Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I
have to be Catholic to be involved in Catholic Campus Ministry?
A: No – all are welcome to attend our events and programs. All that we ask is
that everyone attending our programs is respectful of all faith backgrounds and
beliefs to help us maintain an open and welcoming environment.
Q: Kean is
a public school, so why do they have religious programming?
A: Kean has been gracious enough to open their doors and office space to
religious organizations that have the resources to provide staff members and
financial assistance to support student faith development. Catholic Campus
Ministers and Chaplains are employees of the Archdiocese of Newark. Funding for
Catholic Campus Ministry events comes from the Archdiocese.
Q: Are
there any requirements to be a part of CCM?
A: Catholics should attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses, which are offered on
campus, but no one is required to attend other programming or events offered by
Campus Ministry. Being active in developing your faith is highly encouraged, so
we try to offer a variety of events at different times to accommodate people
with different interests, levels of spiritual development, and schedules.
Q: I’m not
sure what religion I am, and I don’t know where to start looking. What should I
do?
A: If you’re exploring different faiths, a great place to start is by getting
involved with different faith organizations and seeing what is the best fit for
you. Try coming to a Campus Ministry event and meeting some of our members –
you can also stop by the office and talk to a staff member, or check out some
of the links on our Resources page.
Q: I think
I want to become Catholic. How can I do that?
A: The steps to becoming Catholic are a little different for everyone – it
depends on your faith background, if you have been baptized in another faith,
etc. People that have not been baptized, are converting from another Christian
religion to Catholicism, or have not completed some/any of the Catholic
Sacraments may need to go through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for
Adults) program, which consists of classes to learn about the Catholic
teachings and Sacraments. To find out what steps you will need to take to
become a confirmed member of the Catholic Church, please contact the Campus
Ministry office and we will assist you in this process.
Q: I don’t
want to become Catholic, but I’m interested in getting to know some things
about the Catholic Church or hanging out with some Christians. What should I
do?
A: Please feel welcome to come to our events! We do our best at Campus Ministry
to create a welcoming, pressure-free environment for people to learn more about
Catholicism and grow in their faith, whatever that may be. You are not required
to be Catholic to be involved in Catholic Campus Ministry, and you can also
come to our Masses – you just can’t receive communion in the Catholic church if
you are not Catholic.
Q: I’m
looking to grow in my faith, but I don’t know where to get resources. How can
you help?
A: You are always welcome to attend CCM events, Masses, or stop by the office
to speak with a Campus Minister or Chaplain. You can also contact us via e-mail
or phone if you have any questions or would like to set up a specific time that
works best for you. You can also check out the Resources page of this site for
some great online resources.
Any other questions? Just ask!
