Welcome to Catholic Campus Ministry at NCSU
My Dear Sisters & Brothers
May the peace of Christ reign in your heart!
Catholic Campus Ministry at North Carolina State University has as its mission to serve, to initiate, deepen, clarify, teach and inspire our student population and all the friends of this community on their journey of faith. After five years of ministry, I have really been impressed with how warm and welcoming this community is. I am truly grateful to God that I have been sent here. I look forward to the challenges and joys of this new semester. I hope I can serve you and help you and most importantly be an example of faith and love for Jesus.
Class of 2011, you are on your way - graduation is just around the corner. I cannot believe that I have been with you already 3 years. You will be missed! Classes of 2012 and 2013, I am glad that you will be with us a little longer so you and we can benefit from the numberless talents God has given us. I hope and pray you all keep growing in your faith and enjoying this privileged college time.
Class of 2014, my dear freshman class, we welcome you!!! We know that at the very beginning all will look strange, and all will be challenging. I know there will be some fears, anxieties and unfulfilled expectations, but you know, there is something very familiar to you. We, your fellow Catholics, are a family for you. We are the body of Christ, ready to assist, help and most importantly - love you and make you part of our family. Please be sure that we will do all we can to serve you and be there for you.
Grad students, you are also a great component of our ministry. I know that sometimes you are neglected; I hope you receive a little more attention, so please help us to help you by sharing your ideas, expectations, talents and dreams.
Catholic university staff, parents and families of the students, and friends of this community - we rejoice also knowing that we can count on you. Our students always seek for a good example of Gospel values. With your help and "coaching," they will become great people, Christians, and citizens. We are also here to help you. Even though our main focus is on students, we do not want to neglect your needs. We will use any energy that is left to also minister to you and your families.
Do not forget that my Peer Ministry Coordinator, Teri Denault Page; my Business Manager, Christie Burley; my Leadership Team members, and I are here to serve you. You can find us at the Doggett Center, which is the house of the Catholic Campus Ministry at North Carolina State University. We have an old but "comfy" building, located across from Pullen Park. In addition to the Student Mass at 11:00 AM at Witherspoon cinema, we also offer two more Masses on Sunday at 9:00 AM and at 7:00 PM at the Doggett Center. There is also one Mass on Saturday at 5:30 PM at the Doggett Center.
We have a peaceful little chapel (an ideal place for a moment of quiet prayer in the midst of the hectic pace of university life), great kitchen facilities, and a small lending library with Catholic literature, a big room for parties and other activities, a TV/VCR/DVD, a Ping Pong table, and basketball hoop our front. So come check us out and introduce yourself that next time you're on campus!
Keep checkcing back on our website and watch for some important events that will happen during this semester. I just want to highlight some of them: The Pig Pickin', freshman retreat, beach trip, parents and family weekend, the visit of Bishop Burbidge on October 31st, and much more. We will continue offering our weekly events such as Faith on Tap; RCIA classes; Wednesday Student Night; Bible Study; Women's, fresman, and Graduate Fellowship groups; social justice activities, etc.
Please feel at home when you come to visit us or want to talk to any of us. We are a welcoming community and we strive not to judge anyone but to accept the diversity and beauty that is present in teh Body of Christ. God bles you all!
We hope to have a very blessed year. Thie year promises to be full of opportunity for growth, faith formation, and fun.
May God Bless You,
-Father Alex Gonzalez