Booming growth at Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry, St. John Fisher highlights importance of ministry to college students
DETROIT — In an effort to capitalize on the ever-growing fruits of Catholic campus ministries across the Archdiocese of Detroit, a closer bond is being forged between the Catholic presence at Oakland University in Auburn Hills and Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry in Wayne County.
The two campus ministry programs, which each have seen an increase in student participation in recent years, will share priests and collaborate more closely moving forward, strengthening each community.
Starting July 1, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger has appointed Fr. Matthew Hood, the current chaplain of Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry — which serves students at Wayne State University in Detroit, the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn — as administrator of St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, in addition to his current responsibilities.
At the same time, the archbishop has appointed Fr. Steven Mateja, an in solidum priest who currently serves St. John Fisher, as co-chaplain of Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry as well as parochial vicar of St. John Fisher.
St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish, which serves students at Oakland University and its campus ministry program, Grizzly Catholic, will no longer be a part of the Bald Mountain Family of Parishes — which also includes St. Joseph and Christ the Redeemer parishes in Lake Orion — but will partner more closely with Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry.
Both campus ministry groups will remain independent, but will share priests and resources, Fr. Hood and Fr. Mateja said.
“It is an incredible honor that the archbishop has asked me to be at the front end of this endeavor for the Archdiocese of Detroit, to pour more resources into Catholic campus ministries,” Fr. Mateja told Detroit Catholic.
Fr. Hood said the new arrangement emphasizes the importance the Archdiocese of Detroit places on campus ministry.
“The archbishop is saying that he wants two priests to be dedicated full time to this mission, which is a huge sacrifice, especially today, as we look at the priest shortages,” Fr. Hood said. “I am deeply convinced that campus ministry is the epicenter of the renewal in the Catholic Church, especially in the United States.”
At Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry and at St. John Fisher, both Fr. Hood and Fr. Mateja say they have experienced firsthand the significant growth of the Catholic Church on college campuses, both Christian and secular.
While many U.S. dioceses have reported a general increase in the number of converts entering the Church, many of the hubs of Catholic activity are centered on college campuses.
“(Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry) started after the pandemic with maybe four or five students,” Fr. Hood said. “This past year, we had over 180 students in Bible study; we had 10 students received into the Church — sometimes there are not very many parishes with 10 people being received into the Church — we have two guys who have entered seminary, and even more young people being sent out as disciples who are seeking to live out the mission of the Church for the rest of their lives.”
Similarly, Fr. Mateja said St. John Fisher currently has 95 students in Bible study, an increase in young people attending daily Mass, and seven college students enter the Church this Easter.
Campus ministry plays an important role in this faith boom because young people are hungry for authenticity and truth, Fr. Mateja said.
“Young people want authentic faith — they want authenticity, they want truth and reality, goodness and beauty, and so hard truth is so important for young people,” Fr. Mateja said. “They don’t want the squishy stuff. They want the hard truth. They want the fullness of the faith, and when you water it down, the young people aren’t interested in a product that isn't lasting.”
Fr. Hood said he and Fr. Mateja remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they pray about how the two campus ministry programs — and they as priests — can collaborate more closely.
“We are working to figure it out together as we discern the way forward, and we are trying to be responsive to the gift of the Holy Spirit and the newness of this assignment,” Fr. Hood said. “But I also think that it is an opportunity to focus on the growth that has happened for campus ministry — it has borne a lot of fruit. Campus ministry is such a bright light on the Church today.”
