Fostering Your Faith Life at Hillsdale College
Written by Jessica Kidwell
As I wrap up my final fall semester at Hillsdale College, I reflect on the development of my faith life. My faith has developed in ways that my Catholic grade school and high school education could not match. There’s no doubt my pre-college schooling built a foundation for my faith, but Hillsdale has changed me in ways I never expected. No matter what your faith life looks like, there is continual room for growth, and Hillsdale was my catalyst. Part of it was the curriculum, but a huge contributor was the culture.
When I came to campus, it was normal for friends to attend mass and adoration together, and students even hosted Bible studies on the weekends. Developing minds and improving hearts is central to Hillsdale’s mission for its students, and I think this is what draws so many faithful students to Hillsdale. They are united in similar values, which is why you don’t second-guess leaving your laptop and wallet in the Student Union while grabbing lunch. The best part about having peers who care about aligning their souls to these higher things, is that you have this huge support system that extends all across campus.
If you feel you are being pulled to foster your faith in a deeper way at Hillsdale College, there are multiple options for you!
- Our Chaplain, Rev. Adam Rick: Father Rick serves the student body by supporting student ministries spiritually and administratively. Rev. Rick offers one-on-one counseling with students and is very accessible.
- The Grotto: The Grotto is an outreach of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church where students meet every Thursday night for a home-cooked meal and listen to the speaker of the week. The Grotto offers daily prayer in the chapel inside the small house, as well as mass, adoration, and confession throughout the week.
- Bible Studies: There are multiple Bible studies across campus. If you are involved in Greek life, both fraternities and sororities most likely have students who lead their peers in a weekly Bible study.
- Presentations and Classes with Professors: Throughout the academic year, there are a multitude of talks given by professors and visiting speakers on theology, literature, history and all things alike. These discussions are great ways to learn something new that’s not part of your everyday class schedule. Many departments offer courses with a more religious spin on them as well, even if you’re not a religion major. For example, this semester, I am taking “Christianity and Politics,” offered by the Politics Department. Even if you decide not to take an elective class such as this, the core curriculum will expose you to theological themes and concepts, such as Great Books, philosophy, and theology.
- Clubs: If you’re interested in fostering your faith outside the classroom, there are many clubs that may suit you. For example, Soma, a weekly time of worship organized by Hillsdale’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, offers students a time to reflect and worship together in the Chapel on Thursday evenings. Check out the clubs page for a complete list.
What I’ve learned during my four years at Hillsdale is that there are plenty of ways to grow in your relationship with God, and there are plenty of people who want to walk with you. Take advantage of this opportunity and get closer to God. Hillsdale will change the way you think, the way you view the world, and how you prioritize your relationship with Him in a stronger, more dedicated way.
Jessie Kidwell, ’24, hails from St. Louis, MO, and studies politics. Outside of the classroom, she loves to workout, watch the St. Louis Cardinals, and be with her Pi Phi sisters!
Published in November 2023