Casual conversation on current events with Catholic perspective

Jessica Turek
Antelope Staff

Tuesday nights are not slow at Baristas as students grab cups to warm them up as they meet for Revelation on the Rocks, one of the new programs formed by the Catholic Newman Center this academic year.

The program is a weekly meeting for anyone open to learning more about the Catholic faith. Each week, attendees casually discuss any topic they want to explore as a group. The topics can range from broad cultural issues or a current event to personal experiences on campus and in class.
“If anyone is wondering about the Catholic faith, it would be a great place to come to,” said Claire Swantek, a Genoa sophomore, majoring in early childhood education.

Revelation on the Rocks meetings began last August. Co-leaders Julia Daro and Houston Arnes of the faith formation committee organized the program.

Daro, sophomore majoring in pre-nursing from David City said, “It’s a good way to grow deeper in your faith by learning about different topics from a good source.”

“If anyone is wondering about the Catholic faith, it would be a great place to come to.”  -Claire Swantek

“Yeah, cause Father’s there too like, if anyone says anything wrong or we have a specific question, Father knows. So, we get the real Catholic teaching on it,” Swantek said.

Revelation on the Rocks was envisioned by Fr. Neal Hock, chaplain and director of Newman Center and Vocations. The idea is to give students a place to hold a discussion in a more laid back setting flexible to students’ schedules.

“My favorite part about it is just having once a week. It’s like, I have so much homework—but after I go, it was good just to take a break. And even if it wasn’t anything earth-shattering, like conversation wise, it was good to just hang out with those people and just talk for an hour,” Daro said.

Revelation on the Rocks is scheduled to meet every Tuesday throughout the rest of the spring academic semester, 8 p.m. at Baristas.

“It’s reassuring to know that other students on campus, who are in your same shoes as you are, have the same feelings, and the same values, and outlook on things. Kind of like, be there for you. Like, you’re not alone,” Daro said.

Attendees are not alone as they leave around closing time, smiling, laughing and just enjoying their favorite coffee. Swantek said, “I like experimenting with new things, but my go-to thing is chai.”