‘Simply the grace of God’

Catholic campus ministries at Western Kentucky University and Murray State University are seeing more students participate in faith activities this fall.

Philomena Hempel, the campus minister for the Newman Center at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, attributed the increased interest to the grace of God and a broader national trend toward religion. Hempel also credited the success of fall outreach to strong leadership from Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionaries and the Newman Center's growing student leadership team.

During the fall 2026 Welcome Week at Murray State, the Newman Center hosted activities such as a mini golf game to engage students. Participants could win a donut for making a putt or a donut hole if they missed.