My name is Rosie Chinea and I am the new director of campus ministry here at the Newman Center. After three years of theological and pastoral training at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley (JSTB), California, I am ready, excited and energized to embark on this ministerial journey with the students, staff, and faculty at the University of New Mexico.

In a nutshell, this is my theology of campus ministry. We are all collaborators in Christ's mission of spreading and embodying the Good News. College campus ministry is a unique ministry where knowledge, faith and action continually collide, empowering and challenging undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, to embrace and live out Christ's radical call to life with and for God. To live as a Church alive in the Spirit of the Second Vatican Council, I believe, there are five sub-ministry areas that are essential to the fullness of campus ministry: liturgical, social, education and faith development, social justice and outreach ministry. Campus ministry is a safe environment where college students and staff, in community, can learn and grow in their baptismal faith, to be a light of Christ's compassion in a world of growing disparity and injustices It is a place where education, faith, and action breeds and spreads like wildfire, illuminating the entire campus, and ultimately the world, with the Good News of Christ.

Since this is my first year as director at this Newman Center let me tell you a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Oxnard (home of the annual strawberry festival), California. I attended the University of California, San Diego and received my B.A. in psychology and I minored in health care and social issues. Here I was highly involved with the Dominican run Newman Center campus ministry program. After four years in beautiful San Diego I did a year of volunteer work at Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas. Annunciation House is an emergency/homeless shelter for immigrants where they receive the basic necessities for life (food, clothing, and shelter). After a year of volunteer work, with prayer, I realized that to work within the Catholic Church I needed to educate myself on the pillars of the faith. I therefore attended JSTB and received my Masters in Divinity. At JSTB I was liturgy coordinator for one year and also a chaplain at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California for one year.

After being away from campus ministry for four years I am ecstatic and grateful to be working in this environment once again. I am looking forward to meeting each one of you and walking with you on your journeys. Please feel free to call me or stop by my office at any time!

Peace and God Bless,
Rosie Chinea