College-Bound Catholics
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How Do I Stay Catholic in College?
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5 Tips for Staying Catholic in College
Source: Mary Thierfelder for Get Fed
1 – Get Involved
Take part in at least one weekly activity or commitment that is faith-centered. This could be a service project, lectoring at Mass. Find a small faith-sharing group so you can surround yourself with others in the same boat as you and can hold you to the standards you set for yourself. A great place to start in with your school’s campus ministry or Catholic student organization. The contact info for Iowa campus ministries is at the bottom of this page.
2 – Pray
When you get to college, your lifestyle and schedule are going to change quite a bit. You may find yourself staying up until dawn finishing a paper or waking up early to do some last-minute studying for a big exam. Don’t let your prayer life get pushed aside. Schedule some time to pray, to go to Mass, to go to adoration and to go to confession. If your school doesn’t have a place on campus to go to Mass or the Mass times don’t fit your schedule, check out some of the nearby local parishes for their Mass times.
3 – Express Your Faith
Being Catholic is a huge part for who you are. Don’t hide it! Hiding your faith not only weakens it, but also stops your friends from knowing the real you. Don’t be afraid to pray before meals in the dining hall. If you want to put a Crucifix in your dorm, go for it. Being open about your faith will help you be more comfortable with who you are and will help you make friends who share your values and what you believe.
4 – Make Good Friends
Surround yourself with people who will be good influences on you and can give you support in your faith. You’ll meet a lot of new and different people in college. You likely won’t agree with all of them on everything. Getting to know people different from yourself is a great way to grow as a person, to grow as a disciple and to share your faith with others. But make sure some of your closest friends are people with strong values who you want to be like spiritually. And, if you date someone, make sure they are a positive influence on your soul.
5 – Enjoy Life
Live responsibly, but do it joyfully! College is going to be one of your biggest opportunities to learn and grow. Take advantage of it! Yes, you will learn a lot academically, but you will also learn a lot about yourself, about others and about life. Live with purpose and trust in God! You’ll be amazed what you can do.
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What Can Parents Do?
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Encouraging Growth in the Faith
Source: Waterloo Catholics
The most important thing parents can do to help a college-bound son or daughter continue growing in their faith is to encourage them to find and participate in a Catholic faith community on or near campus.
All Catholic colleges or universities and larger public universities have a Catholic Campus Ministry which functions as the local faith community for Catholic students. Nearby parishes usually serve this function at smaller private colleges or universities.
Campus ministers are attuned to the social, personal and spiritual needs of young adult Catholics and can provide a variety of opportunities to help young Catholics understand and practice their faith.
Catholic parents who are concerned about their college son or daughter’s faith formation should:
- Locate the campus ministry office or nearby parish where their young adult is attending school.
- Explain the nature and role of campus ministry to their son or daughter.
- Encourage them to become involved in the campus ministry community or in a nearby parish.
- Visit the campus ministry center or nearby parish with their son or daughter during orientation, homecoming, or parent weekends.
- Contact campus ministry or a nearby parish when the fall semester begins. Provide the student’s name, campus address, cell phone number and/or campus email address so that someone from the campus ministry staff can contact their son or daughter and invite them to become involved in Sunday Mass and other campus ministry activities.
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CONTACT INFO FOR CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRIES IN IOWA
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Allen College, Waterloo.
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
1019 W. 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-9863
Email: [email protected]
www.ststephenuni.orgBriar Cliff University, Sioux City
Campus Ministry Office
3303 Rebecca Street, Sioux City, IA 51104
Phone: 712-279-5227
Email: [email protected]
www.briarcliff.edu/student-life/campus-ministryBuena Vista University, Storm Lake
St. Mary Parish
300 E. Third Street, Storm Lake, IA 50588
Phone: 712-732-3110
Email: [email protected]
www.stormlakbecatholic.comCentral College, Pella
St. Mary Parish
726 218th Place, Pella, IA 50219
Phone: 641-628-3078
Email: [email protected]
stmarypella.orgClarke University, Dubuque
Campus Ministry Office
1550 Clarke Drive, Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: 563-588-6364
Email: [email protected]
www.clarke.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/campus-ministryCoe College, Cedar Rapids
Mount Mercy University Campus Ministry Office
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: 319-363-1323
Email: [email protected]
www.mtmercy.edu/campus-ministryCornell College, Mount Vernon
St. John the Baptist Parish
212 7th Street SE, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314
Phone: 319-895-6246
Email: [email protected]
www.dbqarch.org/stjohnmvDordt College, Sioux Center
Christ the King Parish
501 2nd Avenue SW, Sioux Center, IA 51250
Phone: 712-722-3011
Email: [email protected]
www.christthekingsc.orgDrake University, Des Moines
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center
1150 28th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311
Phone: 515-271-4747
Email: [email protected]
stcatherinedrake.orgEllsworth Community College, Iowa Falls
St. Mark Parish
415 Main Street, Iowa Falls, IA 50126
Phone: 641-648-9547
Email: [email protected]
franklinhardincatholic.orgGrinnel College, Grinnell
St. Mary Parish
1002 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Phone: 641-236-7486
Email: [email protected]
www.stmarygrinnell.comIowa State University, Ames
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Catholic Student Center
2210 Lincoln Way, Ames IA 50014
Phone: 515-292-3810
Email: [email protected]
staparish.netHawkeye Community College, Waterloo
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
1019 W. 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-9863
Email: [email protected]
www.ststephenuni.orgKirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids
Mount Mercy University Campus Ministry Office
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: 319-363-1323
Email: [email protected]
www.mtmercy.edu/campus-ministry
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Loras College, Dubuque
Campus Ministry Office
1450 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: 563-588-7463
Email: [email protected]
www.loras.edu/spiritual-lifeLuther College, Decorah
St. Benedict Parish
307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: 563-382-963
Email: [email protected]
www.stbenedictcc.comMount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids
Campus Ministry Office
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: 319-363-1323
Email: [email protected]
www.mtmercy.edu/campus-ministryNorth Iowa Area Community College, Mason City
Epiphany Parish
300 Fifth Street SE, Mason City, IA 50401
Phone: 641-423-5001
Email: [email protected]
www.epiphanyparish.orgNortheast Iowa Community College, Calmar
St. Aloysius Parish
304 S. Maryville Street, Calmar, IA 52132
Phone: 563-562-3603
Email: [email protected]
cfosparishes.org/st-aloysiusNortheast Iowa Community College, Peosta
Loras College Campus Ministry Office
1450 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: 563-588-7463
Email: [email protected]
www.loras.edu/spiritual-lifeNorthwestern College, Orange City
St. Mary Parish
609 10th Street, Alton, IA 51003
Phone: 712-756-4224
Email: [email protected]
pilgrimcluster.org/st-mary-altonSt. Ambrose University, Davenport
Campus Ministry Office
518 W. Locust Street, Davenport, IA 52722
Phone: 563-333-6151
Email: [email protected]
www.sau.edu/student-life/campus-ministrySimpson College, Indianola
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
210 R63 Hwy, Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: 515-961-3026
Email: [email protected]
stthomasindianola.comUniversity of Dubuque, Dubuque
Loras College Campus Ministry Office
1450 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: 563-588-7463
Email: [email protected]
www.loras.edu/spiritual-lifeUniversity of Iowa, Iowa City
Newman Catholic Student Center
104 E. Jefferson Street, Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: 319-337-3107
Email: [email protected]
www.iowacatholic.orgUniversity of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
1019 W. 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-9863
Email: [email protected]
www.ststephenuni.orgWartburg College, Waverly
St. Mary Parish
2700 Horton Road, Waverly, IA 50677
Phone: 319-352-2493
Email: [email protected]
www.stmarysfamily.com
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