Church Day on the Mall 2011 was held on Friday inside the Gallagher Student Center (GSC). From 5-8 p.m., the Xavier University Gospel Choir, Students Committed to Christ, the Ecumenical Leadership Team, Navigators and the Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ) hosted the well-attended, kick-off spiritual event. Tiara Anderson, president of the Xavier University Gospel Choir, explained that the scripture verse Psalm 133: 1 inspired the event: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Many local churches of various denominations set up tables with information for students interested in Christian worship options. Local churches that participated included University Christian Church, Community Friends Meeting House (Quaker), New Prospect Baptist Church, Zion United Church of Christ, Kingdom Ministries House of Prayer, Crossroads, Grace United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Higher Ground Global Ministries.
“[The eve] is a really great opportunity for students of non-Catholic backgrounds to find an outlet for their ministry and faith,” Abbey Gerard, in charge of public relations for the XU Gospel Choir, said. At 6:30 p.m., the Xavier University Gospel Choir and guest singers performed in the GSC Atrium. During the event, Andrea Bardelmeier, assistant director of ecumenical and multi-faith at CFJ, introduced each represented church group and led a prayer within the ecumenical worship celebration. During her presentation, Bardelmeier said she was proud that this event came from the students, as mostly student groups on campus produced the affair. The Xavier student organization
hosts also set up tables offering students more information about the clubs, and they sold caramel apples, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn.