Dear Parents,

God is good! All the time! As I have begun my new ministry here at St. Mary’s University as the Director of University Ministry, I can relate to your students embarking on a new journey in life. Being new to a community includes the challenges of establishing trust and confidence in its members and maintaining relationships with past friends. There is much uncertainty as to whether or not one has made the right choice, but a deep willingness to at least give it a try.

I want to thank you for entrusting your children to St. Mary’s University. I am honored that you have come to believe in this community and institution as a good place for the beginning of developing a well-rounded and sound young adult in your child. I, like your children, have put a great deal of trust and hope in St. Mary’s to be a place where I can grow in mind, heart and spirit. I feel truly blessed to be here and have high hopes for University Ministry being of great service to your children.

We have begun the year with many initiatives that have enabled some of your children to be on retreat as new students on campus. Additionally, liturgical ministry participation has enabled a good number of your students to be involved in the prayer life of the campus as well getting connected to church communities of a variety of faith traditions. University Ministry has expanded its services to be available not only in the University Ministry Center, but also in the residence halls in which our outreach continues to grow.

The late Pope John Paul II had this to say about Catholic universities: “In the world today, characterized by such rapid developments in science and technology, the tasks of a Catholic university assume an ever greater importance and urgency. Scientific and technological discoveries create an enormous economic and industrial growth, but they also inescapably require the correspondingly necessary search for meaning in order to guarantee that the new discoveries be used for the authentic good of individuals and of human society as a whole.” Paragraph 7, Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II on Catholic Universities.

I share this with you because it serves as a basic foundation out of which University Ministry engages with the St. Mary's community. I hope that you feel comfortable in calling on the staff of University Ministry to be of great service to you and your child. I welcome your visiting any time you can come. We are located in the Center for Life Directions, a facility that houses Career Services, Service Learning and Counseling services with University Ministry. In a way, we have a one stop shop for assisting you, your children and your family with making choices that are life-giving.

Your choice to be a member of St. Mary’s University leads me to proclaim God is good! Not only do I believe you have made a good choice, but I believe I have done the same. May God bless you and your children in all you do here at St. Mary’s University.

Sincerely in Christ,

Wayne E. Romo
Director of University Ministry