Reaching Further on Campus
The Gospel is reaching further on campus than ever before! New ministry groups have emerged and are reaching students from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Spanish-speaking and Mandarin-speaking students, those in Greek life, and student athletes. These particular efforts have born great fruit in the lives of these Catholic Illini. Read about each of the ministry efforts below.
Natalia, a sophomore and one of the co-leaders of LUCES (Latinos Unidos en Cristo, Encontrando Salvacion):
Natalia (in the front, wearing green), and members of LUCES
What kind of impact has LUCES had in the Catholic Illini community this year?
"Through LUCES, we’ve seen a growth in the community—really true Christian fellowship—and a lot of new faces here at the Newman Center. Seeing that “you belong here” message come to fruition in our group has been so beautiful. Our ministries, like Spanish-speaking bible studies, have been growing a lot, and it’s been so great to see the love of Christ pour out."
Do you have a favorite memory from the year?
"The Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration! She’s the mother of the Americas, and she really brought so many people that I’ve never seen before walk through the doors. You could really feel the love of Our Lady shining through. A testament to the love was the abundance of flowers brought by students for Mary."
Hundreds of flowers were brought for the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration
John, a Chinese native speaker and missionary to Chinese-speaking students:
How has the Newman Huaren (a Mandarin word for ethnically Chinese people) ministry gone this year?
“Most of [the Chinese students here] have not heard about the Christian faith and don’t understand what Christians believe… so when we talk about Christianity, we usually need to tell them who God is first.
“We’ve been watching Bishop Barron’s Catholicism series and having some good discussions about who God is and why does Jesus teach what he teaches…introducing them to the idea that God is love and that they are valuable in God’s eyes and that Jesus is here to save them.”
Do you have a favorite memory from the year?
“One of my favorite memories from this year is when we went on a retreat just for the Mandarin-speaking students, we were able to have a very safe, quiet environment for them to experience peace, to really enter into some questions that they would not normally think about. During one of the talks we introduced them to the idea that they are made in the image of God.” Some of the students became overcome with emotion at this concept that they had never considered before. “One student who didn’t consider himself a Christian was crying during the prayer. I was just very powerful.”
Members of Newman Huaren
Ryan, a FOCUS missionary who ministers to students in Greek life on campus:
How has God worked in Greek life outreach this school year?
“This year it’s been really beautiful to see how students that we’ve met and have been in Greek small groups are returning to the Catholic faith and have been moved by the Holy Spirit to go back to their houses and meet their fraternity brothers and sorority sisters where they’re at and facilitated an encounter with Jesus for them.”
What is something that stands out to you?
“One standout experience from the year has been with a student, Alex, from Alpha Tau Omega, and his zeal. He’s been really motivated through coming to daily Mass and receiving the Eucharist to go out and share that with his fraternity brothers. He even helped us to organize having Mass at ATO in November. It was great to see probably 50 of his fraternity brothers there.”
Fr. Brokaw celebrates Mass at Alpha Tau Omega for students in Greek Life
Patrick and Jenna, two of our FOCUS missionaries who serve the student Athletes at the U of I:
How has outreach to student-athletes affected the culture among Catholic athletes on campus?
Jenna: “It’s been good to get them in the door [of the Newman Center] to recognize that the Newman Center is here for them too, that it’s a popping community that’s fun to be a part of, and that there’s a place for them here in this community. And even though their lives on campus are a bit different than most other students, that their identities are not in their sport but in the Lord.
Patrick: “The biggest thing I’ve seen in how outreach to student athletes has been a catalyst for deeper conversions has been the opportunity for athletes to meet other athletes from different teams and grow in friendship with one another. Those friendships are ones where multiple guys have told me that they are going to be lifelong friends and they would have never known each other if it wasn’t for the common denominator of their faith. They’ve been able to interact and grow together through bible study and that leads them to a deeper conversion in their faith and relationship with Jesus.”
And now that they are showing up in greater numbers at the Newman Center, how is that making a change in their lives, since they are already so excellence-driven?
Jenna: “There’s such importance of the Catholic Illini student Athlete community being here to model what growing in the faith is like. Many of them are treated like professional athletes…and are striving to be perfect athletically. This community is a comforting place where they can be told ‘Hey, the point is that you’re not perfect, but we’re growing in our faith together.’”
Patrick: “It’s been really cool to see guys growing together and holding each other accountable, and then take that to their own athletic teams and hold their teammates accountable, to become the men that the world needs, that God wants them to be.”
Two Catholic Illini student-athletes chat outside the Chapel
