiocese’s efforts to connect with college students and other young adults.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Knust says. “We want to reach out and show them the importance of developing their faith.” †