Catholic Campus Ministry is a fun-spirited group of young adults seeking to continue their faith journey in the college environment. Mass is held on Sundays at 5:00pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, just a few blocks from campus. CCM also meets each Wednesday night at 6:30pm in the Campus Ministry Center next to St. Thomas Aquinas.
CCM Week is held at the beginning of each semester with events such as Mass, Rosary, field days, Top Golf, bowling, movie nights, and escape rooms each day of the week for new and returning members to ease into the semester through engaging activities with this faith-based organization.
Throughout the semester, Wednesday Night Dinners highlight a meal with interactive speakers and events to promote the Catholic faith and a greater intimacy with God. Rotating through spiritual, social, and service weeks, CCM provides a range of experiences for its members to socialize with friends, serve, and learn in this faith-centered environment. On spiritual nights, speakers give talks and answer questions pertaining to the year’s theme, Liturgy and the Sacraments. Other activities include praise and worship, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and Rosary nights. Social events allow for lively evenings with bonfires, games, dances, and more! Service nights bring the group together in giving themselves and their time both in the Charlotte and St. Thomas Aquinas communities supporting pro-life and homeless ministries.
CCM also participates in events hosted by the Diocese of Charlotte such as the annual Eucharistic Congress and diocesan-wide retreats for college students. We are also active with the Knights of Columbus, assisting them with fundraisers and events.
Welcome from Fr. Innocent
It is great to be back to school. I know you loved your vacation but also love to return to continue to pursue your personal ambition through a great education at UNC Charlotte. See how time flies. Summer seemed as if it would last forever when we left. But here we are, it’s over like a lightning strike. Fall session has begun, and before we know it, it’s Spring. So, it’s time to settle down immediately for action as there is no time to waste. Time waits for no one.
I welcome you all, new and returning students, to a new academic year. Our theme for the year is the Divine Mercy: The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). Taken from the Book of Psalms, the mission is leading us to explore the love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness of our loving God through Jesus Christ who gave his life for us.
We shall listen to speakers share their experiences of God’s love with us, their love for Christ and Christ’s love in the Sacraments. We shall share this love among ourselves, socialize, play, work together in community service, visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, attend Masses together, return to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and find joy in our faith journey. We shall organize retreats, both diocesan and local, for our students.
But CCM is particularly focused on building up a joyful Catholic community on campus and helping students love who they are and who the Lord is calling them to become. We are here to help you. I am available to listen and advise whenever you call on me. Do not hesitate. The student leadership team is set to give us amazing journey in the faith and community life, and the student leaders are also very much available to lend help when needed.
CCM is your home away from home. Feel at home every time you come to the lounge; it’s always your home. Relax, study, socialize, play available games, and make yourself comfortable. Make new friends when we meet as a community and share in the life of the ministry. Be part of CCM in its entirety so that as you pass through the CCM, the CCM can also pass through you. Respect everyone and earn everyone’s respect. One final thing, the CCM is religious and spiritual, not political. When we assemble, we discus God and us, not politics. Welcome back once again.
Fr. Innocent, Campus Minister