2025 Spring Office Hours

Hearts on Fire: Transforming Students for Mission

Once a month Thursdays, 1 PM PST //4 PM EST, Jan. - May

Emcee Rebecca Siar, Director of Campus Ministry at the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois Chicago

Hearts on Fire: Transforming Students for Mission

In a world hungry for meaning and connection, this webinar series equips campus ministers with the tools to form students into missionary disciples who encounter Christ, experience personal transformation, and boldly share His love with others. Guided by the "Win-Build-Send" framework, we’ll explore strategies to inspire authentic relationships, foster deep faith, and empower students to set the world ablaze with the Gospel.

NOW COMPLIMENTARY FOR CCMA MEMBERS and NON-MEMBERS

Valued at $30 each session / totaling $150 for all sessions combined

Once a month Thursdays, 1 PM PST // 4 PM EST, Jan. - May

Next Spring Office Hours Sessions

Thursday, May 1, 2025

1PM PT - 2PM PT // 4PM ET - 5PM ET

Title: On Mission with Christ: Empowering Leaders to Evangelize and Transform the World

Speakers: Patrick Travers, Director of Campus Ministry at Penn and Drexel Newman Center & Fr. Gale Hammershmidt Pastor at St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center serving Kansas State University

Patrick Travers has served as the Director of the Penn & Drexel Newman Center in Philadelphia since 2018, and is a consecrated lay member of the Sodality of Christian Life, a society of apostolic life. He has studied a Master's of Business in Church Management at Villanova University, as well as a Master's in Spiritual Accompaniment from the University of Comillas, in Spain. In his time at the Penn & Drexel Newman Center, his team works with FOCUS missionaries on both campuses, and runs an ESTEEM program for college seniors that looks to prepare them for life as a Catholic after college. Originally from Illinois, Patrick "successfully avoided his Newman Center" at UIUC, but came back to his faith in grad school with the help of a FOCUS missionary.

Rebecca (Becca) Siar has served as the Director of Campus Ministry at the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) since August 2017, and she has a B.S. in Biochemistry from Roanoke College, an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, and a certification in Spiritual Direction from the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. She also formerly served as the President of Chicago’s Chapter of Young Catholic Professionals, a national organization that strives to challenge, train, and inspire young adults working in various professions to "Work in Witness for Christ," is the owner of her own photography business, Never A Dull Moment Photography, and is the Social Media Strategist for the Archdiocese of Chicago's Vocations Office.

Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt was born and raised in Hays, Kansas, and graduated from Thomas More Prep/Marian High School. He then attended Kansas State University where he received a degree in secondary education. Fr. Gale spent nine years in Manhattan, KS at Msgr. Luckey Jr. High School as a history teacher and football, basketball, and track coach.

From 2005-2012, Fr. Gale studied at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, CO. In 2012, Fr. Gale was ordained a priest and is currently the pastor of St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. Prior to this assignment, he served as a priest in Junction City, KS, and at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, KS.  Fr. Gale has served as a high school chaplain and vocation director for the Diocese of Salina. He is also the founder of the Prayer and Action summer mission program that has now spread to numerous dioceses throughout the country.