Ryerson University is going to have a new kid on campus next fall which should be exciting news for any Catholics attending the post secondary educational institution. In a formal announcement on November 15, Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) announced they would be expanding their ministry to Ryerson University, making their way to the Greater Toronto Area for the first time, beginning September 2013.
If you've never heard of CCO, they're kind of a big deal. A short history lesson, courtesy the CCO website:
CCO was founded at the University of Saskatchewan by André and Angèle Regnier. Both were involved in a non-denominational university Christian group that was very successful in: motivating students to deeper conversion to Christ, developing leadership skills, and giving them a heart to serve the Church. The couple wanted to provide the same opportunities for growth to Catholic students.
Under the guidance and direction of Father Clair Watrin, the couple began to work out the vision and materials to begin such a movement. After receiving the approval of Bishop James Mahoney to begin this apostolate, they presented themselves to a meeting of the St. Thomas More chaplaincy. During the fall semester in 1988, CCO began by offering small Bible study groups on campus.
From a humble beginning of four students, the movement has rapidly grown to the point where it serves hundreds of students through an array of programs and outreaches. In 1992, CCO became an officially incorporated non-profit organization and houses its headquarters in Ottawa.
In addition to the popular annual RISE UP conferences, CCO offers a variety of programs including:
When I was in Rome recently for the canonization of Saint Kateri, I had the pleasure of breaking bread with CCO founder André Regnier and current President, Jeff Lockert. We had the chance to talk about the joys and challenges of our mutual efforts to evangelize in different ways, to discuss opportunities and the potential that exists to reach out in new and exciting ways to the Catholic community. A great conversation...
At the invitation of Cardinal Collins, CCO will be enhancing the existing resources already on campus, supporting the excellent work of the Ryerson Catholic Campus Ministry. Fr. Michael Busch, Rector of St. Michael's Cathedral serves as chaplain and Oriana Bertucci is the Director of Campus Ministry.
Oriana is the kind of young adult leader who just gets things done, a joyful Catholic who has lots of ideas and has surrounded herself with a passionate group of students on campus to provide spiritual support for Ryerson's Catholic community. CCO will benefit from their experience, corporate history and knowing the "lay of the land" so to speak.
Bottom line: there are going to be increased Catholic resources on campus at Ryerson for students to take full advantage of. For so many Ontario students who have had the benefit of attending publicly funded Catholic schools from kindergarten through Grade 12, the post-secondary transition is one that, in most cases, is absent of a strong faith presence. With plenty of other distractions and demands on one's time, it can lead to putting faith in neutral or reverse.
Partnerships like the one envisioned at Ryerson will provide unique opportunities for evangelization, exactly what we need during this Year of Faith, not just for Catholics but all students on campus. Considering that Ryerson welcomes hundreds to its Journalism and Radio and Television Arts programs each year, we are also evangelizing to the future media of our generation. Joyful, faithful, well catechized young men and women are exactly what we need on campus.
So we have a new partnership - following in the footsteps of peanut butter & jelly, fish & chips and spaghetti & meatballs, we have Ryerson Catholic Chaplaincy and CCO - a great combination, on their own or served together. They'll provide a bountiful Catholic feast in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Can't wait to see this spiritual buffet on the menu come September 2013!
Neil MacCarthy is the Director of Public Relations & Communications for the Archdiocese of Toronto.