Christ the King Catholic Church is a haven for University students looking for a quiet place to study during finals.
CTK is open to students 24 hours a day during final exam week. The church offers students hot meals and the opportunity to use its facilities to prepare for finals.
Rebecca East, a campus minister for CTK, said it is a church tradition to remain open during final exams.
East said CTK chooses to remain open because the church realizes students need a safe, quiet place to study.
“We invite them to come and study and while they’re here we give them dinner,” she said.
East said one evening last semester 400 students gathered at CTK for dinner.
CTK only prepares enough meals for approximately 300 to 400 students, she said. University faculty and staff are not invited. Non-Catholic students are welcome.
Christa Courvillee, a communication disorders sophomore, said this will be the third semester she will go to CTK to study for her final exam.
“The environment makes it a great place,” Courvillee said. “It is a great place for groups to meet because there are classrooms upstairs.”
Courvillee said the students who go to CTK during finals week go because of the quiet, relaxing atmosphere.
“It’s open 24 hours,” she said. “I think that’s what makes it appealing.”
Courvillee said CTK offers her a peaceful refuge away from the noisy dorm where she lives.
She said places on campus will always have people talking or music playing.
“You don’t get that sense of silence anywhere on campus,” Courvillee said.
East said CTK has four campus ministers who always try to be accessible to students. Two priests try to stay late into the evening.
She said CTK provides spiritual counseling for students to relieve stress. Mass will be held throughout next week.
East said students asked for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to be held. Adoration consists of the displaying of a consecrated Communion bread, which Catholics believe embodies Jesus.
Students can go and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament to help ease burdens and stress. The Adoration will take place Tuesday at 9 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. Wednesday night.
Walker said praying during the Adoration helps calm her.
Courvillee said praying also relieves her stress.
“What a better way to go and relieve stress than to go and sit in front of Jesus Christ,” she said.
East said she thinks it is admirable for students to leave their studying in order to pray.