Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry recently launched new pop-up sessions with the College’s Protestant chaplain, Rev. Carrie Badertscher.
Since Badertscher started in College, she has hoped to create a space where students of diverse faiths could come to feel seen and heard. The pop-up sessions that take place every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. are an extension of the safe space [where students can] share the faith that Badertscher hoped to implement.
“I would say I am new to Saint Mary’s, but I have known the administration, faculty and staff for [take] a listening position. Instead of curricula, they look at student needs and try to make sure they are met,” Badertscher said.
Badertscher also thinks the administration creates a good balance between support for Catholic and non-Catholic students.
“I see the administration building on the strong Catholic foundation of the school and also recognizing that not everyone received the same education in the faith,” she said. “But God is big enough to help us navigate the great experience of faith.”
Pop-ups according to Badertscher are meant to be “a specific open door and place to be who you are today.”
Freshman Sincere Cannon encourages participation in campus ministry.
“Others should get involved in campus ministry for two reasons,” Cannon said. “First, it’s a safe and welcoming space where you can confide in people about everything that’s going on under the sun. Also, even if you’re not Catholic or Christian, it’s still a useful tool for d “have religious literacy from different cultures around you. Maybe you could find a love for religious dialogue like me and you might even meet people who change your life for the better – Pastor Carrie is that person for me .
Cannon is just a student who appreciates what Campus Ministry and Badertscher have done for her. Freshman Tess Hayes also shared her experience with Badertscher.
“I met Carrie one afternoon on my way to class and she welcomed me,” Hayes said. “I kept coming back because Carrie is a community builder and has given me many opportunities to build relationships with the girls who attend her pop-up events, as well as relationships with other members of the South community. Good.”
Newly hired Campus Minister Allison D’Ambrosia also believes the College should take a listening stance. D’Ambrosia is an alumnus of the College in 2016 and has spent the past seven years working at the University of Oxford in London.
D’Ambrosia is excited to return to the College and its nurturing environment.
“It’s a very supportive community – more than I thought it would be when I was there,” she said. “It’s easy to soak up the daily life while you’re there. The vision of female empowerment is really important and I think it will be really fun and exciting to be a part of it.
D’Ambrosia is open to expanding services, but wants to first take stock of students’ religious traditions.
“I think it is important to understand what faith we have and to understand what is missing so that we can determine what ministries we are going to do. [and] understand who our students are and what they believe,” said D’Ambrosia.
Additionally, D’Ambrosia wants campus ministry to be a place for all students – including students at different points in their faith journey.
“Campus Ministry isn’t just for mass-going uber-Catholics,” D’Ambrosia said. “It’s a place for all students [because] Campus Ministry is a place that can help them discover it even more deeply. It doesn’t have to be for a specific subset of students.
Badertscher echoes a similar message.
“I would invite students, no matter how they feel, to come and discuss God,” Badertscher said. “Campus Ministry is a great place to do that. Students are too often afraid of not having answers, but it is normal not to know everything.
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