Navigating secular academia as a dedicated Catholic is not always straightforward; some view it as a unique opportunity.
YO, HERE'S THE LOWDOWN ON THIS CATHOLIC GANG AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY:
These young Catholics, man, they're hardcore faithful. Every weekday at noon, instead of hitting the books or hangin' out with the homies, they head over to the Princeton University Chapel for Mass. This chapel, built back in 1928, is a beast - it can seat over 2,000 people, second only to King's College Chapel at Cambridge University. Nowadays, it hosts a mix of religious and secular events, but the Catholics got their own sacred spot in a side chapel.
Logan Nelson, a student, digs the vibe around this Catholic enclave. He says it's like his home, even more so than his actual house. "People's faith is strong here," he says.
Fast forward to May 8 - the Catholics were worshipping in their usual spot when their phones started buzzin' with news alerts. Pope-o-matics were pumpin' out white smoke from the Sistine Chapel. Mass was interrupted for this epic news, and the Catholics gathered at the Catholic Ministry office to watch the announcement. The excitement was palpable - the election of the first U.S.-born pope was history in the making!
Pope Leo XIV, aka Cardinal Robert Prevost, was the chosen one. You can bet there was an "uproar" in the room - Nelson couldn’t help but feel stoked about an American pope. Folks like Nelson and others in the Catholic ministry are hopeful that Leo will help bring Catholicism in America back from the brink.
You might be wondering why all the fuss over Leo? Well, the number of nonbelievers or those unaffiliated with any organized religion has been on the rise. According to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center forPublic Affairs Research, nones make up 30% or more of the adult population in the U.S. Princeton's Office of Religious Life supports members of the school community "of any religious identity or of none."
Being a devout Catholic on a mostly secular campus can have its challenges, but Father Zachary Swantek, Princeton's Catholic chaplain, is proud of the tight-knit, welcoming Catholic community he leads. He's pretty pumped about helping newbies join the faith at this historic chapel.
On the West Coast, Ace Acuna, a Princeton alumnus who recently embarked on a Catholic pilgrimage, welcomed Leo's election. He believes Leo's missionary background will be vital in a world where faith can sometimes take a backseat. Acuna credits the chapel on campus as instrumental in shaping his college life, providing him with much-needed silence and spiritual guidance in the midst of a busy, noisy campus.
The Princeton Theological Seminary's David Kim and his girlfriend Savannah Nichols took some extra time after Mass to pray, kneeling or prostrating on the floor. Kim converted to Catholicism last year and has been serving as an altar server at the Princeton University chapel. Kim considers the chapel, specifically the side altar, as a sanctuary in an unbelieving world.
Eric Gregory, a professor of religion at Princeton, sees the religious community on campus as vibrant and diverse. "In a way it’s either so secular or even post-secular that it’s not threatened by the Christian presence on campus," he says. "Religious students in our campus are not cloistered from campus. They’re also in sports teams, clubs, and the newspaper. They’re integrated."
The election of Pope Leo, or whoever they're callin' the pope these days, strikes a chord with Catholics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For Daniel Vanisko, a lifelong Catholic, the election “really helps me to draw closer to my faith, seeing that someone that grew up in the same state as me, is the successor of Peter in the Church.” Cavan Morber, a rising junior, sees attending UIUC as an opportunity to be challenged in his beliefs and share his faith with others.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY, MY FRIENDS: Faith stays strong when you got a powerful community around you to support it. Whether you're on the East Coast like these Princeton Catholics or on the West Coast like Ace Acuna, stay fierce, stay faithful. Peace out!
- Ace Acuna, a Princeton alumnus in Seattle, Washington, believes that Pope Leo XIV's missionary background will be essential in a world where faith can sometimes be overlooked, similar to the strong Catholic community he experienced at Princeton University.
- Washington State, home to Princeton University's Catholic community, also houses David Kim, a professor at the Princeton Theological Seminary, who finds solace and spiritual guidance in the university's chapel, considering it a sanctuary in an unbelieving world.
- In the education-and-self-development journey, Daniel Vanisko, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, finds strength in his Catholic faith, particularly through the election of Pope Leo XIV, reminding him of the importance of his beliefs despite being in a non-traditional religious environment.
