CAMPUS MINISTRY
“What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with his disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become today, the traveling companion of young people…”
John Paul II, Youth: Sent to Proclaim True Liberation, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines.
WHAT IS CAMPUS MINISTRY?
The Holy Father’s words from World Youth Day ‘95 are relevant for all who work with youth in the Church today. What better place for the Church to become the traveling companion of young people than in the daily life of our Catholic high schools.
The term “Campus Ministry” can mean many different things depending on the institution using the term. At Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, campus ministry describes a collaborative effort of teachers, youth ministers, students, counselors, administrators, staff and clergy to maintain an environment that helps our students begin the transition process to an adult faith in Jesus Christ and active participation in His body, the Church.
Our Archbishop wants our Catholic high schools to academically and socially prepare our young people for life’s challenges, but most of all, he desires that our students grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
WHO ARE THE CAMPUS MINISTERS OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS?
We all are! We rely on the Theology Department to provide orthodox academic formation of our students in the content of the Faith, a vital component of formation. But it is every teacher, staff member, coach, administrator, counselor, and even certain student groups, along with the chaplain, who are called on to image Christ to our students; to demonstrate love, compassion, moral and ethical guidance along with the hope that our Lord exhibited by word and deed.
Theology teachers are in a position to be powerful witnesses of the Catholic faith while they provide the academic component of catechesis. But, it is the school as a whole that is charged with contributing to the faith formation of the young people entrusted to our care.
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF CAMPUS MINISTRY
While every teacher and staff member plays a role in campus ministry, there are certain focus areas that have traditionally been part of STA’s program. These components are outlined in this website. All are important and none stand alone, but are dependent on an integrated and collaborative approach so that our students will receive maximum benefit of the unique character of Catholic education. Catholic identity along with formation which is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church are concerns of parents, pastors, and of course, the Archbishop, the chief shepherd of this local Church.