Touching Hearts Through S.J.C.’s Campus Ministry

School is about to begin and for the students at Saint John’s College Junior College, that means returning to classes and clubs with their peers. Clubs are a vital part of the college experience, as they help students find a better sense of self, one of those being the S.J.C.J.C. Campus Ministry which encourages students to partake in community service and form lasting connections with each other. Today, News Five’s Azain Heredia spoke with Jason Cutkelvin, the Assistant Campus Ministry Director for the sixth form and university, for more details. Here’s that story.

 

Azain Heredia, Reporting

If you are among the one thousand, four hundred students attending Saint John’s College Junior College in Belize City, then the chances of you being a member of a club is very likely. The college, which was established in 1952, is home to a variety of student associations, but there is one club that stands out from the rest for being the largest and most active in the school. It is the campus ministry. It boasts approximately two hundred students and has been an integral part of the student experience at SJCJC for many years. We spoke with Jason Cutkelvin regarding the club.

 

Jason Cutkelvin, Assistant Campus Ministry Director

“SJC being a Jesuit college and having to develop its own mission and identity and having student formation. We have our campus ministry office as well to serve the students.”

 

Azain Heredia

“Why do you think the campus ministry is important?”

 

Jason Cutkelvin

“Campus Ministry is important because it is a place for growth and development for students, again using the word formation. It is important for students to find themself where they are in their faith and in their journey with life. And so, myself and Father Jeremy who is the director of campus ministry, we kind of help to kind them through that journey and that formation.”

 

The campus ministry couldn’t grow into the club it is today without a good reason. It is through teaching students the joy of community service and allowing them to become better versions of themselves that the club resonated with hundreds of students. Kristen Gillett, the president of Campus Ministry, speaks about the positive effects on the student’s personal development and their view of life.

 

 

Azain Heredia

“What was your experience in campus ministry as a student?

 

Kristen Gillett, President of Campus Ministry

“Well, as a student, for campus ministry it not only broadens my development for spiritual but also as a mature individual and more in tune of who I can be in the future.”

 

The members of the club play their own role in the community as they all go out and help those in need, as well as grow in spirituality together.

 

Azain Heredia

“What is it that you guys do as club members?”

 

Kristen Gillet

“As Club members we go out there, we help those in need, those in poor, we go to sister Cecilia we do more spiritual activities and we just want to broaden more activities for students to outreach with others and be more grateful for what they have.”

 

The club is known for community service and students attest that the club carries a much deeper meaning.

 

Azain Heredia

“Why should other students join the campus Ministry?”

 

Kristen Gillett

“Well, I think it’s a personal development that you go through, and it really broadens your horizon of being more grateful for things, seeing others who go through things, helping others it just, literally develops your spiritual and emotional state better.”

 

 

 

The students are what make the club what it is today. Aracelle Tillett, a board member of Campus Ministry, refers to the club as a family. Briefly going through what it’s like for new and old members. Along with the bonds and personal development, students also grow spiritually as they learn about the Ignatian spirituality together.

 

Aracelle Tillett, Board member in Campus Ministry

“Campus ministry is like family. So, whenever somebody new comes around it’s more of an interacting place where we get to know them and have a new spiritual build as well as we learn about like the Ignatian spirituality and so on forth.”

 

 

 

Azain Heredia for News five.