Campus Ministry Grows and Adjusts as Leaderships Evolves

Students and faculty involved in morning prayer.
Photo by Colby Cox

When Michael Horka arrived at Briar Cliff University in the fall, one of his main focuses was listening to students and being present on campus. Now several months into the role, Horka said campus ministry has continued to grow while also trying to remain inclusive without losing sight of its Catholic identity. 

In November, Cliff Network spoke with Horka about his first weeks on campus and his approach to ministry. Since then, he said his view of the position has expanded as he has learned how many areas across campus fall under campus ministry. 

“When I first came in, I started to learn that campus ministry is involved in many things on campus that you wouldn’t initially think of,” Horka said. 

Along with overseeing weekly Mass and Bible study, Horka has been involved in planning campus events such as graduation, homecoming, service days and the annual Christmas party. He said balancing those responsibilities has shaped how he approaches ministry and outreach. 

One of the most noticeable changes this semester is the addition of morning prayer in the chapel, held Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The 15-minute gathering is open to all students and was designed to be welcoming to a wide range of backgrounds. 

“We have a big population of Catholic students, but also Christian students who aren’t Catholic,” Horka said. “I wanted to design something that could reach as many people as possible.” 

Horka said being more open and visible on campus does not mean ignoring what campus ministry is meant to teach. Instead, he said the goal is to use Catholic tradition in a way that benefits the entire campus community. 

“I think Catholicism has a lot to offer everyone, even people who aren’t Catholic,” he said. 

Senior Meredith Illig said that balance has been noticeable since Horka arrived on campus, particularly through new ideas that have been introduced. 

“He’s made campus ministry step up,” Illig said. “He has new ideas that we haven’t even thought about before.” 

Illig said the addition of morning prayer has been especially important for students involved in campus ministry. “We’ve never had that before, and I go to them every day,” she said. 

She also said Bible study has become more reflective and discussion-based, while Horka has remained supportive outside of organized events. 

“He makes us think more and reflect more,” Illig said. “He’s also been very helpful in our personal lives.” 

Listening remains a key part of Horka’s approach, though he acknowledged that busy schedules, especially with athletics, can make that difficult at times. 

“Our campus is very scheduled,” Horka said. “Listening takes time, and that’s something I’ll continue to learn.” 

Outside of ministry programming, Horka also serves on the university’s care team, meeting with counselors and administrators to help support students who may be struggling. 

As the semester continues, Horka said his focus remains on continuing to learn and finding the right balance. 

“I just want to keep learning, get to know people and keep it simple,” he said.