About | upjccm

ABOUT US.....

Pitt-Johnstown Catholic Campus Ministry is a faith-based organization dedicated to bringing students together in faith, fun, community and service! We offer many opportunities for students to grow in their faith and community both on and off campus. We invite you to explore our various events from Sunday Mass, Tuesday Faith Share, Monthly Speakers and Service projects, Bands, Canoe trips, The March for Life and other exciting activities that we offer the students of Pitt-Johnstown.

UPJ CCM is a great way to escape the occasional stress of school life, all while making friends, deepening your faith and having fun!

CHECK US OUT!

Click here to learn about our Ministries and Activities!

Click here to learn about our Community Outreach!

MEET THE OFFICERS

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Geneo Simeone

CCM LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT

Current Year: Senior
Major: Accounting and Management
Where I'm From: Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite TV Show: The Walking Dead and Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite Dessert: Cheesecake

My name is Geneo Simeone. I am an RA on campus and I love Disney! I’ve watched all the Disney movies so many times and I’ve been to Disney about 15 times! My favorite park is Magic Kingdom because of all the different lands with their unique themes. My favorite ride is probably Splash Mountain (even though it got replaced). I love all the music they have in the parks and on the rides too!

Why did I join leadership?: I wanted to join leadership because when I first went to Faith Share my Freshman year, the people in leadership made me feel very comfortable to say what I am thinking and talk about myself with a group of people whom I did not know before. I really like how everyone in leadership tries to involve the students in the discussions and they tell their personal stories. When they tell their stories and experiences, it makes it easier and more comfortable for everyone else to share theirs! I want to be a part of helping people feel comfortable and making them feel that they are a valued part of CCM.

Gabriel Rosario

CCM LEADERSHIP VICE PRESIDENT

Current year: Junior
Major: Criminology
From: Pittsburgh
Favorite TV show: Peaky Blinders
Favorite dessert: Oreo blizzard

Hello, my name is Gabriel Rosario. I am half Puerto Rican. I am the oldest of six children the youngest being 7 years old. I am an RA in Hickory Hall. I am very sociable and easy to come talk too.

I joined leadership because I felt that I was missing something in my life and connection with God. Last summer I lost my grandmother and it tampered with my relationship with the God to the point where it was hard for me to read a bible. My freshman year was empty not only because of the pandemic but also because I felt lonely. During the spring semester, I went to church for the first time in almost a year. I felt welcomed and fulfilled again to the point that when I went back to my room, I was brought to tears. I wanted more of that feeling. The next Sunday I went to mass and LaDonna told the congregation that they needed student ministry leaders. I’ve been a Catholic all my life and I needed to find more purpose. It was then I felt God calling to me so I could be closer to him and to the Catholic community at UPJ.

Maria Torres

CCM LEADERSHIP SECRETARY

Current year: Senior
Majors: Secondary Education & History
Hometown: Gettysburg, PA
Favorite Book: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Favorite dessert: Whoopie Pies

Hello!! My name is Maria Torres. Aside from CCM, I am the President of the UPJ History Club, a tutor, and an RA in Oak Hall. Currently I am going through the RCIA program and sing in the choir during masses at UPJ. I have always had a lifelong passion for learning and teaching, especially history, which has been consistently a part of my life, as I live near and work in Gettysburg, PA.

When it comes to religion, I did not grow up with a large emphasis surrounding it. Both of my parents would consider themselves Christians, but we rarely, if ever, went to church. When I came to UPJ, I had had an interest in learning more about religion, but always thought it would be something small like diving into the history of Christianity. Little did I know, I would meet some amazing people (many of them are joining me on this page), and be drawn closer to God than I ever have been. I felt called to join this group and foster my own relationship with Him to not only better myself, but help others and grow in my own faith. I feel that being a leader on this team is a symbiotic relationship for all involved. Joining leadership was not only a decision to help myself with building my relationship to God, but help anyone I can on their journey, just as much as they will with my own. This is a community that I will forever be thankful for and I hope to help others feel just as welcomed as I did.

David Humensky

CCM LEADERSHIP TREASURER

Current year: Sophomore
Majors: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Avella, PA
Favorite TV Show: Batman the Animated Series
Favorite dessert: Chocolate Cake

I play guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, drums, bass, and piano. I have 2 dogs and a motorcycle. I like Star Wars and Batman, and I enjoy playing airsoft and recording and playing music. I had been a regular attendee at Faith Share and Mass my Freshman year. Because of my involvement, I began playing music for the Choir and at Praise and Worship. I had no plans to become a part of the leadership team, but my faith is important to me, so when I was asked to join and become the Treasurer for CCM, I said Yes!

Matthew Hoover

CCM LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR OF LITURGY & WORSHIP

Current year: Junior
Majors: History and Political Science
Hometown: Northern Cambria, PA
Favorite Book: A Christmas Carol
Favorite dessert: Zeppole

My name is Matt Hoover. In addition to CCM, I am also a Senator of the Student Government Association and the Secretary of History Club. In my spare time, I love to read and travel. I'm studying history and political science and I hope to attend law school after UPJ. I've been fascinated by history since about the age of 7 when I visited Gettysburg Battlefield for the first time. Politics has also interested me since I was in high school and began to study the news and eventually got into serious study of politics. I feel that politics and history are inseparably linked so I think the two studies are very much essential considerations in the world and I love learning about these fields.

As a lifelong Catholic, I felt called to share my love of the faith and the Mass by altar serving and by becoming Coordinator of Liturgy and Worship. For most Catholics, the one hour per week which they attend mass is very often their only, or most important, interaction with their religion. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states "The Euchartist is the source and summit of Christian Life... the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sactifying the world in Christ and the worship men offer to Christ." (CCC 1324-1325) As Catholics, we believe that Christ is truly present in the Mass; for that reason, I believe that the Mass should be celebrated in a reverent and respectful way in order to give glory to God. I'm proud to work as Coordinator in order to beautify the Mass and ensure that it is with its due respect and sanctity.

Angel Auxtero

CCM LEADERSHIP CAMPUS LIAISON

Current year: Senior
Majors: Nursing
Hometown: Somerset, PA
Favorite TV Show: Longmire
Favorite Book: We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
Favorite dessert: Biko/Brownies à la mode.

Hi all! My name’s Angel and I am SO excited to be on CCM leadership this year! My goal as Campus/Community Liaison is to not just engage Catholic Campus Ministry with our school and local community, but to engage YOU in the church and hopefully help everyone take on a more active role in our faith! I hope to be a guiding light and advocate for those who feel lost or are just looking for a place to belong. I, as well as the rest of the leadership team, will welcome you with open arms!

I can’t wait to meet all our newcomers and I look forward to working together with my peers to make CCM as great as it can be! I’ll see y’all at Mass, Faith Share, and whatever other adventures get sent our way! Blessings always!