April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CAMPUS LIFE
CATHOLIC IN COLLEGE: How students find faith
CATHOLIC IN COLLEGE: How students find faith
"Freshman year was hard," admitted Geena Simila, a senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. But, as an overwhelmed RPI freshman four hours from her South Jersey home, being involved in her faith helped with the transition into college life.
"Before I left [for college], my grandma told me that if I was ever homesick to go find a church," Geena said. So, when the Newman Catholic fellowship had a root beer float social during her first week at RPI, she went to it.
The Newman fellowship is a Catholic group with chapters at many U.S. colleges and universities. At RPI, many of the students who are involved in the Newman group attend Mass at Christ Sun of Justice parish, which is located on the college's campus, and then have dinner together. Geena has also carpooled to a daily Mass at St. Augustine's parish in Troy several times with fellow students.
Stress reliever
Karin Hudson, a junior at Russell Sage College in Troy, is president of Sage's Newman Club. Karin found out about Newman felllowships through a friend a few years ahead of her at college; she calls the club "a huge stress reliever for me.
"Between work and school, I'm very busy," she explained. "But I try to always make sure that I have time for the club. We have meetings every week, and that helps me stay connected."
For Andrew Saba, a freshman at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, staying connected to his faith meant more than simply going to Mass on Sundays. He said he sometimes struggles with Mass attendance, but "I pray twice a day, morning and night. After I get into bed, I close my eyes and I say, 'OK, God, I am here to receive your word.'
"No matter what kind of pain or wound that you may have, He can always repair you," Andrew added, noting that he prays about a history class he's struggling in and about trying to lose weight. "Every time I find myself overthinking or getting over-stressed, He is right there talking to me, saying that it's always going to be alright."
Although he can feel like he has too much homework at times to go to Mass, "I beIieve that going to church is 50 percent of the battle. Going to church is the best thing that you can do," he continued. "It shows that you are committed to the relationship. Just because Jesus died for your sins, that is not an excuse to go ahead and sin freely."
Connecting with God, Andrew said, gives him a sense of peace and safety that is greatly appreciated amid the hectic schedule of college life. He even enjoys non-denominational prayer services.
What interests them
As director of campus ministry at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, Joan Horgan's job is to keep students connected with their faith. It's hard work, but she's a firm believer that students need the stability and consistency that faith provides.
Still, "there's a lot of trial and error," Ms. Horgan remarked. She often looks at the students who are involved in campus ministry and creates programs she believes would encourage and interest them. The talks or activities can be different each year, based on student and community interests: "Do they want to go on an overnight retreat? Do they want to meet as a club? What do students show up to do? We try to work with that and play on those themes."
Acting on it
In addition, "we try to do service programming," the director said. "I think what's hard in the college life is that the students get so much information and reading, so maybe they are wanting to do things that are a little more active and engaged."
Saint Rose currently has about 60 students who are active in campus ministry. Liturgies are essential in holding their interest, said Ms. Horgan: "If campuses can't offer that, they are missing a main brick in the wall."
In agreement was John Perrotti, a junior at Union College in Schenectady. College can be stressful and busy, he said, but "the weekly Mass, with people you see on campus every week, it's a nice break."
John goes to Mass at nearby St. John the Evangelist Church. "It helps me separate my mind from things that may not be good for [me]. If you're worried about a paper, being able to switch off that stress will be better.
"Don't be afraid to get involved" in the Church, he advised fellow Catholic students. "It's something that can be kind of taboo on many college campuses. A lot of people would be more open to it, but they don't want to start that conversation."
New Catholic
Angelina Bagstad's conversation about Catholicism just started: The senior at Russell Sage was baptized into the Church last Easter with the help of Cylon George, the college's Catholic chaplain and spiritual advisor for both Sage and HVCC. To her, the Newman Club is "a big family. I was so excited and happy to be received [into] the Church; everyone there was so proud of me."
Angelina attends St. Anthony of Padua Church in Troy as she completes her last semester at Sage.
"I'm a little sensitive and [since joining the Church] I've become a stronger person. I know that's God doing that. He's making me stronger.
"I try to go to Church at least once a week," she said. "I also go on retreats. I'm involved with helping people. When I help people, I can feel God working through me."
College isn't a typical time for some young people to join the Church. Angelina said she had been considering it in high school, but the community at Russell Sage helped her finally take action.
Faith is comforting, she told The Evangelist.
"I've really grown a lot in my faith. I have God right behind me and He's always there for me."[[In-content Ad]]
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