On Sept. 18, Pope Leo XIV shared on X, “It is therefore not enough to ask whether an activity is well organized, well attended, or has been running for many years. We must ask whether it truly leads people to Christ … ” It is in this vein that the Bishop O’Connell Campus Ministry office has begun the Campus Ministry Leadership Team, a group of student leaders spreading the faith throughout the school community.
The team consists of 24 sophomores and juniors who are empowered to take charge of and deepen their personal faith while becoming young leaders. Edward Fitzpatrick, campus ministry director, called them a “beautiful group of young people bringing Jesus to their peers.”
“When students feel empowered to lead, they can kind of take any idea they have and just run with it,” said Father Daniel Reuwer, chaplain.
The idea of the leadership team has floated around O’Connell’s campus ministry office for years, but it’s never come to fruition due to logistical challenges. However, last year, Father Reuwer, inspired by the “Core Teen” program affiliated with Life Teen at his former parish in Manassas, came to O’Connell and brought with him a fervent determination to “fill in the gaps” of campus ministry and start this faith-based student leadership initiative.
This past November, a group of seven students traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference. It was on this trip where the faint idea of the team became a focus for Father Reuwer, as Gianna Sloan (’28), on “fire with her faith,” suggested that the school offers more retreats and training for students. The concept of student leadership positions had been proposed to campus ministry before, but no one had taken on the industrious task thus far. “We knew the process would be imperfect,” Father Reuwer said, “but we wanted to do it anyway.” Powering through challenges and working hard all summer, he and Fitzpatrick were able to formulate the team along with the rest of the campus ministry staff.
While more than 35 Knights applied to be a part of the leadership team, only 24 spots were available. The selection process was the hardest part. Father Reuwer noted that “anybody who applied is already a leader” and “one of the best parts about the process was discovering how many good students we have at DJO who are so eager to share their faith.”
To narrow down the list, great emphasis was placed on prayer. All the teachers and administrators involved in the selection process were asked to pray about who should be a member of the team and were then invited to a meeting to discuss the applications. After multiple hours of conversation, a fruitful trip to the chapel and many hard decisions, the team of 24 was formed.
The students on the leadership team find the experience both fulfilling and fun, enjoying the many opportunities and responsibilities that are bestowed upon them. One leader, Camila Soruco-Franco (’28), said being part of the team has “given me many opportunities to be even more involved within the school community” and notes that she “enjoy(s) working with other kids who share the same goal of helping others grow in their faith.” Her peer, Meeghan Zonavetch (’28), added that participation “allows us to have a more meaningful role in the community. It enables us to want to share the faith with our peers.”
Not only will the team’s success greatly benefit the O’Connell community, but its effects will spread throughout the entire diocese. The reaction to the team from pastors throughout the area was extremely positive, with Father Paul D. Scalia, pastor of St. James Church in Falls Church, noting that these students will grow into the next generation of great parishioners, therefore benefiting the whole diocese. Father Reuwer added that this initiative will not only build the relationship between O’Connell and local parishes but also strengthen the parishes themselves.
Father Reuwer and Fitzpatrick are excited to continue growing the program. They plan to get members more involved in Bible studies, O’Connell’s Sacramental Prep, retreats and other campus ministry initiatives. They also hope to welcome 12 new student leaders from the Class of 2030 next year.
When asked what the greatest lesson he hopes students will learn as members of the Campus Ministry Leadership Team, Father Reuwer said, “I want them to walk away from here knowing and believing that holiness is not something that is reserved for later on in life, and that sainthood can be earned at any age.” Fitzpatrick shared that he desires for all students to “understand that the Holy Spirit has the power to guide them throughout their whole life, and that the Spirit is what will allow them to see the love of Christ each and every day.”
