Alumni Corner

Posted on December 31, 1969

Christen Aquino is a proud Elon alumna from the class of 2009. Catholic Campus Ministry was a big part of her Elon experience, especially her junior year when she served as CCM President.

Christen considered going to a Catholic university, but she liked Elon and felt at peace coming here. The summer before she officially enrolled, she went on her third mission trip with her home parish. "That's when I heard the Lord call me to ministry," Christen said, and she sought out CCM as soon as she arrived on campus.

She attended her first Mass in Whitley Auditorium where CCM used to celebrate the opening Mass of the year. That's when Christen met Father Gerry Waterman, the Catholic Campus Minister at that time. She jumped right into participation in liturgical ministries, Beach Retreat (after an invitation from then CCM President Jonathan Monti), and several community events.

Her sophomore year, Christen came back to lead the Beach Retreat as well as a Confirmation Retreat for middle school students at nearby Blessed Sacrament Church. She felt that CCM gave her a strong and safe community while at Elon, and it was there that her leadership skills blossomed.

"Father Gerry invested in me as a leader," Christen shared.

As President during her junior year, Christen oversaw a rapidly growing organization. Event and retreat attendance were increasing, and new programs such as Wednesday Night Catholic and a spring break service trip were starting. In the fall of her junior year, CCM was able to establish a Blessed Sacrament Chapel on campus in Holt Chapel – students now had access to the true presence of Jesus, 24/7 on campus! (Christen credits Justin Sposato and Kara Cowdrick from the class of 2010 for leading that charge). When asked about some of her favorite memories with CCM, Christen recounted how she and her friends would go to the chapel at 3 a.m. in the morning and just burst out into praise & worship songs as well as Broadway sing-a-longs!

After graduating from Elon, she applied to be the youth minister at Holy Family Catholic Church in Marietta, GA. Christen recalled how her interviewer stated that she had more ministerial experience than most people her age, and she credited CCM for that. Christen remained at Holy Family for seven years before attending the University of Dayton for her Masters of Theology degree and eventually becoming the Managing Director for Parish Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She now serves as the Director of Youth and Mission for St. Francis of Assisi parish in Dayton, OH.

With her experience as a Catholic leader while at Elon and as a professional, Christen shares some of her wisdom: "A daily prayer life, regularly receiving the Sacraments, and having a strong Catholic community" are essential for college students and young adults trying to remain active in their faith.

"We have to meet people where they are, and we have to be in relationship with people to find out what they need," Christen continued. "Evangelization happens at the pace of relationships!"