But while often overlooked, chaplaincy centres are meant to benefit young Catholics finding themselves (possibly for the first time) in a very secular university environment, Gottfried Piché said.

For David Thurton, this is precisely why he sought out chaplaincy services at Ryerson.

“It provides a support for my faith,” said the president of the Catholic Students’ Association and third-year journalism student.

He also said campus chaplaincy is a great place for students to pose questions about the teachings of the Catholic Church that often go against the mainstream.

“You receive the support that when you do try to live the life that sometimes is very countercultural, there’s a community there that encourages you.”

Gottfried Piché said that one of the chaplaincy centre’s main goals is to create a solid, faith-based community for students on campus and then to connect them to the larger Catholic community. Events such as film nights and lectures are some of the ways the centre tries to make this connection.

“We have a Catholic student group on campus that has official status in the university and we listen to their stated pastoral spiritual needs and then respond to those needs through either programs and pastoral counselling.”

Gottfried Piché also said the chaplaincy centre challenges students to take ownership of their community and their faith on campus.

“If, for example, they’re going to join students in freezing tuition hikes, we ask: ‘What would the Catholic voice say here?’

“How do you develop your faith as a university student? Maybe it’s just slowing down and considering some contemplation.”

Marilyn Elphick, director of campus ministry at the University of Toronto, said campus chaplaincy gives students a safe place to explore their faith.

“We offer them a non-judgmental atmosphere where they’re able to learn who they are. When they come here, they’re accepted no matter where they are in their faith journey,” said Elphick.

Some of the options students are offered include a women’s faith-sharing group, men’s discussion group, a community dinner and a Bible study group that looks at Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament so that students can better understand the relevance of Scripture, Elphick said.

But she said it’s sometimes difficult to get students involved as it’s a challenge to get the message out.

“It’s just a matter of information overload. They get e-mails, they’re on Facebook and use Twitter. It’s just a lot.”

At the York Catholic Chaplaincy Centre, chaplain Mark Goring said the focus is on outreach.

“We try to reach out to fallen away Catholics and invite them to discover the treasure of their Catholic faith.”

Goring said the centre does this through retreats, public lectures, socials, faith studies and liturgies.

But the biggest challenge for York Chaplaincy, he said, is calling Catholic students to be more open about their faith.

“We try to break through the stigma many students have that Catholicism is irrelevant and outdated and something that we should be embarrassed about.”