February 2017

1

Be

ne

dic

tin

e U

niv

ers

ity

•

Fe

bru

ary

20

17

Campus Ministry about focusing on the greater goodIt should come as no surprise that Benedictine’s Campus Ministry is among the liveliest and most spirited areas on campus.

That’s because it’s a ministry on a Catholic campus that invites students from every faith group as well as those who hold no faith traditions to participate and work toward becoming better people who strive for good in the world, according to Carrie Roberts, director of Campus Ministry, who earned a Master of Arts in Theology.

“You don’t need to be Catholic or even believe in God to be involved,” Roberts said. “The beauty of the Benedictine Hallmarks is that they are Catholic and Benedictine and anyone of any faith tradition can really connect with them. It’s those hallmarks—particularly living and working in community, hospitality and love of neighbor—that give us the ability to connect with students who may not be Catholic or are on their own faith journey trying to discover what religion means for them.

“Campus Ministry is meant to be for everyone because we are all called to grow closer to God and/or to be the best person you can be whether you ascribe to a certain religion or not,” she added.

While there is still a strong-as-ever Catholic emphasis, in recent years, Campus Ministry has focused on offering more ecumenical and interfaith programs and services to meet the needs of all students. Catholic doctrine tells us to welcome the stranger and embrace those who are different from ourselves.

At the Lisle main campus, 47 percent of students are Catholic; 24 percent are Muslim; 21 percent are non-Catholic Christians; and 2 percent are Hindu, according to 65 percent of traditional undergraduate students who agreed to share their religious preference with the University in 2016.

47% 24% 21% 2%

(Religious preference Lisle campus)

This level of diversity affords students with unique opportunities to learn more about the world and engage with students from all walks of life.

Through participating in Campus Ministry, students can expand their worldview and enrich their understanding of other cultures. These ideas mirror values of living and working in community and caring for others.

Doors are opened to all through service opportunities, called the STEP (Serving Together Engaging our Purpose) program, which appeal to students regardless of faith background. Research shows the newest generation of college students (called Generation Z) overwhelmingly wants to help make the world a better place. They aspire to have purpose and give back in their lives. This matches perfectly with the Benedictine values.

B ENED I C T I NE UN IVERS I TY

“Students are looking to be part of a community they can grow in, and we see a lot of students come to Campus Ministry who are very interested in serving their neighbor and caring for those in need,” Roberts said.

During the winter break, a group of students traveled to Bacolod, Philippines, to help impoverished villagers build homes. This spring, another group will travel to Baldwin, Mich., to help residents make repairs to their homes.

Students who attend these trips are asked to reflect on the reason why they involve themselves in service, Roberts said.

“All of our service activities are ecumenical and involve looking from the inside out,” Roberts said. “We don’t want the experience to just end on that act of service. We want them to take that extra step so that they continue on whatever creed they have that is encouraging them to serve.”

Other local service projects have included packing and distributing food for local food banks and volunteering at Misericordia Heart of Mercy, a community that provides a continuum of support for 600 adults and children with developmental disabilities.

Another way Campus Ministry welcomes students is through conversing about religion and interfaith programming in student groups, such as the Catholic-Muslim Dialogue and the Movement of Students Achieving Interfaith Collaboration.

A new student-led arm of Campus Ministry, Cor, is composed of student leaders who organize Bible study groups and other programs to reach out to the greater student body, such as “Find Francis Fridays,” which features a search for a hidden life-sized Pope Francis cutout on campus. Those who successfully find him win a prize. It’s a fun way to involve the wider community.

Students (Catholic and other faiths) have also found value in the “Busy Person’s Retreat,” which offers opportunities to meet with a spiritual advisor.

“For one of our Hindu students, it was another way he could find peace in his day and reflect on how in his own faith tradition he could take time from his hectic schedule to be with God and re-evaluate that relationship,” Roberts said.

Special care is taken to provide support for students as they develop their faith in a friendly, non-proselytizing and non-judgmental atmosphere.

“We are here to listen and ask questions so that we can provide resources for them or direct them to an appropriate spiritual leader either on or off campus,” Roberts said. “We really want to meet them wherever they are and help them to grow in their faith journey.”

Hannah Joseph, who is Catholic, specifically cites the diversity of programs in Campus Ministry for helping her to grow in her faith.

“Being part of these programs encourages me to explore more of my faith and helps to make a difference in the lives of others,” Joseph said. “One of the most memorable experiences I had was going to Washington, D.C., for the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge to share how Catholic-Muslim dialogue is implemented in a respectful and meaningful way at Benedictine.”

Campus Ministry also serves as a springboard for students like Kelcey Adams, who is not Catholic but still forming a faith identity.

“In Campus Ministry, there is a level of respect for students no matter how they grew up or how they identify themselves,” Adams said. “I feel that learning how to treat everyone with kindness, how to step back and fix your eyes on the larger picture, and learning how to forgive yourself and others are some important life lessons anyone can benefit from, no matter their religion.”

Bringing people together with the goal of helping them discover their purpose, growing in their self-awareness and contributing to the greater good is core to Benedictine and its aspirations for helping students live more meaningful and virtuous lives.

2

Be

ne

dic

tin

e U

niv

ers

ity

•

Fe

bru

ary

20

17

Benedictine’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program provides students with a strong foundation in the biological, cognitive, social and emotional underpinnings of human behavior.

They gain in-depth knowledge of the mental health system, its continuum of care for a wide variety of disorders, developmental issues in children and adults, and how to write and properly analyze research, which makes them strong candidates for a number of jobs both within and outside core psychology fields.

“Our program creates an environment in which individual development, as well as civic engagement and social responsibility, are fostered,” said Pat Somers, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice and Clinical Psychology.

“With this background as a foundation, students are well equipped to enter a number of positions in many different fields.”

Graduates from the program are prepared for careers in administration and management, sales, human resources, training, business, marketing, real estate and law enforcement, and as psychiatric technicians, substance abuse counselors, social work assistants or as health educators.

“There is hardly an industry out there that doesn’t have a need for a graduate with a strong psychology background,” said Jane Boumgarden, associate professor. “We also constantly ask ourselves, ‘How are we best preparing our students for the jobs of the future that will require the application of psychology?’”

Students in the program study the behavior of individuals, groups, society and organizations and learn both the theories of psychologists and how the theories are applied in real situations. They learn to work with people effectively in a range of careers in health, public affairs, administrative support, business, sales and the service industry.

“We have faculty members in clinical practice who are out there working in the field,” said Boumgarden. “We also have faculty with extensive research backgrounds in academia, so we are pretty eclectic in terms of practice and research, which is a nice blend for our students in terms of what they can be exposed to and who they can be mentored by while they are here.”

Students also benefit from guest lecturers who come to campus to share their expertise on a wide variety of cross-disciplinary topics and issues central to the fields of psychology and sociology.

Graduates from the undergraduate program are well prepared to start the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program at Benedictine, which features extensive field experience in various mental health settings as an essential part of the program’s requirements. The curriculum prepares students to take state examinations to become licensed professional counselors or licensed clinical professional counselors, and is an excellent foundation for further doctoral study. Graduates are also well suited to start master’s programs in social work and counseling psychology, continuing through to the doctoral level in psychology.

A majority of graduates have found employment in private practice, public mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment facilities and social service agencies serving individuals and families.

3

Be

ne

dic

tin

e U

niv

ers

ity

•

Fe

bru

ary

20

17

Psychology program preps grads for diverse career paths both inside and outside fieldA fast growing field through 2024

4

Be

ne

dic

tin

e U

niv

ers

ity

•

Fe

bru

ary

20

17

Job prospects for psychologists are expected to be in high demand through 2024, with employment growing at 19 percent (faster than the average for all occupations), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Three of the top careers in this field include industrial-organizational psychologists, clinical or counseling psychologists and school psychologists.

Recent events also suggest enhanced career opportunities for those with psychology backgrounds as more communities see a need to provide increased mental health services and diversion programs to more adequately serve the 44 million American adults who struggle with mental illness (including nearly half who go untreated).

The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, which was recently signed into law, introduces reforms to make insurance companies cover mental illness more extensively, and emphasizes prevention, early intervention and care integration, as well as criminal justice reform and support for law enforcement and others who respond to people with mental illness.

“We’ve already started to see some of this locally as well with the new warden of the Cook County Jail,” said Boumgarden. “She is one of the first clinical psychologists to run a major jail in the United States.

“You have to ask, ‘Why do we have so many nonviolent people in the criminal justice system with mental issues today?’ That is a huge issue we need to address as a country,” Boumgarden added. “Part of our job is staying on top of these issues and making sure our students are receiving a curriculum that is relevant to what they might see as professionals in the areas of mental health or social work.”

Students who meet the requirements (3.000 minimum GPA and a “C” or better in Clinical Practicum Lab) can apply for on-the-job field placements with 40 local agencies to obtain practical work experience. The placements include working on a crisis hotline, in a large clinical practice, at an inpatient psychiatric unit in a hospital setting, in police departments and at several other social service and rehabilitation agencies.

“The major thing I see that draws students to this field of study is that they want to work with people and they want to make a difference in people’s lives,” Boumgarden said.

5

Be

ne

dic

tin

e U

niv

ers

ity

•

Fe

bru

ary

20

17

Ron Yurcus’ strong faith in God has helped him navigate through the many peaks and valleys of his career.

“He always seems to be there moving me up along,” Yurcus said. “When I fall, He picks me up.”

On a recent visit to campus, Yurcus opened up about his days as a student at Benedictine (then St. Procopius College) and years after as an educator, small business owner, minister for hospice patients and a surprised lottery winner.

Yurcus came to study at the University in 1962 the way he would most other events in his life – with a little serendipity, followed by hard work and perseverance.

“As a high school graduate with no specific goals or direction other than God’s calling, I came to the University in the summer with my folks and talked to an admissions person and was accepted on the spot,” Yurcus said.

Yurcus started as an Economics major, and then switched majors freshman year, starting what was a brand new program at the time, Music Education.

“I had a desire to go into business, but macroeconomics and accounting didn’t appeal to me,” he said. “I always loved music, but never thought that it would become a prominent part of my life. My mother forced me to take dancing, and I played piano and accordion and did a lot of singing.”

Yurcus was a busy student. When he wasn’t in class, he was either working in a variety of part-time jobs or for Fr. Alban Hrebic, O.S.B., in the Department of Music to pay his way through school, performing in a theatre production or playing the Wurlitzer organ before men’s basketball games.

“If you saw my workload, I wasn’t getting a lot of sleep,” Yurcus said. “I had one shocker in a Sociology class when I got an “F” on a paper. I kept struggling through. The extra attention was good and encouraging.”

After becoming the second student to graduate from the Music Education program in 1966, Yurcus was hired as the music director at St. James the Apostle Catholic School in Glen Ellyn where he taught music and other subjects to elementary school students. He married his wife, Kathleen Brummel, a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, in 1967.

After three enjoyable years, he was recruited to work at Marmion Academy. Several months into his position, the school announced a partial closing, bumping him down to a part-time position.

“We just had a baby and there was another on the way,” Yurcus said. “We rolled with it and I eventually took a position as a music teacher with Addison Elementary School District 4.”

Yurcus held the new job until 1974 when a bitter teachers’ strike broke out.

“It was an unhealthy atmosphere,” Yurcus recalled. “There were teachers who crossed picket lines and parents who were really upset.”

Yurcus saw it as an opportunity to start his own business and opened Unique Graphics in Glen Ellyn, filling orders for silk screen prints, vinyl decals, woodcut plaques and bumper stickers. He ran the business for nearly 25 years until the advent of laser printers and computers forced him to reconsider its future.

Alumnus who gave back with talent shares treasure after winning big Ron Yurcus, C66, Music Education

6

Be

ne

dic

tin

e U

niv

ers

ity

•

Fe

bru

ary

20

17

While seeking ways to dissolve the business without a financial loss, Yurcus entered the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet’s Permanent Diaconate program.

After Yurcus’ ordination in 1989, the doors began to open for his final career path. He started selling off equipment and customer lists and transitioned into ministry work at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Bolingbrook before coming to St. Petronille Parish in Glen Ellyn. A few years later, he became a hospice chaplain with Community Nursing Service (CNS) Home Health and Hospice.

“I had a desire early in my life to be a priest,” Yurcus said. “And that seed was always there to be more involved in the Church. With a passion for preaching, I’ve led more than 40 parish missions, numerous retreats and even led a pilgrimage recently to Fatima, Portugal, and Lourdes, France, and other religious shrines.

“I did not think hospice care was going to be my main focus, but both my parents were in the hospital when I was ordained as a deacon,” Yurcus added. “My mother died one month after, and three weeks later my dad died. For all the years I had taken care of them, I always felt cheated I could not be with them at the time they died. Later, I found myself burying both my brothers and started to see how I was being gradually called into this work.”

After 15 years with CNS and under new management, he came to a crossroads. At age 67, he considered stepping down from his job.

“I said to my wife, ‘How much do we trust God?’” Yurcus said. “‘Do we trust God enough that we will get by?’”

Later that evening, Yurcus went to his home office to work up a letter of resignation and discovered several lottery tickets while sorting through a pile of papers on his desk.

On a whim, he entered the numbers into the Illinois Lottery website and was floored by what he found.

“I saw the number one followed by six zeros,” Yurcus said. “That ticket had sat on my desk for two whole months, and I did not know I had a million dollars right there.”

A few weeks later, Yurcus and his wife were invited to appear on “Good Morning America” and “Anderson Live” to retell the story.

With their winnings, the Yurcuses were able to move into a larger townhome. They went on a few trips to Europe and made generous gifts to some of their favorite charities, including Benedictine.

“All these local charities we had worked with to a small extent, now we were able to give greater one-time gifts and still maintain our regular giving,” Yurcus said.

The winnings also allowed Yurcus to continue his work as a deacon and on-call chaplain for the Illinois State Police, serving as the first point of contact for bereaved family members.

“I don’t feel like I’m retired,” Yurcus said. “I am supposedly semi-retired, but today I do a lot of services and work outside the Church. I love doing what I do now. I’m like a free agent.”

Do you know an alumnus whose life and/or career would make a good feature in an upcoming issue of Voices? Email lhale@ben.edu.

join us at an upcoming event

23Ghenwa Hayek, Ph.D.

“Drawing the Limits of Empathy: War in Lebanese Comics” Lisle Main Campus, 7:00 p.m.Free and open to the public (630) 829-6250

2Rosalie Riegle, D.A.Benedictine Heritage Lecture

“Dorothy Day: A Saint for Our Times”Lisle Main Campus, 7:00 p.m.Free and open to the public(630) 829-6250

9Rukmini Callimachi New York Times foreign correspondent

“Exploring Terror”Lisle Main Campus, 7:00 p.m. Free and open to the public Ben.edu/cclspeakers

FEBRUARY MARCH MAY

15Inaugural Alumni & Friends Golf Outing (Proceeds to benefit BenU Athletics)Arrowhead Golf Club, WheatonRegistration 10:00 a.m. Shotgun Scramble 11:00 a.m.Cocktail reception and dinner to followRSVP at ben.edu/alumnigolf

SAVE THE DATE!

23rd Annual President’s Invitational Golf Outing(Benefiting student scholarships)White Eagle Golf Club, Naperville

August 21 • ben.edu/golf

Benedictine University • 5700 College Rd. • Lisle, IL 60532

Benedictine University is located in Lisle, Illinois, just 25 miles west of Chicago, and has branch campuses in Springfield, Illinois, and Mesa, Arizona. Founded as a Catholic university in 1887, Benedictine enrolls nearly 9,000 students in 56 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs. Forbes magazine named Benedictine among "America's Top Colleges" for the sixth consecutive year in 2016. A 2016 PayScale Inc. report ranked BenU one of the top 10 colleges in Illinois for return on investment and in the top 20 percent nationally. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). For more information, contact (630) 829-6300, admissions@ben.edu or visit ben.edu.

Voices Online Monthlyis produced 12 times a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications at Benedictine University. Reproduction

in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Voices are not necessarily those of the

University, its administrators, faculty or students.

You can contact the editor at lhale@ben.edu.

Stay Connected.

/Benedictine University

@BenU1887 BenU1887/BenU1887 /BenU1887/BenU1887 BenedictineUniversity

/Benedictine University

@BenU1887 BenU1887/BenU1887 /BenU1887/BenU1887 BenedictineUniversity

Are you ready to make an impact? Help keep our mission going strong.

Visit ben.edu/giving or call (630) 829-6366.

Make a gift to Benedictine, make a difference