Notre Dame Sister Cynthia Hruby looks forward to developing student leadership at Wayne State College as the new director of Catholic Campus Ministry there. Helping her do this among their peers are Newman Club officers (from left) Jamie Kluthe, Jillanne Walsh and Lisa Lange. Photo by Kimberly Nebgen

Campus ministry at Wayne State College dates back to 1892. In the early years, the Catholic Club met weekly for music, informal debates, and discussion of articles from The True Voice (now The Catholic Voice). College professors sponsored the club.

In 1931, the group obtained a charter from the National Federation of Newman Clubs and has been known as the Newman Club ever since.

A series of priests of the Archdiocese of Omaha, including Father William Kearns, Father Robert Hupp, Father William Kleffman, Father Paul Begley and Father Anthony Milone (now Bishop Milone of Great Falls-Billings, Mont.), moderated the club with the cooperation of St. Mary Parish in Wayne until 1974.

That year, Father Tom McDermott and Father Tom Adams were assigned to the Newman Club ministry. According to the club's history, religious instruction, counseling and speakers became the program's mainstays.

Father Jerome Spenner replaced Father Adams in 1979, and in 1981, the Newman Club underwent a re-organization. Father Jim Buschelman and Missionary Benedictine Sister Rosann Ocken created a Newman Board with sponsors, officers and chairpersons for liturgy, spiritual, service, social and educational committees.

In 1986, Father Don Cleary, Father Al Salanitro and Missionary Benedictine Sister Rita Marie Tofflemire continued to develop this structure. Ten years later, Missionary Benedictine Sister Jeremias Lee replaced Sister Tofflemire.

This year, the campus ministry directorship was expanded to a full-time position and placed under the auspices of the Office of Religious Formation of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

Jim Corr, director of the office, acknowledged the Benedictine sisters' role in the development of the Newman Club at Wayne State.

"I'm grateful to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters who started campus ministry there and served for many years, often with no pay," Corr said.

The Wayne State position is now filled by Notre Dame Sister Cynthia Hruby. Corr said he looks forward to watching her build on the century-old foundation already existing at the college.

"She's a very vivacious person and will have no trouble reaching out to students and befriending them," he said.

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