Erica Christman
(Ohio Dominican University ’11)
“Where are you living next year?”
That’s the question freshmen are usually asked before they leave campus for the summer.
“In Household,” I reply, trying to contain a huge smile.
“Oh, sophomores can live off campus?”
“Well it’s a dorm Household…,” I begin to explain.
This is the point where I begin to explain Saint Paul’s Outreach and the Women’s Household we’re building at Ohio Dominican University (ODU).
I should start by confessing that I was not looking for any of this when I came to college. I was simply looking for friends, some girls I could hang out with, confide in, and share my sorrows and joys with. Instead, I found sisters. I was blessed to meet women who would not only become my friends but who would pray with me, challenge me, and encourage me on my path to holiness. Incidentally, these women all belonged to Saint Paul’s Outreach.
As I became more active in SPO, it became evident to me that I really believed in their mission. Like those already involved, I had developed a deep passion to bring others closer to Christ. As the SPO missionaries at ODU noticed how enthusiastic I had become, they asked me to prayerfully consider living in the Women’s Household that was starting up in the dorms. At first, I was unsure what exactly a dorm Household would look like. I knew that at other SPO Households, students would pray together, share meals, do chores, and host events, but how could we do all of that in a small dorm room?
As I began to discern whether or not the Lord was calling me to live in Household, I faced a difficult decision. I was offered a position as a Resident Advisor and had the opportunity to receive room and board for free. However, as soon as I began discussing the possibility of Household with a few of the other girls who wanted to live there, I knew that I had to be part of it. I was sure that my faith would grow because of this decision to abandon myself completely to the Lord.
Our women’s Household in the dorms made history this year as the first one at Ohio Dominican. All of us have committed to live a holy life centered on prayer and to fulfill our responsibilities as Catholics. We pray every morning, eat dinner together every week, attend SPO functions as often as possible, and yes, even do chores. We have also made other commitments such as going to confession at least once a month, going to daily Mass at least once a week, and donating to charities. We are more than roommates – we are sisters in Christ and missionaries to our campus.
Our Household is not the only place God is working at Ohio Dominican. The Catholic community here is increasing tremendously, and I am inspired to see the growing numbers of people attending daily Mass and Morning Prayer. It is our hope that this Household will not only promote growth in the dorms, but all over campus, inspiring others to seek Christ!
Erica Christman is a sophomore at Ohio Dominican University and a founding member of the SPO Women’s Household there.