Immaculata University: Where God Walks Beside the Drifters
Generation Z—those born between 1996 and 2010—and people younger than them are increasingly drifting away from institutional religions like the Catholic Church. Some go toward being “spiritual but not religious” while others move completely away from the rituals, practices, and beliefs of all religious institutions.
How should we minister to the “drifters” trying to find their way at college? The campus ministry at Immaculata University in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, offers an inspiring model at the college that was founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Bringing God to College Students
Nestled on the east side of Immaculata’s lush-green campus, the IU Campus Ministry is an inclusive space where students are welcomed and invited to spend time and serve others together, explore the expressions of prayer and spirituality, and build a community that spreads beyond the walls of the ministry office.
The ministry’s support team—Sr. Laura Downing, IHM; Amanda Bielat; and Fr. Royce Thomas, CSsR—eagerly keep the office lively, exploring ways for students to get together, whether that’s with video games or at events like a campus campout.
What’s It All About?
Open from 8:30 am to 9 pm during the week, the office always has something going on. The team’s dedication to accompanying the students in their time at Immaculata never wavers. Each afternoon they host a new service opportunity, from volunteering at the retirement and long-term care center for the IHM Sisters in Camilla Hall, to working at Immaculata’s sustainable garden, whose produce is donated to local food banks and food pantries.
The ministry’s service opportunities reach beyond the campus. During school breaks, the IU ministry hosts week-long service trips like volunteer work at Bethlehem Farms or house building in North Carolina for Habitat for Humanity. Summer service has included clearing out a shuttered school in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, and painting a school interior in South Philadelphia. Projects highlight the importance of helping those on the peripheries who need it—an essential component of the team’s charism.
The three worship sites on campus are open to Catholics and all faiths. Events like Praise and Worship enable students to come and take what they need from the service. The office has quiet areas where people may pray, meditate, and relax. These areas, open to all, are a reminder that prayer can happen anywhere, not just in churches and chapels.
Campus ministry retreats—with names like Awakening, Halftime, Busy Persons, and Kairos—give students a break from school and homework to be together to relax, pray, and bond. The Busy Persons retreat happens in the office, where students drop in and talk with a spiritual director during their school day—ensuring retreats are approachable to all. The retreats place students in God’s presence, help them unite with fellow students, and reinforce the importance of community.
The More, the Merrier
Community is essential to college life. College is the first time many students have lived away from home. The Immaculata ministry shows that a great way to create an inclusive space is to offer one where students feel welcomed and nourished. All-inclusive events attract big numbers. Prayer and service events also foster community. Even in the summer, the ministry hosts events:
Community nights during the school year offer a spaghetti dinner and a speaker.
Movie nights help students unwind with others.
Open-discussion “God chats” with Fr. Royce facilitate conversations on topics related to the Church. All questions are welcome, and students curious about their faith or Church teaching can delve deeper in a relaxed atmosphere.
Students are encouraged to suggest events to help the ministry meet students where they are, especially early in their freshman year.
Driving Back in the Summer
While many of Immaculata’s population is local, summer events bring back students from far away, with some driving hours to attend.
A campout on the lawns of Villa Maria reunites collegians who haven’t seen one another since the semester ended. They pitch tents, play board games, and eat pizza.
Service trips like the one to Shenandoah include a stop at an amusement park so participants have fun on rides, and socialize before returning to campus. The IU Campus Ministry’s community-driven approach goes beyond the Immaculata student body. In 2023, it held a Mass and presentations on Sts. Alphonsus Liguori and Teresa of Calcutta for 160 summer camp children. Fr. Royce, Immaculata’s chaplain, goes to nearby schools for Baccalaureate Masses and retreats like Kairos, where students explore their faith.
Campus Ministries Help Bring Students “Home”
As more college students turn away from institutional religions, the importance of a robust campus ministry that creates an inclusive space for all becomes ever clearer. The next few years will be critical in defining the legacy of ministry on college campuses. Instead of ministering exclusively to Catholics, campus ministry teams like those at Immaculata will be defined by their ability to open their arms to all students, regardless of their faith or spiritual practices.
The question remains: can campus ministries sustain inclusivity and retain their distinctive charism? Can they do more than provide the sacraments and Bible study? The IU Campus Ministry is more than this, and it is hoped that ministries on other campuses will do likewise.