Students who graduate from Catholic high schools are not forgotten when they go to college. Neither are Catholic students who graduated from public high schools.

Bishop Carl A. Kemme has assigned chaplains at many of the universities in the diocese and loans one of the diocesan priests to minister at Kansas State University.

Fr. Ed Herzog, previously a chaplain at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, has taken on a similar role this year at Newman University. "I hope to continue the great work that Fr. Adam Grelinger and his assistant, Emily Simon, started," he said. "I was here 15 years ago as a student, and they really developed the program in many ways."

Fr. Herzog emphasized that Christianity is about God inviting people into friendship with Him. "That’s one of the things that I’m looking to develop here – and this is well underway in many ways – I’m just hoping not to screw it up."

He aims to help students understand that church activities extend beyond Sunday services and sacraments, fostering community as per scripture where two or three gather in His name.

Fr. Herzog also teaches an introductory-level scripture course called Exploring the Bible. "It is great. I had my first class yesterday and began by teaching on the book of Ecclesiastes," he said.

He noted that students are at different stages in their faith journey, with some even showing antagonism towards religion. "One of the things I’m enjoying about this assignment...is that it’s evangelization in so many ways."

At Wichita State University, Fr. Drew Hoffman focuses on nurturing encounters with Jesus Christ for students through community-building activities. “I facilitate a welcoming Catholic experience for college-age kids…to provide them with community and fun as a basis,” he said.

Fr. Hoffman faces challenges due to students' preconceived notions about the church and cultural distractions on campus but uses food events as an outreach method.

Father Hoffman is assisted by six FOCUS missionaries this year (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). “There are hundreds of things taking place...ways we start with fun and then provide the ‘real meat’ as we go on,” he said.

Fr. Derek Thome serves as chaplain at St. Pius X Catholic Student Center at Pittsburg State University for his third year, noting increased student participation in activities compared to last year.

“Being able to invite people into a beautiful space is a great asset,” Fr. Thome said regarding their renovated student center which helps attract students.

The challenges faced by college students are similar to those faced by adults, according to Fr. Thome: “The question remains for all of us how to live out our freedom.”

Fr. Trevor Buster transitioned smoothly from his role as parochial vicar of two west-side Wichita parishes to chaplaincy at Kansas State University thanks to familiar faces among K-State students from his previous parishes.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” he said about his new role in Salina Diocese but was impressed by student engagement: “We’ve have about 200 kids who come to Mass at 9:09 every night.”

Mass is celebrated every night except Fridays and Saturdays at St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center's new campus complex.