Gianna De Rosa did not expect to go into ministry.
Hailing from Fredericksburg, Virginia, she grew up a faithful Catholic who attended Mass each week and cared about her faith. When she enrolled at Liberty University in 2020, she quickly sought out the Catholic community on campus.
What she found in Catholic Campus Ministry changed much more than she could have expected.
Through Bible studies, friendships, and regular formation, she began to deepen her understanding of Church teaching and, more importantly, her relationship with Jesus.
“I learned how to pray,” Gianna recalls. “I learned how to have a relationship with Him beyond just going to weekly Mass.”
And watching other students like her grow in their faith stirred something in her. Though she was majoring in government and initially planned to attend law school or pursue a career in Washington, D.C., she found herself increasingly drawn to theology and ministry.
When her campus minister told her about the Diocese of Richmond’s Campus Ministry Fellowship, a two-year program partially funded by the Annual Diocesan Appeal that combines graduate theology studies with hands-on ministry experience, Gianna felt called to apply. That call led her to Christopher Newport University (CNU).
At CNU, Gianna stepped into a role that immersed her in every aspect of campus ministry.
One of her primary responsibilities is leading OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) for students. She develops lesson plans, coordinates with the local parish, and walks with students preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil.
By leading OCIA, she has watched students not only learn Church teaching but also begin to shape their lives around it. Seeing someone receive confirmation and the Eucharist after months of formation has been one of the most powerful experiences of her fellowship.
“I had a student last year in OCIA, he’s an athlete at CNU, and he was so invested in learning and growing in his faith. And while he’s super busy since he’s an athlete and he can’t really come to many CCM things, he will still reach out to me from time to time and ask me more questions. And now I see him at daily Mass every Thursday,” says Gianna.
“I get to watch him grow and see that he’s starting to get convicted about things that he used to do in his life and changing those things because he realizes that they don’t align with his new faith.”
This year, she is supporting five students in OCIA — a significant number for a close-knit ministry community.
Gianna also leads Bible studies for women in the group. Over the past year and a half, she has seen noticeable growth in their prayer life and confidence as well.
When working with any of the students, her focus is simple: help them move beyond surface-level faith and develop a consistent, personal prayer life. As these students grow, they in turn shape the spiritual culture of the ministry.
“It’s my favorite part,” she says. “Watching someone start to care deeply about their faith.”
And she has even seen growth in herself. “I thought I had already done the majority of my growth in my relationship with God in college. But as a fellow, I’ve grown so much more in my relationship with God and my prayer life,” she says. And she notices that it’s also strengthened her confidence in teaching the faith to others.
When asked why someone should consider becoming a fellow, her answer is clear: “Not only does it deepen your own relationship with God, it’s one of the most tangible and fun ways to serve the Lord. Obviously, our whole lives are supposed to be about serving him and glorifying him. But when you work in ministry, it’s so tangible, and you can clearly see God working. It’s incredibly fulfilling.”
Gianna’s fellowship ends this May, wrapping up two amazing years spent shepherding students in their faith.
She is open to what God has in store for her next, but her prayer is to find a way to serve the Church.
“It’ll be bittersweet leaving here,” she says. “But I am very excited for the next chapter.”
Catholic Campus Ministry Fellows, like Gianna, are supported by the generous donations of the faithful to the Annual Diocesan Appeal, run by the Catholic Community Foundation. To learn more about the Appeal, visit CCFrva.org/Gianna.