You might not think surfing and campus ministry go together.
But that probably means you haven’t met Jeremiah Carter yet.
Carter is the new director of Campus Ministry at Chaminade, and he says one of his priorities this academic year is to launch outreach activities that attract more members of the University community.
“I’m looking to try some new activities that incorporate the beauty of creation and spirituality,” he said.
So to Carter, a campus ministry-sponsored surfing outreach event makes a lot of sense. “We’re fortunate to have strong traditional faith values and growing at Chaminade,” he added. “And we hope to incorporate that in creative ways as they relate to the modern world.”
It’s little surprise, then, that one of Carter’s favorite quotes is: “New times call for new methods.”
Those words are attributed to none other than Father Chaminade, the University’s namesake.
Since joining Chaminade just before the start the 2019-20 academic year, Carter says he’s been encouraged and inspired by how departments and programs across campus seek to offer students a “holistic experience,” focusing on not just academics but on personal and spiritual growth, too.
Carter said he was particularly moved by Chaminade’s new student orientation for this fall, which included a welcome in the Mystical Rose Oratory and was followed by an ecumenical prayer. “It was for all new students to Chaminade. And with so many of us working together, I believe it was a great example to them in the spirit of building community that we strive for here,” he said.
Carter didn’t have to travel far to accept his new position at Chaminade. He comes to the University from Damien Memorial School, where he was a religion instructor. Before that, Carter was a seminarian and earned two master’s degrees at Indiana’s Saint Menrad School of Theology.
Looking ahead, Carter said he’s excited to broaden the impact of Campus Ministry.
One way he and his colleagues are building community: By blessing departments, offices, student residence halls and other gathering spots on campus. He’s even thinking about a “blessing of the cars.”
“My personal goal is to build, inspire and nurture a supportive ecumenical community of believers, strive to transform students grounded in Catholic tradition and help prepare them to make lasting contributions for our local and global communities,” Carter said. “I’m blessed to be here.”
