If you took a tour as a prospective first year student at Marquette, you were probably made aware of our great reputation as a school of higher learning. You most likely experienced a brief overview of what goes on at University Ministry, now Campus Ministry, from your tour guide as you walked through the union, and maybe heard something about a MAP trip or Mass at the St. Joan of Arc Chapel on Tuesday nights.

During orientation week you will be bombarded with phrases like “magis” and “ad majoren dei gloriam” until you cannot take it anymore. These are all typical religious talking points for most of campus, but to be honest, while these things are great, they do not even scratch the surface of the different faith based initiatives at Marquette.

In association with its Jesuit identity, Marquette offers 12 Catholic Masses per week. The popular Tuesday night Mass at St. Joan of Arc Chapel is led by the Rev. John Naus, S.J., who is a great guy. But there are other great Jesuits who lead different Masses throughout the week such as the Rev. Thomas Anderson, S.J., the Rev. Frank Majka, S.J., the Rev. Michael Zeps, S.J., the Rev. Joseph Mueller, S.J., and a “host” of others. These Masses are held Monday through Friday at 12 p.m. and Monday through Thursday at 10 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc Chapel. There are also five Masses during the day at Gesu Parish. And that doesn’t even cover the weekends, where Marquette has a special Mass at 4 p.m. on Sundays at which the Liturgical Choir sings.
During the year you will find Taize services, reconciliation services and weekly meetings by groups such as Catholic Outreach, who meet on Thursdays at 8 p.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Family. The Eucharistic Chapel outside of Campus Ministry is also open at the same times as the Alumni Memorial Union for silent prayer opportunities.

With regards to non-Catholic Christian groups and services on campus, check out Lutheran Campus Ministry and Pastor Brad Brown at his Lutheran service at 6 p.m. Sundays at the Chapel of the Holy Family. If you sing or play an instrument, they are always looking for extra participants.
Campus Crusade, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and “The Ave,” a non-denominational Christian group, are also non-Catholic alternatives on campus. Campus Ministry also runs an Islamic prayer room in the Alumni Memorial Union. You can find out more about Catholic and non-Catholic services in Campus Ministry, which is located on the first floor of the Union.

Although the main services on campus are great, there are many lesser-publicized, but still prevalent religious outlets. College is about learning and growing. If you are struggling in class, go talk to your teacher. If you are curious about your faith, go talk to your hall minister; every residence hall has at least one. You don’t need to have any questions; you don’t need to go to church with him or her. Just knock on their door.

College is a chance to grow and change. So many people who came to college without any faith in a higher power have either developed a better appreciation for those that do have faith, or have developed a faith of their own. There are also many who were strong believers freshman year and are now agnostic or atheist. At this institution of higher learning, do not let the opportunity to learn about what else is out there slip through your fingers.

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