A place of meditation and spiritual guidance

Four religious centers adjacent to campus offer USU students a place to go for spiritual guidance, social activities and a quiet place to study and meditate.

“I think it’s great for the students. Lots of people are hungry for a different perspective and not sure where to find it,” said Whitney Ferwerda, a senior in interdisciplinary studies and student representative for the Faith and Fellowship Center.

 

Faith and Fellowship Center

           

The Faith and Fellowship Center is located at 1315 E. 700 North. Different groups use the facilities throughout the week, said Lauri Muller, program director.

An interfaith service is held Sundays at 4 p.m., conducted by interfaith minister Rev. Hannah Thomsen. The services explore different faiths and their traditions.

The center is supported by congregations throughout the valley, particularly the First Protestant Church, the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and the St. John’s Episcopal Church.

“The center is an alternative opportunity for students to get involved in a faith-based connection,” Muller said.

While the center is open to community groups, Muller said it also provides a variety of activities for students, which are intentionally diversified with fellowship, service and activities that provide something for everyone. Dinner is also provided twice a month to students.

The center is surrounded by a peace garden and has picnic tables and a fire pit. Muller said the goal is for the center to be somewhere to go, a place where students can come and meditate on the grounds. Inside, there are couches and a TV if students just want a place to study.

Ferwerda said she helps with the activities such as the dinners, and most enjoys the relaxing atmosphere of the center. Students interested in becoming involved can call 435-753-0002.

 

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church          

 

The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 581 N. 700 East, across the street from the Aggie Parking Terrace. Services are every Sunday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Students are welcome to both services, but the later one tends to be more student oriented, with guitars accompanying the contemporary Christian music played on the second and third Sundays of each month.

“I really like working with people who have the questions and want to talk about them, what God said and what he meant, the impact for their lives,” said Pastor Scott Holder, who has served at Holy Trinity for nine and a half years and said he enjoys the association with the university.

Carrie Holder coordinates the student programs. She said there is a strong foundation of student support from the congregation, which provides dinner about twice a month. The dinners are often accompanied by a short thought and discussion, and other fun activities are organized throughout the semester, giving students a chance for social interactions. Carrie said the enthusiasm of the students is the most rewarding part of working with the campus.

“Students have a certain amount of joy in the faith that sometimes we lose as adults,” Carrie said.

A Bible study group is affiliated with Risen, a non-denominational Christian group, but also coordinates with Holder. Andrew Marquette, a sophomore in aerospace engineering, facilitates the group. He said most attendees are Christian, but not necessarily Lutheran. They usually meet Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and though small, the group provides a spiritual uplift midweek, Marquette said.  Currently, Marquette said he structures the group around a Bible study book by Max Lucado, but the time is also used to address the “touchy-feely questions.”

“I think what the study group has done, it’s given me a good bonding time with other people,” Marquette said. “It’s a really good way not only to interact with other Christians, but also to grow in my relationship with God and meet spiritual needs. I love it.”

Those interested in joining should email a.marquette@aggiemail.usu.edu.

 

St. Jerome Catholic Newman Center

           

The St. Jerome Catholic Newman Center is located at 795 N. and 800 East. Newman Centers are located at non-Catholic universities around the world to provide Catholic ministry centers. They are named for John Henry Newman, a 19th-century Catholic convert, said Harrison Kleiner, adjunct professor of philosophy.

“They are inspired by Cardinal Newman’s work which encouraged a robust synthesis between the life of faith and academic study,” Kleiner said. “Following that tradition, the USU Newman center strives to be a place where students can come for social, spiritual, and intellectual growth.”

Mass is held at the St. Jerome Chapel, where the center is housed, every Sunday at 6 p.m. The center features a social hall with Ping pong, foosball and pool. For a quiet place to pray, the St. Jerome Chapel is open 24 hours a day.

Either in the TSC or by the fountains on the TSC patio, the Newman Center hosts an informal “conversation table” each week, this semester on Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. Kleiner sits at this table and welcomes questions from both Catholic and non-Catholic students.  

 

LDS Institute

           

Located just west of the TSC, the LDS Institute currently has about 6,700 students taking 230 different classes that are offered from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. This flexible scheduling is to help students balance Institute classes with their university schedule, said director Wayne Dymock.

Students can get involved with programs ranging from choirs to weekly devotionals called “Religion in Life” featuring both prominent and local church members. There are also weekly activities planned by the Institute Women Association, Institute Men Association  and Married Student Association as well as Friday night activities open to all students.

“We have a lot of students say this is kind of an oasis from the stresses of school, a respite. It is a valuable place where they can come and get that uplift and reassurance,” Dymock said.

Those who are not members of the LDS faith are also welcome, and about 40 non-members are taking classes there this semester. A class on world religions is usually offered, and is generally well-received, Dymock said.

Historically, he said the Logan Institute is the oldest Institute in the LDS church and was the largest Institute program for many years.

The Institute tries to work with the University as well as other religious organizations. Dymock said they have worked with the Wheaten College in Chicago as well as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.

 

–  genevieve.draper@aggiemail.usu.edu