VT Catholic Campus Ministry Fall Newsletter

Catholic Campus Ministry at VIRGINIA TECH Fall Newsletter

Follow Us: @catholichokie www.catholichokie.org

Contact Us: 203 Otey Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060 (540) 951-0032

From the Chaplain

Fall in Blacksburg never disappoints! We’ve been blessed with an above average number of sunny, cool days here in the mountains this year, and I rejoice that the fall foliage reminds us of what a wonderful thing it is to be a Hokie! We have seen large crowds at Mass, Sunday Suppers, and our Fall Retreat. Additionally, our new Wednesday Pour Into Others coffee house has been very busy. In so many ways, I have been able to see God at work in our Campus Ministry, in our students, and amongst our staff. One of the great gifts of being a priest, especially at Virginia Tech, is seeing young people discover their vocations. It has been a great privilege walking with students who are discerning a dating relationship, an engagement, and even a wedding. This year I’ve been at several Hokie weddings, including the wedding of the couple featured on the back page of our newsletter. It is a cause of joy when Catholic Hokie alumni return to campus for a game and are able to share their vocation stories with our Newman Community. Students discerning their vocations; Hokie weddings, consecrations, and ordinations; and alumni making the trip back to Blacksburg: these things all enrich our ministry. One of the amazing fruits of our Catholic Campus Ministry is the number of alums discerning priesthood and religious life. Over the past few years, we have witnessed a number of Catholic Hokie deacons and priests be ordained and seen recent alumni enter seminary or continue on their path of discernment. I’m proud of so many of these Hokies, and I rejoice that Newman is a place where students come to encounter the Lord and ponder great questions about God’s plan for their lives. Our Catholic Hokies are responding to the love of God, and the practice of their faith opens their hearts to how God might be calling them. They are trusting in the Holy Spirit and making courageous commitments to live their lives in service to God and family. I’m so inspired that these fruits of faith are being revealed; they are signs of God’s work in our ministry. Thank you for supporting us in this mission.

Servant Leaders Jules Fedak, Student Campus Minister Ben Rubinich, Asst. Student Campus Minister Hugh Grennan, Music Minister Nolan Conroy, Community Minister Margo Del Giudice, New Evangelization Minister

Megan Reese, Liturgy Minister Olivia Smaltz, Outreach Minister

RaeAnna Kelly, Communications Minister Clare O’Herron, Christian Formation Minister Cameron Pellei, Service and Justice Minister

FOCUS Team

James Lutz, Team Director Andrew DeCelle, Veteran Missionary Madelyn Bauer, Second Year Missionary Nicholas Pluemer , Second Year Missionary Lourdes Navarro , First Year Missionary

Prayerfully,

Father Tom Yehl, Y.A.

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Pour Into Others: Pour Into Others: Coffee House Ministry Coffee House Ministry

This semester our Catholic Campus Ministry received an evangelization grant through the Associates of St. John Bosco (ASJB) RISE Awards to open a donation-based coffee shop, Pour Into Others, every Wednesday after morning Mass during adoration hours! Our main mission is to evangelize by reaching students who come to Sunday Mass but haven’t yet found a deeper connection within our community. We also hope to welcome students who might not know there’s a Catholic community on campus—or aren’t sure how to get involved. Pour Into Others is entirely student run, headed by junior Ashley Clark. “One of my favorite ways to get to know someone— or catch up with a friend—has been grabbing coffee,” said Clark. “Now, we can do that from the comfort of our own Newman House, which is amazing!” Not only do students prepare all of the beverages on the menu, but they also supply a variety of baked goods for students to enjoy with their drinks. “Having a dedicated space to bring people together, especially fellow Catholics, has been extremely fruitful. I have met many new faces and have had wonderful discussions. The coffee is delicious, the pastry’s are exceptional, and the overall atmosphere is just the icing on top of the cake (or pastry).” — Thomas Fiedor. Since its opening in August, the student and community response has been overwhelmingly positive. The shop has become a meeting space for all kinds of CCM needs. Newman “regulars” come to do homework, hang out with friends, and relax between classes. “It’s a peaceful time in my day when I get to visit close friends, have the opportunity to see Jesus in the chapel, and grab a coffee,” said student Angela Drapac. The coffee shop also fosters spiritual growth: it’s a comfy spot for discipleship meetings and Bible studies. For those who aren’t around the Newman House often, it’s a welcoming, casual space to encounter community and be invited to experience our Lord in adoration. Coffee is only served in mugs or mason jars, no to-go cups, to encourage students to linger and build relationships. “The Newman Coffee Shop is such a valuable addition to Catholic life at VT!” said student Kate Dichoso. “I love bringing friends to the coffee shop. Seeing other Catholics my age be in community and choosing to go to adoration has made me feel so seen!” — Dichoso “I’m so pleased with how things have gone so far—seeing new faces, serving morning coffee, and having encouraging conversations has been such a joy.” said Clark. “I can’t wait to see the growth that Pour Into Others will continue to bring to our Newman community by the end of the year!”

Abide in Me Abide in Me

This year’s Fall Retreat brought together more than 140 students for a transformative weekend of prayer, reflection, and community at Alta Mons in Shawsville, VA. Centered on the theme “Abide in Me” (John 15:1–17), the retreat invited participants to explore what it means to remain rooted in Christ—the true vine—and to bear fruit through lives of prayer, discipleship, and love. Over the course of the weekend, students encountered the Lord through the sacraments, eucharistic adoration, praise and worship, and quiet moments of prayer and reflection. The serene mountain setting provided a sacred space for stillness, while small group discussions, shared meals, and community activities fostered genuine friendships and spiritual renewal. For many students, especially those preparing to join the Catholic Church through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), the retreat was a deeply personal and faith-filled experience. Freshman Audrey Bedell shared how the retreat shaped her first semester at Virginia Tech and her faith journey as an OCIA participant: “Deciding to go to Fall Retreat was the best decision I could have made. As not only a freshman at Tech but also an OCIA participant, the decision to come on retreat, at least initially, stemmed from wanting to build a better community at Newman, meet new people, and find ‘my place’—a desire most freshmen can relate to. My initial mission was a success; Fall Retreat was an amazing opportunity to meet people and make new friends. Swing dancing in the rain at night and performing skits for everyone certainly built new relationships that would've never come about otherwise. However, making new friends wasn't the biggest takeaway I got from Fall Retreat by any means. To people who grew up in the faith, this may seem obvious, but as a newcomer, I could have never guessed how fruitful the retreat would be in helping me to grow my relationship with God and to learn about the Catholic Faith. “For the first time ever, I was given the ‘how-to’ on talking to God and reflecting on my relationship with him. I was able to attend adoration for the first time, which was truly an eye-opening experience. “In addition, the Newman community is truly incredible, and people were always willing to give me a hand or explain something when I was lost. At every chance, there was someone guiding me along, whether it be the inspiring testimonies given every day, Father Tom explaining to me what the monstrance was, or being given a ‘how-to guide’ on the Examination of Conscience. I couldn't have pictured a better experience. With the combination of growth I encountered and fun I had, all I can say is that I can't wait to do it again next year.”

Freshman Ryan Jasudowich, who is also preparing to enter the Church, shared how the retreat impacted both his prayer life and his connection to the Catholic Campus Ministry community:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” — John 15:4

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“Overall, my experience at the fall retreat exceeded my expectations. Since this was my first retreat, I initially didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to attend the retreat to deepen my faith and prayer routine while also getting more involved with the CCM community and meeting new people. As for deepening my prayer routine, I appreciated the time set aside for silent personal reflection. This was a practice I didn’t have much experience with before but have now incorporated into my daily prayer routine. I found the long periods of quiet time alone very fruitful, whether sitting in the chapel or going for a walk. “On the community side of the retreat, my favorite part was the small groups we participated in. Over the weekend, our group had many great conversations that led to meaningful connections within the CCM community.” The witness of students like Ryan and Audrey reflects the living faith of a campus ministry community that continues to grow in both size and spiritual depth. With such an overwhelming turnout, the ministry is discerning our ability to host two Fall Retreats next year to meet the growing demand. Through prayer, fellowship, and the abiding presence of Christ, this year’s retreat reminded everyone that when we remain connected to the true vine, we are strengthened, renewed, and ready to bear lasting fruit.

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A Hokie Priest's Journey from Virginia Tech to the Middle East Fr. Joseph LoJacono, IVE (Institute of the Incarnate Word), a 1995 Virginia Tech alumnus, traces his priestly vocation back to his formative years at the Newman Community. Now serving in the Middle East with IVE, Fr. LoJacono recalls his time in Blacksburg as a season of spiritual discovery and deepening faith. During his years at Virginia Tech, Fr. LoJacono was active in the Newman Community under the leadership of Fr. James Cowles. He remembers those days as both grace-filled yet challenging—a time when daily Mass, the rosary, and eucharistic adoration became anchors for a small group of students hungry to know their Catholic faith more deeply.

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“It was my struggle against secular thinking, which I encountered through the philosophy and science departments, combined with my awakening to the Catholic faith of the ages that truly shaped my path to the priesthood,” reflected LoJacono. Raised in a family that was not particularly devout, his discovery of Catholic tradition at the Newman House through his mentor, layman Dr. Leslie Garay, planted the seeds of his vocation.

Fr. LoJacono’s spiritual journey at Virginia Tech later inspired his novel The Legendary St. George and the Dragon , as well as a youth study guide to help high school students explore themes of spiritual battle, virtue, and faith. He has also written on topics such as sexual ethics, in vitro fertilization, and moral theology for Incarnate Word magazine, with many of his works available on the site Academia. His path to the priesthood was a long one, beginning in the Diocese of Arlington and culminating 13 years later with ordination through the IVE. The same convictions formed during his time at Virginia Tech—his pro-life stance, defense of marriage, and call to holiness—continue to guide his priestly work. Today, he ministers to families and expatriate communities in Bahrain within the Northern Arabian Vicariate. Fr. LoJacono often returns to the New River Valley, where his family still resides, and he continues to hold a deep affection for the Newman Community. He encourages today’s students and alumni to remain steadfast in faith and to support the ministry that helped shape his own vocation.

Little Miss Catholic Hokie At the Newman House, you can expect to find students hanging out, working on homework, or in the chapel praying on any given day of the week. However since March of 2025, the community has added another member, and she has four legs. After coming back with students from the Mound Bayou, Mississippi Alternative Spring Break Trip, Missy has become a staple at Newman. When students on the trip found a four-week-old puppy, they knew they couldn’t leave her behind, but they weren’t sure what would happen when she made it back to Tech. Enter the CCM business manger and alum Kathryn Schneider. Growing up with dogs and training her family’s own, she knew how beneficial a dog could be not only for her self, but for Catholic Hokie students. Schneider took in the puppy, naming her Missy in honor of the Mississippi mission trip where she was found. “Visiting Missy is a wonderful, stress-relieving break,” said grad student Debra Dunham. “She is always so eager to see me, and her excitement is contagious, lifting my mood and making my day better.” Students love when Missy comes into the office so they can play with her or simply sit and pet her while she munches happily on a bone. Missy has even gone with Schneider and the FOCUS missionaries to outreach on campus.

Meet Our New Associate Director Hello everyone, my name is Lindsey McAllister, and I’m blessed to be the new Associate Director at VT CCM. Throughout my time in college, I had wonderful mentors who walked alongside me in my faith journey and formed me into the person I am today. Since college can be a difficult time for many young people, this is an age group I am passionate about serving, and I want to help others experience the love for the Lord that my campus ministers taught me. This has led me to oversee OCIA and currently form thirty two Catechumens in the Catholic faith. I frequently teach our Catechumens about St. Augustine and St. Paul as they demonstrated a radical yes and conversion of heart that is possible for all of us! I recommend taking time to meditate on St. Augustine's words of “you have made us for yourself, oh Lord, and our heart is restless until if finds rest in you” as this quote changed the way I live my life and strive to form those around me. A fun fact about me is that I am currently preparing for my vocation of marriage with my college sweetheart.

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Fr. Tom Yehl, Y.A. Chaplain chaplain@catholichokie.org Chris Hitzelberger Director of Campus Ministry director@catholichokie.org

A Blessing Above and Beyond Alumni Tie the Knot and Receive Papal Blessing

This summer, Catholic Hokie alumni Stephen and Kathleen DeCelle celebrated their marriage in an unforgettable way. While on their honeymoon, they attended the weekly Papal Audience at St. Peter’s Square and were unexpectedly invited to meet Pope Leo in person. The Holy Father spoke with them, placed his hands on their heads, and gave them a personal blessing—a moment they described as a “huge surprise, a huge blessing, and a huge privilege.” Stephen, a Washington Nationals fan, brought a baseball for Pope Leo to sign. “We wanted to make a connection with the pope,” said Stephen. Pope Leo, a White Sox fan, told Stephen, “Now that I’m the pope, I have to be a fan of all people.”

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