Spring Newsletter 2024

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Alumni Corner

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Executive Director of the Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries: Diocese of Arlington, Class of 1994 When I arrived at Virginia Tech, I remember the feeling that one chapter in my life had just ended, and another big one was just about to begin. I can’t explain why, but I felt the strong desire to turn a new page and go to confession. I had not been to confession in several years, but on my first full day in Blacksburg, I went looking for the Newman house, and the rest was history!

I became very good friends with a group of the other musicians from the music ministry during my senior year. We spent a lot of time together volunteering at Sunday Supper, hanging out at the Newman House, and practicing music. One very clear memory that I have is of Lent during my senior year. It was perhaps the first time I entered into all of the liturgical and prayerful practices of Lent: praying the

Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Shepherd University, Class of 2022 Without the CCM at Virginia Tech, I certainly would not be as serious about my faith, nor would I have found my current job. During my four years involved in the CCM, I began going to daily Mass, building a consistent and fruitful prayer life, and became comfortable speaking to others about the Lord. All of these things have aided in my role as Campus Minister. In my first year here, two of my students entered into the fullness of the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil, and one of the young men in our group began his first year of seminary! One of my favorite parts of this job is having the ability to be spontaneous with my students. For example, we started a podcast one day and recorded once a week for about a year. Our podcast is called “Catholic Coffee in the Morning.” Check it out if you want to learn a few things about the faith and have a few laughs! My other favorite part of my job is being able to meet my students where they are and to help them realize the true beauty of living a life close to Christ! I feel called to support the ministry as a monthly donor because I know how much of a difference the CCM can have on a student’s life. I give what I can to the organization that helped me to better be the woman God created me to be so that they can continue this with many more generations of of Catholic Hokies! rosary together on a weekly basis in my dorm room, preparing for the Easter Vigil, and even a midnight run to Macado’s after a day of fasting on Ash Wednesday! Those now 30-year-old friendships are part of the reason that I am in ministry today. Newman allowed me to remain rooted in my faith during my college years, and it became my first faith community. Upon graduating, my first engineering job required me to leave my hometown and relocate to Fredericksburg. My positive experience and the fellowship I had enjoyed in the Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech encouraged me to go straight to the Campus Ministry at the University of Mary Washington to get involved. Within a few years of volunteering at UMW, I discerned to leave my engineering job and go into youth ministry full time. Twenty-five years later, I am still finding joy and fruit in youth ministry. I pray that the Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech continues to be a strong, vibrant, faith-filled community for the students there!

Kevin with a group of fellow Catholic Hokies on the pilgrimage he led to World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

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