Ancilla College has been working hard over the past few years to grow in areas that benefit students. They have built two residence halls and a dining hall. They have also created new market driven programs such as Vet Nursing and Culinary as well as expanding existing programs like Nursing. They have even added new athletic programs such as swimming and a bowling team that recently took the national title in their division. Now a new space has been created that puts emphasis on an area close to the heart of the school.
A new campus ministry office has been created for the students. Ancilla recently replaced a former campus minister with two, which was one reason to expand the space from the second floor office previously used. However, a majority of the new space in the main hallway of the first floor is less office and more common area. A couch and two chairs sit in front of a large monitor that often displays relaxing videos such as slowly swimming whales. And just as inviting to college students is the seemingly never ending cornucopia of snacks sitting on an end table. Raeanne Stiles is a student who frequents the space. “I have gone after some family members have passed to just talk about it with them,” she said. “But I also like to just go relax,” she said. “The new space is much more open and inviting than the office upstairs was.”
Sister Marybeth Martin, PHJC and Dr. Nathan Crawford, the new Campus Ministers at Ancilla College, are very excited about the opening of the space. “This area provides a safe space for all students to come and enjoy some snacks or beverages, as well as being a place where people can simply hang out,” said Crawford. Martin and Crawford also see this as an extension of the Campus Ministry mission of “creating a rich spiritual environment on campus.” According to Crawford, “The Campus Ministry area is a place where people can pray, meditate, have quiet and down time, as well as places where students can meet with the campus ministers for spiritual direction and spiritual counseling.” Faculty and staff are also invited to unpack their burdens in the new space as their days can contain as much stress at times as that of the students. Also, with the addition of two new Campus Ministers, there are already more activities developing at Ancilla and this space will be utilized to gather for some events.
The addition of the new space as well as the new Campus Ministers is just one more way that Ancilla is rising to meet the demands of their students as well as the faculty and staff.
Photo 1: Sister Marybeth Martin (right) welcomes student Mikayla Tice (left) to Campus Ministry.
Photo 2: Vet Nursing students grab some treats outside of the new Campus Ministry office at Ancilla.
