Mingle. Unwind. Gather: A Campus Ministry Motto
Students walking along the third floor of Murphy Center have passed by Campus Ministry more than once. Perhaps walking by they think that it’s not for them because they aren’t religious or are a nonbeliever. Let it be known that these hesitations should not be a hindrance any longer. Everyone is welcomed in the ministry lounge regardless of faith background. There is always something to do be it studying, putting together a puzzle, asking questions about the Christian faith, or even just curling up on the couch to take a nap. One of the many perks is also snacks and free coffee.
The Campus Ministry lounge is open during regular building hours and directed by Emilio Alvarez and his assistant Kyle Trietley. This is a safe, non-judgmental place for everyone who enters.
The weekly Morning M.U.G., Mingle. Unwind. Gather., is held every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This is a great way to meet fellow peers and destress from the busy week before going into the weekend. M.U.G. is a relaxed setting in which students can come and go meeting new or familiar faces.
Viterbo and Campus Ministry have also collaborated with the Franciscan Spirituality Center located at 920 Market St. This partnership will allow students to receive four sessions of spiritual guidance for free every semester. Students received an email near the beginning of the semester about this partnership. “It’s not a counseling session,” Emilio Alvarez, director of Campus Ministry, said, “It’s like spiritual companionship.” During this time, students meet with a spiritual director for 30 to 45 minutes, and the director asks questions to help gauge where God has been present in the student’s life. “Come as you are” seems to be the moto of the Spirituality Center they are here to assist you in your spiritual journey. If you are just starting out on the spiritual journey they might be a good resource to help you begin.
Alvarez cannot stress enough that Campus ministry is for everyone. It is a judgement-free zone for students to relax and unwind regardless of faith. “We are willing to meet them where they are at,” Kyle Trietley, Campus Ministry assistant, expressed, “If you’re not a Catholic, and if you don’t have a faith background at all, that’s okay. You just never know who you’re going to meet here and what direction it will take your life in.”