Students of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green listen to a talk led by a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia from Nashville during the 2025-2026 academic year. COURTESY OF TOPPER CATHOLIC
Intentional opportunities
As students head to college, here’s how to connect them with Catholic campus ministry
BY CHARLIE HARDESTY, OFFICE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
One of the most significant “hand-off” moments in the lives of our young people is the transition from high school to college. This is often a moment of freedom and independence, but also a moment of identity crisis as many young adults are searching to find their next space of belonging. Helping a college student to find Catholic community on their campus or at a Newman Center is a vital part of bridging this transition.
We were excited to feature our campus ministry efforts in this summer’s Diocese of Owensboro impact report. We are proud of the ministry happening at Brescia University, Murray State University and Western Kentucky University. The desire of this article, as we enter the fall semester, is to continue to show off their great work and equip you, the reader, with the knowledge of how to invite a college student to check out their campus ministry.
Brescia University: Brescia is our only Catholic university in the Diocese of Owensboro. Much of their ministry is woven into the regular campus experience. Fr. Mike Williams is the chaplain, and Sr. Pam Mueller, OSU, is the director of campus ministry. For more information about campus ministry opportunities, please contact Sr. Pam at [email protected].
Students of Brescia University in Owensboro participate in Faith Fest 2026 during the spring semester. COURTESY OF BRESCIA UNIVERSITY
Murray State University: Philomena Hempel is the campus minister at the Newman Center at MSU. Please check out https://www.catholicracers.org for more information about campus ministry opportunities. St. Leo Parish in Murray serves as the parish home for all Newman Center activities at Murray State. For more information, please contact Philomena at [email protected].
Western Kentucky University: Katie Bickers is the Campus Minister at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center at WKU. Fr. Jason McClure is the chaplain through the end of 2026 and then Fr. Corey Bruns will become chaplain in 2027 while remaining diocesan vocations director. Please check out https://www.stthomasaquinaswku.com/ for more information about campus ministry opportunities and to find Mass and confession times. For more information, please contact Katie at [email protected].
We are excited to have FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries on campus at both Murray State and Western Kentucky Universities. You can learn more about their ministries and find the missionaries serving you campus at www.focus.org.
Not all young adults at this age are heading off to college this fall, so this intentional welcome is just as important at our parishes. Please help us by inviting young adults more deeply into the life of your local parish community.
There are many other students from our diocese heading off to schools and experiences outside of our diocese. I would love to help you connect them to opportunities. Please contact me at [email protected] for help locating a ministry outside our diocese.
Students of Murray State University participate in the Stations of the Cross, coordinated by the Newman Center, as Lent is observed during the spring 2026 semester. COURTESY OF CATHOLIC RACERS
Originally printed in the August 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
