Without a chaplain to replace Father Louis Manzo, who left the University last spring, and with the administration’s decision that any successor would only be hired part-time, the new semester has brought the start of a trying period for the Catholic community on campus.
Last year, the Catholic community thrived: several students were either baptized or confirmed, attendance at Sunday night Mass grew, and some students were even training to be Eucharistic ministers.
However, at the end of the fall 2005 term, Manzo announced that he would be leaving Wesleyan to work at another institution. The school board then contacted the Catholic student community asking it to compile a list of the qualities it would like in its next chaplain. A committee of students, including Eugene Dayanghirang ’07, Jenna Gopilan ’07, and Tom Crosby ’07, met to discuss what they wanted in their next chaplain.
“What was really important to us was having a chaplain who was involved with the student community and helping the Catholic community on campus to grow,” Dayanghirang said.
One month later, the students were informed that a job listing had been posted. However, the job description only asked for a part-time chaplain, which the Catholic students strongly opposed. They were displeased that the board had disregarded their input.
“A few years ago, when someone died on campus, Father Manzo was right here with us,” Crosby said. “If something like that happened, there might not be a Father on campus.”
However, Dean of Campus Programs Richard Culliton defends the board’s decision, citing budget restrictions.
“As the University is working to reduce its budget over the next five years, every staff position that becomes vacant is being reviewed,” Culliton said. “Given the budget reductions that the Dean’s office was facing, a half-time position was posted.”
Over the course of the next few months, the students of the Catholic community met with the deans to discuss the matter further.
According to Culliton, the decision was influenced by a decrease in the number of students who identify as Catholic over the last ten years, in addition to fiscal pressures.
“The Dean’s office determined that [at] 20 hours per week, Wesleyan could hire a Catholic chaplain who could celebrate Mass on Sunday and be available at least two other days a week to counsel students and support student programs,” Culliton said.
The students decided to deliver an ultimatum to the board: either they would have a full-time chaplain for the fall 2006 term or no chaplain at all.
“This is not just a job or a sports team we’re talking about,” Crosby said. “It’s a spiritual position and should be viewed as such.”
While these students received support from several Catholic faculty members in rejecting the idea of a part-time chaplain, many supporters did not agree with the ultimatum.
A part-time candidate was chosen, but he declined, choosing to take a position at another college. This means Sunday Mass is currently being led by a circulating group of local priests.
“We are very fortunate that the Diocese of Norwich has agreed to coordinate with priests from local parishes,” Culliton said. “[They] have agreed to come to Wesleyan on Sunday nights for the 9 p.m. Mass during the fall semester.”
As of now, the University’s Catholic students are left with no permanent chaplain. In the meantime, the board is evaluating alternative chaplain options for the spring semester.
“While the budget constraints are still very real, Dean [of Student Services] Mike Whaley has been asked to oversee a review of the needs of Catholic students and to assess how other campuses meet the needs of their Catholic students,” Culliton said. “We hope that this work can be completed this fall so the chaplain position can be advertised by the beginning of the spring semester.”
Students say that they will continue to fight for a full time chaplain.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about support for the Catholics on campus,” Crosby said. “I want them to continue to feel welcomed here and comforted.”
Manzo had been the University’s Catholic chaplain for five years. He was involved with PINOY– the Filipino student organization–, and he organized Catholic student activities. Manzo was in charge of leading confessionals and Mass on Sunday nights.
Leave a Reply