As your child prepares to leave for college, you are probably thinking about the big things: Will they succeed academically? Will they find good friends? Will they feel at home on campus?

But there is another important question many Catholic parents carry in their hearts:

How will my child stay connected to their faith when they are no longer at home?

College is a season of incredible growth. Students meet new people, experience new freedoms, and begin making decisions that shape who they are becoming. For many students, it is also a time when they are searching for purpose, belonging, and a deeper relationship with God.

That is why finding a Catholic community on campus matters.

For Izabella, that community became the place where she found her way back to Christ.

A Freshman Year Search for Belonging

Like many students starting college, Izabella entered her freshman year ready for a new chapter. She wanted to build friendships, explore new experiences, and find her place on campus.

But along the way, she found herself surrounded by influences that left her feeling disconnected from the person she wanted to become.

During her freshman year, Izabella joined a sorority whose culture encouraged choices that did not align with her values.

Then one night, before heading to a party, something happened that caused her to stop and reflect.

Izabella shared that she had a terrible headache. When she went to splash water on her face, she described seeing a “future dream” of herself being held and reassured that everything would be okay.

Instead of going to the party, she stayed home, wondering what that moment meant.

That night, she had a dream that changed the direction of her life.

“That night I had a dream of a man walking with me by the shoreline saying to trust in Him and all of my pain and suffering will go away.”

The next morning, Izabella asked her grandmother what the dream meant.

Her grandmother told her it was Jesus.

Finding a Faith Home on Campus

Wanting to understand more, Izabella bought a Bible, but she quickly realized she needed guidance and community as she began exploring her faith.

Then she discovered something that would change her college experience: Catholic campus ministry.

Izabella found out that her university offered Catholic Argos Faith Nights, a place where students could gather, grow in faith, and connect with others who shared their beliefs.

That community became the home she was searching for.

“I saw online that my university does a thing called Catholic Argos faith nights, and I have been home ever since!”

For Izabella, Catholic campus ministry was more than just another activity. It gave her a place to ask questions, encounter Christ, and build friendships rooted in faith.

Why Catholic Community Matters for College Students

Every year, thousands of Catholic students step onto college campuses carrying the hopes, fears, and questions that come with a major life transition.

Some students arrive with a strong faith foundation. Others may feel uncertain or disconnected. Many are simply looking for a place where they belong.

A Catholic community can be the difference between a student feeling alone and a student finding friends who encourage them in their relationship with Christ.

For parents, this can be one of the most meaningful gifts you give your child before they leave home: helping them find a faith community that will continue to support them when you cannot be there every day.

Help Your Student Find Their Catholic Community

The transition from high school to college is a big one, but students do not have to navigate it alone.

Through the Faith Forward movement, Newman Connection works to connect Catholic students with campus ministries before they arrive at college. The goal is simple: make sure every Catholic student knows there is a community waiting for them.

Whether you are a parent preparing your child for college, a student looking for a Catholic community, or a supporter who believes every young person deserves a place to grow in faith, you can help make this connection possible.

Join the Faith Forward movement today:

• Students: Connect with a Catholic campus ministry and find your faith home before you arrive.
• Parents and supporters: Donate to Newman Connection and help more Catholic students discover the communities that can strengthen their faith for years to come.

When a student finds a Catholic community, they do not just find a place to go — they find a place where they belong.