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Campus Ministry:Growing in FaithIt is the role of the Campus MinistryDepartment to support the spiritualdevelopment of the campus by coordinatingprograms geared toward faith formation andcommunity service. This fall, when studentsreturn to class, they will be greeted by anewly restructured Campus Ministry office.During the transition, Walsh will welcomethree new staff members after saying goodbyeto two popular and admired friends who areleaving Walsh in answer to God’s call. Theneed to restructure and expand is a directresult of Walsh’s growing campus andcommunity ministry needs.With the departure of Michele Schafer,Miguel Chavez has been appointed thedirector of campus ministry. Chavez earnedhis Master of Arts in Theological Studiesdegree from Walsh University last year, andhas been an integral member of the CampusMinistry Team since 2004, serving asAssistant Director. This past year Chavezalso served Walsh as an Adjunct Professorof Theology as he created and taught a TierTwo Christology course entitled “Jesusthe Liberator.”In addition, Mary Niedenthal, studentoutreach coordinator, will be moving to afull-time position on the team. Niedenthalwill continue in her community outreachwork as well as assume other duties withinthe department. The University has alsohired Elise Frances as a campus minister andplans to add one additional staff member tothe campus ministry team this summer.Walsh University is also pleased to announcethe appointment of Father Christopher M.Saliga O.P., R.N., as the new UniversityChaplain. Father Chris will be the first fulltime chaplain at Walsh University and willassume his new position on July 1. The needto expand from a part to full time chaplainposition is a direct result of Walsh’s growingcommunity that now serves over 3,000 people.As University Chaplain, Father Chris will beresponsible for Sacramental, liturgical life ofthe entire Walsh community. Father Chriswill also partner with campus ministry forfaith based experiential programs for students,faculty and staff at Walsh University.Farewell Father Jordan Turano, O.P.Father Jordan isa familiar figurethat is hard tomiss on campus.No matter whatthe weather, hestands out amongthe students, staffand faculty due tohis wardrobe – thetraditional white habit of the Dominican order.“The habit is an important symbol,especially in the classroom when I walk inwith my rosary beads and white robe, whichsignifies that I am not only a priest, I am aDominican,” said Father Jordan. “The habitreminds me of the virtues that I am striving,by the grace of God, to practice and live inmy religious life. On many occasions, my“ W e l l D o n e G o o d a n d F a i t h f15
clothing has served as a sort of ice breakerwith students, giving me the opportunityto talk about my faith and way of life as aDominican priest.”Father Jordan joined the Walsh staff two yearsago as Campus Minister and Adjunct Professorof Theology. This May, Father Jordan’s Orderwill send him to St. Thomas Aquinas Parishin Zainesville, Ohio, to serve as the parishpastor. It is a bittersweet time for FatherJordan, “While I’m excited about the newopportunity and feel it is God’s will that I go,it’s difficult to leave the Walsh community thathas truly been family for the past 2 years.”Transitions though are nothing new forFather Jordan. It was a series of transitionsthat led him to his true life’s calling 17years ago. In 1991, Steven, as he was then,led a very different life with very differentpriorities “…yet something was missing inmy life. There was a hole in my heart that Ikept trying to fill with wealth and expensivethings. Some good and some not so good. Ijust never felt fulfilled.”He grew up in Rhode Island and graduatedfrom Roger Williams College in Bristol,Rhode Island, with a degree in MarineBiology. But his career took many turns,including jobs in the restaurant business,CVS Corporation and a successful run asan Investment Broker in Louisiana. Manywho know him now would be surprised tolearn that the man who dresses simply inpriestly robes once wore designer suits anddrove a Mercedes. “But I was heading in adirection I didn’t want to go,” said FatherJordan. After dealing with the devastatingloss of someone close to him, he began toreexamine his life and faith. His journeytook him back to the church. It was God’scalling that ultimately led him to becomea Priest four years ago as a member of theOrder of Preachers (commonly known asthe Dominicans). “I’ve never looked back,”said Father Jordan. “I don’t miss the luxuriesI once had. Today, I am rich in faith. Andthat has filled my heart to overflowing.”A Blessed LifeMichele Schaferis a woman with amission, in moreways than one.This July, Michelewill leave Walshand start a newlife as she beginsthe extensiveapplication process to become a nun withthe Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration ofBlack Canyon City, AZ. Located about 40miles from Phoenix, the Poor Clares are acloistered community of nuns with ties toCanton through the Santa Clair Monasteryand the well-known Mother Angelica, founderof EWTN (Eternal World Television Network).Michele’s life has been filled with service,devotion and a strong Catholic faith.Growing up in Stark County, OH, shewas already familiar with Walsh when shefirst began teaching as an adjunct professorin the undergraduate Theology programin 2002. In 2004 she was appointed thedirector of campus ministry after serving asdirector of religious education from 1997 to2003 for Little Flower Parish. At the age of18, Schafer began to feel the calling to doGod’s work. She finished her degree at theUniversity of Akron after a knee injuryinterrupted her college soccer plans atSlippery Rock University. But even thatshe credits to a higher purpose.“Deep down, there was always this feelingthat I needed to do more,” said Schafer. “Ihad the sense that I was doing God’s work,but not His will. And to me, there is a hugedifference between the two.”Her discernment process of eleven yearsbrought her to the Poor Clares in Arizona.The Poor Clares are a new order with only 5members under the age of 42, and yet theyare thoroughly modern with a website atwww.desertnuns.com, online prayer requestsand daily blogs. They consider themselvesDesert Pioneers and currently are living ina retreat center while plans for their newMonastery are finalized. At that time, thenuns will be cloistered and Michele willcontinue God’s will through prayer.Before she begins the application processwhich will take eight years to complete,Michele will spend her summer monthstraveling. After a visit in July to the PoorClares in Arizona, she will fly to Australiafor Pope Benedict’s World Youth Day andthen on to New Orleans to help with herbrother’s Katrina Relief project. She alreadyhas her one-way ticket to Arizona and willleave September 30th to time her entranceinto the Order with the October 1 FeastDay of St. Therese of Lisieux, The LittleFlower, which is the name of her homeparish in Stark County.“After I made the decision, the doors justkept opening,” said Michele. “I’m gratefulfor having been a part of the Walsh faithcommunity. And I’m grateful to my familyfor their support and love. I am humbled bythe blessed life God has provided me.”u l S e r v a n t …” M a t t h e w 2 5 : 2 3walsh timessummer 2008
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Times - Walsh University

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