Dominicans in the Residence Halls

Dominicans in the Residence Halls

Dominicans in PC’s residence halls serve the spiritual and personal needs of students and resident assistants. 

Dominican friars in their distinctive white cowls are a common sight throughout PC’s campus — teaching in Harkins, grabbing lunch in Ray Dining Hall, cheering on the hockey teams at Schneider Arena. Now, you can also find chaplains serving in all 14 residential halls — 11 Dominicans minister to student-residents, while three actually live side-by-side with students.

College Chaplain Rev. Peter Martyr Yungwirth, O.P. said the intent is for the Dominican community to better serve the spiritual and personal needs of students and to work more closely with residence life in achieving that goal. In particular, the chaplains want to build rapport with and support for hall resident assistants, or “RAs,” who are often the first people that residents turn to when they’re struggling.

Chaplains have enjoyed getting to know and helping the RAs, and feedback from students has been positive.

At McVinney Hall, Rev. Isaac Morales, O.P. has blessed individual rooms, attended RA staff meetings, and held weekly office hours. Some students stop by just for small talk while others have specific concerns and needs, including wanting him to hear their confessions.

“My residents seemed excited and grateful,” said Father Isaac. “The idea is for them to be aware of our presence and to be visible to them.”

The head RA at Meagher Hall, Kelli Jenney ’19 (Ossining, N.Y.), said having Rev. Michael Weibley, O.P. as a hall chaplain helps students connect more with their faith.

“He’s just a welcoming smile for a lot of our residents,” she says. “They’ll stop by and say things like, ‘I took your advice.’ He’ll ask them about their papers, and if they seem stressed out by studies or exams, he likes to say, ‘Jesus still loves you, no matter what.’”

Gifts to The Fund for Providence College support the Catholic and Dominican principles that guide our students to be educated in mind, body, and soul, and to understand their unique role in God’s plan.

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