New ministry leadership guides Briar Cliff into Christmas season

Michael Horka in his office in preparation of the holiday season.

Briar Cliff University is entering this year’s holiday season with new leadership in Campus Ministry and a renewed commitment to service. Michael Horka, the university’s new Campus Ministry Director, is stepping into his role just in time for the Siouxland Residential Christmas Party which is known as the campus’s most meaningful tradition and that brings people together across the Siouxland community.

Michael Horka, the new Campus Ministry Director, joined Briar Cliff after spending the last twenty years involved in different forms of pastoral work. His ministry experiences have included youth programs, small groups, hospitality roles, lecturing at Mass, and creating opportunities for young adults to connect with their faith. This also included for the time as a professor during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he worked with many students struggling with loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

"I had been practicing various forms of pastoral service for many years. "I began working with a parish in Michigan that did not have a young adult ministry program," said Horka. "During COVID, I taught students who were experiencing stress and mental health issues. I decided to take a gamble and return completely to ministry. I was using my Catholic Franciscan background and felt that something was lacking. That feeling brought me to Briar Cliff, where I can aid young adults while still teaching them."

As he begins his first year on campus, the main goals are to focus on listening and building community. “My first instinct in ministry is to listen to people,” said Horka. “Listening to people well and understanding where they are in their faith is very important to me.” He hopes to provide students with more chances to pray together and spend time in the chapel as a community. This will allow students from different faith backgrounds to come together and learn from one another.

A major part of Horka’s plan is engaging students who may not regularly attend church or faith-based events. “A lot of it starts with talking to students about their lives and from there, I can extend invitations. I want their ideas before decisions are made.” he said. 

As Campus Ministry grows he hopes students walk away from Campus Ministry with a deeper sense of belonging and spiritual growth. “My hope is that people know God loves them, and that Campus Ministry can help someone in the modern world slow down enough to experience that. I hope students build that relationship through serving and volunteering,” said Horka

He hopes that students leave Campus Ministry with a stronger sense of peace and purpose. “My hope is that people know God loves them,” Horka said. “We can help students slow down, grow in their faith, and mature in their relationship with God. I hope students develop that relationship through serving and volunteering.”

The annual Siouxland Residential Christmas Party is one way students live out these values. Sister Sarah Kohles, who helps organize the event, reflects a long tradition of service at Briar Cliff. “This is something the community has been doing for many years. It shows how we serve the Siouxland community,” she said. “In the Gospels, Jesus spends time with people who are often overlooked. This event gives Briar Cliff the chance to honor that example.”

The event also honors the university's Franciscan past. The spirit of service, humility, and compassion is important to students' interactions with others. "Saint Francis challenged the selfish leadership of his time by displaying compassion and humility. Briar Cliff continues the past by helping others, supporting the community, and leading students toward a life of service," Kohles stated.

With the Christmas party approaching on December 12, the campus is preparing for a season of reflection, connection, and renewed commitment to service.