Jen Hantz
Staff Writer
Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Women’s Ministry emitted a new energy in the Piazza de Sancti before revealing their new name — The Well — as well as their core team for the semester, Thursday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m.
Under the string lights circling the Piazza, the young ladies of campus mingled and enjoyed snacks and drinks as music pumped from the speakers.
In between games that allowed the women to safely socialize, Lauren Gothard, the new head of the Women’s Ministry core team, announced the new members of the core team as each introduced herself.
After the first game, Gothard revealed the new name for Women’s Ministry, The Well, which is based on the story of the woman at the well in John 4.
Senior Victoria Hamilton, the student head of Women’s Ministry, said she could relate to the woman at the well and her neediness.
“I’ve learned to grow in that vulnerability and sharing my needs with Him.”
Following Hamilton, sophomore Caroline Picard addressed the crowd and said, “If Mother Teresa has taught me anything about her life, it’s surrender everything. … We are The Well and as a community of sisters we just need to come together and share in that.”
After another game, sophomore Francesca Alberti said, “I think we all need to live in more freedom and have more joy. … Especially as women, we should be encouraging each other always and we shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to each other.”
The Well will have bimonthly meetings as in previous years, but there will be more focus on discipleship small groups, led by each of the core team members, Gothard said.
“If you want to walk with somebody into knowing who you are, knowing who Jesus is and knowing how to live your life for him … we have people who want to do that with you,” said Gothard.
By the end of the night, the entire core team had introduced themselves, given their testimonies and encouraged the women to sign up for a small group.
Attendees had positive feedback for The Well’s first event.
Freshman Angelina Toole said, “Women’s Ministry knows how to have an inviting community for anyone at the university.”
Freshman Kayla Myers said, “I liked the testimonies. … Sometimes girls get stuck with comparison but we’re here to just be a community and find joy in Jesus and just bring it to other people.”