Why your career path does not have to be your calling

Rosie Chinea Shawver, president and executive director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association, joins Efrain for a conversation about faith, leadership, mentorship, and the importance of finding purpose in work. She shares how the organization supports campus ministers across hundreds of colleges, and why personal invitation, community, and trust still matter most.They also talk about being shaped by mentors, learning fundraising, and helping young people find a place of belonging during the crucial first weeks of college. Key topics Rosie shares how she ended up in her role as president and executive director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association after starting out as a campus minister herself. We discuss the organization’s roots in 1969, its connection to the post Vatican II era, and how lay leadership expanded within the Catholic Church. Rosie explains that the association serves 367 campuses nationwide and supports ministers through conferences, webinars, mentorship, and a newly launched online resource bank. We discuss why one on one invitation remains the most effective way to bring students into ministry and faith communities. Rosie shares how her own faith journey changed in college, including being drawn in by community, friendship, and eventually a deeper sense of calling. We talk about mentors who shaped her path, including Father Mark Pedrez, Barbara McCrabb, and a former USC leader who taught her fundraising. Rosie explains her approach to fundraising - staying organized, continually learning, and treating benefactors as people, not transactions. Efrain and Rosie reflect on the importance of pouring into others, staying humble, and recognizing that identity should not be rooted only in a job title. Rosie offers advice for parents and students visiting college campuses: look for campus ministry early, not as an afterthought. She closes with encouragement for young people to be patient with themselves and trust that a wrong fit does not mean a wrong future. Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome and catching up with Rosie in Southern California 00:54 - Why California makes it easier to stay active outdoors 02:20 - Humidity, dry heat, and appreciating where you live 04:12 - Rosie’s role at the Catholic Campus Ministry Association 05:29 - How Vatican II and lay leadership shaped the organization 06:26 - Serving 367 campuses through conferences, webinars, and mentorship 09:58 - The mentors who poured into Rosie’s life and calling 14:31 - Rosie’s journey from reluctant churchgoer to campus ministry 16:25 - Finding the intersection of passion, need, and joy 19:02 - Why discernment matters when work no longer fits 21:20 - The most effective way students find campus ministry 24:17 - Why the first three weeks of college matter most 27:22 - What made Rosie effective at fundraising 29:41 - Efrain’s own lessons about asking for money and building a team 32:41 - Rosie’s message to young people about patience and trust About Rosie Chinea Shawver: Rosie is the president and executive director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association, where she helps form ministers who reach college students across the country. The organization serves 367 campuses and provides conferences, mentorship, webinars, and resources for campus ministers. About Hart & Hustle: Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Subscribe for practical insight on leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.