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Newman Center column
Greetings from the far away land of North Dakota. As many of you probably
already know, I am no longer the director of the Newman Center at the
University of Nebraska at Kearney. Since it was my turn to write for this
edition of the Register, I thought I would share a few parting thoughts with
with you.
I enjoyed very much the five years I spent in at the Newman Center at UNK, Kearney, and the Diocese of Grand Island. The Newman Center is now is under the capable leadership of Genevieve O'Connor, Fr. Mike McDonald, Pam Cimfel and a great group of student residents and leadership team.
Although my time is Kearney was good, a part of my heart remained in my home state of North Dakota.
So when changes came about this spring regarding Newman Center ministry, I decided it might be a good time for me investigate some ministry opportunities closer to home. So I did.
To make a long story short, my new home is Jamestown, N.D. It is only 50 miles from where I grew up on a small farm. I am the director of faith formation at the Basilica of St. James. It is a large parish and the only one in town, which is about 16,000 people.
The parish is moving towards parishwide/intergenerational catechesis. I will also be the director of RCIA and have responsibility for outreach to the campus of Jamestown College, a small private school. I won't have to give up campus ministry "cold turkey!" I am already enjoying being closer to my family.
In closing, I want to thank all the people of the Diocese of Grand Island who supported the ministry of the Newman Center. It has an important role in the church's ministry and the future of our church.
If you ever have the opportunity to come in the direction of Jamestown, I hope you will look me up.
May God continue to bless the people of the Grand Island diocese.