I grew up in the Arlington diocese, attending St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax and Oakcrest School in Vienna. Those institutions formed me well.
So, when I decided to go to George Mason University in Fairfax, I naively assumed that all I needed was myself to keep my faith. As a rising freshman, I got involved with the university’s Catholic Campus Ministry by attending its Thursday Night Gatherings, a summer version of its Thursday Night Suppers which run during the school year.
Many college students speak of their friends being determined by what building or floor they lived in. I was fortunate to have made many friends before my first semester even started. And these friendships were rooted in a shared love for Christ and his church.
I took for granted the community I had found and didn’t fully realize its worth until I was more than 3,000 miles away studying abroad. During that second semester, I did find a Catholic group, but it lacked the structure and diocesan support the GMU CCM had. Back home, I had been surrounded by a community that shared and encouraged me in my faith.
While I awaited my return to Fairfax, I boldly applied to be on the CCM’s leadership team. Despite being physically on campus at GMU for only one semester, I was graciously invited to serve on the CCM’s Campus Engagement team. Alongside another student, I become responsible for getting the word out on campus about this indispensable community.
Our biggest event every year is our back-to-school “Luau” which boasts nearly 1,000 attendees yearly. A notable part of our fall outreach efforts include our inflatable pig costumes. Brave students willing to be fools for the Lord run around campus in these pig costumes promoting Luau. And we often hear from students who encounter us by the end of move-in week, sometimes accompanied by eye-rolling, “Yes, I’ve heard about Luau.”
With the support provided to the Catholic Campus Ministry by the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal, we hope to hear those same words, albeit with less eye-rolling, about campus ministry. No student should reach the end of their four years not knowing our community exists and not knowing about the amazing things campus ministry has to offer. Thank you BLA donors for your continued support of our ministry efforts!
Navarro is a junior and student campus minister at George Mason University in Fairfax.