Known affectionately as Murph, Mary Lynn Murphy serves as Catholic Campus Minister to the community at Christopher Newport University. In addition, she serves on the staff of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Murph holds a BA in English and an MEd in Supervision of Instruction from the College of William and Mary and an MA in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. She is also a certified spiritual director.

When sharing her story, Murph often relates that throughout her life she has had a sense that "I am exactly where God wants me to be, doing exactly what God wants me to do. By the same token, hindsight always indicates that God is constantly forming me and molding me for the next adventure deeper into the vineyard."

After years of teaching English in Newport News, when offered a position on staff at Our Lady of Mount Carmel as Pastoral Minister for Young Adults, which included Catholic Campus Ministry at CNU, her response was an excited acceptance. God has gifted her since, both on campus and in the parish, with opportunities to minister to and serve with young adults as they matriculate in college, launch careers, plan weddings, and birth children. She has been their maid of honor and godmother to their first child. Murph exclaims, "What a joy it is to extend the reign of God with them!"

Murph into someone in touch with how the way she lives impacts both the environment and the poor. As a result, she is committed to challenging students beyond social outreach to promoting justice issues. To this end, she encourages students to participate in CCM's Inner City Immersion, Twilight Retreats, Empower Hampton Roads, retreats and workshops, and both domestic and foreign mission trips.

Inspired by the faith and spirituality of students, faculty, and staff, Murph draws deeply from Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." She is a living testimony to a favorite quote, "Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God." One of her mantras is, "I cannot wait to see how God will use me next!" We are grateful for Murph and the gifts she shares with our CCM community.