About Us
Mission
Compass is students evangelizing students. By uniting Catholic college students from around North America, Compass inspires and equips them to take the initiative in evangelizing college life. Compass’s motto is “Take College Life in a New Direction!
The COMPASS Difference
Through inter-university conferences, retreats, and fellowships, Compass members get strength and encouragement by meeting students from other universities who share their ideals. Knowing that they are not alone, they take on the challenge of evangelizing their campus, bolstered by resources and guidance from a dynamic international network.
Compass recognizes that evangelization depends on formation and strives to improve the holiness of its members through prayer and study. Members promise to never let a day go by without spending time in heartfelt prayer, to seek wholeheartedly to live out the moral teachings of the Catholic Church and to strive constantly for the holiness the Christ wants for them.
COMPASS and campus ministry
Compass members become a bulwark of support for their campus ministers. They are encouraged to be the most active members of their local Catholic community, upholding the good that is already being done and looking for new and creative ways to reach out to their peers as only students can do.
Point Encounters
The Compass Points Encounter is the basic activity of every Compass chapter. Through it, members encourage each other towards more intense holiness and apostolic work and invite non-members to grow in their faith and become involved in Compass.
The Compass Points Encounter consists of three interrelated parts:
- Reflection on that Sunday’s Gospel reading
- Discussion of a brief, recorded talk on a particular faith issue
- Review and renewal of personal faith commitments.
Its compact, flexible format
- Penetrates and transforms the lives of participants with the power of the Gospel,
- Shines the bright light of Catholic teaching into members’ lives,
- Sparks new ideas for more effective evangelisation of campus culture.
Points Encounters meet every other week at Brennan Hall 203 at 7 P.M. on Thursdays. Click here to see a detailed explanation of how a Points Encounter works.
Cornerstone
Cornerstone meetings meet in small groups of 3-5 member of the same sex, in which we may more deeply explore and build our relationship with Christ.
- Just as the cornerstone of a building aligns the entire structure, the fundamental principles of Catholic sprituality need to align every aspect of our lives.
- The Scenario (practical explanations and discussion questions for four-years’ worth of heavy leveraging topics like the Theological Virtues, the Beatitudes, and the Ten Commandments) helps members’ understanding of what it means to follow Christ in the reality of day-to-day life.
- The meeting finishes off with a demanding and in-depth review of your Compass commitments, providing encouragement, advice and accountability in the ongoing battle for holiness.
A more detailed explanation of Cornerstone meetings can be found here.
Formation & Commitments
Formation
The foundation of any evangelisation is our own formation as Catholics. In order to share Christ, we must know Christ and provide an example of Christian living to others. One of the primary aims of Compass is to form its members so as to provide this witness and example. Through prayer and sacraments we form a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, and through study we learn our faith and are better able to explain and defend it. Compass has a number of activities oriented to this formation.
Compass Commitments
Compass members make a number of commitments that help us grow in our devotion to Christ and the sacraments.
Personal Formation:
a) Never let a day go by without spending time in heartfelt prayer.
b) Wholeheartedly seek to live out the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
c) Constantly strive for the holiness that Christ wants for you.
Personal Testimony:
a) Defend the truths of the Catholic faith in word and deed, prudently, charitably and firmly.
b) Imitate Christ especially by being patient, respectful, and attentive to the needs of those around you.
c) Imitate Christ especially by speaking well of others, avoiding destructive criticism, gossip, and useless complaining.
Compass Involvement:
a) Participate generously in the planning, execution, and attendance of Compass activities and projects.
b) Support and encourage your fellow Compass members, and work to increase the size of your Compass Chapter.
c) Support and encourage the evangelizing efforts of the Catholic community on campus, and of other groups who share the goals of Compass.
Do your best to fulfill these noble commitments, and God will do the rest.
Devotion
Compass members lead or participate in a number of Catholic devotions on Campus