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PAGE 7 — The Georgia Bulletin, January 19,1989 Peer Ministry Flourishes At UGA Catholic Center BY PAULA DAY Catholic students at the University of Georgia in Athens can get more than a secular education while attending col lege. Under the direction of Dr. Billie Poon and assisted by senior Charlie Murphy, they can prepare for active par ticipation in the life of their parishes as adult lay Catholics. The Catholic Center at the University offers students a peer ministry program developed by Dr. Poon. In its third year, the program gives students training and “hands-on” ex perience in such special ministries as social justice outreach, Bible study, RCIA, retreats and ecumenical ac tivities. They can also grow spiritually through the spiritual direction available from the Catholic Center staff. Dr. Poon, a 42-year-old mother of two sons, has been acting director of the Center since July, 1988. Her husband, Dr. Leonard Poon, is head of the Gerontology Center at the university. Father Tony Gigliello, O.F.M. and Father Steven Pavignano, O.F.M., complete the Catholic Center’s staff which serves a core group of 400 Athens residents, university faculty and staff: Between 600 and 800 of the 2,600 Catholic students attending the university regularly join them for Sunday Masses during the school term. In her temporary position. Dr. Poon divides her time among administrative duties, spiritual direction and super vising the peer ministry program. “I do a lot of spiritual direction and counseling,” she com mented, “particularly with graduate students and faculty. ’ ’ She has found a progression in the spiritual life of college- age persons. As undergraduates, they are concerned about ethical and moral decision-making and are dealing with questions of Catholic identity such as “What do I really believe?” and “What does it mean to be a Catholic rather than a Baptist or Methodist or Presbyterian?” Gradually young people progress from talking to themselves and their friends about these issues to talking to God — praying about them. Dr. Poon said. “It’s an un folding process. God is no longer a person holding the world together. They begin to want to engage God in what’s going on in their lives.” According to Dr. Poon, campus ministry, in part, re quires real healing and reconciliation. “People, in general, don’t realize how hurt others are. I suspect from what I’ve read and heard, that one in 10 is a victim of some kind of violence — rape, abortion, incest, for example. They are sitting there at Mass, think ing they’re the only one this has happened to. I do a lot of counseling of women who are victims.” Dr. Poon spends an hour- and-a-half a week with the group of nine students who are in the peer ministry program, and approx imately an hour with each individually. She feels a responsibility to help them become leaders in the Church. “I believe all of us are called by our baptism to minister to one another,” she said. “The Church of the future will reflect this involvement and so we’re trying to find ways to prepare young people to take up these responsibilities. It’s exciting, challenging. It’s a corollary to the rest of their education.” Senior Charlie Murphy coordinates the efforts of the peer ministry groups, eight of which are in operation this school year. Murphy, a native of Fairhaven. Mass., is a food service management major. He says he encountered an expecta tion that “everyone from the North is a devout Catholic.” In fact, he said, his experience at UGA “enhanced my faith, and in particular, my getting in with the Franciscans really helped.” The social justice outreach ministry is one of the peer ministries Murphy coordinates. Nancy Halutick of Macon heads the group which works with such established pro grams in the Athens area as the food bank and shelters for the homeless. Its members have recorded readings for the blind, participated in a sleep-over in downtown Athens so students and others could experience what it is like to sleep in the open, and conducted food drives. One aim of the group is to raise awareness in the Athens area of the plight of the homeless. The ecumenical peer ministry group, new this academic year, is led by Mary Ellen Morris of LaGrange. Its goal is to bring together students from different religious denomina tions for conversation and to foster growth in mutual understanding and respect for one another’s beliefs. Charlie Murphy Blue Ridge Parish "Sells" Itself Faced with a need for a new church and a building fund drive mired in stagna tion, Father Steve Yander and the parishioners of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Blue Ridge held a contest for ideas that might stimulate building fund solicitation. Parishioner Rosemary Mills came up with the win ning suggestion: Divide the church property into one- yard plots to “sell” to the public at large. A donation of $10 will pur chase one square yard of the Blue Ridge Mountains' St. Anthony’s Church. A certificate will be issued with the name of the pur chaser or person in whose name the purchase is made lettered on it. Plaques will be installed in the proposed new building, naming the certificate recipients and showing their lot number. Father Yander announc ed the congregation has been divided into 10 teams who will sell the square yard plots of ground to the public as a tax-deductible donation to the church. The HAS SOCIAL SECURITY TURNED YOU DOWN FOR DISABILITY? CALL 371-8233 CYNTHIA L. HORTON. ATTY. teams will compete and the team selling the most real estate will receive prizes. Parishioners feel the unique approach to fund raising will help make the effort successful. Anyone interested in purchasing a square yard of the Blue Ridge Mountains may con tact St. Anthony’s Church. Kelly Arnal of Snellville and Erin Boudweyns of Augusta, in the student support peer ministry, hold weekly meetings in a quiet setting, usually the chapel. There students can talk about and reflect on daily problems and minister to one another. The hospitality peer min istry group, headed by Fon da Mitchell of Augusta, works to create a comfort able atmosphere at the St. Benedict's Catholic Church Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. • Northeast Fulton County Mass at Epiphany Byzantine Church 2030 Old Alabama Rd. For information call Fr. Joseph Peacock, Pastor X 442-5903 b Loving, Caring, Family Atmosphere •MAKE THE HEART YOUR HOME” Catholic Christian Atmosphere Value Centered Curriculum Academic Excellence Full Day Kindergarten Sessions PE Classes Talents Unlimited Student Advisory Council Safety Patrol, National Junior Honor Society Open Admission Policy To All Qualified Applicants Before/After School Care Available Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade New Family Information Meeting Sunday, Feb. 5,1:30 pm. Open House Visitation Thursday, Feb. 2 from 8:30-3:00. Accepting applications after February 5th. IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL 2855 Briarcliff Rd., N.E. Atlanta, Ga 30329 636-4488 Catholic Center as well as to welcome those who come to Mass there. Several retreats are held during the school year for students. The task of Denise Schlitt of Atlanta is to plan, coordinate and execute them. As well as making a presen tation herself, she chooses other students to give retreat talks. The Franciscan priests are available for liturgy arid the sacrament of reconciliation. Louise D’Angelo of Atlanta meets weekly with a Bible study group to discuss the Scripture reading for the upcom ing Sunday Mass. They use the publication, “Share the Word.” as a resource for their study. For those in the university community wishing to become Catholic, Father Pavignano directs an RCIA program, assisted this year by David Fluech of Marietta as peer minister. The active Catholic student fellowship peer ministry plans social events for the center. In addition to Halloween and Christmas parties, Jim Neaverth’s group held an aluminum can drive this past fall. Charlie Murphy not only coordinates these peer ministry groups, but also acts as liaison between the Catholic Center and the university and is an associate member of the Cam pus Ministry Association. In this role be hopes to make the Catholic Center better known on campus by working on a university committee that plans event:! to inform students about specific topics. The committee ha* sponsored presen tations on date rape and black awarentss on white college campuses. Murphy wants to be part of n panel which will discuss reproductive values. After graduation Charlie Murphy plan! to get a job in his field of study but also to continue his act 1 !! e involvement in the Church as a youth minister. He credit his experiences in ministry at the Catholic Center for helping him become a Catholic adult who wants to fulfill his lnuptismal respon sibility to minister. Marist Students' Efforts Earn $1,000 For Hospital Seventh grade students at Marist School in Atlanta used their math skills recently to raise over $1,000 for St. Jude’s Children s Research Hospital in Tennessee. The students raised the money by participating in a math-a-thon in which they recruited sponsors to pledge donations based on the number of math problems com pleted. The math-a-thon is an annual service project for Marist’s 7th graders and this year’s total is the most ever raised for this event. Dunwoody resident Courtney Rollauer solicited the greatest number of pledges, raising $250 for the cause. Other top contributors include North DeKalb residents Anne Hardcastle and Reggie Ramsey, and Stone Mountain resident P.J. Haley. CATHEDRAL m CHRIST THE OF KING 2699 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30305 233-2145 IT TAKES TWO to talk, to understand, to heal and to forgive. If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, know that we are thinking of you. We would like to help heal any hurts you may have experienced and invite you to be an active part of your Catholic family again. Please come and talk about what separated you from us on: Monday, January 23 and Monday, January 30, at 7:30 P.M. For more information call Father Richard or Deacon Dick Narey — 233-2145 "Georgia Bulletin" Ads Bring Results!
