By: Grace Leone
At the heart of Bellarmine University’s Office of Campus Ministry is Director of Campus Ministry Father John Pozhathuparambil. Pozhathuparambil, often referred to as “Father John,” has been working on campus since 2010. He has responsibilities such as teaching classes, running weekly Masses, meeting with students, and directing the Office of Campus Ministry.
A large part of his job is interacting with and supporting students both in their faith journeys and through other aspects of life.
Father John said: “I don’t see religion. I see human beings.”
Spiritual peer mentor and theology and religious studies major Nicola Peck said: “Father John has expressed to me that he wants everyone to feel welcomed. It doesn’t matter to him who you are or from what walk of life you come. He is not going to judge you by any standard of the Catholic church. He just meets everyone where they are in genuine love.”
Of her personal experiences with Father John, Peck said, “I never feel judged by him, even if my views are dramatically different from his as a priest.”
Jordyn Gerdes, an elementary education and special education double major, took an “Ultimate Questions” class with Father John.
“I have only heard positives about Father John, about people feeling [welcomed], loving the class that he teaches,” Gerdes said.
Father John is often in his office, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When he is not running Mass or performing professional responsibilities, he is interacting with the Bellarmine community.
Father John plays in the Student vs. Faculty basketball game.
Father John said: “[I always] interact with students. Whether it’s in the office or outside. I am a person who acknowledges the presence of a student, [I] call them by their name or greet them. I’ll always interact with them.”
Peck has frequent interactions with Father John as a part of her work in the Office of Campus Ministry and said, “He wants everyone to feel welcome.”
“Not only does he open his door, he routinely invites students to have hot chocolate in his office; have coffee in his office,” Peck said.
Chandler Haney, a sophomore sports administration major, said Father John will purposely approach students and notice the little things.
“One time I was in UDH, and he came up to me and I was wearing a Young LIFE hoodie. He recognized it, and we had a conversation about ministry and what not and our different faiths,” Haney said.
As a result of his outgoing and welcoming nature, students feel more comfortable confiding in him.
Gerdes said, “I feel like if there was any question that I had within campus ministry or even in general, I feel I could go to him and that he would either have the answer for me or give me a resource that could answer that question for me.”
Many students recognize Father John’s care and intention, and someone even started an Instagram page called “fatherjohnfanclub” in August 2023. The page highlights Father John’s participation in university events and the students’ appreciation of his presence. The page has 441 followers and 15 posts total, with the most recent post shared in October 2023.
Posts made on the "fatherjohnfanclub" Instagram account.
The Instagram page is a way to promote the Office of Campus Ministry and Father John as a resource. Gerdes is active on Instagram and is aware of the page.
“Overall, I think it’s a good way for him, or whoever is running it, to interact with the Bellarmine community,” Gerdes said.
Father John said he knows about the Instagram page as well and said, “I am so blessed that students care about me.”
Father John also said he feels strongly about what the page represents.
“I am also very happy. Being a Catholic priest, it can be stereotyped. I am so happy students want to talk to me and want to hang out with me and they want to connect with me,” Father John said.
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