John T. Klarmann
Associate Director of Campus Ministry
Shippensburg University
717-477-1244
jklarmann@hbgdiocese.org
jtklarmann@ship.edu
54 Spiritual Center Dr.
Office 215
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Here at the Catholic Campus Ministry of Shippensburg University, we are very excited to start a new initiative and continue the authentic growth we seen both in the number of college students involved in our student group on campus as well as the depth of their spiritual lives and experience of the faith as well. This new Catholic Campus Ministry Initiative within the Diocese of Harrisburg and for the students here at Shippensburg University will be a Missionary Discipleship approach, and specifically, we are trying to bring a team of 4 FOCUS missionaries to help accompany the students and walk with them towards Christ and following Him more closely. Here are the basics reasons why we would like to ask you to first, pray for us here in our efforts, and also second, to consider supporting this new initiative financially for the future of the faith here at Shippensburg University Catholic Campus Ministry:
- The age of 18-23 yrs. old is a pivotal time in every person’s life and one where people make choices that define much of the rest of their life. That makes college campus ministry extremely important especially considering that of all the people who have left the Church nearly 80% dissociated by the time they were 23.
- In order to address this sad reality, we know that we need to do something different. We believe that bringing in a team of 4 young adult campus missionaries from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) can change the tide. FOCUS has had 25 years of collegiate outreach with great success (see attached document for those statistics). Even more than statistics Fr. Ben, John, and many of our students at Shippensburg University have had a life changing experience through the work of FOCUS.
- We believe that bringing FOCUS to Shippensburg University not only will we reach young people we will do so locally. With nearly 50% from 6 counties within the Diocese of Harrisburg and 94% from PA we are investing in the young people who are the future, and even possibly current, leaders of our parishes here in the Diocese of Harrisburg.
- This isn’t a free service though. It costs $70,000 annually to bring a team of 4 full time campus missionaries to our campus. We need men and women who have prayerfully considered supporting this mission to help us reach our goal. That’s where you come in. It is more than likely you cannot be one of those missionaries dedicating your life to this work, but you can give as a manner of going on mission as St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Some give by going others go by giving.”
Please prayerfully consider what God might be asking you to do and know that every bit helps us get closer to our goal.
Below you will find links to help you in this process:
Learn more about FOCUS: focus.org
Access the giving page: Ship-FOCUS Giving Page
Thank you very much for your time. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact either one of us.
In Christ,
Fr. Ben Dunkelberger & John Klarmann
Rev. Ben Dunkelberger
Pastor and Campus Minister
Parish: 717-532-2912
www.olvshippensburg.org
Diocese of Harrisburg
Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church
305 N. Prince St.
Shippensburg, PA 17257