All paths led campus minister to Briar Cliff

A background in pastoral ministry and higher education helped lay a path to Briar Cliff University in Sioux City for the school’s director of campus ministry.

Dr. Michael Horka, Ph.D., who has been with the university since October, noted that while coordinating structured ministry activities and service opportunities are part of the job, some of the most important aspects of his work centers on being available to students.   

“It’s the behind the scenes, those interpersonal moments of meeting with students who want spiritual accompaniment,” he said, adding that it can be meeting with a student once or sometimes it’s walking with them “through a difficult moment of their life over a course of weeks.”

With four months on the job, Horka has found this position to be a good fit not only in his work with the students but a sense of community and respect among the faculty and staff.

“I felt that since I’ve been here, faculty and staff care for one another and they truly care for the students and you’re not going to get that at every big, public university,” he said.

Horka credited this spirit of community and belonging to the Franciscan culture of the university.

Presently finishing a master’s in pastoral ministry from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, the campus minister brings a diverse educational and professional background to the position.

As an undergraduate, he earned a marketing degree and began working for his home parish in the Detroit suburbs.

“It was a very large parish and they wanted someone to help with communications and bringing the community together,” said Horka, noting that within six months they added youth ministry work to his responsibilities.

Horka then worked for a small business association for five years before attending graduate school in the 2010s where he completed his Ph.D. in American studies. While this was a secular degree, he leaned into his passion for the faith and some of his research focused on the environment in a cultural context, which was inspired by Pope Francis and the papal encyclical Laudato Si.

During his time teaching at Miami University in Ohio, Horka said, “I was noticing how many students were coming to me about issues that were not related to academics. I started to feel more and more like I was doing ministry with a side of teaching.”

While he had been out of pastoral ministry for a number of years, he felt God calling him back to that work.

It was during a time of discernment when Horka applied for the director of campus ministry position at Briar Cliff University last fall.

With stints working in pastoral ministry, the business world and teaching in higher education, Horka explained that he also had explored religious life with the Capuchin Franciscans in the Midwest and entered the community in 2024.

“It was a wonderful experience, but I also felt like my particular gifts – whatever they may be – might be a bit better suited in an environment like this rather than religious life,” he said.

At the time Horka applied for the position at BCU, he acknowledged he wasn’t specifically looking for a position in campus ministry “but that’s why God knows so much better than we do, right? So, the way I would explain it is when I was coming out of religious community, I still wanted to serve. I knew I was being called, I just didn’t know where.”

Reflecting on his path to Briar Cliff, he described it as three tributaries coming together.

One was the Franciscan tradition of the university, as many values of St. Francis such as service to others and simplicity are in line with his own beliefs.

“The second was that I’ve been working with young adults almost my entire professional career whether it be in pastoral ministry or higher ed,” said Horka. “And then the third tributary is the ability to also teach, since I am in higher education – so I can do the type of work that I love, that sort of interpersonal and programmatic, but also be in the classroom with them, at least some of the time.”

Regularly scheduled formation activities such as Bible studies are among duties of the campus minister. Another regular formation activity this semester which draws a mix of Catholics and other Christians has been Chosen Nights where they watch the show and have discussion.

Horka has also initiated morning prayer services in the chapel Monday through Thursday.

“Two of the days are more intentionally ecumenical because we have a large population of Christians who are not Catholic,” he said. “And then two days a week it’s the Liturgy of the Hours.”

Whatever services or activities are planned, Horka said they want to ensure everyone feels welcome to attend.

While this year Horka is not teaching in a classroom, he is organizing and speaking at BCU’s Franciscan Values Lecture Series offered by the university. The next lecture titled Understanding the Contemporary Immigration Crisis will be held at 7 p.m., Feb. 9.

The event also includes speakers from the Diocese of Sioux City and the Catholic Charities Welcome Program to illuminate the work of the local church with immigrants. It is free and open to the public.

Next fall, most likely he will teach a core class for the first year experience which is focused on Franciscan values and study skills. Next spring, plans are for him to teach a global society course.

“It’s also a lot of networking, trying to be available to the community,” said Horka. “I attend a lot of meetings from homecoming to baccalaureate and strategic planning.”

He has even met with many of the sports teams on campus and mentioned he was surprised by the large number of student athletes at the university. With the busy schedules of athletes and other students heavily involved in activities, he admitted that it can be a bit of challenge to determine how to serve their needs amid their busy lives.

Presently, Horka said he is exploring ways to deepen BCU’s Franciscan commitment to service and looking for ways to enrich the first year curriculum.

The students’ sacramental needs are met by Father Travis Crotty. As a part-time chaplain, he celebrates Mass on Sundays, hears confessions and other ministry duties.

Another key element of his position is managing service opportunities for the students. The service component of the Franciscan values is a draw for Horka.

“There’s something about the heart of a servant that often comes through in Franciscan environments where you can see that sort of true devotion to people in need,” he said.

St. Francis, noted Horka, appeals to many whether they are Catholic or not because the saint was completely devoted to God and to those most in need.

“I feel moved by that, by honoring God in prayer and worship but also in tending to people who are the most vulnerable,” he stressed, adding that sensibility has been gifted by the Franciscan Sisters who have served at Briar Cliff through the years and “that legacy still comes forward today.”