Campus Ministry welcomes new minister

By Mary Georgevich

Aimee Moiso, a minister of the Presbyterian faith, has been named the new director of ecumenical and interfaith ministries in Campus Ministry. Her appointment marks the first time the university has hired a campus minister with a position dedicated specifically to the needs of non-Catholic students.

Jack Treacy, S.J., said Campus Ministry hired Moiso to reach out to 50 percent of students on campus who aren't Catholic.

"It sends a strong message that we're seeking to honor and accommodate all our students in their spiritual lives, no matter what religious affiliation," he said.

Moiso was chosen from a pool of over 50 applicants in a nationwide search, and members of the interdenominational Christian group Core, the Jewish Student Union and the Muslim Student Association took part in the interview process.

"Her greater worldview -- one that connects faith with justice -- makes her a good fit at a Jesuit university," Treacy said.

Moiso said she tried to apply for the position last spring while working on her master's degree in ecumenical studies in Geneva, Switzerland. However, the university had wanted someone to start while Moiso was still abroad. Upon her return to the United States, she learned that the position was still available.

"This seemed to be a perfect fit," she said.

Treacy said that historically Santa Clara was not very diverse, and a non-Catholic campus minister was not necessary.Ã

"Once upon a time it was a more Catholic, homogeneous university," he said.Ã "But I think we live in an increasingly diverse campus."

Treacy said he isn't sure what the strategy will be to encourage more participation in Campus Ministry events by students who are not Catholic, but he intends to hold different services, discussion groups and programs. Some may focus on the Christian tradition, while others would be intentionally interfaith.

Moiso's background and education should serve her well in this position, Treacy said. After graduating from Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., she worked for Bread for the World, a Christian anti-hunger organization in Washington, D.C., where she became interested in becoming a minister.

"I decided to study the intersection between faith and how we live our lives," she said.

After finishing seminary at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in Marin County, Moiso decided to continue her studies in Switzerland.

"While in seminary, I got more interested in how churches relate -- the ecumenical idea," Moiso said.

Following in the tradition of her father, who is a Presbyterian pastor, Moiso was ordained on Dec. 30 in Portland, Ore.

According to Moiso, the Presbyterian and Catholic faiths mainly differ in the organization of their governing bodies. Presbyterians and most Protestant denominations tend to be organized differently than the hierarchical, international structure of the Catholic Church, she said.

The Presbyterian churches are organized by country, without any central organization, and there isn't anything like a Pope or bishops or priests.

"We're neither international nor hierarchical," she said. "We have what's called a priesthood of all believers."

Moiso's first few months at Santa Clara will be spent mainly conversing with students and staff before she makes any changes, she said.

"I want to do a lot of listening to hear what the needs are and figure out how to respond best," Moiso said. "Ministry is about building relationships, and it takes time to figure out what students need and want."

Correction: The story incorrectly stated that Aimee Moiso, a Presbyterian minister, is the first non-Catholic campus minister at Santa Clara. Moiso is the first campus minister to have a position dedicated specifically to the needs of non-Catholic students.

Contact Mary Georgevich at MGeorgevich@scu.edu.