On Tuesday, November 11, Kean University's Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) and Catholic Newman Club (CNC) hosted a Rosary Making event, giving students to craft and design their own rosaries. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., the occasion provided a safe space by building a community among students with shared values.
Lucia Pasternak, the Campus Minister, shared her gratitude for students coming together and building relationships with one another.
“I love when students come to learn about different faiths and traditions, and so we brought the event for everybody this year,” Pasternak said. “The opportunity of doing things with your hands is a fun activity to do and building community by doing something together.”
Rosaries represent the Catholic tradition of meditation and commitment to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Each one is finished with a cross, symbolizing the crucifixion of Jesus.
“The rosary allows us to draw closer to God through a meditative form of prayer,” Pasternak said. “Using repetition with these prayers that come from the Bible, we can meditate on Christ."
Adela Montes De Oca, a second-year Chemistry major, said she was thankful to her friend for insisting on coming and understanding the importance of a rosary.
“My friend told me about the rosary making event, right after we left class, and it's really cool,” Montes De Oca said. “I think in general, craft events like this are very undervalued when it’s fun to do, when it comes to their stability to connect with people here.”
Events like this align with the CCM and CNC's mission to provide interactive faith-based activities to help students stay connected with their spiritual lives at Kean.
Yael Carpinteyro, a third-year Forensic Psychology major from Toms River, NJ, said making a rosary was enjoyable and helped reflect his religious values.
“It’s very lovely because I am a catholic person, and I thought it would be nice for to make something for my faith,” Carpinteyro said. “It’s a great opportunity to be out in the dorm and getting to know people, and this helped strengthen my faith; now I have a rosary to have in my dorm."
The CCM and CNC also invites students to attend Mass on Mondays from 3:30 to 4 p.m. in the Miron Student Center, Room 226 .
“Spirituality and religion is an important part of not only to our well-being but allows us to connect with those in our community,” Pasternak said. “When we have completed our rosaries, students can bring them to our Monday afternoon Masses on campus if they would like our chaplain to bless them."
Jacqueline Rodriguez, a second-year Computer Science major from Passaic, NJ, shared that the workshop helped encourage religious growth.
“For me, it’s like the start of me being religious and getting even closer to God,” Rodriguez said. “It feels nice to have one and I’m ready to use it.”
The opportunity to connect with peers who share similar beliefs and values, shows Kean's dedication to providing a community for students of all backgrounds. As the semester progresses, Kean University will continue to support students as they explore their beliefs and support one another's journeys through faith and creativity.
