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News from Campus Ministry at Colorado State University Fall/Winter 2024 | Volume 14 - No. 2

A LETTER FROM THE PASTOR

Greetings in Christ!

At the time of Colorado State University’s (CSU) Christmas break, I completed my fifth semester as the Ram Catholic Chaplain. That’s the exact length of time I was a student at CSU from the Fall of 2000 through the Fall of 2002 before transferring! I was trying to outrun my priestly vocation in settling for other things that I thought would make me happy in life but – thankfully – I could no longer outrun “the hound of heaven” and I realized I was profoundly unhappy limiting God’s role in my life, relegating Him to the sidelines.

Now, in the Father’s humorous providence, I am back in Fort Collins serving as the spiritual father for today’s CSU undergrad and grad students for many reasons. Many exciting things are happening! A recent success occurred this January when we attended the Seek Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, a significant event in the national Catholic collegiate community. We were honored to serve as a Host Campus, which meant that not only did 114 Ram Catholic students attend Seek, but our students served as humble servants to all the other guests during the conference. It was beautiful to witness our students as disciples.

It was also beautiful to observe over 17,000 people, of whom approximately 14,000 were college students, attend Mass, Adoration, Confession, and inspiring talks during the Seek Conference. From my vantage point as a concelebrant at Mass, the standing students looked like a vast field of wheat or a ripened cornfield in early Autumn and the harvest is ripe and abundant. For those who question whether the Catholic Church has hope for the future, the resounding answer is YES! And given today’s Catholic students’ ardor and reverence, as witnessed at the Seek Conference, the future is bright. Some wonder why the young are most especially drawn to traditional expressions of Catholicism. For all that can be said of “millennials” and “zoomers”, when confronted with what seem to be the “burdensome demands” of following the Faith compared to what seems to be the “unending blessings” of convenient modern hedonism, if the Catholic Faith is the real deal, when Jesus is encountered as the One who the Church says He is, then there can be no other option than to go full measure into the Christian life.

In the wider view of the Archdiocese, I hopefully and joyfully await the priestly ordinations in May, when by the will and the grace of God, another Ram Catholic alumnus Deacon José Delgado will be ordained a priest, making him the fourth Ram Catholic priest to be ordained in the last three years. This is a testament to the growth and success of our ministry as a personal parish dedicated to

bringing the Gospel to Colorado State University. And it doesn’t end there! Something for all of us to keep in our prayers is that we have three other Ram Catholic alumni in different stages of priestly formation at the Saint John Vianney Seminary. Indeed, the harvest is ripe, and our future is bright, hopeful, and encouraging.

Please pray for the Ram Catholic ministry as we embark upon the Spring semester and Lent, when much will be happening on behalf of the students and for the salvation of their souls. The months ahead will include the Ram Awakening Retreat, monthly Adore Nights, weekly Thursday Night Candlelight Masses, our first few Ram Catholic Spanish Masses, Bible Studies, monthly Dinners at Dad’s, a Phi Kap Mountain Hike on Good Friday, and more. Every event has been designed to help us meet Saint John XXIII’s Mission Statement, which is to: “Form disciples of Jesus Christ to evangelize the campus of Colorado State University.”

“May the favor of the Lord be upon us. Give success to the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17)

FALL RETREAT

In the fall, we hosted eighty students in the mountains with the intention of fostering an encounter with the person of the Holy Spirit. The students were given opportunities to pray with and for each other, to practice listening and receiving words from the Lord, and to rest in community together. We were grateful to be led by Fr. James Claver of the Servants of Christ Jesus, a small charismatic religious community in Denver. Growing in freedom through the reminder of their identities in Christ and the goodness of the Father, students came alive in the discovery (or rediscovery) that God is real and that He intervenes in our real lives. Since the retreat, we have seen our students newly hungry for prayer: both personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and communal prayer in continuing to listen to God with and for each other.

POLAND PILGRIMAGE

WITH THE SISTERS OF LIFE

BY GABRIELA DOGUE

This Summer, I had the wonderful blessing and opportunity of going on a pilgrimage to Poland with the Sisters of Life, Megan Ellery- our FOCUS missionary, and a few other students. We met up with students from different universities scattered all over the United States. I never imagined that I would ever be able to go to Poland for a pilgrimage and see all the historical and religious sites there. I was hoping and praying that this trip would help me gain clarity on what the Lord wants me to do after graduation with my vocation and faith journey.

There were so many moments that caught my eye including the beautiful European architecture of the Polish Catholic Churches which filled my heart with joy each time we passed one. We had the opportunity to visit the amazing Salt Mines that Poland is known for which had salt-sculpted statues of Pope St. John Paul II, Jesus with a glowing heart, and the Eucharistic Adoration altar.

We also had the extremely cool opportunity to hike Pope St. John Paul II favorite mountains in Zakopane, Poland for our second to last day of the trip while praying the Rosary on our way up! On that note, we also had the opportunity to visit Pope St. John Paul II’s hometown and see where he grew up.

Although we saw the beautiful parts of Poland, we also visited the Auschwitz camps as well as the cell that St. Maximilian Kolbe stayed in when he was bold enough to take

another person’s place. Also, we visited the home that some of the Jewish families hid in from the Nazis.

The Lord performed so many wonders, especially with the people He graced me with accompanying, encountering and walking with on this pilgrimage and being able to do things such as share our high, low, and God moments, share our testimonies, heart to heart deep conversations about past wounds and meet each other in both the thick of it and the good parts as well.

We were able to recite morning vespers, say night prayer together with the Sisters and have traditional Polish meals together such as Pierogi, potatoes, and dill pickle soups! (P.S: Poland really loves their dill pickle, and Polish Fanta is way better than United States Fanta, that is for sure! If you get the chance to try it)

A Pilgrimage of the Heart

BY REESE SPRISTER

In August of 2023 millions of young people gathered in the dust of the Portuguese soil. We spanned for miles- people from everywhere- gathered to celebrate the papal mass. When Pope Francis addressed us, he said, “You young people wish to change the world…. Do great things…. Young people, just as the world needs the rain, you young people who are the present and the future, today I tell you- donot be afraid.” What does it mean to be unafraid?

In August of 2024, over a hundred pilgrims gathered to walk El Camino Real in California. Over the course of two days, we walked 37 miles in the footsteps of St. Serra Junípero. On the first day of the pilgrimage, a priest asked us this question during his homily: “How many times have we passed the anniversary of our own death?”

Death and fear seem to be interrelated concepts. Death is the contradiction of life, and life seems to be in, of, for, and through God. In order to live, God must be the heart of our moments. In the infinitesimal seconds

of the inconsequential and minute, we must say “yes” to Him. Aside from the concrete concept of morbidity and the propinquity of physical death lurking in our lives, there seems to be an abstract (yet very tangible) concept of spiritual death. How often does our fear of discomfort- of inconveniencedictate the “no’s” we utter? We die to our anxieties for our self-gratification rather than die to ourselves for God. Perhaps this death is not absolute, yet its habitual repetition runs the risk of eventual absolute death. This death handicaps us from trusting God and renders us incapable of peace.

Through taking the Pope’s advice at World Youth Day, I tried to listen to God and say “yes” more to Him. Although my fear did

“Itisfromthehardthingsthatwe areHeavenbound-nottheeasy.”

not go away, He gave me the courage to do things I did not think possibleon occasions I thought I lacked the energy for; during events I did not believe I had the social aptitude for; times upon which I was certain I had neither the resources or propensity for. Through a culmination of those “yeses”, I found myself walking the St. Serra Junípero pilgrimage a year later, reunited with friends from World Youth Day.

The Catholic church is a mighty thing. She folds the corners of the globe together, allowing the edges of cultures and histories to touch that otherwise wouldn’t. Somehow these millions- each with our own vastly different experiences- are all one body. World Youth Day was a testament to this. The beautiful people I met there lived vastly different lives than I did. We held different viewpoints, experienced different things. However, it wasn’t my friends that practiced the Mennonite right or those that lived through the bedlam of bombings in their own cities whose differences I struggled with the most. Strangely, it was the people from my own country that held differing opinions to mine.

It wasn’t until I was walking El Camino Real that I found peace within the differences of my friends and me. The core of their contrasting lifestyle and opinions radiated the glow of Christ’s love in a way I hadn’t

understood before. Through saying “yes” to God, I was given friendships centered around Him, unbound by the convenience and ease that dictates most friendships. Furthermore, I was given peace and an increase in love for the people within my own country during a time of polarization.

God is in our every moment. We can either choose to live with Him beside us or within us. They say Christ is in every person. It is an extraordinary thing to be able to look upon another person and give yourself to them as a gift; to say: you are worthy of my time, my attention, and my discomfort. In order to do so though, we must say “yes” to the opportunities He gives. Our existence ought to be a gift to the world. We are made for greatness; for the light of God to radiate through us as we give life, through Him, to this world. In the daily “yeses” we make to God, we allow Him to take us on a journey: delving into the depths of a life we didn’t know was possible. In order to do this, we give our moments to Him. Just as the world needs the rain, we must be unafraid.

INTEGRATION OF CHRIST INTO MY LIFE & TAKING ON THE CATHOLIC WORLDVIEW

BY GRACE ROSA

When I began at Colorado State three years ago, I knew I wanted to build my life rooted in Christ. As an out of state student from Kansas knowing no one else at CSU I had a lot of fears. Will I be able to find people who have the same values as me? Will I be able to stand firm in my Catholic faith in the midst of a culture that values many things contrary to it? How will I have the confidence to live my faith boldly when I barely have the confidence to introduce myself to the girls down the hall? Ram Catholic helped give me the sense of community, belonging, support, and confidence needed to answer these questions.

In high school I was blessed to receive incredible Catholic education and formation that showed me that the Catholic life, is the abundant life and that life with Christ really

is a wonderful adventure. I saw first hand how much of a gift that friendships rooted in Christ is and while there was value in many types of friendship, these were the ones my soul most deeply craved. When I researched colleges, I knew I needed to attend one with a community where I could connect with people in the way my soul most deeply longed for. The kind of community where we could push each other in virtue, and expereince the heights of joys and the depths of sorrows together all while seeing it through the lens of the cross and the hope of the resurrection. Coming to CSU, I knew RamCatholic was the place that most promised the freinds and lifestyle I knew were most fulfilling.

RamCatholic has been my home away from home and given me a deep sense of family even while being hundreds of miles away from my own. It provided me with community and a place to be safe, secure, and supported day one of college and has continued to provide those things for me all throughout my experience. While it has not always been easy to stay a part of this organization, the friendships that have supported me and continuously pointed me back to the One who my soul longs most deeply for are the reasons why I have stayed. When I have

strayed and fallen and made mistakes, these friends have pointed me back to the heart of the Father who is merciful, loving, and calls me beloved before anything else. They have helped me not just conceptually know, but first hand experience that without Christ I am nothing, but that this is not something to despair about, but rather to rejoice in. He who loves us and sees us beyond our sins and shortcomings, left the comforts of heaven, took on flesh and died an excrusiating death all for the hopes that we might choose to live again in Him. This concept of the Gospel that I had understood and ascribed to early in high school became real as I faced new and harder challenges, sorrows, and sufferings

than I ever had encountered before.

My family at RamCatholic has helped me to experience my Catholic faith and relationship with Christ, not in spite of these hardships, but through them. As I have continuously wrestled with the questions of: Who is Jesus? Is God really good? Does He actually love me or just everybody else?, the women of RamCatholic have embraced me with open arms and shown me the love, tenderness, and mercy of Jesus in their actions, words, and lives. My time in college has deepened my Catholic worldview and integration of Christ in my life because I have been challenged to integrate Him into the scariest and most vulnerable parts. While it has not been easy, I can truly say I would not be where I am in my faith without the continued support of the Campus Ministry, FOCUS missionaries, and my beloved friends and roommates all of whom I have met through RamCatholic. Praise be to Jesus Christ for the gift of RamCatholic and the gift of His Faithfulness.

DELIVER US FROM EVIL A CATHOLIC EXORCIST SPEAKS

BY MADELINE GILLETT

Across the street from the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins stands the home of Ram Catholic, Saint John XXIII Catholic Church. While the college campus would soon be swollen with excited audience guests, the church campus was quiet and a gentle mood of readiness spread across the church-goers as the daily 5:30 Mass began. Following Mass, students and parishioners walked to the Lory Student Center, where Ram Catholic had reserved and prepared the Grand Ballroom for one of the biggest events they’d ever hosted: A talk from a Catholic exorcist, Father Chad Ripperger.

I joined the students walking across the campus and found seats next to friends before the talk started. Having previously

heard some of Father Chad’s words online, I was excited to hear him speak in person and hear his stories as he shared his message. It would be a double-edged message: evil does exist in the world - and nothing happens without God’s permission. Apprehensive and hopeful are certainly emotions I experienced during this event, as being faced by the reality of evil is something that we, as humans, don’t like to experience, and I’m no exception.

Father Chad started his talk in prayer, and jumped immediately into the reality that evil exists in the world. Sharing both stories and personal experiences, he unfolded many facets of evil, and particularly that of demonic possession. Fr. Chad informed the audience of some of the areas of demonic activity in our world, and unearthed some names that

he has personally dealt with in his work as an exorcist. A very memorable part of the talk was Fr. Chad’s explanation of how demonic work is often driven by hatred. This is because of the choice the once-angels, nowdemons made: to not serve God. Their choice was set in eternity, he explained, and the demons strongly hate that we humans have time to remedy the poor decisions we have made in our lives. I was really moved by this news, as the opposite of it is also true: our guardian angels chose, from the beginning of time and with a fixed-in-eternity knowledge of their decision, to guide and protect us on our journey home to Heaven.

As chilling as it was to hear Fr. Chad lay out the reality of evil and told us about the hatred with which demons operate, it was equally as relieving to be completely reassured that nothing, absolutely nothing, happens without God’s permission. God’s supremacy and rule over all creation lights the path to the understanding that nothing is outside

of His realm of permission or too far for Him to redeem. Nothing, not even demonic possession, is without His knowledge and explicit permission, and He allows these things to happen for a number of reasons: to test faith; push confidence; redeem sinners; make reparation for sin; to perfect love are a couple of the reasons suffering is permitted in this world. It was very reassuring, amidst the tumult of the world today, to hear that nothing happens without God’s permission and to be reassured that nothing is outside of His control.

I was very happy to have had the opportunity to attend this talk and learn about the realities of evil in the world. Not only was it a beautiful thing to have an exorcist on the CSU campus, there was also a community of students, parishioners, and many others, who had gathered to hear Fr. Chad speak - a testament to how important the spiritual life is and to how deeply CSU students thirst for the truth!

NEW MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT

This year, we began a couple new initiatives in RamCatholic for our freshman and upperclassmen, aimed to harness the unique stages in their faith journeys. In order to meet these two groups where they are, we provide monthy gatherings focused on community and encountering Jesus. Each monthly gathering connects freshmen or upperclassmen together after daily mass around a meal or other social gathering. After only a semester, we are seeing fruits from these initiatives. The freshman class is far ahead of their predecessors; they know each other, spend time together, and attend prayer and sacramental opportunities regularly, often as a group. Upperclassmen are gathering with peers and supporting each other as they prepare for their next step into life after college. We look forward to what the spring has for these ministries.

FRESHMAN DINNER CLUB

BY BRIGID NEUHEARDT

Starting out as a freshman at Colorado State University can be intimidating due to the overwhelming number of students and clubs. Having attended Mass every Sunday since I can remember, I decided to visit St. John XXIII for Mass at college. The community there is incredibly welcoming and eager to help students get connected and grow in their faith. One of the opportunities they offer is the Freshman Dinner Club, a chance for freshmen to come together in fellowship and celebrate the Lord over a meal. I vividly remember attending my first dinner and feeling a deep sense of intimacy as I connected with the FOCUS missionaries. I was struck by the grace with which they interacted— asking thoughtful and personal questions about our faith and about how we could strengthen our relationship with God. It wasn’t just about small talk, but about sharing our spiritual journeys in a real and meaningful way. Through this club I’ve formed true friendships with other freshmen who share my values, and I’ve experienced God’s grace more profoundly in my life through prayer, scripture, and community. My sister and I eagerly look forward to the first Tuesday of every month, as the club encourages us to reflect on how God is moving in our lives and share those experiences with each other, as well as with others outside of the club. This has inspired us to take a little time throughout our week to be still, listen for God’s

voice, and engage in deeper prayer—something I never used to do, as I would often find myself talking endlessly and not leaving room for God’s guidance. This community is incredibly special to me, as it has not only deepened my faith but also created lasting relationships. I am very grateful for the Freshman Dinner Club, which has had such a meaningful impact on my spiritual growth and has truly made my transition to college feel like a blessing, not a challenge.

21+ STUDENT MINISTRY- “RODZINKA”

BY HALEY VAN HORN

When you reflect upon the idea of community, what comes to mind? Do you think of activities which you have participated in with others? Or maybe you ponder the lack of that which you have longed for. Perhaps you think of the people who have listened to, sought out, or invested in you throughout the course of your life. There is a deep reality in which our hearts are created for, where we love and are loved. Simply take a look back into history about 2,000 years ago, where one can find the Son of God, Christ, sharing life with twelve people who decided to give their life to the mission of Truth. In Latin, community comes from the word ‘communis,’ meaning ‘together performing services.’ To me, it means sharing life with those I love. Whether that be sharing meals; sharing prayer; sharing conversation; sharing fears, hopes and dreams; sharing laughter; sharing sorrows - the list goes on. Genesis 2 emphasizes this need from the beginning of time, stating that ‘it is not good for man to live alone.’ Built into our hearts, into our very souls by the Creator of the World is the deep cry for community - to be seen, known, loved, heard and understood. It is in the parts of our life that are the most hurt, hidden and isolated that we experience the most freedom within the light of community. Especially in the times where our lives are volatile and changing, we grasp for this rodzinka, this ‘little family’ to which we can run so as to be heard. Within the past few months, this little family of students has created a space to do just what the heart of community asks of us. We gather to talk about what hurts, what is hard, what is good, where the Lord is working, what we are struggling with and where we can speak Truth into each other’s lives. This life is meaningless if we are not giving of ourselves more than we think we are capable of. It is in stretching outside of ourselves and learning to give and to be received as a gift that we learn the heart of Christ - something that can only be done in community. In creating a space to live out this longing, we open our lives to a deeper reality of the true meaning of life.

STUDENT ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT

BY BRANDON BATE

This semester, we had 15 student athletes actively involved in Ram Catholic ministries and events.

Being a Catholic in college and an athlete is both a challenge and a privilege. In the fast-paced, highpressure environment of college life, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Balancing academics, athletics, and faith requires intentionality and discipline. For me, living out my faith means doing the small things for Christ and letting His love shine through my actions—whether on the track, in the classroom, or in my relationships. As a track athlete, I am reminded daily of the importance of perseverance, humility, and teamwork—values that align deeply with my Catholic faith. I have found that simple actions, like saying a prayer before a meal, avoiding profanity, or even listening to Christian music around those who do not share our faith, can make a greater impact than words. People notice these small actions and realize there’s something different about the way we live because we live for Him. College is a season of exploration and growth, and I believe God has called me to use this time not only to grow personally but also to influence others. My hope is that through my words and actions, others might see Christ in me and feel inspired to seek Him in their own lives. Whether through athletic competition or everyday conversations, my goal is to glorify God in all I do and leave a legacy that reflects His love and faithfulness.

CATCHING UP WITH ALUMNI

BY HEATHER WEIS

RamCatholic has profoundly shaped my life, faith, and vocation as a married person and now as a new mom. It offered me lifelong friends, my spouse, and most importantly, it showed me how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. After more than ten years of not practicing my faith, my college reversion was sparked by the events RamCatholic organized and the Christ-centered friendships that showed me what the fullness of life looks like. By one simple invitation, my life was forever changed. These experiences helped me to reorder my desires to be heavenly rather than worldly. I always felt welcomed and cherished. The friendships I formed here have become my forever family. They provided a formational environment where I could explore and deepen my faith.

I attended RCIA again in my first year, joined a women’s Bible study, attended Candlelight Mass, and found myself hanging around the Church every day. RamCatholic quickly became my sanctuary. I felt more seen and known than I ever thought possible. It made all the sense to me: the story of our faith and my part in

it, how much God loves me and everyone; and it was all discovered in my heart by the college students around me—showing an amazing example, having incredible priests, and having the Sacraments readily available like Confession, Adoration, and Daily Mass, and so much more!

Those years at RamCatholic formed me into a new person, rooted in Christ. After almost 2 years since graduating, and being married to an amazing Christ-centered husband, Josh, and now a new mom to a five-month-old girl, Sienna, I desire to bring the beauty of what happens at RamCatholic into our growing family. It is a place that truly embodies the love and teachings of Jesus, and I want my little family to experience that same sense of love, belonging, and spiritual growth.

Now, in my family, we read the Bible every day, attend Mass, and frequent the Sacraments. We often have conversations about God and how He’s in our lives every day. In this vocation, it will turn me into the Saint that God is calling me to be, but the seed started to take root at RamCatholic. I am eternally grateful for the impact it has had on my life, and the impact it will have on my growing family for years to come.