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Public Discipleship on Campus
By Deacon Paul Cronan, Mary Ruth Straudt and Lela Nelson
Editor’s note: The Diocese of Little Rock adapted their Public Discipleship project to work on college campuses. Their endeavor was so successful that it received the Catholic Campus Ministry Association’s (CCMA) award for the best college resource in the area of Education for Justice which was presented at the Annual Campus Ministry Reception at the USCCB Meeting in Washington on November 14, 2001.
As campus ministers, we are always searching for ways to further implement the tenets of the Bishops' Pastoral on Campus Ministry. As a diocesan-wide Campus Ministry program, we felt that the Public Discipleship process would directly address the “educating for justice” tenet of this pastoral. The primary emphasis of the Public Discipleship process is learning about and applying the social mission of the Catholic Church. Participation in the Public Discipleship on Campus process allows students to live the Catholic faith effectively and authentically in the public arena of the modern world on campus and beyond.
Five of our campus ministry programs were able to embrace this process. In the Fall of 2000, campus ministers along with leaders from other parishes throughout the state attended the Public Discipleship founding retreat hosted by the Social Action Office of the Diocese. We learned the goals, objectives, and processes of Public Discipleship as well as essentials of Catholic Social teachings. The basic idea of Public Discipleship on Campus implements the same observe, judge, and act model as the rest of the groups.
Each campus minister formed a small faith group at their individual campuses. The groups were composed of students and faculty. There were 8 to 10 participants in each group. The first level of impact was awareness and knowledge of the social teachings of the Church. During study of Catholic Social Teaching, students selected vehicles for action based upon observing, judging, then acting on needs in the community. As the students grew in knowledge and understanding they were able to move from "direct service" projects toward "social change." In “breaking open” their experiences in light of study of Catholic Social Teachings, students can see the need to address the root causes of social injustice in the community and world. A “both-and” approach is necessary. While addressing direct services, action must be taken to call upon available networks to right the injustice.
As the campus ministers from the five campuses discussed the Public Discipleship Program, we found that each of our groups saw different needs and responded. The Public Discipleship on Campus process has been a model of excellence for education for justice primarily because it goes beyond “direct service.” This program adapted for campuses allows student participants to learn and practice the observe--judge--act model of social justice. Students at one campus worked at a Day Center for the Homeless. Another group helped build a Habitat House, and is now starting a Habitat chapter on their campus. Students attended right to life events and wrote to their senators and representatives. The experience and subsequent reflection on these service projects encouraged students to seek "true justice" to effect systemic change in society. Not only have they worked for social justice, but they have learned what it means to be a disciple of Jesus-to apply the teachings of Christ and His Church and to embrace the social mission of the Church.
Unlike a mission trip away from home for a week, the students have found that they can be effective disciples in their daily lives by working towards social change. As the participants observe, judge, and act they have come to realize that they possess the ability to effect change in the world. In a community setting with knowledge of Catholic Social Teachings and tools of prayerful discernment, students and campus ministers become part of the Church universal in answering the call to public discipleship. Growing together in answering the call of “our best kept secret” has itself become a vehicle for action now and in the future as both students and campus ministers network in learning and action. This will carry on past the college years as they take their places as leaders in business, government, and service.
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Annual Social Ministry Gathering and
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