Issuu

ALetterfrom ALetterfrom ttheDirector heDirector

As I begin my “freshman” year “on the Hill”, I am As I begin my “freshman” year “on the Hill”, I am moved with gratitude to God and to Archbishop moved with gratitude to God and to Archbishop Naumann for asking me to continue the incredible Naumann asking me to continue the incredible mission which Fr Mitchel has served so well at the St mission which Fr. Mitchel has served so well at the St. Lawrence Center. Lawrence Center

This new assignment came as a surprise to me–I

This new assignment came as a to me–I never would have imagined that this would be my never would have imagined that this would be my “next stop” as a priest! Moving to Lawrence, learning “next stop” as a priest! Moving to Lawrence, learning KU and the SLC, and becoming a Jayhawk has been a KU and the SLC, and becoming a Jayhawk has been a blessed experience already, and it has reminded me blessed experience already, and it has reminded me again and again that I do not have Jesus figured out; again and again that I do not have Jesus figured out; He has me figured out! He has me figured out!

I am thrilled about the opportunity that is before us to I am thrilled about the opportunity that is before us to let Jesus impact us and the SLC community in a new let Jesus impact us and the SLC community in new way. The mission here at St. Lawrence has the way The mission here at St Lawrence has the capacity to impact thousands of young people who capacity to impact thousands of young people who come to us in a pivotal time in their own stories; a time come to us in a pivotal time in their own stories; a time in which they are making significant decisions about in which they are making significant decisions about who they will love and how they will live as the who they will love and how they will live as the foundation is laid for their future. foundation is laid for their future

My hope for them, and for all of us, is that we might

My hope for them, and for all of us, is that we might live in the humility and freedom that comes from live in the humility and freedom that comes from knowing that we depend on a God who is for us A knowing that we depend on God who is for us. A t we don’t have t we don’t have but He has us but He has us ake; only to give us ake; only to give us

Fr. Luke Doyle

Meet The Staff Meet The Staff

AIDAN SETTER, AIDAN SETTER, ADVANCEMENT OFFICER ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

I am a Jayhawk to the core and energized to be the Advancement Officer for St Lawrence! I graduated in December 2020 After graduation I became a FOCUS missionary at Virginia Tech for two years and served as the Team Director here at KU this past year! It has been a blessing to be back in Lawrence, helping the evangelization efforts at KU. I am excited about this new opportunity to interact with alumni and benefactors and learn more about your experiences on the hill!

DREW KANNE, NEW STUDENT DIRECTOR

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! I came into the Church at St. Lawrence and found life-changing relationships and formation. I am excited to get the word out to all students on campus that they have a home here at the St Lawrence Center Through my friendships at SLC, I met my wife Katherine (a Mizzou grad & now a KU employee) and welcomed our daughter Frances this past year I can't wait to work to continue to advance the mission of the Catholic Church at KU!

FOCUS TEAM 2024-2025

Hey everyone! My name is Kelly DiFonzo, and I am excited to serve as the FOCUS Team Director Living your Catholic faith in college is challenging, but it is so worth it, and you are not alone! Our team is here to serve you and run with you towards Jesus. We would love to share with you how Jesus captivated each of us and truly changed our lives in college. It would be a great joy to accompany you in your faith journey through Bible study and discipleship- reach out to us for more information! God bless and Rock Chalk!

SPO TEAM 2024-2025

Hey KU! This is the Saint Paul’s Outreach Team, and we are so excited to get started on this campus! We are convinced that the Lord has brought us here 'for such a time as this ' We can’t wait to have everyone over to our house for dinner, laughter, and shenanigans. We look forward to meeting so many men and women on campus and inviting them into friendship and our weekly Men’s and Women’s Nights! Go Jayhawks!

BradPike

I find it rather ironic and very providential to be writing this reflection on my time at the St Lawrence Center and how it has impacted me in the years since being a KU student That is mostly because I had decided months prior to stepping foot on campus in the fall of 2019 that I would NOT be involved at the Catholic center I grew up Catholic and was involved at my parish all the way throughout high school

However, I often decided to live my life as I wanted, keeping Jesus in a little box to open whenever I needed to. This led to me wanting to leave my faith behind, except Mass on Sundays, and make the most of my college experience by becoming a regular at the Jayhawk Cafe and other similar Lawrence establishments It turns out these can be very lonely places, and I quickly realized a couple of months into freshman year that I was miserable and needed more wholesome friendships

Through some more providence, I had a class with a guy that I had also seen at Mass (shoutout to Johnny Palmieri), and after sharing my misery with him, he invited me to go to a Good Company team meeting with him From there, I quickly made many friends through the Koinonia retreat and a FOCUS Bible study and discipleship All of these areas of the St Lawrence Center were essential in drawing me into my faith and keeping me out of trouble. During my freshman year, I had the opportunity to go to the SLS conference and a FOCUS mission trip in Peru, which were both incredible experiences.

Sophomore year, the battle picked up speed as I joined a fraternity All of these friendships and experiences at SLC helped draw me back to God every time I turned away from Him By the end of sophomore year, I had seen enough goodness and joy enter my life through God working through SLC, and I had decided to try to give my life fully to Jesus

Instead of going home for the summer and working and partying with all my high school friends, I took a leap of faith, encouraged by many mentors from SLC, and spent the summer in Denver with a missionary organization called Christ in the City. Little did I know that I would never return to KU or SLC as a student again.

Christ in the City is a Catholic apostolate with the mission that every person is known, seen, and loved, especially the homeless and poor of Denver I spent that summer sleeping on a cot in an old school building, eating expired, donated food, and living a strict schedule of prayer, communal life, and service to the poor from sunrise to late after sunset During this summer, I came to know Jesus in an entirely new way He revealed Himself to me through long hours of meditation and reading Scripture

Brad Pike: Pictured Right

He showed me His tired and suffering face in those that I met on the streets He loved me in ways that I had never experienced through my fellow missionaries, who became such close friends to me and showed me my belovedness every step of the way

This life lived radically for Jesus was what I had been seeking my whole life, and I knew that I couldn’t walk away from that after two short months.

I decided to leave KU for a year to be a full time missionary at Christ in the City This quickly became two years, and I officially dropped out of the University of Kansas I am so grateful to the St Lawrence Center for all of the love and support I received. Through FOCUS, Good Company, the Koinonia retreat, and other areas of faith formation, I had received a foundation of support to stand on in my most difficult times, and I was finally able to take the leap to follow Jesus more fully through Christ in the City

I finished my two years with Christ in the City in July of 2023 Since then, I have stayed in Denver with some friends that I made through Christ in the City I have continued to fall more in love with Christ in prayer, community, and the poor, and I am currently working as the Operations Manager for Network Coffee House, which is a hospitality house where the homeless can come and be seen in a supportive community and have some of their physical needs met. Jesus worked miracles for me in my time through SLC, and I will always be grateful to those who invested so much time and energy to show His love for me

L

to R: Sam Kligenberg, Brad Pike, & Aidan Setter

OUR FACILITY PRIORITIES

Investinourpropertyto openuptheCatholic Centerandgetmore Jayhawksontoour property.

$4M/next2yearsfor CapitalInvestments

Helpussafelyconnect 1,000+ studentsper daytotheCatholic Centerastheycross fromDaisyHill Createawelcoming environmentfor studentstostopand encounterthemission oftheCatholicChurch attheUniveristyof Kansas.

Investinthefutureof theCatholicChurchat theUniversityof Kansas.

Drawings By: Sabatini Architects

OUR EVANGELIZATION PRIORITIES

Enhance our annual fund for Evangelization that authentically connects the Catholic faith to this generation of Jayhawks.

$4M/ next 2 years for Annual Fund

To help students practice the faith For authentic and practical learning In witnessing how to live the faith In forming real, authentic Catholic leaders to share the faith

STUDENT MEMBERS

1,933 510

STUDENTS AUTHENTICALLY CONNECTED TO THE FAITH

100,075

HOURS SPENT WITH STUDENTS

$400

SPENT PER CATHOLIC STUDENT AT KU

STUDENTS AT MASS EACH WEEKEND

236 MISSIONARY DISCIPLES

982 $80

SPENT PER KU STUDENT TO PRESENT THE FAITH

$10.80

SPENT PER HOUR WITH STUDENTS

FY24 BUDGET FY24 BUDGET

Home Home In God In God

Written By Stacy Cretors Director of Ministry and Mission

As we embark on a new academic year, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates and our vision for the months ahead. We are blessed to continue building on the strong foundation laid by the previous directors of the Center as we welcome Fr. Luke to the KU Catholic family. His presence brings renewed energy and a deep commitment to our mission.

Our theme for this year is "Home," inspired by the Church's call for Eucharistic Revival. We are diving deeply into the reality that our true home is found in God alone and contemplating the mystery of the incarnation— God coming to make His home in us. This theme will guide our worship, reflections, and programs as we seek to embody this profound truth in our daily lives.

In living out the reality of "Home," we are excited to introduce Family Night on Wednesday evenings.

This weekly gathering will be a place where the family of God at KU comes together to pray, play, and grow more fully into the people God made us to be. It is our hope that these nights will foster a strong sense of community, providing a space for meaningful connections and spiritual growth.

As we journey through this year, we remain committed to nurturing the faith and development of our students, creating a welcoming and supportive environment, and reaching out to those who most need to hear the good news of Jesus. Your continued prayers, support, and generosity are invaluable in helping us fulfill our mission.

Thank you for being an integral part of the St. Lawrence Center family. Together, we look forward to a year filled with faith, fellowship, and the joy of discovering our true home in God.

*Family Night featured on the cover

Fr. Aaron Waldeck, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, May 25, 2024