Periodically Abednego spends time with
Stephanie in her office at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, where
Stephanie serves as the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry. “Students
really respond to Abednego,” says Stephanie. Some will stop by her office just
to visit with Abednego. Or they will email and ask if than see her. “Spending
time with Abednego, just petting her, helps put students as ease, helping them
deal with tension or homesickness.”
Stephanie joined the Mount’s Campus
Ministry in August of 2006, replacing Sr. Anne Higgins who, coincidentally, was
her high school English teacher! Growing up in Baltimore City, in a
neighborhood called, “Pigtowne,” Stephanie attended Seton Keough High School.
Her mother served as Director of Religious Education at St. Jerome’s, her
family’s parish. At her mother’s side, Stephanie learned at a young age the
importance of ministry.
Stephanie was active in peer ministry at
Towson University, where she earned a bachelors degree in
English-Writing-Education. Residing at the Neumann Center, Stephanie acquired
her love of Scripture, under the influence of Father Bob Albright, Towson’s
Director of Campus Ministry.
After college Stephanie was Pastoral
Associate at St. Jude’s Shrine in Baltimore for 5 years. She has a masters
degree in Divinity from Washington Theological Union and is presently working on
a second masters in Systematic Theology.
In her current position at the Mount,
Stephanie is in charge of student retreats, sacramental preparation and the RCIA
(Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program. One of her long term goals is
to develop a peer ministry program at the university
Working under the supervision of Father
Rick Hilgartner, Stephanie says she is trying to “keep it orthodox” and “stay
under budget,” two commendable goals to have while working in the Catholic
college setting! She is impressed with the high caliber of student leadership
at the Mount and is excited to be a part of the well balanced program she finds
here.
When she is not working, or providing
therapy with Abednego, Stephanie writes poetry, some of which has been published
by St. Mary’s Press. She is also the national secretary for the Union of the
Catholic Apostolate.
But these three (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) fell,
bound, into the midst of
the white-hot furnace.
They walked about in the flames, singing to God and blessing
the Lord...”Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
and glorious forever is your name.”
Daniel 3:23-26
