Newman Group, Evangelization Training Camp
This past fall I started my first semester at the University of Southern Indiana. Growing up I always had the opportunity to attend Catholic schools, and for the first time it was truly going to be my decision to continue with my faith and make it my own.
I started to attend Mass on campus and Newman meetings, but I did not feel instantly connected to the group in the way that I had hoped.As when starting with any new group, it takes a little bit to get to actually really know others in the group.
About a month after school started, I received an invitation to join a few other Catholic USI students in a small discipleship group, which was an outreach that the Newman Center was starting. When the small group gathered we would pray, read scripture, talk about the Church’s teachings and, most importantly, grow together in our faith.
At the end of the semester, our group had the opportunity to all attend an Evangelical Training Camp. I am extremely grateful for the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the funding that made this trip possible. The week at ETC, where I was surrounded by everyone so excited about their faith, helped get me ready to go forward and come back to USI refreshed and ready to help others come closer to God.
Our small discipleship group consisted of eight people last semester; but after this camp, we all hope for this number to grow. The amazing people who I got the privilege to know through small group and then during the ETC are energized and excited to expand and start their own small groups, which would help strengthen our Newman community.
Together we have hopes and dreams of how God’s ministry can grow on campus and beyond, but most importantly we learned to be the sheep who stay close to God and let Him lead us. I am so excited to see where God takes each member of the small group this semester, and how He will work through each of us to spread his ministry at USI and help others find the peace and joy that only God can provide.
