A group of 19 seminarians studying in Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., recently dedicated their fall break to evangelizing on the campus of Rowan University, Glassboro.
From Oct. 9 to 11, some seminarians stayed at the town’s Saint Bridget University Parish – in the rectory and convent – with others hosted by parishioners. During their visit, the men took part in a 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion, healing Masses and other events, and spent time interacting with students on campus.
Father John Rossi, pastor of Saint Bridget University Parish, sees the benefit of the visit for everyone involved, including students, the seminarians and parishioners of all ages – some of whom donated meals, rosaries and other items to support the seminarians and their evangelization efforts.
“I am hoping this unites our community. Everyone is taking part in the mission of a parish church,” he said. “For these young men who are studying to become priests, the college students are only a few years younger than them. They can make an impact and share their love of faith with the students .”
Kari Janisse, Catholic campus minister at Rowan University, shared similar sentiments.
“Seminarians always tend to have a certain sense of excitement and are truly enthusiastic for the faith,” she said. “I hope that our regular Rowan Catholic members gain a new perspective of the priesthood, through witnessing the seminarians – possibly a deeper call to a vocation to the priesthood for some of the young men.”
Seminarian Luke Koski of the Archdiocese of Baltimore entered Mount Saint Mary’s in 2016, and was ordained a transitional deacon in May. The Perry Hall, Md., native has participated in a number of seminary evangelization trips during his formation, and didn’t think twice about joining for the visit to Rowan.
“My hope is that our visit to Rowan will help bring students closer to Christ and his Catholic Church,” he said. “At the very least, I have found that even if the students do not come to a belief in Jesus as the Son of God, or the truth of the Catholic faith, a positive interaction with a man wearing a Roman collar goes a long way.”
Deacon Koski cited a Pew Research study about the tendency for young adults to leave the faith before the age of 23.
“This means that the college campus is one of the last opportunities that we have to support young Catholics in their faith, and help fallen away Catholics who may have wandered off the straight and narrow path while at college,” he said.
Janisse also spoke about the importance of cultivating faith development among college-aged men and women.
“Many young people leave the Church during their college years. It is so important to give them the truth and to share the faith with them on their level,” she said. “They are given so much of the ‘other side’ of what ‘the world’ has to offer. We, as a Church, need to give them the beauty of what the Catholic faith has to offer: mercy, forgiveness, wholeness and truth.”
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