2020-2021 Catholic Student Association

Leadership Discernment

On behalf of the entire University Parish Newman Center staff, we thank you full-heartedly for your willingness to discern God’s call for you in our community. We encourage you to reflect on the needs of our students and your strengths as a leader. Be prayerful and listen to what the Holy Spirit may be inspiring you to offer your peers as well as the opportunities that God has planned for you to grow through becoming an officer in the Catholic Student Association. The staff will be praying for you and offering whatever support we are able as you discern this next possible journey in your college career.

Prayerfully yours, Veronica Victoria

Campus Ministry Intern vvictori@kent.edu ______________________________________________________________________________________

Personal Information

Name: ______________________________________ E-Mail: _______________________________

Phone: _____________________________________ DOB: _____/_____/_______ Summer Address: _________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ___________________________________________________

Cumulative GPA: ______ Fall ’20 Credit Hours: _____ Major: _______________________________ Class: Fr So Jr Sr 5th year Anticipated Graduation Date: ___________

1.) First, take a few moments to prayerfully and honestly reflect upon the following reflection questions. Type your answers (2-to-3 pages) on a separate sheet of paper. Single or double-spaced. No handwritten reflections, please.

2.) Then, select and rank the below positions in which you feel called to serve. Only rank those positions that you are willing to fill if chosen.

3.) Return this form to Veronica Victoria in person or via e-mail at vvictori@kent.edu no later than Friday, April 10th at 4pm.

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Reflection Questions

1. Describe your participation in the life of the University Parish Newman Center and the Catholic Student Association. How have you responded to God’s call to serve others?

2. In what specific ministries (events, programs, liturgy, etc.) have you experienced the most fulfillment? What specific ministries have challenged you or have you not taken part in?

3. What has been your experience of hospitality at the Newman Center and with the Catholic Student

Association? Please be honest. How would you extend hospitality to others, especially new students?

4. Give an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to leadership. Provide an example.

5. What other commitments have you made for 2020-2021, such as membership in other student

organizations, being an RA, having a job, etc.? What might prevent you or challenge you from committing yourself to leadership in the Catholic Student Association?

6. FOR OFFICER POSITIONS ONLY: Are you able to attend the CSA Officers Retreat, August 23-26? This retreat is mandatory, but I promise you that you will be fed well with Carmen’s cooking. (Certain exceptions may apply due to on-campus employment or training. If you are worried about retreat attendance but still want to be an officer, please talk to Veronica.)

7. FOR PREVIOUS CSA LEADERS: Why do you want to be a CSA leader again? What wisdom have you acquired? What are some areas in which you might be called to grow as a CSA leader? In what areas does CSA have potential to grow and how would your presence help affect that growth?

Disciplinary Disclaimer By signing below, I acknowledge that any of the following behaviors or conditions may be grounds for my removal from the Catholic Student Association Officer team:

1. Any illegal behavior or actions that puts you or another person at risk or in danger. (We expect our leadership team to be respectful of civil law and the Kent State University Code of Conduct.)

2. Using the privileges of your position to spread non-Catholic or anti-Catholic sentiments or doctrine. (We expect our leadership team to represent the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church when acting in the official capacity of their office.)

3. Semester warning or academic probation at Kent State University

4. G.P.A. less than 2.25

The Campus Minister, in consultation with the Pastor of the University Parish Newman Center, reserves the right to remove any officer of the Catholic Student Association for any of the reasons listed above. Name (print): _________________________________ Signature: _________________________________

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Officer Positions All officers are expected to work collaboratively with the other Officers, Coordinators, and Campus Minister, be visible at CSA events, and be an active participant in the life of the parish (e.g. regular Mass attendant, liturgical minister, choir member, etc.). Please rank your interest in serving in the following leadership positions, starting with a 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second, and so on. These are not complete job descriptions and are subject to change depending on your creative spirit and ideas as well as the needs of the organization. ONLY RANK THOSE POSITIONS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO FILL IF CHOSEN. ___ President: The President works closely with the Newman Center staff and CSA Officers to set the vision for the organization. The President plans the agenda for the weekly CSA leadership team meeting and the monthly CSA General Meeting, facilitates those meetings, and develops creative uses/ways for the meeting to inform and motivate students to practice their faith. The President is the primary contact with Kent State University and serves as a primary liaison to other campus organizations. This position requires excellent communication skills, organizational skills, conflict management skills, and a willingness to support and mentor others. The President is expected to attend all meetings, be visible at Newman Center, and CSA events and participate in the liturgical life of the parish. ___ Vice President for Leadership Development: The Vice President for Leadership Development works with the President to oversee the general functioning and organization of the CSA. The VP serves as the primary point-of-contact for the Coordinators to serve them in bringing their ideas and events to the rest of the Officer team for review. The VP is also responsible to lead officer meetings should the President be unable to attend. This position requires excellent communication skills, organizational skills, conflict management skills, and a willingness to support and mentor others. Just as the President, the VP is expected to attend all meetings, be visible at Newman Center and CSA events, and participate in the liturgical life of the parish. ___ Community & Social Events Officer: The Community & Social Events Officer works collaboratively with other officers to enhance their events as well as plans activities which bring students together for food, fun and fellowship, such as downtown outings, off-campus activities, movie nights, socials, dinners, and large parties for Halloween and the Super Bowl. This position allows for a lot of flexibility and is only limited by one’s creativity and imagination. ___ Education Officer: The Education Officer is grounded in his/her Catholic Christian faith and is willing to continue learning about our Tradition so that its richness may be shared with the campus and parish community. Potential programs might include lectures and discussions on contemporary Catholic topics (i.e. Faithful Citizenship, Vatican II, vocation, etc.), book studies, etc. The creative use of social media, blogs, and videos allows for outreach beyond the Fireside Lounge. The Education Officer, responding to the needs of the students, works closely with the Newman Center staff and other CSA officers to develop these programs. ___ Prayer & Worship: All leaders are called to cultivate a prayer life for themselves and others, but the Prayer and Worship Officer plays an integral role in developing programming that nurtures our Catholic faith by planning and promoting retreats; assisting with Tuesday night Mass; organizing prayer opportunities for the community (i.e. Rosary, Taizé, Stations of the Cross, Lenten Prayer Partners, Art Prayer, etc.); and encouraging students to take advantage of parish-sponsored activities. This person should be grounded in his/her faith and be willing to share that faith with others. The Prayer & Worship Officer works closely with the Newman Center staff and collaborates with other officers to integrate prayer into the life of CSA. ___ Communications Officer: The Communications Officer (formerly Public Relations and Publicity) has a pulse on the activities of CSA and informs students and the parish community about the programs, events, and activities the Newman Center and CSA offer through the savvy and consistent use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others), the parish website, weekly e-mail newsletter, bulletin announcements, residence hall flyers, on-campus flyers, chalking, apparel, and other media. This person supports other leaders by helping them to promote their initiatives. Creativity, collaboration, good written and oral communication skills, and some technological skill are important in this position. Graphic design experience would be a bonus, but it is not a requirement.

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___ Service & Social Justice Officer: As Catholics, we are called to serve joyfully and minister to others, especially our most vulnerable sisters and brothers. The Service & Social Justice officer works collaboratively with the staff and members of CSA to organize and promote service opportunities for the organization and the parish with a special emphasis on direct service to those in need. This leader will continue our longstanding relationships with Catholic Charities and Hattie Larlham and offer support to the CSA Breakfast coordinators to help choose a charity and corresponding service project. The Service & Social Justice officer finds creative ways to promote justice and peace causes to members and provides opportunities for prayerful reflection and advocacy so that we may we walk with the “two feet of social justice.” If there are two Service & Social Justice Officers, one serves as an ex-officio member of the Catholic Relief Services Ambassadors Core Team. ___ Catholic Relief Services Officer: The Catholic Relief Services Officer serves as the liaison between the Catholic Student Association and the national Catholic Relief Services national organization. This means encouraging CSA students to attend CRS Ambassador Trainings, the SALT Summit in Washington D.C., and other CRS initiatives (Rice Bowl, Fair Trade sales, etc.). The Catholic Relief Services Officer is also responsible for bringing awareness and education to our community about the four CRS initiatives: human trafficking, climate change, global hunger, and migration. This officer should be well-versed in Catholic Social Teaching and will work closely with the Service & Social Justice Officer in planning events. Coordinator Positions CSA seeks to develop a broad base of leaders, drawing on the many gifts, talents, and time of its members. Coordinators are focused leadership positions within CSA. While Coordinators normally do not attend weekly leadership meetings, they still require a significant commitment of energy, time, and creativity. Coordinators receive support from the officers (VP especially) and the staff and often work collaboratively in a committee structure. Please indicate your willingness to be a leader for the following Coordinator positions. If you are interested in more than one position, please rank them. ___ Bible Study Leader (all year): The Coordinator in this position need not be a biblical scholar, but is someone who possesses a strong interest in Scripture, makes a commitment to learning more about it, and shares it with others. The leader of this ministry coordinates a weekly Bible study of 10-20 students at a time to be determined, setting aside time before the meeting for proper preparation using available resources at the Newman Center and on the Internet. The role of the leader is to facilitate conversation around a selected topic for the evening. The leader must be open to different ideas, realizing that everyone’s level of knowledge varies, and be able to confidently handle tricky small group situations. ___ Collegians for the Colegio Coordinator (all year): Collegians for the Colegio is a student-led program that supports the Padre Nicolas Antonio Rodriguez Diocesan School in Agua Caliente, Chalatenango, El Salvador (aka “the colegio”). Collegians is run by one or two students who have a passion for service and justice, especially in meeting the educational needs of those who are less fortunate. Coordinator(s) develop pledge packets for the beginning of the year, send out monthly reminders, record monthly donations, and share regular updates about what is happening at the colegio with program participants. This position involves some marketing and public relations skills as well as the ability to keep good financial records.

___ CRS Core Team Member (all year): The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Student Ambassadors Core Team incorporates CRS’ mission at Kent State University by working for global social justice and solidarity. Core Team members are passionate about working for change on an international scale. Positions include but are not limited to Co-Chair Ambassador, Social Media Manager, Educational Coordinator, and Committee Leader. Core team members attend core team meetings, most CRS assemblies, and the majority of CRS events. Core Team members have a large role in planning and implementing programs revolving around various global issues. Ideally, core team members have already gone through CRS Ambassador training or commit to attending a future training in the fall.

___ CSA Breakfast Coordinator (all year): CSA Breakfast Coordinators probably have the tastiest of all leadership positions. They ensure that all aspects of the monthly parish breakfast run smoothly, from publicizing the event, recruiting student and non-student volunteers, purchasing food and supplies, and working with volunteers during the event to prepare the meal, set up, serve and clean up. In addition, the breakfast coordinators support the CRS Ambassadors in running the fair trade sale. Breakfast coordinators work closely with the service and social justice officer(s) to decide on a local charity and direct service project.

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___ First-Year Retreat Team (short-term): Team members (4-5) work collaboratively to plan and run the one-day First-Year Retreat, usually held within an hour’s drive of the Newman Center. The team develops the schedule, large and small group activities, witness talks, and meals. Members should be enthusiastic and have the desire to engage freshmen in their Catholic Christian faith and the Newman Center and accompany them in their transition from high school to college. Preparation for the retreat begins in the Spring semester with one meeting before the end of the year, and then requires 4-5 weekly meetings starting during the first week of school until the retreat. ___ Homecoming Parade Float and/or Game Activities (short-term): CSA participates in the annual Homecoming Parade at Kent State University. The person in this position organizes and executes CSA’s Homecoming Parade entry based on the selected theme (usually a truck that we decorate) and invites students to attend the football game in the afternoon. Creativity and high energy is a must! ___ Intramurals Coordinator (all year): The Intramurals Coordinator has a passion for sports and the desire to be a team leader, literally. This person organizes CSA squads for the campus intramurals program at the Rec Center. Sports that CSA has played in the past include indoor and outdoor soccer, volleyball, and softball. The Intramurals Coordinator must also be able to meet registration deadlines and handle registration fees given to them by teammates and keep track of uniforms. The coordinator is expected to send out reminders for upcoming games and commit to being at the majority of CSA’s games. ___ March for Life Coordinator (short-term): The March for Life Coordinator works with the University of Akron or another parish in the Diocese of Youngstown to secure seats for the annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC. This person recruits students to attend and shares vital information with them in preparation. ___ Relay for Life (Spring semester): The Relay for Life chairperson organizes the Catholic Student Association team for the event, including managing fundraisers and facilitating team meetings. Participation in a previous KSU Relay for Life team would be helpful but is not necessary. ___ Rosary (all year): The Coordinator of this ministry leads a communal recitation of the Rosary on a date/time that reflects the desires of the student body. The Rosary leader ensures that rosaries and handouts are available for those who come to pray and invites others to share in leading the prayers. There is lots of room for creativity within this ministry. ___ Men’s Group (all year): This Coordinator plans the discussion topics for each meeting and arranges for guest speakers to visit the group. This position is predominantly led by the interest of the group. Must be a male student. ___ Women’s Group (all year): This Coordinator plans the discussion topics for each meeting and arranges for guest speakers to visit the group. This position is predominantly led by the interest of the group. Must be a female student. ___ Other (please specify) _____________________________________________________________________________