CALLED25 as Communion, Commission, and a Beginning
by Rosie Chinea Shawver, MDiv
There are conferences and then there are moments that feel like the Church breathing.
CALLED25 was that kind of moment.
Held at the University of Notre Dame, CALLED25 wasn’t just another gathering. It was a sacred pause. A time to reflect, reimagine, and recommit. As we marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter Empowered by the Spirit, we did something different, we hosted a symposium-style conference that invited conversation and collaboration.
Rather than focusing solely on keynote speakers and breakout sessions, we invited campus ministers, theologians, chaplains, and thought leaders from across the country to engage with the six foundational aspects of Empowered by the Spirit: forming the faith community, appropriating the faith, forming the Christian conscience, educating for justice, facilitating personal development, and developing leaders for the future.
Each theme was paired with powerful keynotes and thoughtful white papers, living documents written in prayer and discernment, that aimed not to provide all the answers, but to open dialogue. CALLED25 was structured around the belief that the Spirit is still speaking and that our work is to listen, together.
As I shared in my opening keynote, this moment in campus ministry is filled with challenge but also immense opportunity. We minister in an age marked by disaffiliation, mental health crises, polarization, and spiritual hunger. And yet, amid the brokenness, I believe there is a quiet hope. A flicker of faith that still burns in the hearts of students even if they don’t yet know what to call it.
“We believe this is the opportune time to address a challenging word to the Church on campus.” (Empowered by the Spirit, no. 10)
Empowered by the Spirit reminds us that campus ministry is not an afterthought, it is the frontline of evangelization. And our students are not just the future of the Church, they are the Church.
During my remarks, I invited us all to do three things:
1. Revisit a Bold Vision
In 1985, the bishops saw the university campus as a mission field. That mission is more urgent now than ever. Today’s students are forming identity, worldview, and vocation in the shadow of loneliness and doubt. We are called to meet them there, not with programs first, but with presence.
“Campus ministry is not a peripheral concern of the Church. It is essential to her life and mission.” (Empowered by the Spirit, no. 3)
2. Reimagine Ministry for Today’s Challenges
The questions students are asking are different. They aren’t always theological, they are existential. Who am I? Am I enough? Where do I belong? Our job is to respond not just with knowledge, but with witness, accompaniment, and joy.
3. Renew Our Hearts for the Mission
Before we pour out, we must be filled. That’s why CALLED25 wasn’t just a conference, it was a retreat. A place to breathe, to pray, to remember that this work is Christ’s first. And we are simply stewards of His invitation.
Throughout the week, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully:
Bishop Mike Martin opened the gathering by anchoring us with three simple but profound words: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” Our ministries must begin and end with Him.
Katie Prejean McGrady helped us see that love is the lens through which faith is appropriated and lived.
Gloria Purvis challenged us to remember that justice and prayer must always go hand in hand.
And the Notre Dame panel reminded us of the importance of integrated student formation, attending to mental, spiritual, and vocational wellness.
But what made CALLED25 truly unforgettable wasn’t just the content. It was the people.
The hallway conversations. The impromptu prayers. The tears. The laughter. The sense that, for a few days, we were breathing in communion with a Church on fire with mission and love.
In a time when so many campus ministers feel isolated and weary, CALLED25 was a reminder: You are not alone. You are part of a national network of hope.
CALLED25 was more than a conference. It was communion. It was a commission. And it was just the beginning.
Campus ministers are not just program directors or event planners. We are living signs of the Church’s presence in one of the most vital mission fields of our time: the college campus. As Empowered by the Spirit reminds us,
“Campus ministry can be defined as the public presence and service through which properly prepared baptized persons are empowered by the Spirit… to be a sign and instrument of the kingdom in the academic world.” (no. 21)
That’s not just a role. It’s an identity, and it’s one we step into with the help of the Spirit, and the strength of this national community.
“The time is right to challenge faculty members, administrators, support staff, and students to contribute their time and gifts to the common effort to help the academic community achieve its goals and to build up the Church on campus.” (Empowered, no. 11)
What Comes Next?
To continue this spirit of renewal, we will be sharing a series of blogs in the coming weeks, each one reflecting on one of the six aspects of campus ministry highlighted in Empowered by the Spirit, and explored at CALLED25.
These reflections will draw from the keynote addresses, white papers, and conversations that took place at the symposium, and will offer practical inspiration for your local context.
Five Actions to Take Now
Revisit the bold vision of Empowered by the Spirit. Let it reawaken your sense of mission.
Reimagine how you’re accompanying students today. What do they need now? How is the Spirit inviting you to respond?
Renew your heart and spirit. Make space for silence. Let the Lord minister to you before the new academic year begins.
Engage with this blog series. Reflect, share, and start conversations on your campus.
Bring this back home. Host a roundtable or discussion with your team or student leaders. Ask: Where do we see these six aspects alive—and where are we being called to grow?
Together, let’s keep the momentum of CALLED25 and Empowered by the Spirit alive, not just in memory, but in mission.