Scholarship & Sanctity - St. John's Catholic Newman Center

CathIlliniAUG09R 7/31/09 3:19 PM Page 3
Our 81st year of campus ministry
has begun. I find that at the
launch of a new academic year, it is
important to call to mind once
again what our work is all about.
As you know, SJCNC is committed
to building authentic community
through the residential life
of Newman Hall and through the
ministry programs of the Center as a
whole. Our aim is to lead students
to discover the meaning and purpose
of their lives in the person of
Jesus Christ.
Last year was not without its
challenges as we worked to get our
expanded facilities up and running.
I’m happy to report that not only
did we double the capacity of the
Hall from 280 to 580, but our waiting
list also doubled—to 300! While
I wish we could house everyone, I
am encouraged that so many desire
to be part of our community.
We also see it as our mission to
provide a dynamic outreach and
witness to the larger student popula-
2 The Catholic Illini FALL 2009
From the Director
M SGR. G REGORY K ETCHAM, D IRECTOR & HEAD C HAPLAIN
tion of the University of Illinois. The
simple fact is that students need spiritual
support and guidance. For this
reason, I am excited to have Newman
alumnus Fr. Anthony Co joining our
team as Assistant Chaplain (see facing
page), and I know students will
respond to his youth and zeal for the
Gospel. We are also blessed that Fr.
Barry Cole (of the prelature of Opus
Dei) and local pastor Msgr. Albert
Hallin have generously volunteered to
make themselves available on a regular
basis for spiritual direction and other
pastoral needs our students may have.
When people ask what special
events we have planned for the year,
I’m tempted to respond, “What we do
everyday—prayer, sacraments, sharing
the Faith together—is special!” That
said, we do have an array of key
opportunities to share the Gospel
throughout the coming semester.
October, for example, will be a
very full month. Fr. Wade Menezes of
the Fathers of Mercy will visit from
October 2nd to the 4th to preach a
mission on Divine Mercy, while the
end of the month will see both our
annual Eucharistic Procession on the
Quad as well as the return of exorcist
Fr. Vince Lampert (who drew a record
crowd last year).
We will also spend the next several
months gearing up for the national
“Made for More” conference hosted
by FOCUS. We plan to bring as
many U of I students as possible to
this faith-building event, which will
be held in Orlando from December
30, 2009 to January 3, 2010 and has
a projected attendance of 4,000 college
students!
Please keep our students and staff
in your prayers as we begin this year,
and know that we are truly grateful
for your support.
In Christ,
Msgr. Gregory K. Ketcham
ON THE COVER: Jackie Gitonga, 2009 recipient of a Ph.D. in Human Resource
Education, has been called “a great woman of faith” by Msgr. Ketcham. She plans to
employ her talents and education as a religious sister with the Daughters of St. Paul
in St. Louis, MO.