Proud to Be Catholic at Mary Washington College

By Irene Lagan
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/26/02)

FREDERICKSBURG — For Catholic and some non-Catholic students at Mary Washington College, the Catholic Student Association is a home away from home. The CSA is an easy walk from the campus, and is open to students throughout the day and well into the evening. In addition to the many activities run by students at the CSA, the center is a place for Catholic students to be with "family" and to share an enthusiasm about their faith that is contagious. Students and visitors alike are welcomed in a manner that is rare on a college campus.

"These kids are very supportive of each other. It is unusual for this age group," said Father Ronald Escalante, Catholic chaplain at Mary Washington since June 2002. "The students are a treasure. They are wild in a good way and very proud to be Catholic." According to Father Escalante, over 300 students attend Mass on Sundays, and more than 175 students drop into the CSA on a regular basis. In addition to the Sunday Liturgy, Father Escalante celebrates Mass at the CSA on Mondays and Thursdays.

Until recently the CSA at Mary Washington was led by Father Jack Peterson, now campus minister at Marymount University in Arlington.

"A friend of mine recently told me that CSA students are the most amazing people," said junior Ben Kologiiej. "We are normal people, but we have something special about us."

The CSA is a peer-run organization. About 15 students serve in leadership roles on various committees, including a pro-life group, a folk group, and retreat, service, liturgy, social and publicity committees. Aimee Celio, a graduate of Mary Washington College, is the assistant campus minister. Local community members also assist with the CSA by providing meals, opening their homes, providing financial support and hosting activities or retreats.

"The spirit of the students is very Catholic," said Aimee Celio. "They love the pope and they love learning about what the Church teaches."

CSA President Liz Sjoberg said, "When I was in high school, I thought I didn’t need to learn anymore. But, there is so much more room to grow. This is about learning to live your faith. It is a challenge to be an everyday Catholic, and we are called to take what we gain here out onto campus."

Regularly scheduled weekly activities at the CSA include a prayer and praise group, a men’s prayer group, a co-ed Bible study, Basix of the Faith, a Thursday night dinner and speaker, a vocations group, a folk group and a pro-life group. This year, the CSA decided to reach out to freshman women by hosting weekly prayer meetings in each dormitory.

For some students, the CSA has provided a forum to be strengthened in their faith and to face challenges to what they believe. "We are living on a college campus where there is hard-core stuff going on," said sophomore Adam Bellacicco. "The CSA allows us to talk about our faith and to dispel rumors about Catholicism."

"This group is like my family. They build me up and strengthen me in my faith," said junior Gabriela Castaneda. "Most of the people I hang out with are not Catholic, so this place is a haven for me."

Among the other activities sponsored by the CSA are annual retreats for new students in the fall and for all students in the spring, visits to the local nursing home, work camp in Kentucky, pro-life events, charity concerts and social events.

Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.