Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry is a place where everyone is welcome. We are housed in the Busse Building and often gather around the cozy fireplace for sharing, study, interactions and fun times. We promote purposeful and merciful living according to Gospel and Mercy values. As a Catholic and Mercy University we nurture visions by which to walk and live. We are part of the Catholic intellectual tradition, a world view that inspires innovative thinking, probing inquiry, supportive interaction, and a strong belief in diversity – including religious diversity. We host a variety of student-generated activities that tap into people’s thirst for a healthy relationship with God, self and others:
- Sunday evening and Thursday noon celebrations of the Eucharist
- Sacramental preparation
- Reconciliation
- Inter-faith and inter-religious worship services
- Retreats and vocation discernment activities
- Pastoral Visits for support & prayer
- Service and volunteer opportunities at home and away
- Formation in social justice
- Education for growth in one’s faith
- Campus Peer Ministers
- Residential Peer Ministers
- Peer Ministry Club & Team to reach out and support fellow students
- Music Ministry for worship and spiritual growth
Campus Ministry is open to all faiths and those with no faiths. We engage in many activities that help empower leaders for the future and also are transformative. Students, faculty and staff experience the hospitable characteristic of the Sisters of Mercy who founded Mount Mercy. We are witness to authentic Catholic culture, its inclusiveness, its concern for justice and peace, and its keen awareness of the footprint of a loving Creator in the world around us.
For a link to service and event times visit our website.
Campus Ministry Position Descriptions
Coordinator of Volunteerism and Service Learning is a liaison between Mount Mercy and the civic community to organize opportunities for students to: interact with their community, grow in their faith, and apply their academics in the real-world situations. S/he works in collaboration with Mount Mercy faculty and staff to provide curricular and co-curricular programming, and service to the community. S/he coordinates and accompanies Mount Mercy volunteers on distant service learning trips and facilitates a reflections process about their service and learning.
Campus Minister oversees the programs that promote faith development, spiritual life, worship, and student-generated activities that tap into people’s thirst for a healthy relationship with God, others, and oneself. These include, but are not limited to, Sacramental celebrations (Mass and Reconciliation), a variety of devotional (Adoration and the Rosary) and ecumenical worship services, retreats, Christian Community experiences, vocation discernment activities, bible studies, and faith sharing and formation activities. S/he also oversees the Peer Ministry program.
Residential Chaplain assists in offering daily liturgies, Holy Day Masses, residential liturgies and other special liturgies as needed and is available for Sacramental preparation and Sacramental reception for the Mount Mercy University community. He creates and maintains a pastoral presence through retreats, programs, counseling, spirituality forums, and University events. While key to supporting the Catholic identity and Mercy charism and heritage of the University, the Chaplain provides an inviting presence to persons of all faiths as well.
Sacramental Priest through the part-time availability of a Diocesan priest as sacramental chaplain, the Archdiocese gives another expression of its support for the mission of Mount Mercy and its Catholic identity. He is a source of support to all and each member of the campus community and is available for spiritual counsel and reception of the Sacraments
Music Minister assists the Mount Mercy Community in enhancing Mass and other worship services through varied expressions of liturgical music. This individual focuses on enabling and coordinating liturgical music for the worshiping assembly, vocal ensembles, cantors, instrumentalist, accompanists and others in music ministry. The ministry of music is that of service and sharing of one’s gifts and talents with the Christian Community.
Graduate Assistant for Social Justice is responsible for developing, directing, and leading social justice programs, diversity initiatives, and community out-reach activities that seek the involvement and commitment of young adults and promote the University as a resource and training ground for Catholic, Christian, and faith-based lay leadership.
Campus Peer Ministers are the work study students who work in the Campus Ministry area assisting the Mission & Ministry staff. Campus Peer Ministers provide outreach to the student population, represent the Division of Mission and Ministry university-wide, and work collaboratively among themselves as well as with other areas in order to minister to their peers.
Residential Peer Ministers nurture the religious, spiritual, and personal growth of students by being present directly within the residence halls. Residential Peer Ministers, as well as the Campus Peer Ministers, provide outreach to the student population, represent the Division of Mission and Ministry university-wide, and work collaboratively among themselves as well as with other areas, such as Residence Life, in order to minister to their peers.
Peer Ministry Club members are students interested in being involved in Campus Ministry. They volunteer and participate in faith sharing, community building, service, and liturgy.
Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy are prayerfully present on campus. Sister Shari is the Executive Director for Mission & Ministry . There are 35 Sisters who live in the Cedar Rapids Metro area and most are “retired” at Sacred Heart. Sacred Heart is attached to the Busse building and the Sisters are an integral part of campus life and ministry.
To remain up to date on current events follow us on Twitter at @MMUMinistry and Facebook at Mount Mercy Mission & Ministry.