The Catholic Campus Ministry at Shenandoah University in Winchester geared up for another year of growth as they anticipated the arrival of the largest first-year class in the history of the university. In preparation, during the weekend of Aug. 23-24, CCM student leaders attended a Leadership Workshop and spent a day in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., for team building and faced a challenging ropes course together.
With a strong cohesive leadership team, the student leaders welcomed the first-year class Aug. 28 at CCM’s annual Welcome Week Luau, where participants enjoyed outdoor games, burgers, hotdogs, and frozen treats from an ice cream truck.
New and returning students attended the first Mass of the year Aug. 31, celebrated by guest priest Father Parthi Raj Soosai, parochial vicar of St. Timothy Church in Chantilly. Mass was followed by CCM’s annual New School Year’s Eve Party, where the students rang in the new school year with Mission BBQ, raffle prizes, ginger ale toasts and a countdown to “Auld Lang Syne.”
Finally, students and staff welcomed Father Jamie Workman, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, who celebrated a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit Sept. 7 for the Catholic student body to dedicate the new academic year. Also on hand was Kevin Bohli, executive director of the diocesan Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries, who oversees the CCM at Shenandoah.
The CCM, which has been in existence for 15 years, has experienced explosive growth in faith and numbers the last couple years due to a dedicated core of student leaders. Their mission is to invite students of all backgrounds to CCM to experience Christ and community in the Catholic Church.
The CCM hosts weekly Sunday Mass, a Saturday Breakfast event and Bible Study. Other programs include outdoor eucharistic adoration, monthly bowling and Thursday Suppers, a new first-year retreat, beach retreat, and guest speakers. In addition, to help build community, CCM offers a lounge open to all students to come by anytime to study, watch TV, pray, hang out, or partake in the available goodies whenever they’re hungry.
With the successful launch of the new academic year, CCM student leaders at Shenandoah look forward to another year of growth in faith and community.
Filamor is campus minister at Shenandoah University Catholic Campus Ministry.
