Generation Bridge
“Upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
One of the great landmarks on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University is a six-foot high quartzite boulder affectionately known as “the Rock”. Situated on one of the main thoroughfares across campus, the Rock serves as a popular meeting spot for students, and over the years it has been the site of numerous speeches and protests. What once began as a prank, students now express their free speech by painting messages on the Rock to promote their favorite cause or events on campus.
Each fall, the Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern hosts a First Night event for incoming freshman. It is an opportunity for new students to meet each other, spend time socializing with upperclass peers, and participate in some spiritual reflections on the transition to college.
Late in the evening, the group sneaks away to partake in the long-standing tradition of painting the Rock. On this particular evening they return – digital cameras in hand – ready to the expose the evidence of their antics. Inscribed on the Rock is the Sheil logo, and in large bold letters they proclaimed “UPON THIS ROCK”.
While clearly a reference to Matthew 16:18, I find their pronouncement quite fitting.
This is where it all begins. For many of them, college is a time when they will form lasting friendships, acquire academic expertise, build professional networks, and hopefully mature in their faith. It is a time when they are exploring, questioning, discerning, and discovering who they are and what is important to them. College students are looking for a foundation upon which to build the rest of their lives.
This generation of students has come of age during a time when unimaginable events have rocked the world. Their formative years were marked by 9/11 and the Columbine shootings. They have watched the war on terrorism unfold before our eyes. They have witnessed the devastating effects of natural disasters from tsunamis to hurricanes. These students know first hand that the foundations built by the world are not always solid, and even the Catholic Church has not been exempt.
As a Catholic campus ministry, we strive to meet students in the world in which they live and provide them with solid ground on which to stand when the challenges of life seem to crumble around them.
- In a noisy world – filled with the sound of car alarms, cell phones, and an endless stream of music coming from their iPods – we help students listen to the movement of the Spirit, give them opportunities for prayer and reflection, and teach them to listen to one another.
- In a busy world – where students juggle classes, jobs, sports, friendships, and a whole host of resume building activities – we call students to discipleship, empower them to be leaders, and help them clarify values in a time of exploration.
- In a global world – where students are likely to encounter people of other cultures and faith traditions – we help students build community, develop a sense of Catholic identity, and give them the tools they need to enter into conversation with others.
- In a virtual world – dominated by electronic communication, e-mail, voice mail, instant messaging, and reality TV – we challenge students to look at life through the eyes of faith, to recognize their own giftedness, and to respect the dignity of life in every human being.
- In a world of instant results – where everything you need can be downloaded from the internet and students are under a tremendous amount of pressure to succeed – we call students to greater faithfulness, provide opportunities to respond with compassion to those who are in need, and remind students that true discernment takes time.
The Sheil Catholic Center is a place where students belong. We strive to be that solid foundation, a place where students can ask questions, reflect upon their experiences, and put their faith into action. Through our presence on campus, we invite others to know Christ and share in his mission. College students represent not only the future of the church, they are the Church.
Students today often use the adage, “You rock!” It’s another way of saying, “I like what you’re doing” or “you have what it takes”.
Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this rock, I will build my church.” In saying this, Jesus empowered those around him to follow his teachings and build a community of believers. With those same words, the First Night students left their mark on the Rock at Northwestern, acknowledging that the college experience will reshape their lives, and recognizing the importance of faith during these formative years.
If Jesus were speaking to college students today, I think he would simply say, “You rock.”
By Beth Knobbe
Beth Knobbe is a Master of Divinity student at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She works part-time as a Campus Minister at the Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
