WASHINGTON, D.C.—The University of Toledo Corpus Christi University Parish will receive an award Nov. 12, “For Excellence in Developing Leaders for the Future,” at the 2003 Bishops’ Reception held by the Catholic Campus Ministry Association, the National Catholic Student Coalition and the National Association of Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry. Six other colleges and/or universities will be honored for the excellence shown by their campus ministry programs.

“It is a great honor for us to receive this recognition and for University of Toledo President Dr. Daniel Johnson to be present for the ceremony,” says Father James Bacik, pastor and director of the Christian Leadership Program (CLP).

Fr. Bacik, renowned for his work in campus ministry, built on the theological perspectives of “Empowered by the Spirit” the pastoral letter issued by Catholic bishops.  It emphasizes campus ministry’s six aspects: forming the faith community, appropriating the faith, forming the Christian conscience, educating for justice, facilitating personal development and developing leaders for the future.

For example, CLP offers theological education, leadership training and spiritual formation over a four-year period for selected Catholic students at the University of Toledo.  “We need leaders in church and society who can effectively apply Christian principles to challenging situations,” Fr. Bacik says.  “Today’s collegians possess immense potential which must be developed.”

The goal is to prepare leaders for the church and society who are solidly grounded in their Catholic tradition.  Twelve students are selected by a committee each year to receive $5,000 in scholarships, over a four-year period, and are required to take classes and assume leadership positions.  The coursework gives the students a solid overview of their faith, and the students learn how to be leaders by actively leading a group or activity and by reflecting on the experience from a theological perspective.

Strategies Corpus Christi employs to empower and train future leaders include helping students learn to be leaders through peer ministry programs, inviting graduating students to serve for a year as ministry assistants, encouraging students to take leadership positions in student government and other groups, publicly recognizing student leaders on campus and setting up an endowment for Christian leadership scholarships.

The program, after just four years, has been “amazingly successful,” Fr. Bacik says.  “One of our members was elected president of student government at The University of Toledo, one has been elected president of the National Catholic Student Coalition, and one is on the diocesan pastoral council.”

Further, says Fr. Bacik, “Almost 50 students have received training in the fundamentals of their Catholic faith and great opportunities to hone their leadership skills.”

Katie Pierce, a member of Defiance St. Mary as well as Corpus Christi and a graduate of Fostoria St. Wendelin, was elected the national chair for the National Catholic Student Coalition.  She is among the second group of CLP participants and will graduate in 2005 “I don’t think I’d be in a leadership position without having participated in CLP,” Ms. Pierce says.  “I’ve watched myself grow.  I can see my gifts being used.  Fr. Bacik and the Corpus Christi staff, through CLP, really empower the students.  It’s been incredible.  It’s changed my life.”

Serving in church ministry is the goal of some participants, Fr. Bacik says.  “Three of the men are considering priesthood, and four or five graduates intend to do further studies in theology or pastoral ministry.”

Mary Madden, for example, graduated from the University of Toledo in 2003 with a degree in sociology.  She was in the first group of participants and has decided to pursue a career in pastoral ministry.

“I entered the program in 1999 and got more and more involved in church ministry.  We had such wonderful opportunities to learn,” Ms. Madden says. “My parents are amazed.  They sent me to a public university, and I got a Catholic education.”

Ms. Madden is a ministry assistant for Corpus Christi parish and plans to get her master’s degree in pastoral ministry.  “The program helped me to realize that working for the church is what I want and am called to do,” she says.

The program is funded by an endowment from private contributions which currently has $800,000 in cash and pledges.  Some donors sponsor individual students for four years and form personal relationships with them.  “Our goal is an endowment of $1 million to ensure continuation of the program at its current level,” Fr. Bacik says.

The Catholic Chronicle 69.21 (Friday, October 31, 2003)