Anita Magovern

Chaplain and Advisor to the Catholic Community.
Coordinator of CAUSE (formerly The Community Service Board).

Office
Eliot House
413-538-2787
Email: amagover@mtholyoke.edu

“I believe that there are many paths to God and in this sense I foster and support all students in their spiritual search no matter what their background. As Catholic Chaplain, I especially nourish the faith life of the Catholic community here on campus, with particular attention to Eucharist, building community, spiritual direction, and developing strong Catholic feminine leadership in our Church through the ten member Newman Student Leadership Board.

As Coordinator of CAUSE, I am passionate about linking students of faith to service in the outside community, believing that service is a mandate of the Gospel, and that experiential involvement is the most important way to evoke social awareness and change. There are currently 18 projects involving outreach to the surrounding communities.  Such projects include the Spring Break trip to Honduras, where volunteers contribute whatever skills they have to enriching the education of a school run by nuns.  In the spring of 2009, students taught girls between 7th and 11th grade about things like health, math, music, and self-awareness.  Other projects include Homework House, where students meet with at-risk student from Holyoke to mentor them and help with homework, and Safe Passage, where students volunteer at a shelter for women and children.

I love the combination of prayer, ritual, and small group sharing, so I foster strong student support groups when they are needed. In the fall of 2008, an International Mass and Jazz Mass were liturgical highlights for bringing together community. The student leadership and I are also interested in initiating a program like Lenten Lunch to foster prayer and discussion.  Senior seminars are another major highlight, in which graduating seniors in the Catholic group write their own sermons to reflect on their journeys and instill a legacy with future generations of Catholic Mount Holyoke students.

My own background in theological, pastoral, and spiritual direction graduate studies at Loyola University in Chicago, as well as my twenty-two years spent as a Mary Knoll sister doing service work in Tanzania, make being a Chaplain at MHC a great fit and a privileged experience."

Anita says that expression of faith through lifestyle and action enforces one's belief system, and that no matter where we stand, we are beloved beings. 

Education
B.A., Chestnut Hill College
M.S., Georgetown University
M.A., Loyola University, Chicago