Campus Ministry and Nurturing Charisms

One aspect of the role of the ADP (Ministry) involves the curriculum of community (koinonia) and it is in this context that I reflect on the task of nurturing charisms. But first, a word or three about words.

The word charism means a God-given talent or power. It came into the English language in the seventeenth century through ecclesiastical Latin from Greek. The original meaning of the word is "grace." The word grace means a gift freely given by God. Someone taught me a long time ago that grace is sharing in the very life of God.

The word koinonia means “partnership” and it refers to the spiritual fellowship of the community of faith. It is the first form of religious life that the College receives from the Church. Theologically, the people who comprise the College have been created in the image of God who is proclaimed to be a trinity of divine persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There is a sense of gratitude about the presence of charisms in the life of a community, both on the part of those who exercise charism and those who benefit from others' charisms. The spirit of thankfulness is a response to God's love and mercy active in the presence and work of the person who exercises their gifts and talents in service of the community.

In the previous blog, I described the koinonia tasks of the Assistant Deputy Principal (Ministry) in the following way:

• nurture faith in Christ as the head and heart of the College community; to encourage members of the community to live in accordance with the goodness in people, the virtues befitting discipleship.
• ensure that the Catholic faith tradition to which the College belongs is made present and celebrated through its signs and symbols.
• organise opportunities for structured reflection on the college mission statement as the formal expression of the common desire for community.
• assist the Heads of House in developing students’ understanding of and appreciation for the charisms of their House patrons.
• promote experiential learning opportunities that contribute to the formation of the conscience of the College community.
• foster awareness of the eschatological dimension of College as a Christian community, particularly through the celebration of the liturgy.
• through the use of various forms of media to support the development of publications that promote the College as a faith community.
• develop ways of drawing the College community into the parish communities, eg, Altitude, World Youth Day, an Arts ministry team that enhances liturgical worship in the parishes, youth groups that interface with parish youth groups.
• undertake whatever tasks the Principal determines that relate to the College as a faith community.

Those who serve their community make use of their charisms. There are many talents and gifts operative in the life of any community.