The New Face of Campus Ministry

ANDREW OUELLETTE The New Face of Campus Ministry

by Madelyn McBride, Gateway 7.0

No matter the time of day, an aura of warmth, laughter, and joy seeps out from the open door of Andrew Ouellette’s office. Students of all ages and backgrounds lounge on the sofas and beanbags while Ouellette fosters conversation about Christ, relationships, and life. Connections with the Catholic faith and with each other are continually being established, thanks to Ouellette’s friendliness and energy. “From the moment I met him at the interview process, I saw that Andrew Ouellette exudes personalism. He has a strong theological and ministerial foundation, but what really stands out about him is his warmth, openness, and attention to people,” said Senior Vice President Michael Griffin.

By leading Campus ministry, teaching his Theology 240 class, and implementing an open-door policy that welcomes all into his office, Ouellette has already made a huge impact on this campus during his first few months at Holy Cross. Valuing the small size of Holy Cross College, Ouellette believes that having established friendships with his students and peers will allow for his most effective work. “As young people, we want to know that someone values us. We are more likely to open up about our faith life and relationship with God if the other person genuinely wants to be a friend,” Ouellette shared.

Upon converting to the Catholic faith at age sixteen, Ouellette has had a passion for ministry, theology, and mentoring others. Before taking the position as Holy Cross College Campus Minister this summer, he studied philosophy and theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, worked for the diocese of Fort Wayne

South Bend as the director of the office of youth ministry, married his wife in 2017, and worked in student life at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he obtained a master’s in Theology.

Since Ouellette arrived at campus July 1, 2019, he has made it his mission to distinguish Campus Ministry from other extracurriculars in student life. He sees Campus Ministry as an aspect that defines this passionate and distinctly Catholic institution. “I would like to see Holy Cross College become more of a place that breaths Christ in everything it does – in its academics, sports, administrative life, and student life,” Andrew Ouellette shared. “In terms of a five-year goal, I just want to see more intentional missionary disciples of Jesus Christ who are following the Lord and gospel, going to Mass and confession, taking the Christian life seriously, and sharing Christ with other people.” His ambition has already started inspiring students like senior David Napierkowski.

“Andrew Ouellette has prudent ambition. He has a great vision for Campus Ministry and he’s working his tail off to attain that vision. He doesn’t navigate these dreams with a total unbridled sense of optimism though. He is realistically ambitious. It’s because of this that I’d be willing to bet that Campus Ministry will continue to flourish for years to come,” said Napierkowski.

Ouellette has added a few new programs and revamped existing ones. With a focus on mixing social aspects with religion, Holy Cross College now offers Theology on Tap twice a month at O’Rourke’s. Attracting an average of forty students from Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s, and Notre Dame, this event invites guest speakers from the South Bend community to discuss faith, while the group enjoys food and drinks.

“Most of the time that I hang out with all my friends is when we go to Theology on Tap or going to Mass and hanging out afterwards, like at the ice-cream social. This is the main thing we do together, and the Campus Ministry office is where we spend most of our time,” freshman Brittany Alvarez said. Additionally, updating the existing larger “Mission Teams,” Ouellette now offers small group formation through “Emmaus Groups.”

“This year, the smaller groups are mostly student-run, so it has been more self-reflective and personal. Also, the groups are very welcoming, so you don’t have to be Catholic to participate,” junior Kara Tarala said. With about a dozen people per group, these teams meet on Tuesday nights to read and discuss the upcoming Sunday scripture readings. This time allows students to fully grasp the readings before arriving to Mass on Sunday night. In addition to the scripture, the groups save time for prayer intentions before transitioning into Adoration and confession. Apart from Tuesday nights, the groups have one social and one prayer commitment throughout the course of the week. For example, the women have had many fun meals (including a taco dinner), and the men have all travelled to Moreau Seminary to attend the Lucernarium prayer service together. “Overall, the Emmaus group has been greatly nourishing for me. When you have a group of men committed to understanding Scripture, to striving towards virtue, and to growing with one another, it’s difficult not to see some sort of spiritual blossoming. And on a social level, it’s simply a good time. We laugh, we converse, we enjoy the camaraderie,” senior David Napierkowski added.

Ouellette also aims to introduce faith to the faculty and staff. Every first Friday, Holy Cross holds a Mass and lunch that welcomes administrators, instructors, and students. Ouellette also designed an Emmaus Group specifically for teachers and staff. The community has really embraced these gatherings. For instance, this past fall semester, one of the staff members was diagnosed with cancer; instructors, and students. Ouellette also designed an Emmaus Group specifically for teachers and staff. The community has really embraced these gatherings. For instance, this past fall semester, one of the staff members was diagnosed with cancer; in response, Ouelette organized a holy hour where faculty could come and pray together for their colleague and their family.

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HOLY CROSS CAMPUS MINISTRY (continued from previous page.) The New Face of Campus Ministry

ANDREW OUELLETTE

Along with a new presence in Campus Ministry, Schola Cantorum Sanctae Crucis, the College’s liturgical choir has benefitted from the addition of new Director of Liturgical Music, Jerome Cole. With new microphones and an updated sound system, the choir can now be heard and enjoyed by everyone attending Mass. The College has also seen an increase in choir participation. “There is a core group of students already here who were very passionate about singing. I think that they attracted a few new members because of their excitement,” Cole said. This passion appealed to freshman Gabe Gelke. “In high school, I sang in chorus and liturgical choir. So, coming to Holy Cross I knew I wanted to continue that. This is definitely an opportunity to use my talents to praise God,” Gelke said.

Above all, Cole admires the community that the choir brings and the very positive and music loving students that it attracts. “Campus Ministry is partly about helping people encounter Christ; the liturgy is the central way that we bring people to Christ. Our choir helps build community around the liturgy,” Cole said.

Furthermore, Senior Vice President Michael Griffin imagines Campus Ministry seeping into all aspect of Holy Cross College under Ouellette’s leadership. To start this initiative, basketball coach Mike McBride and Andrew Ouellette established a partnership between athletics and ministry. Recognizing that athletics attract a diverse group of people in terms of faith, Ouellette wanted to introduce Christian values to all of the players. This way, Holy Cross athletes will live and compete virtuously while reflecting Christ. Reminding students of this partnership, Ouellette had banners made that display twentieth century saints who were also young athletes for the Pfeil Center lobby. In addition, the departments worked together to introduce a “Student Athlete Commissioning Mass” for all players and coaches. At this ceremony, the players were given holy cards, wooden crosses from Bethlehem, and a blessing. Ouellette hopes that this will be an annual tradition.

At the beginning of the basketball season, the team attended a retreat led by Br. James “Jimmy” Kozak, C.S.C., their team’s chaplain. Here, they discussed how Christianity affected their choice to be basketball players at Holy Cross, and the role that religion should play in forming their team identity. “What came out of this retreat was the theme of brotherhood and that we need to rely on and support each other, not only because it will help us succeed as a team, but because it’s our duty as Christians as well,” freshman Packy Murdock continued, “As a result, it’s clear on the court that guys are playing for each other, not themselves. Instead of chasing stats and other individual achievements, all fifteen members of the team are doing everything they can to support each other and produce a win day in and day out.”

Above all, Ouellette hopes that all students will take advantage of their time at Holy Cross because he believes that college serves as the best time to grow in one’s faith.

His advice?

“Don’t let these four years pass by without taking a step in your relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Forming Scholars

Dr. Dianne Barlas

by Madelyn McBride, Gateway 7.0

Embedded in our core curriculum are two classes that engage students at the global level.

Holy Cross offers opportunity to travel and engagement at the global level.

Journey to Holy Cross College

Dr. Dianne Barlas just entered into her fifteenth year at Holy Cross College as Associate Professor of Theology and Director of Global Perspectives. Prior to Holy Cross College, Barlas worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse after gaining her degree from Purdue University.

While working the night shifts, she found herself discussing religion, discernment, and life with her fellow nurses. Through this, she recognized that God was calling her to do something outside of nursing, so she applied for the Master of Divinity at Notre Dame and went on to gain her Doctorate of Ministry at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Knowing that she enjoyed sharing her faith with others, she began her impactful career as a teacher at this distinctly Catholic college, exploring with students the role of the Catholic Church in recognizing the presence of God in their lives and in the world. “I now create courses that stem from my interests and fit what the college needs in their curriculum,” Barlas said.

Exploring Beyond the Classroom

At Holy Cross College, Barlas teaches upper level theology classes and develops courses that highlight global issues through a Catholic Social Teaching lens. Thanks to Barlas’ addition to the core curriculum, every Holy Cross student takes two courses that introduce specific international concerns. These classes work to encourage students to understand that global matters aren’t isolated, but rather influence every aspect of life. In order to be an informed citizen and participate in the Holy Cross College community, our country, and beyond, students must think globally in order to enhance their local settings.

“Because of our access through technology, we can gain a lot of knowledge about what is going on in the world. But these classes push students to move to a level of empathy, inspiring them to do something,” Barlas shared.

Furthermore, Barlas manages the Global Engagement International summer trips to Peru, India, and Uganda. These journeys expose student to various cultures and plant new perspectives that influences future decisions and careers. Barlas believes that having this widened mindset is essential in our globalized world.

“Unless you travel outside the western hemisphere, you can never really understand that the rest of world does not live like us in America. You begin to appreciate your education, family, freedom, and what living in a free democracy makes possible,” said Barlas.