Campus Ministry looks ahead to new chapel

By: Timothy Lynch
Posted In: News

God? Present. Chaplain? Here. Congregation?… Congregation?

Nationwide, more and more students are attending mass less. At Salve Regina University, faculty and students have noticed the same thing: Only a small portion of the student body attends mass regularly on campus. A Catholic school, Salve Regina is in the process of planning for a new chapel to replace the current one in Ochre Court.

Students and staff alike weighed in on the matter.

“What I like best about the, Sunday Eucharist, especially about the 7 o’clock, at Salve, is that the students who come are very engaged, very prayerful and reverent, and we have a great choir and great music director,” said Phil Fiadino of Campus Ministry. “I think that if you put that together, you have a great combination.”

The Rev. Thomas O’Neill, the university chaplain, also praises the students who do attend. “To answer your question, what I like about Salve masses, (I like that)so many of the people that come here are young, and that’s a treat.”

Lauren Bailey, Class of 2010, had a lot to say about the masses. Bailey takes pleasure in the smaller community feeling going to mass on campus brings, and finds that she enjoys getting to know the people who attend every week. Bailey is surprised, however, that there is not a larger turn out.

“I think students get caught up in school work, jobs, and their social lives, and don’t feel like they have the time to go,” Bailey said. Bailey believes Campus Ministry is doing what it can, but feels they need to have more of a role on campus.

“The students who are involved in Campus Ministry seem to be very involved and constantly updated, but I think CM needs to reach out to a more diverse group of students,” she said. “I think the construction of the new chapel over the next few years will definitely help the situation.”

Ochre Court, once home to Ogden Goelet, a Gilded Age Banker, is now home to a number of the university’s administrative offices and to the chapel, which is on the first floor. The chapel, once a ballroom, has mirrors on all four walls, gold laced in between each one. The walls are home to some unique gold plated statues and the ceiling home to a mural.

Today, the ballroom looks like a miniature church, complete with the Stations of the Cross along the walls, and small side chapel for prayer.

Anna Mae Mayer, the director of Campus Ministry,provided a number of insights. Mayer is finishing her first year at Salve Regina and is proceeding slowly, planning on branching off of the wonderful things the Ministry already has in place.

One improvement Mayer looks forward to is giving incoming students the option to declare their religious background. “Right now, the administration has not statistics regarding how diverse our student body’s religious backgrounds are,” Mayer said. “Incoming freshman will be asked to fill out a one-page questionnaire identifying their religion.” Mayer stressed, though, that this identification is optional, as almost everything Campus Ministry offers is.

“I believe religion is extremely personal,” Mayer said. “We never pry, instead look to encourage people.” When it comes to the masses held, Mayer believes there are approximately 30 to 50 people in attendance, and probably a lot more who attend mass off campus. With no statistics, she didn’t know what the relation was to practicing Catholic students. She said it’s hard to bring people to mass, for it is a personal preference.

“We can’t demand students to attend mass,” Mayer said. “At this point their faith is their own responsibility. We have the means to offer whatever they may need if they choose to pursue their spiritual life in a community setting.”

Bailey agrees but adds that better publicity for mass times and holy days of obligation will help.

Advertising around campus is difficult, but Mayer creatively thought up alternate ways of trying to keep the student body in touch. Mayer along with the other members of Campus Ministry have created their own Facebook page. “It’s a delicate issue though, attending mass is meant to be personal.” Mayer said. “If people decide that they want to attend, we have the means in giving them their personal place of worship.” Mayer went on to say that attending mass is a two way street, and the best way to get something out of attending is by participating.

“Attendance at this school is pretty typical of nationwide college student mass attendance rate.” Mayer said. “Our goal is to beat that stat.”

Campus Ministry is not just about mass. Keeping in touch with the school’s Catholic identity is something members of Campus Ministry are always working towards. They work towards this by hosting events to promote social justice.

“Being active makes me feel like I have an active role in my faith,” said Cheryl Lemenager, ’09. Just recently, Campus Ministers Mayer and iadino along with nine students went on a rebuilding outreach in Providence. “It’s a good way for students to experience their religion, even if it is subconsciously,” Mayer said. “There is some overlap between people who attend mass, but we get the occasional new face.” Mayer looks forward in meeting more students and professors, and building better relationships she has with everyone she knows now.

With the building of a new chapel, Campus Ministry hopes to centralize the place of worship. “It’s time for Salve to make a statement to the community showing our faith” Mayer said. “I hope it to have a positive outcome in bringing our community closer together.” The chapel will house the central place of worship, Campus Ministry, and an interfaith worship space, comparable to a meditation room, meant as a serene place for people of all faiths to gather and worship their respective religions, or simply to reflect in a place closer to God. The chapel will hold approximately 225 people; blue prints haven’t been released as of yet.

Campus Ministry seeks to respect people of all religious traditions. Their goals are to seek out new friends, have fun, serve others and grow spiritually while at Salve Regina. Campus activities are planned by groups of students and Campus Ministers, and they welcome new ideas for future events.