I am a freshman at George Mason University in Fairfax. I attended Seton School in Manassas, a Catholic school where I received a solid foundation in my faith. After Seton, I decided to go to a public university, and I’m so glad I did. Not only do I have my older sister with me at GMU, I get to go to school with so many people from various backgrounds. But in such a big, diverse school, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and lost in a secular world. This is why the best part of my GMU experience so far is the Catholic Campus Ministry.
College is often a time when young adults stop practicing and lose their faith. I love the CCM because it is made up of hardworking people who genuinely strive for holiness and virtue. Everyone makes an effort to show up to events and/or receive the sacraments. We all pursue our faith just as God pursues us. God is so in love with us, and he is constantly pursuing us; we, as GMU Catholic Patriots, are trying our best to pursue him in a non-Catholic environment.
Father Joseph Farrell, chaplain, is such a blessing to us all. Through his concise, thought-provoking homilies, he encourages us to keep striving in our relationships with each other through fun events, but more importantly with God. Another reason I love the CCM is that it’s a great example to show that Catholics are still social, fun-loving people. Every week, members of the student ministry team lead multiple events — Thursday Night Suppers, Sunday Night Gatherings, Lofi music with coffee and donuts, and more. We had a free dinner and a fun field day outside recently. Because of the CCM events, I can still have a social life with a busy schedule.
So many people have been touched by this ministry, and at the last Easter Vigil, 19 people were welcomed into the Catholic Church, receiving the sacraments for the first time.
This leads me to reflect on another amazing aspect of the CCM: mission. Everyone is so friendly and has a missionary mindset. The CCM is constantly advertising and inviting GMU students to events. The reason so many people are turning to the faith is the witness of the Catholic Patriots, FOCUS missionaries and CCM staff. I had the opportunity to be a part of this work when I helped sponsor events at kiosks and handed out flyers to people. I am truly blessed to be part of this family of hardworking and creative people. God is so good, and I’m so proud to be a Catholic Patriot.
