By Joseph Luebbe, Staff Writer
Campus Ministry at Newman is a place where students with a strong faith can form a community and have some fun. But this year, it’s had a big shakeup.
With the departures last school year of Father Adam Grelinger and Emily Simon, Campus Ministry lost its longtime leadership. Grelinger, who left to lead Holy Savior Catholic Church, was the longtime director of the group, and Simon, who is now working as a teacher at St. Jude Catholic School, was the assistant director.
Now, new people are in those roles. But they aren’t planning any big changes, they said.
Filling the role of director is Father Edmund Herzog, and the new assistant director is Nika Sykes, who is the sister of longtime Campus Ministry member Dylan Sykes, junior.
Father Herzog, or Father Ed for short, hails from Ithaca, New York, and was chosen to take over the job of university chaplain when Father Grelinger left.
Considering it’s his first year, Herzog said, he doesn’t want to make big changes to Campus Ministry. Instead, he wants to spend this year getting to know everyone and testing the waters.
“This year, I think the big thing has been… just kind of paying attention to stuff,” he said. “It’s just trying to get to know the students and trying to make sure that my classes are well put together and interesting and engaging. We’ll try to make some changes… when I see where we are.”
Herzog said he still plans to host everything that Campus Ministry is well known for, including Bible studies and Wednesday-night events.
And just because he’s treading lightly, he said, that doesn’t mean that he won’t change anything at all.
Herzog said he is planning on adding new volunteer opportunities for students outside and inside of Campus Ministry.
“We’re going to have some random service opportunities throughout the semester,” said junior Isabel Porres, president of Campus Ministry.
For more information about getting involved with Campus Ministry, email campusministry@newmanu.edu.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Nathan Galicia
