You are welcome here — whoever you are, whatever you believe. Learn more about Campus Ministry below, including service and interfaith prayer opportunities.
In the Mercy tradition, the campus ministry team seeks to be an open and affirming presence for all, promoting the search for spiritual growth with an emphasis on service to society. Come see us in the Visitation House, and celebrate the presence of God.
Our vision of Campus Ministry calls us to:
Faculty, did you know that our Campus Ministers are happy to support your teaching and your students' learning by giving classroom presentations? Please contact us if we can be of any help, on any campus or even online!
The Campus Ministry staff is here for you during your time on campus. Stop by to see us in the Visitation House!
Jeff Wallace
Director
Visitation House
215-641-5590
wallace.j@gmercyu.edu
Jeffrey Miguel Wallace came to Gwynedd Mercy University in 2019. He graduated from St. Joseph’s University in 2010 with his bachelors in Theology, as well as minors in Faith Justice Studies and Music. He then spent a year in Guayaquil, Ecuador as a long-term volunteer with Fundación Rostro de Cristo, where he was a youth and music minister for a local parish and the coordinator of an after-school program for at-risk youth. After returning from Ecuador, Jeff received his Master’s in Divinity from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry in 2014. He became a campus minister at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA for three years after graduate school, building strong relationships with students and developing a robust service-immersion program. He and his wife, Chelsea, moved to the Philadelphia area in 2017. His most recent work was with Catholic Relief Services, where he helped develop and support partnerships between CRS and (arch)dioceses, parishes, high schools, and universities.
Jeff is a strong advocate for the inherent human dignity of each person, is passionate about the pursuit of a “faith that does justice,” and hopes to cultivate a welcoming, hospitable environment in Campus Ministry for everyone at GMercyU. He is a loving husband and a proud father of his newborn son, Daniel Jorge. He loves Philadelphia sports, especially the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers, a good cheesesteak, building community, music, theater, poetry, and is a huge extrovert.
Betsy Stone Plummer
Assistant Director for Community Service
Visitation House
215-641-5592
plummer.b@gmercyu.edu
Betsy came to Gwynedd Mercy University in 2000 as Director of Resident Life, having previously worked in housing and residence life at Drexel University, Florida State University, and The Art Institute of Atlanta. In 2004 Betsy moved to Campus Ministry to develop the newly established Mercy Works Program, which coordinated many community service initiatives on campus. In 2011 she resigned in order to spend more time with her growing family. In 2018, Betsy rejoined our staff as Assistant Director for Community Service, and became the moderator of the 0Waste/Sustainabiliy Club.
Betsy has an MS in Community Counseling from Georgia State University. She has been adjunct faculty at GMercyU since 2002, and enjoys teaching both on-ground and online classes in Developmental Psychology and Childhood Obesity. She is a member of St. George's Historic United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, where she serves as a Trustee. She and her family also attend Messiah UMC in Lafayette Hill. Betsy's remaining time is spent driving her three active daughters to a wide variety of classes, practices, and games!
Looking to get involved both on campus and in the community? Seeking a way to link your faith with your desire to serve? GMercyU’s Campus Ministry's community service program reflects and enhances the University’s commitment to the Mercy tradition of service to society, and offers various ways to get involved and make a real difference in your life and the lives of others.
Our goal is to connect the talents of GMercyU students with people in need in our wider community. All students, regardless of faith background, are encouraged to explore the opportunities below.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact Assistant Director for Community Service Betsy Stone Plummer, plummer.b@gmercyu.edu or 215-641-5592.
Campus Ministry’s Alternative Break Missions provide a unique opportunity to join other GMercyU students, faculty, and staff members in service projects around the country and around the world.
You’ll perform worthwhile community service while learning about cultural and social issues facing your host community. It's an experience you'll never forget, and one that you'll want to repeat again and again throughout your time here.
Mercy Focus on Haiti is a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Its members are led to service and solidarity with people who are materially poor, especially those living in Haiti. GMercyU first engaged with Mercy Focus on Haiti (MFOH) in 2018 when a team of faculty, staff, and student delegates visited Gros Morne, Haiti.
Learn more about this unique international service immersion here.
Mercy Advocates have the opportunity to make a difference both locally and globally. They involve their peers in community service while raising awareness of justice issues worldwide. Watch the portal for service activities, including on-campus "pop up service!"
We offer a variety of retreats and faith-sharing opportunities throughout the year to support the spiritual development of the entire GMercyU community. Our goal is to help the GMercyU community pause to engage questions of significance and to pray and reflect on your personal experiences in the pursuit of lives of deep meaning.
NEW THIS YEAR! 10 Minute Resets: Take 10 minutes out of your busy schedule to pause, reflect, and breathe with our 10 Minute Reset. Each day will utilize a different style of prayer, such as guided meditation, silent contemplation, or imaginative prayer. Stop by the University Chapel in Campbell Hall Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday beginning at 1:30pm to participate! All are welcome -- come as you are! For more information, contact campusministrystaff@gmercyu.edu.
Our vision of Campus Ministry calls us to celebrate the Catholic/Christian faith of our sponsors, the Sisters of Mercy, and to encourage others to live their faith more fully. Our desire is that people who engage our liturgy and worship experiences – especially over time – will seek an active and meaningful relationship with God, giving witness to Gospel values and the charism of Mercy.
To facilitate this relationship, we offer a variety of Catholic, ecumenical and interfaith prayer experiences throughout the year.
The Eucharistic Celebration (Mass) is a concrete expression of our identity as a Catholic, Mercy institution. Our goal is that the Mass can be a fruitful experience of God's unconditional love and grace for all who attend. Masses will take place Sundays at 6:30pm in the Glass Lounge of the Triplex and Wednesdays at 1:15pm in the University Chapel at Campbell Hall. All are welcome to participate in Mass.
In-person, on-campus prayer services will be held throughout the year on a variety of different topics. These opportunities will be livestreamed through social media. Please follow our Instagram (@gmercyuministry) or our Facebook Page (Gwynedd Mercy University Campus Ministry) for the date, time, and location of each prayer! Contact Jeff Wallace (wallace.j@gmercyu.edu) with any questions or comments.
The Gwynedd Mercy University campus community offers special prayer opportunites to celebrate our Catholic, Mercy identity.
We encourage students, faculty, and staff to get involved in our liturgical celebrations as singers, musicians, lectures, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and leaders of prayer. Interested? Contact Jeff Wallace, director of Campus Ministry, at wallace.j@gmercyu.edu or 215-641-5590.
First-year students are invited to participate in the First-Year Retreat! This on-campus experience will help first year students (transfers and freshman) start their journey at GMercyU on the right foot. You can register here (Microsoft Forms) or find us on GriffinEngage under "Campus Ministry." For more information, contact Jeff Wallace at wallace.j@gmercyu.edu.
Griffins are invited to "break through" the murky, mundane mayhem of every day and come away for an awesome weekend retreat sponsored by Campus Ministry. The retreat is planned and facilitated by students and designed for you to reflect on your life amongst old and new friends. There will be time for individual reflection, group conversations, fun community building activities, and opportunities for free time.
Interested students can contact Jeff Wallace for more information.
Gwynedd Mercy University respects the faith traditions of all of our students.
We are pleased to offer students who wish to practice their own religion or spirituality a space for prayer, meditation, or any other form of spiritual expression. Interested students can find this space on the second floor of Visitation House. For more information, contact Jeff Wallace at wallace.j@gmercyu.edu.
Campus Ministry is offering a monthly opportunity for Interfaith Meditation in the Common Prayer Space, located on the 2nd floor of Visitation House. Interfaith Meditation is an opportunity for those with different worldviews and faith backgrounds to gather and share in a moment of quiet prayer together. The prayer will be led by Director of Campus Ministry, Jeff Wallace.
For questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to Jeff directly (Wallace.j@gmercyu.edu)
Interested students can contact Jeff Wallace for more information.
Click here to download a list of different houses of worship in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties
Gwynedd Mercy University provides time away to students for specific Catholic/Christian religious holidays, such as Christmas, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday. However, the GMercyU campus community is comprised of diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds that have unique observances and holidays. University policy permits undergraduate and graduate students to observe religious holidays that conflict with the academic schedule without penalty (UG Couse Catalogue, pg. 5; Grad. Course Catalogue, pg. 4).
Therefore, Campus Ministry and the Division of Mission Integration provides this list of religious observances and holidays for the benefit of the campus community. The hope is that faculty, staff, and administrators will use this list as a reference. This list is not completely inclusive of all religious holidays. To offer suggestions or include religious observances or holidays not included in this list, please contact Jeff Wallace at Wallace.j@gmercyu.edu. For further questions or concerns, please contact Tatiana Diaz at diaz.t@gmercyu.edu.
Foster your spirituality from home with these helpful resources. Have any additions? Email wallace.j@gmercyu.edu.
Listen or subscribe to these podcasts wherever you listen to podcasts (I.e. Spotify, Apple Podcast app, etc.)
Jesuitical - Each episode brings some of the top (and maybe more obscure) Catholic news of the week and an interview with a guest who offers a unique perspective on world events, culture or faith. At the end of the show, Zac, Ashley and Olga invite the listener into their faith lives by sharing their consolations and desolations from the week
Tablet Magazine Presents Unorthodox - Unorthodox is a smart, fresh, fun weekly take on Jewish news and culture hosted by Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick, and Liel Leibovitz
The Muslim Life Hackers - Muslim Life Hackers brings you life hacks to help YOU live better, achieve more, and thrive in this world (& the hereafter in sha Allah). They take on relevant topics and invite a variety of guests to share their insights on our podcast show. You can catch the latest episode by subscribing to our email list below.
Pray-As-You-Go - Pray-As-You-Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time, but particularly while traveling to and from work, study, etc.
Meditation Oasis - Meditation Oasis features guided meditations, instructions for meditation, and music for meditation
The Liturgists - The Liturgists Podcast is a genre-bending, chart-topping exploration of the most interesting and pressing topics of our time through the lenses of art, science, and faith.
On Being with Krista Tippett - A Peabody Award-winning public radio show and podcast. What does it mean to be human? How do we want to live? And who will we be to each other? Each week a new discovery about the immensity of our lives.
Becoming Wise - Depth and discovery in the time it takes to make a cup of tea. Reset your day. Replenish your sense of yourself and the world.
The Deep Spirituality Podcast - Listen to episodes of Deep Spirituality on your favorite podcast app. These interactive and engaging podcast episodes are meant to inspire you to go deeper in your relationship with God by providing candid discussions on spiritual topics and compelling scriptures from the Bible.
Download these apps in the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android)
© Copyright 2021 Gwynedd Mercy University