And for two new students, their enrolment has also come with some monumental life changes.
Paul Dansereau made the move from Revelstoke, B.C., to Edmonton with his wife and three children, all under four, to study at Newman. He plans to spend the next two years working towards a bachelor鱿鱼视频app degree in theology and possibly a master鱿鱼视频app degree.
Supporting a family while studying full-time is a daunting task for the 29-year-old. But Dansereau is set to tackle the challenge, driven by his hope of a better future for the Church.
鈥淟ooking at the state of the Church today, the needs of our time, and the call for the new evangelization 鈥� nothing fills me with more joy than doing this kind of work鈥� with the Church, he said.
鈥淥ne of my favourite quotes from (Catholic author) Michael Kelly is that the Church is not something we inherit from previous generations, it鱿鱼视频app on loan to us from future generations.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 doing today is for the Church of my kids and grandkids.鈥�
As of the 2018/19 winter semester, 282 full-time and part-time students were enrolled at Newman. The student body is a combination of seminarians, lay people and Catholic teachers studying in the Master of Religious Education program.
Joanne Mahwinney of Wheatley River, P.E.I., is enrolled in the online Master of Theological Studies program. Like Newman, Mahwinney grew up in a different Christian tradition, and the new saint played a pivotal role in her decision to become Catholic.
Her enrolment seems particularly providential. It was the University of Prince Edward Island鱿鱼视频app annual Blessed John Henry Newman Dinner in Charlottetown that sparked her interest in Catholicism four years ago.
鈥淚 have to thank Newman for where I am now,鈥� said Mahwinney, who was gifted a book on the 19th-century theologian and cardinal.
At 50, Mahwinney has lived much of her life as a Protestant, a biblical scholar and teacher at the Immanuel Christian School in Charlottetown. Her superiors were supportive of her decision to become a Catholic more than a year ago. When she graduates, Mahwinney hopes to immerse herself fully in the faith and to pass her knowledge on to her students.
鈥淢any people don鈥檛 know how to view their faith from a perspective of truth or from a theism that is rational. It鱿鱼视频app important for me to learn that for myself and help young people. I want them to know there鱿鱼视频app a reason for their faith.鈥�
Dansereau鱿鱼视频app faith development has also come with challenges. He uprooted his family and left behind three jobs in Revelstoke where he worked as a postal worker, kayak guide and mover for the company he owns with his brother.
He was introduced to Newman Theological College through his local parish. He studied online and graduated with a certificate in theology last year. His passion for the Church and his faith only grew through this experience. His faculty advisor, Prof. St茅phane Saulnier, encouraged him to pursue that passion, even though he was hesitant at first.
鈥淢y immediate thought was, I鈥檝e got three kids to raise. There鱿鱼视频app no way I can afford to go back to school full-time,鈥� Dansereau said. 鈥淏ut over the course of several months we took it to prayer and the more we thought about it and considered our options, we discovered it was actually feasible and doable. Nothing has filled us with more joy and peace since.鈥�
What will come after his education is uncertain, but his dream is to work with a ministry like Dynamic Catholic or Word on Fire, founded by Bishop Robert Barron.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see what the Lord has in store. He鱿鱼视频app the one who put me on this journey.鈥�
(Grandin Media)