Spirituality after Catholic School

[LuciaMarie]

Hello everyone,

I recently graduated from my Catholic college and am now attending graduate school at a university that is not religiously affiliated. This is the first time in my entire life that I have not been at a Catholic school. I still attend Mass regularly, go to Confession, pray the rosary, and am remaining chaste, but I miss the solidarity I felt with my brothers and sisters in Christ while I was at a Catholic school.

I am having a very difficult time with this major change and am very surprised at how different my life is now. I feel like I am living in a completely different world. I do feel that God has presented me with the challenge to keep my faith strong out in the “real world” but I am becoming very frustrated and I long to return to my Catholic campus.

I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations on how I can continue to grow in faith and spirituality without regular theology classes and without being surrounded by other Catholics on a daily basis. I have explored the ideas of joining some type of religious group or finding a spiritual director but I don’t really know how to accompish these things. I am also interested in any recommendations of books to read.

Additionally, my boyfriend of 4 years and I are now living long distance. We used to attend Mass often with each other but now are finding it difficult to keep faith a central part of our relationship. Any suggestions here?

Thank you for any insight you may have.

God Bless!

 

[mercygate]

Hello everyone,

I recently graduated from my Catholic college and am now attending graduate school at a university that is not religiously affiliated. This is the first time in my entire life that I have not been at a Catholic school. I still attend Mass regularly, go to Confession, pray the rosary, and am remaining chaste, but I miss the solidarity I felt with my brothers and sisters in Christ while I was at a Catholic school.

I am having a very difficult time with this major change and am very surprised at how different my life is now. I feel like I am living in a completely different world. I do feel that God has presented me with the challenge to keep my faith strong out in the “real world” but I am becoming very frustrated and I long to return to my Catholic campus.

I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations on how I can continue to grow in faith and spirituality without regular theology classes and without being surrounded by other Catholics on a daily basis. I have explored the ideas of joining some type of religious group or finding a spiritual director but I don’t really know how to accompish these things. I am also interested in any recommendations of books to read.

Additionally, my boyfriend of 4 years and I are now living long distance. We used to attend Mass often with each other but now are finding it difficult to keep faith a central part of our relationship. Any suggestions here?

Thank you for any insight you may have.

God Bless!

Newman Club?

 

[nobody]

Books: the Catechism & the Bible.

Maybe you and your boyfriend could read the same books (the ones above or other spritual books) & talk about them on the phone, e-mail, etc.

And/or … Ask your boyfriend to join this forum.

You can surround yourself with Catholics on this forum, too.

 

[Veritas41]

You might want to check out the following Catholic organization that is a ministry to college students. You may have a chapter where you’re at, or if you don’t, maybe they can offer you some help. They are faithful to Church teaching:

focusonline.org/

God bless!