---

Graduate schools' chaplain is a shepherd seeking sheep

Graduate students filed in by the dozens, heading for the bookstore or the cafeteria at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. A priest clad in a fleece shirt, bicycling pants and a baseball cap sat behind a table in the foyer, waiting to greet them.

A few students stopped to hug him and chat about their vacations. One picked up a daily Catholic devotional booklet. But most passed right by him.

Rev. Paul Smith, chaplain for University Heights, the four graduate schools along New Scotland Avenue in Albany, tries this during most weekdays. He said he hopes to spread the word about local Mass times, start conversations about Catholicism and generate interest in starting a campus group.

"I'm going to pretty much insist that we get our charter recognized" by school administrators, Father Smith said. It's part of his effort to establish and unify the Catholic presence at University Heights.

Currently, the number of students attending Mass disappoints him, but he and a few active students are hopeful for the future. The challenge faces many chaplains at non-Catholic colleges and graduate schools, where students have little time to create an on-campus presence or venture to the nearest church.

St. Teresa of Avila was the closest Catholic church to campus until it merged last year with St. Catherine of Siena parish in Albany. The merged parish, Mater Christi, is several miles west on New Scotland Avenue.

Rev. Kenneth Doyle, pastor and diocesan chancellor for public information, said that about 10 law, medical and pharmacy students attend Masses there.

Where are they?
St. Vincent de Paul parish on Madison Avenue gets only a few medical students at its Sunday evening Masses, which are held during The College of Saint Rose's academic year. The small crowd puzzles Betsy Rowe-Manning, parish life director, because she hangs a banner welcoming students every year, acknowledging all of the colleges in the area.

Father Smith's own Sunday night Mass on the college of pharmacy campus attracts about 25 students. He hangs posters at Albany Law School, Albany Medical College and Sage Graduate Schools, sits at Albany Medical College on Fridays and sends promotional emails to every student at the pharmacy school.

His advertising efforts have yet to yield the results he seeks, either.

The barriers
The busy life of a graduate student, who often juggles demanding schoolwork, a career, marriage and children, seems to be the culprit, Father Smith said.

"I think many of the students are so academically overwhelmed that they're looking to just survive," he explained.

Catholic commuter students - only the college of pharmacy offers residence facilities - may also attend their families' parishes.

Matt Klimasauskas, a second-year law student at Albany Law School, attends Masses that Father Smith celebrates at St. James Church on Delaware Avenue with about five other students.

Mr. Klimasauskas, who lives about a mile from St. James, encourages his friends to accompany the group, but they usually don't have time. Mr. Klima-sauskas is intrigued by the idea of a student group - but wouldn't be able to commit time to it.

Mr. Klimasauskas and his girlfriend, Joi Kush, a third-year law student, met Father Smith at the college of pharmacy's Masses. Still, they prefer the larger, more formal community at St. James. Ms. Kush attended St. Teresa's parish during her first year at school.

Fast forward
Law students especially need a religion or philosophy group, Ms. Kush said. They often feel overwhelmed by pressure to succeed or by debt, she said, and counseling would help.

Catholicism - as well as religions like Islam and Buddhism - needs demystifying on campus, Ms. Kush said. She volunteered to join or even help start an interfaith group.

Father Smith said the Catholic ministry has worshiped with a student-run Orthodox group, but these are the only two faith groups.

Ms. Kush would also like to get a Catholic group involved with women's rights events she sponsors on campus. Father Smith wants to attract the science-focused students with discussions on science and faith, and the relationship between faith and evolution.

Rev. Edward Kacerguis, director of campus ministry for the Albany Diocese, said it's important for campus ministers to be available to answer questions and offer counseling.

He is also chaplain at Rens-selaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. Father Kacerguis said students there approach him for advice and questions on issues like money, relationships, sexuality and faith.

"It is not a numbers ministry. It is a ministry of presence," Father Kacerguis said. "They have to see we're supporting them in the life they have chosen. Sometimes it pays off with great Mass attendance and sometimes it does not."

He said he respects the stresses of graduate students and their need to sometimes worship through individual prayer and reflection.

"Their faith is deep, I think, but it may not be expressed," he said. "They've kept touch with their base and their intellect and their spiritual life, but in different ways."

(02/04/10) [[In-content Ad]]

---