St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app is an openly Catholic affiliate college of the University of Waterloo. Recognized for both academic excellence and its continued commitment to the community, this academic institution provides a residence to undergraduate university students. St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app鈥� mission is to support the whole person. Both Catholic and non- Catholic students choose to live in this residence because of St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app reputation as an inclusive, supportive community.
Many students, like Andrew Zettel, come to St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app for the faith connection.
鈥淭he Catholic faith is integral to my life. Having a place where that faith can grow and I can comfortably express it was very important,鈥� said Zettel, a second-year political science student.
Anne Csinos, a second-year student studying speech communication, found St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app to be a home away from home, where she was encouraged and welcomed in the faith community.
鈥淪JU has given me a place to get involved in my faith while I鈥檓 away at university,鈥� she said. 鈥� I love the homey-ness of it.鈥�
But St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app does not just appeal to Catholic students looking for a place to explore their faith. The university鱿鱼视频app small campus, homey feel and supportive staff make it a community where all can feel welcome and supported in their school, social and spiritual lives.
Math student Josh Jegaysingham said St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app was 鈥渢he reason he chose Waterloo,鈥� despite the fact that he isn鈥檛 Catholic. He says that without St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app, he would not have made the kinds of friends that he did make.
鈥淪J has a lot of good people, really supportive. It definitely made an impact (on my overall university experience).鈥�
Angela Manella, current don and choir director at St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app, says she hears many students say they chose St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app because of the community鱿鱼视频app good vibe, regardless of their faith orientation.
鈥淭he fact the faith is not forgotten here, it gives a different vibe, even if a student isn鈥檛 practising the faith,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudents say (St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app) has a different vibe, and maybe don鈥檛 attribute it to the faith community, but the fact that faith is not forgotten makes a difference.鈥�
Martha Fauteux, director of campus ministry, spoke about the wide range of activities that St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app provides, which appeals to a variety of students.
鈥淭here are groups of students coming (to campus) to explore their faith, whether Catholicism or just God more generally,鈥� said Fauteux.
Besides Sunday Masses, campus ministry provides Bible studies, weekly meditative yoga, women鱿鱼视频app groups and more.
Fauteux says for certain students, even if they are not practising Catholics, St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app provides 鈥渁 place to be listened to and create community.鈥� She recalled a conversation she had a few years ago with a Muslim student who was very involved in spiritual activities at St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app. When she asked the student why she chose a Catholic place to explore her faith, the student replied that the community at St. Jerome鱿鱼视频app made her feel safe enough to explore and nurture her faith.
SJU is so important because it provides students with a place to nurture their spiritual lives, as well as their academic, after they鈥檝e left home, said Fauteux.
鈥淕rowing up at home, you have your parents, and your parish, for your faith base. When you move away, SJU becomes that new base for students.鈥�
(Jamieson, 19, is a second-year Knowledge and Integration Student at the University of Waterloo, Ont.)