Rutgers Alumni group seeking active Catholics to help students

RUCatholic? 

That is the question a newly formed Rutgers Alumni group is asking these days.

It is estimated that there are 50,000 Catholic alumni of Rutgers University and they are the individuals who are being invited to offer spiritual, social and professional support to Catholic students at the State University of New Jersey.
“We’re looking to cast a broad net. We’re looking for Catholic alumni who are active in their faith,” said Oratorian Father Peter R. Cebulka, director of the Catholic Center at Rutgers.

As the campus ministry at Rutgers University, the Catholic Center provides for the spiritual, sacramental and pastoral needs of the Catholic community at the university. To further its mission, the Catholic Center is now seeking Catholic alumni to show current students that there are successful Catholics available to encourage and support them.

“It’s not necessary for alumni who want to get involved to have been active with the Catholic Center when they were students,” Fr. Cebulka said, adding the Catholic Center is not seeking to build a traditional alumni organization to have meetings. “We’re looking to create relationships and support for Catholic life on campus,” he said.

Supporting Fr. Cebulka in establishing the alumni group is Michael J. Foxx, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Catholic Center at Rutgers and chair of the subcommittee for Catholic alumni.

“We’re trying to promote different activities involving the students and to give them a sounding board for questions about business, their faith and life in general,” Foxx said. 
To date, the group’s activities have included tailgating at football games, gatherings for new students, and an annual Mass for students who are graduating. This past summer, Foxx hosted a retreat for alumni, current students and friends.

With the launch of its website, www.RUCatholic.com the alumni group hopes Catholic alumni will hear the invitation and respond with their support.

According to Fr. Cebulka, alumni are needed to support the Catholic Center in four areas:

Spiritual: Alumni are invited to connect with young adult groups, periodic days of prayer, retreats, praise and worship gatherings, Eucharistic adoration, etc.

Social: Alumni are encouraged to take initiative in developing social activities and events for alumni and students.

Development/fundraising: Financial support for the ministry is crucial and alumni are needed to assist in developing new funding resources for the center.

Student outreach: An essential task for the chaplains is to prepare students for life in the “real world” of both society and the Church. Alumni can assist students in making that transition through mentoring, internships and sharing practical advice on how students can keep their faith alive outside the Catholic Center.

For more information, visit www.RUCatholic.com or call (732) 932-8465.