This program replaces the old hall chaplain system, and while it’s only two weeks old, Peer Ministry Coordinator Molly Bird said its benefits are already apparent.

“I think that there’s been a lot of positive feedback already from the program. I think the biggest benefit is the peer-to-peer relationships versus the peer-to-older adult,” Bird said. “A lot of (the peer ministers) have been keeping their doors open, and they already had students stop by and want to talk.”

Ireland Hall peer minister Zach Brintz agreed.

“The first week has been good getting to know the residents and just making connections with them right away and telling them who we are and what we’re about this year,” Brintz said.

This year’s eight undergraduate peer ministers are living in pairs in Ireland, Dowling, Brady and Grace Halls. Bird sees these halls as ideal locations.

“Part of their task is to engage students in what is going on on campus, and I think that’s especially important for younger students who would be in these locations,” Bird said.

Brintz said the peer ministers also spread peer ministry to non-Catholic Christian denominations.

“The new program has kind of shed a different light on campus ministry, and I think we’re going to be out in the open more than the hall chaplains were,” Brintz said. “It’ll reach to more of the whole student body rather than just a particular denomination.”

Bird said working together with other Christian-based groups on campus to plan events is important to the peer ministers.

“In the spring we want to partner with all the groups and try to bring a big Christian band to campus and kind of just blow it up to a big scale,” Brintz said.

One event the Christian-based groups have already been able to put into action this year was Corn on the Quad. This event was put on by Shine with help from the peer ministers, Campus Crusade, Catholic Students Incorporated and Catholic Discovery Bible groups.

Although benefits from the new peer minister program are already noticeable, there are some aspects of the hall chaplain program that are hard to replace.

“I think because (the hall chaplains) were older adults, at times they are more informed in their faith. They were more able to provide some of the more spiritual direction type of support that we don’t put on the peer ministers,” Bird said.

To make up for the adult aspect missing from the peer minister programs, Bird said she makes sure that the peer ministers tell their residents they can always come to her or anyone in the Campus Ministry department if they are seeking adult guidance.

With the peer ministry program underway, Bird is able to see that small changes may be in order for next year’s process.

“It’s definitely a learning process. I think this whole year is definitely going to be a time for feedback,” she said.

Briggs LeSavage can be reached at lesa4364@stthomas.edu.