Sept. 5, 2014

The Office of Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America launched a new app last month that enables students to connect with the office and find faith resources through their smart phones and tablets.

The app, which is available for free on Apple, Android, and Amazon devices, includes several features, such as:

  • A feed of Campus Ministry's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts
  • A calendar of events specific to Campus Ministry as well as a link to the University's main events calendar
  • Daily Mass readings and motivational thoughts
  • Background information on a new saint each day
  • A link to posts from Busted Halo, a website sponsored by the Paulists and written by young adults for other young adults
  • Announcements from the Office of Campus Ministry
  • Contact information for student ministers

Rev. Justin Ross, O.F.M. Conv., associate chaplain for liturgy and worship, says the idea to develop the app came from the pastoral staff in Campus Ministry. They knew that students often turn first to phones and tablets for communication and information gathering.

"We wanted to put resources at their fingertips, so that with a few clicks, they'd be able to find the information they're looking for within the app," he explains.

It was important to the Campus Ministry staff that the app include more than just the office's schedule of events and links to its website. Resources like daily readings and motivational thoughts, social media feeds, and a Saint of the Day feature. Some of these features include audio segments.

"Maybe between classes students are listening to a homily," Father Justin says. "The whole idea originated out of a desire to meet students where they are and help them have easier access to resources that already exist."

The app has been downloaded by nearly 500 users so far, including President John Garvey, who pitched the app at the Orientation Mass for new students as a modern way to engage the New Evangelization.

Students have responded positively to the app so far. Father Justin says that students love the tagline Campus Ministry created for the app, "Jesus is free ... so is the app!"

"The end goal is for students to find it a useful tool to help them to continue to grow in their friendship with Jesus," says Father Justin.

For more information, visit http://ministry.cua.edu/ . To download the app, visit http://ministry.cua.edu/app .