By ALEXIS YOUNG
Contributing Writer
In January, University Ministries will move to the John J. Murphy Professional Building as renovations to the Thomas Merton Ministry Center begin.
A donation of $2 million from John R. “Jack” McGinley Jr. made the renovations, announced in the summer of 2015, possible.
The renovation will include a complete demolition of the building now occupied by University Ministries, and construction is scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2016.
The current building was first repurposed from what was the university’s maintenance garage in 1973. Previous to this, campus ministries had been located in the basement of the Butler Gymnasium, said Father Francis DiSpigno, O.F.M., executive director of University Ministries.
In a letter in the summer alumni magazine, Father Francis said the project has a $60,000 budget, which left little room for anything more than the basics. When the original overhaul was completed, the facility had hanging fluorescent lights, minimal furnishing and no carpeting, a great leap from their basement dwellings.
In 2003, Robert Donius, a Franciscan studies lecturer, was able to contribute to the growth of the campus ministries building even more.
After 12 years, campus ministries is ready to continue its growth, said Julianne Wallace, associate director of Faith Formation, Worship and Ministry.
“Jack McGinley was kind enough to give us a gift because he has seen how University Ministries has been making a focused effort to reach out to students and faculty and staff on campus,” Wallace said. “So I think he saw where this gift could really help us do this [reach the campus] better.”
The new facility will have the same purpose as the current—to provide welcome, acceptance and respect to all who enter. Now there will be more space to accomplish these goals, Wallace added.
Students agreed with Wallace, saying they hope future students make use of the new building.
“Hopefully [the renovations] will bring more people to the Merton because a lot of kids only go for meetings or to bake, and they don’t realize what’s available to them.” Erin Izydorczak, a junior biology major, said.
The new building will include space for all of the offices of the University Ministries staff, a conference room, several meeting rooms, a full kitchen, a great room and an inter-faith tower, which is a feature that currently cannot be found on campus, Wallace said.
Wallace said she feels that having this space set aside is very important.
“[It’s there] so that people of all different faiths will have a place to pray. Because in the chapel it’s purely Christian, so our Muslim students and our Jewish students don’t have a place to really pray,” Wallace said.
The prayer space will have no permanent religious symbols in order to make all students feel welcome, she added.
The Merton Center will continue to be located in the heart of campus and will be open to students at all hours.
youngam13@bonaventure.edu
