Father John to leave JMU campus ministry

ASB leader to depart JMU

Amy Paterson / photo editor Father John Grace speaking during mass in the PC Ballroom Sunday through Catholic Campus Ministry.

Catholic Campus Ministries will soon be losing its campus priest to the Paulist Fathers.

Father John Grace, who has been at JMU for 16 years, has decided to leave at the end of the summer to join a group of priests who are dedicated to bringing the Catholic faith to young adults.

According to the Paulists’ mission statement, the group works to spread the Gospel message and evangelize. They work to bring Catholics back into the church, to seek unity among all Christians and to build an understanding between all religions.

"I have a calling to take my ministry in a different direction," Grace said. "My experience at JMU has profoundly affected me in a positive way and I am convinced it is important for the church to be there for and work with young adults.

Before coming to JMU, Grace served as pastor at St. Thomas More in Lynchburg. There, he got involved in helping with ministry at Lynchburg College. He then came to JMU and began working with CCM. "We’ve been able to take CCM over the years and expand its work," Grace said.

Grace began the Alternative Spring Break trips with the first trip to Kentucky in 1990.

"Starting ASB in the early ‘90s and seeing where it has gone has been extremely satisfying," Grace said. "I have also enjoyed cultivating different ways in which students can come together to share their faith. Helping students take a risk with their faith and getting more involved has been rewarding."

Senior Bobby McMahon, a member of CCM and former assistant student campus minister, said, "Father John has been an absolute blessing to our community, and his guidance, leadership and vision will be sorely missed. With that being said, I’m excited to see what the future holds."

Grace not only worked with CCM but with the entire JMU community. "I’ve enjoyed my involvement in the overall JMU community," he said. Grace has served as chaplain to the football team, helped with leadership training, is faculty advisor to Theta Chi, served on university committees and commissions and has served the need of the students and JMU community in times of tragedy through various memorial services.

Starting next Monday, CCM will begin to interview for a new Catholic campus minister, Grace said. The person will not be clergy, but a priest who will come to JMU to serve mass to the Catholic community on campus.