Tiny College plans to expand

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

It is planning to construct a $4-million new building to house its growing population, executive director Tom Hamel, told the WCR April 1.

With strong financial support from the Vancouver Archdiocese, it started in 1999 with a dozen students; it now has 40, some of them from Alberta.

The development will be on the present location of the college, 2,300-square-metre property adjacent to Trinity Western University (TWU), which is the academic partner of RPC.

"The most exciting thing about RPC probably is the fact that it's the first Catholic college in the world to be associated with an evangelical university."

"That's something new in ecumenism," Hamel said.

RPC provides a homey atmosphere for students who want to nurture and grow in their Catholic faith while earning a degree through TWU.

"The great thing about this is that we're very strong in Catholic faith and TWU . . . is very strong in its evangelical faith."

"We have seen students grow incredibly in their faith." - Tom Hamel

When Hamel began the college, Father Michael Scanlan of Franciscan University of Steubenville, advised him, "You be as Catholic as you can be. Don't make the mistake that had been made before. Don't water down the faith. Let them be as evangelical as they can be."

Hamel thinks that's a very important thing and a unique dimension about RPC.

RPC's mission is to train dynamic Catholic leaders - dynamic in that they are people who are alive in Jesus Christ.

To ensure students get a good grounding in Catholic practice and teaching while earning their degree, RPC features a vibrant Catholic student life program.

That program is built around the college's integrating seminars. All students attend these seminars, which present the Catholic faith as the integrating principle of their education.

"Our goal is that students will know Jesus Christ personally and that they will know and love the Church as well," Hamel said.

Students take courses at both RPC and TWU.

"We have seen students grow incredibly in their faith. That's the most exciting part of my job, to see these Catholic students become alive in their faith and understanding," he said.

The college is also proud of its professors, 70 per cent of whom are converts to Catholicism.

Diane Hamel, who organizes social activities for the students, said, "A lot of students are from far away, so they really appreciate the family feeling."

The building is an old farmhouse, so it's very much like home, she said.

They ensure students have time for personal faith sharing, Bible studies and retreats among others. They also have student dinners, regular Mass, Confession and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament once a week.

Kristi Panchuk, former student and now RPC's admission counsellor, said, "Because RPC is so young, when you have an idea, you have a lot of support for your idea. But you're also responsible to carry it forward. In that way, any student who is at RPC becomes a leader."

Panchuk said students who thought they could never be leaders develop their leadership skills at RPC.

For more information visit www.rpcollege.bc.ca or call (604) 888-7727.

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