Faith and Friendship: The Grotto at Hillsdale
Written by Liam Martin
Every Thursday evening, dozens of Hillsdale students congregate at a small house on Union Street. The tiny living room only has a few seats, so many students sit cross-legged on the floor, enjoying a homemade meal as they talk amongst themselves, waiting for that night’s speaker. This is Convivium, one of the main Catholic Society events on campus, and the house is known as the Grotto.
The Grotto is an outreach of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hillsdale, and it is the central hub for the faith life of Hillsdale’s many Catholic students—26% of the student body, according to a 2018 Collegian poll.
Convivium is only the tip of the iceberg that is the Grotto. Every morning starting at 7:30, students filter in to start their day with prayer in the small chapel within the house, while others chat quietly in the living room, work on homework, and share coffee or tea. On Tuesdays, students come for Mass, Confession, and spiritual direction. In this way, students worship God together through the sacraments, and, particularly in spiritual direction, can talk with a priest about their anxieties, futures, and God’s plans for their lives.
In a world filled with distractions, whether social media, the anti-Christian culture, or rooting one’s value in their own accomplishments, it is often hard to put God at the center of one’s life and build meaningful relationships with others. But the Grotto is a place where many students encounter God and form lifelong friendships with other Christians. According to Josh Rainer, ’23, “The Grotto has provided me with a place of peaceful worship and authentic community.”
For Hillsdale’s Catholics, the Grotto is a big part of Hillsdale’s commitment to forming the minds, hearts, and souls of its students. Hillsdale academics can be challenging, and it is easy for students to become overwhelmed or lose sight of the ultimate goal of a liberal arts education: to become free in Christ. The Grotto, meanwhile, is an oasis where students can experience the peace of God through prayer and fellowship. “Going to the Grotto feels like going home,” says Lucy Fernades, ’24. “It is such a relief, in the midst of the busyness at Hillsdale, to have a specific place to rest and to pray. When I am at the Grotto, I’m reminded of the reason why I pursue academics, or anything else for that matter: the work of becoming like Christ.”
Meg Smith, ’24, sums up how many students feel about the Grotto: “The Grotto has not only helped my faith as an individual, but has also given me a community that strives for sainthood together. I’ve made friends at Convivium and small groups, and my existing friendships have been forged and strengthened with prayer and late-night tea and chats. In the Grotto, I have found a second home.”
Ultimately, the Grotto is a second home for many of us, and it is a place where we have some of the most meaningful experiences here at the College. In a way, the Grotto enables students to take what they learn in the classrooms and bring it to life. Here at Hillsdale, we come together as a community to study the Good, the True, and the Beautiful; at the Grotto, Catholic students come together to worship the God that is Goodness, Truth, and Beauty itself.
Liam Martin, ‘25, is a native of rural Ohio and plans to major in History. In his free time, he enjoys coffee, Shakespeare, Latin chant, and debating politics and religion with whoever will listen.
Published in December 2021