Community Highlight: Ministry Leaders

The Newman Center has a long history of dedicated and passionate ministry leaders and volunteers. Hundreds of people each year sign up to be instruments of God’s love. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to celebrate these wonderful individuals with our usual Volunteer Appreciation Mass or reception. But throughout the pandemic, many of these ambassadors of faith stepped up and adapted their ministries so that the Good News continued to spread, and God’s light and love still shone brightly from the Newman Center.

Paula and Dan Beale (ABOVE) have been involved in the Newman Center Community Bible Study for over 10 years. What started out as a Bible study utilizing a resource from Ascension Press has branched out to different faith series including some from Bishop Robert Barron and Word on Fire ministries. Paula and Dan Beale have coordinated and facilitated 27 different studies over the years! When the pandemic hit Ohio in March, Dan and Paula worked with Newman Center staff to shift their group to a virtual setting in order to complete their spring series. This fall, the group is re-branding itself “Deepen Your Faith Wednesdays” to better describe the scope of material they cover. They will again be meeting virtually in large and small group formats.

Why the Newman Center? Paula says...

I originally came for the music… I stayed because of the love and acceptance that I felt. When Dan and I married, we decided to continue to worship at the Newman Center because our faith was being fed and nurtured by the Paulist Fathers, through their excellent homilies, beautiful liturgies, and the open, loving community... We’ve been involved in many of the ministries of the Newman Center over the years… and we’re so very grateful for the opportunity we’ve had to share our faith with so many others in the Community Bible Study.

Kristina Dutart and Charlie Giganti are third-year OSU students and leaders of this year’s Newman Center Spring Break Service Trips to the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) in Kentucky. Kristina was inspired by her humbling and joy-filled experiences as a service trip participant her first and second years. She says, “Going back to CAP and forming deep relationships with our campus group, students from other schools, the long-term volunteers at CAP, and participants we served has changed my life for the better.”

Why the Newman Center? Kristina says...

During the past three years, I have found a second home within the Newman Center. Without the Newman Center and the opportunities it provides, I would have never gone on these trips, had these experiences, and met the incredible people that I have met and grown to love both in Columbus and in the communities that we were serving.

Charlie says...

The Newman Center gave me the opportunity to use my time and talents to impact others and make the world a better place. I am thankful for the opportunity that the Newman Center has given me to grow in my faith and serve others in need. The Newman Center has been instrumental in my faith development at Ohio State. I don’t know where I would be in my faith without the support from the Newman Center and its supporting community.

Kristina Dutart

Charlie Giganti with other Newman Center service trip participants.

Andy Rudy is the coordinator of one of the Newman Center’s Food for the Homeless ministries cooking and serving food for an area shelter. He is also the Treasurer of the Newman Center St. Vincent de Paul Conference, which serves the university district by helping individuals and families with food, rent, utilities, prescriptions, and other forms of emergency financial assistance. When asked why he does this work and was called to these ministries, Andy says, “I have no ulterior reason for doing good to others. It is why we are here on this earth. It makes me feel good about myself knowing that others who have so much less than I have may benefit. Working with community members who are so dedicated and dependable keeps my spiritual and social life alive.”

Andy Rudy with his wife, Anne

Why the Newman Center? Andy says...

Newman [Center] is my church home. Its acceptance of all variations of people is both heartwarming and uplifting.

Mary Counter is one of the leaders of the Newman Center Justice Ministry Network, part of the B.R.E.A.D. organization, which works for justice at the systemic level in order to affect significant change in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community. Mary feels called by God to do justice, have mercy, and walk humbly with God. Mary says, “I feel so privileged to have justice ministry here at the Newman Center. My heart rejoices in this work; I know I am called to make ‘good trouble’ as John Lewis has reminded us to do.”

Why the Newman Center? Mary says...

Looking at my background of fighting discrimination and seeking peace on earth, I looked for a place that was welcoming to all people. The Newman Center keeps God’s promise that all are welcome.”

Mary Counter

Rochelle Ferrer and Christian Blanco are both part of the leadership team for Newman Center 20/30. They help to organize and plan faith formation, service, and social opportunities for young adults to come together and foster friendship and spiritual growth. When the pandemic reached Ohio, this leadership team wasted no time transitioning to a virtual format. Christian stepped into a leadership role because “I am grateful for the people I met. The previous leaders invested a lot of time and effort in growing the community, helping others build their faith. I wanted to share the same opportunity I had in growing in faith and fellowship with a young professional community.

Why the Newman Center? Rochelle says...

I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Newman Center. The community is open and inviting, and the weekly homilies are thought-provoking. The Paulists have created a community filled with faith and acceptance, which is easily felt when one is at the Newman Center.

Rochelle Ferrer (CENTER) at Pain with the Paulists Night.

Christian Blanco (RIGHT) with Newman Center 20/30 at Wildlights.