USC Campus Ministry

University of San Carlos CAMPUS MINISTRY

History
Campus Ministry has a long and lively history, demonstrating its ability to respond to and grow with the signs of the times. From a small club of concerned priests and lay Catholics, to an officially recognized ministry - this growth has involved thousands of lay people who have generously shared themselves. Before, Campus Ministry was perceived as an apostolate primarily reserved to the clergy and religious. It was taken then as some kind of an "additional service" to the studentry, or for some, a simple justification of the priest’s or religious presence in the campus. And the tasks primarily were religious or spiritual in nature, specifically in preparation for the reception and administering of the Sacraments, thus the apostolate itself is associated mainly to Chaplaincy in relation to pastoral care.

Now, a broader understanding of the Campus Ministry is upheld. It is not only an "additional attention" to students, reserved for priests and religious, but an integral part of a Catholic educational institution's mission for the integral growth of every member of the community. "To relegate this ministry to the institution's periphery in an isolated department or office of 'Campus Ministry', is to fault the University's or College's essential Catholic identity"

Campus Ministry in the University is as old as the institution itself. Since the beginning, being a Catholic institution, although the term Campus Ministry was not still being conceived, spiritual attention and value formation had already been done. As the institution grew into a University, a need for more organized pastoral work in the campus was felt. This slowly gave birth to the designation of a University Chaplain, to take charge of the liturgical and pastoral activities in the University in the late 60’s. The University has produced a list of Chaplains since the SVDs assumed the administration.

Taking into consideration of the number of the members of the University which comprises four (4) campuses: South Campus, North Campus, Talamban Campus and the Main Campus, Associate Chaplains were appointed to help the University Chaplain in the pastoral care of all the members of the University.

And always conscious of her identity, as a Catholic educational institution, all efforts to better fulfill her mission to evangelize, eventually gave birth to the - USC Campus Ministry.

Rationale of USC Campus Ministry
The Society of the Divine Word is conscious of the great challenge that poses the reality of the youth in our time. The document "Witnessing to the Word", #10 (September 1986) of the Society, underlined the fact that the youth constitutes the great number of the whole humanity. This is also very true in the Philippine context. The PCP II documents notes: The Philippines is the country of the young. In 1989 about 60% of the total population, that is 35.9 million, was below 25 years old of which 8.2 million belong to 18-24 years of age (PCP II 380, 383).

The Divine Word Society's response calls for the intensification of our commitment with the youth and children, improving always our ways of working in the youth apostolate in schools and outside of them. The SVD Constitution 109.2 has this to say: "Aware of our responsibility of the future of the Church and the human society, we dedicate with zeal in the task of Christian education and formation of the youth, inside and outside the school campuses." The SVD believes that the apostolate among the youth must aim at the integral formation of the person, a wholistic approach to education.

We want to have:

• self-convinced Catholics but respectful of other creeds
• well-formed in the light of the Gospel
• community forming and community loving
• committed to the Church and to the growth of the society
• committed to the Missions Ad Gents.

In simple words, an evangelized and evangelizing person.

In the Philippines, the University of San Carlos, being administered by the SVD missionaries, is certainly an apostolate among the Filipinos. All in all, there are more than 20 thousand students and some 2 thousand professors and non-academic personnel. So, for the SVDs, aside from being an educational institution, the USC is also a privileged place for evangelization. Privileged in the sense that, in all campuses the members of the educational community are almost present everyday of the week, much more than their presence in parishes. This justifies the presence of the Society of the Divine Word in the University as a religious missionary congregation. This is reflected in the University's mission statement:

… "USC is an institution of learning committed to the education and transformation of the professional dedicated to the regional and national development and human advancement. And as a Catholic institution, it assures within the university community and in the academic world a Christian presence, characterized by learning in the light of the Catholic faith and the missionary commitment of the Society of the Divine Word."

At the same time, the University's motto "Scientia, Virtus, Devotio", is always a force that impels everyone not only to become good professionals in their field but to become better persons; to be Christian professionals.

Campus Ministry is an apostolate that facilitates in each member of the USC community a personal and communitarian experience of God, providing a more Christian atmosphere in all campuses. It complements the academic discipline, as it is not a parallel activity to it, so as to enhance the growth process of each person in faith and be truly a disciple of Christ. This discipleship evidently entails the responsibility to help in the social, cultural and moral transformation and development of the society (PCP II, Decrees 107). The personal experience of God must lead the person to share and bear witness of it in the community and serve the same community where he belongs and to the Church (society) in general.

Vision – Mission

We, the Campus Ministers of the University of San Carlos, imbued by the Trinitarian Spirituality of St. Arnold Janssen, nourished by the Eucharist and empowered by the Word, commit ourselves to develop and maintain programs that aid the members of the university community to become living witnesses to the Word among themselves and the community-at-large. This we intend to accomplish through the promotion of Bible Reflection, Mission Animation, Communication and Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

Goals and Objectives
The University Campus Ministry aims to form basic Christian communities in the University in the Spirit of the Trinitarian Spirituality of Arnold Janssen where people grow in inner freedom and responsibility through: active participation in and appreciation of the various liturgical celebrations and pastoral activities; regular faith-life formation programs, Gospel values seminar-workshops, recollections and retreats and other community building activities; active participation in missions, animations and activities critical analysis of social concerns and issues affecting the Carolinian community and responding to them in appropriate ways; and solidarity with the poor through personal involvement in outreach activities.

It is said that there are two centers of activities in any Catholic learning institution: the library and the chapel. The first is to develop the intelligence of the human mind; the second is to form the human heart. The Campus Ministry is certainly a fundamental part in the life and activities in the University. After all, education is more than just academics; it is enhancing life, it is life.

Services Offered
LITURGICAL-SACRAMENTAL/ PRAYER LIFE

• Regular liturgical and sacramental celebrations
• First Communions and Confirmations
• Novenas, feasts, devotions, processions, pilgrim walk, etc.
• Special school liturgical celebrations
• Special liturgies with ReEd Department
• Prayer meetings/services/rallies/vigils
• Knights/Ladies of the Altar
• Knights of Columbus
• Lives of Saints

Catholic Christian Ethics

• In coordination with ReEd Department and SAS, includes teaching and living up the human and Christian moral values
• Write-ups, print articles, conferences, etc. on moral uprightness
• Pastoral counseling
• Conferences and Courses
• Retreats and recollections

Linkage With the Archdiocese
Link with ACM (Archdiocesan Campus Ministry)

• Summer Institute, special Campus Ministry courses
• Link with Cebu clergy, Archdiocesan celebrations and activities, Sto. Niño
• Festivities, Youth organizations, religious congregations, etc.
• University Chaplain assists every now and then the Sto. Rosario Parish

Mission Animation (Dialogue with the Faith-Seekers)
AJS Seminars and meetings

• Link with SSpS
• Direct evangelization: Mission Camp, catechism, etc.
• Retreat and recollection, seminars and workshops on missions
• Mission Week
• SVD Week
• Mission Sunday
• With ReEd Dept., promote Mission spirituality, SVD spirituality, Blessed Arnold Janssen, etc.
• Link with other religious/ecumenical activity Promotion of SVD/SSpS vocations
• Mission Camps / Hearts on Fire

Word of God Apostolate

• Bible courses and studies
• Bible enthronement
• Bible groups, bible sharing,
• Program RENEW
• Bibliodrama
• Bible quotes in Bulletin Boards, lobbies and offices
• In coordination with ReEd., give bible workshop and form bible groups among students
• Coordinate and participate in the SVD Biblical apostolate, local and provincial level
• Participation in Hearts on Fire Workshop

Communication

• Publications (Newsletter or BULLETIN articles)
• CM Website
• Dialogue with other cultures and religions
• Preaching, homilies, etc.
• Radio Program
• Texting good messages

Community Building

• Difficulty because of the context, specially the non-permanency of students
• Existing communities: CMSV, CCC, CaYM, etc.
• Existing ADEA groupings
• In coordination with SAS give Seminar on Leadership
• Seminar on Christian Leadership
• Sportsfest
• Agapes
• Link with other schools
• Link with other non-USC groups
• Fostering BEC in adopted communities/support parish BEC program
• Support to the Blessed Arnold Parish
• JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation)
• In coordination with the AEILO/CES Office, make campaigns for the marginalized calamity-affected people, etc.
• Prayer and street rallies for justice and peace
• In coordination with the ReEd., give Seminar-Workshops on PCP 11 and Social Teachings of the Church (Social Encyclicals)
• Community Extension/Social Projects
• Adopt a Family/ School/ Barangay Program
• Ecological campaigns and activities
• Social Justice Advocacy
• Linkage with the SVD JPIC, government organizations and NGO's
• (In coordination with Alumni Ass. and CaYM, acquire HOME for STUDENTS)