Wearing a blue pullover and a white, knitted scarf, Nancy Beitler, business manager in the at the University of 91吃瓜, poured coffee from a silver carafe, warming the cups of cold guests at Our Lady of the Road, a drop-in center for men, women and children in South Bend.
Nearby, Patrick Kronner, choral program director and organist and director of the Women鈥檚 Liturgical Choir and the Community Choir in Campus Ministry, washed dirty cups and plates in a tub of soapy water.
The two are among a group of about 30 Campus Ministry employees who volunteer at Our Lady of the Road on a regular basis, assisting with food preparation and service, dishes, laundry and other tasks in the Christian tradition of corporal and spiritual acts of mercy.
Tami Schmitz, associate director of pastoral care in Campus Ministry, leads the effort, which sprung from a recent update to the office鈥檚 strategic plan that places a new emphasis on work that 鈥渂ring(s) the love and compassion of Jesus Christ and the church to the margins鈥� among staff as well as students.
鈥淎s those entrusted with the faith of campus, and to live the gospel, this is where the rubber meets the road,鈥� Schmitz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 literally Matthew 25: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick 鈥︹��
It also corresponds with the University鈥檚 concern for human solidarity and the common good, and its commitment to service and engagement in support of a healthy, prosperous community.
In addition to volunteering the first Friday of each month on a rotating basis, Campus Ministry staff collect items for Our Lady of the Road, such as food, clothing and first-aid and hygiene items, in donation boxes around Coleman-Morse Center.
鈥淪o if someone can鈥檛 give labor, they can donate,鈥� Schmitz said.
Amy Huber, administrative assistant in the liturgy office in Campus Ministry, is among the volunteers. Huber generally helps with the laundry at Our Lady of the Road.
鈥淚 love doing laundry, and what鈥檚 better than warm, clean clothes?鈥� Huber said while heaving bags of dirty clothes over a counter at the shelter.
Spiritually, Huber said, the work 鈥渏ust gives me a sense of peace, knowing that you鈥檙e helping somebody who doesn鈥檛 have as much as you have.鈥�
That鈥檚 a common experience.
鈥淪imply put, the first time I came here and volunteered it was very emotional,鈥� said Beitler. 鈥淎nd when people ask me why I say, 鈥業 saw the face of Christ here.鈥欌��
鈥淚t feels weird if I don鈥檛 come,鈥� said Kronner, who volunteers at the center nearly every Friday thanks to an accommodating work schedule. 鈥淚鈥檝e made a lot of friends here with the volunteers and the guests. It feels like a part of my routine now, my life.鈥�
At the staff level, Schmitz said, the opportunity to serve has 鈥渋nspired us individually and as a staff to be more compassionate and giving and, in its own way, lifted the spirit and connections between us as a staff.鈥�
Campus Ministry is among a number of local individuals and organizations that volunteer at Our Lady of the Road, in addition to numerous students, faculty and staff from 91吃瓜 as well as Saint Mary鈥檚 and Holy Cross Colleges.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always a gift to have volunteers,鈥� said Emma Clare, a local Catholic Worker who helps coordinate services at the near-downtown center, which shares a block with the South Bend Center for the Homeless.
That鈥檚 especially true of groups like Campus Ministry, Clare said, that volunteer on a consistent basis.
鈥淭hey understand what needs to be done, so it gives us time to attend to the individual needs of our guests,鈥� Clare said. 鈥淎nd it is a great encouragement in our spirit as well.鈥�
The volunteers, meanwhile, have more time to engage personally with the guests, Clare said, and 鈥渢hat is one of the pillars of hospitality we try to offer folks, just relationships.鈥�
Schmitz deflected such plaudits.
鈥淭his is really more about the Catholic Worker and us being privileged to be a part of their ministry,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky we鈥檙e able to be a part of this. It鈥檚 rewarding for us.鈥�
Rooted in the Catholic tradition and inspired by the charism and spirituality of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Campus Ministry aims to cultivate the faith of all 91吃瓜 students through undergraduate, graduate, liturgical and music ministries.
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