The Cor Christi Catholic Center at Washburn University launched the new academic year with a week full of activities, drawing students together in faith and community.
Jaema Bordelon, a freshman mass media major who discovered Cor Christi through the university’s club listing on Bods Connect, emphasized the importance of finding a community that shares her core values.
“I saw it was a Catholic group, so I decided to join so I could meet new people of the same faith and hopefully strengthen my own faith,” Bordelon said.
The week’s events included a variety of social gatherings aimed at building connections among students. One of the highlights was a pickleball day at a local park, where students alongside Father George Rhodes, the center’s chaplain, engaged in friendly competition.
“Cor Christi Catholic Center exists to serve the spiritual needs of the Washburn community. One of the greatest natural helps to the spiritual life is a healthy community,” Rhodes said.
The center’s chaplain also said he is available and seeks to be present for all who seek the center and what it offers: the Gospel and a life in Christ Jesus.
“It felt really good to be out with my peers, connecting with one another in such a fun and active way,” Bordelon said.
Joshua Lambert, a second-year student at the Washburn University School of Law and the treasurer of the Cor Christi Center, played an active role in organizing and participating in these events.
For Lambert, balancing the demands of law school with spiritual growth is essential.
“Going through the rigorous study courses of law, it’s important that I stay in the proper mind, body and spirit. And of course, that would be incomplete without the Spirit part,” Lambert said.
Lambert, who moved from Houston, Texas, to attend Washburn, expressed gratitude for the strong Catholic community in Topeka, particularly the well-established Catholic campus center. Since his first visit, Lambert has been a committed member of Cor Christi and now holds a leadership position.
“Ever since then, I’ve been a very active member of the group and this year I took on a leadership position,” Lambert said.
The center’s recent rebranding and increased visibility have led to greater student involvement, according to Lambert. He noted that in the past, students had to seek out the Catholic center, but now the center’s events are prominently featured on the university’s events calendar.
“With our rebrand, we’re just remembering to keep our Catholicism at the center in our traditions, and having a good faith-based foundation is essential in every level of higher education,” Lambert said.
Cor Christi’s weekly events are a cornerstone of the center’s outreach. Lambert highlighted two key gatherings: Thursday night meetings, which vary in format from guest speakers to traditional Bible studies, and the Sunday evening Mass at 5 p.m., followed by a meal and fellowship.
“It’s another great way to just come, unwind from the previous week, and get geared up for the next week, keeping that strong, faith-based foundation,” Lambert said.
For Bordelon and many other students, the Cor Christi Catholic Center offers more than just a place to practice their faith; it’s a community where they can build lasting friendships and deepen their spiritual journey.
“I definitely expect to walk away with a lot more friends, and hopefully a renewed appreciation for my faith,” Bordelon said.
The first week’s activities at the Cor Christi Catholic Center were a testament to the center’s mission of fostering a welcoming environment where students can grow both socially and spiritually.
Edited by Morgan Albrecht, Jeremy Ford and Stuti Khadka
