Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I’m sure it seems hard to believe, but within a matter of weeks you will be coming to Purdue to start a new chapter in your life. At Purdue, you will be met with new challenges and, with them, new opportunities: living away from home, having a roommate, taking college classes, living among thousands of students like you, taking charge of the entirety of your day-to-day…

…but where does your faith fit into this?

Purdue’s campus will offer you all the opportunities the world itself has waiting for you, and will be your opportunity to define your life, to make your own decisions about who you wish to become. It is your opportunity to seize your faith as your own and embark on the great journey of love that Christ wishes to take with you. I can tell you from my own life, I have never felt as fulfilled, as at peace, as profoundly happy as I have in coming in touch with my faith at Purdue. It has vitalized every other aspect of my life. I have met incredible people at Purdue who have challenged me to become a better person, and have supported me when I have failed to be that person. They are people in whom I can trust and depend, because they want me to become all that I am called to be.

Looking at my time in college, a question comes to mind: where has Christ touched me at Purdue? I have seen the Lord and felt Him alive at St. Thomas Aquinas, or St. Tom’s as we students affectionately call it, the Catholic Center at Purdue. It is here, in the people I have met and with whom I have shared so many moments of discovery in faith-oriented groups, in the sacred silence of the Blessed Sacrament chapel, at Mass, on a mission trip to New Orleans, on the Purdue Christ Encounter (PCE) retreat,… It is here that Christ has made Himself visible to me. St. Paul tells us that “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” (1 Cor 12: 4-6). Just as the gifts of the Spirit are varied, so, too, are our journeys towards God. We are all at different points in our faith journeys, we each have something unique to provide to the Church, and we each require something of it as well.

“Seek and you will find” (Mt 7:7). There is a place for you in the Purdue Catholic community, now you must look for it. There is an abundance of possibilities with Purdue Catholic Students (PCS), now seize one! If you’re looking to grow closer to Christ by growing closer to students just like you, by sharing your own faith journey while sharing in theirs, join Campus Renew. Maybe you’re looking to serve Christ in your neighbor—look into ACT (As Christ Teaches), an opportunity to serve the community with fellow Catholics, or go on a mission trip. Perhaps you want to learn more about your faith, specifically how to defend it—look into Catholic Truth League (CTL), the apologetics group at Purdue. Or maybe you want to encounter Christ in Sacred Scripture—consider joining CROSS Bible Study. There are weekend retreats in which to become reconnected with Christ. Or maybe you’re looking for an opportunity to simply socialize with fellow Catholics—come to a Sunday dinner, before the 7 pm Mass, and then go to Mass with a whole group of friends!

In the Gospel according to St. Luke, Christ tells us: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk 12:49). Our faith is meant to be alive, giving life to all things that we do. As you come to Purdue, know that it is your faith which will invigorate, and that search though you may, you will never find a home like that which you have in Christ. And as you set forth on this journey, remember that you are not alone. As Catholics, we are on this journey together, and we are all excited for YOU to be a part of this community, for you to join us. Welcome to St. Tom’s, your home away from home, the heart of the Purdue Catholic community.

Your brother in Christ,

Bernie Davila,
PCS President

P.S. There are a few opportunities right at the beginning of the semester to “jumpstart” your faith journey at Purdue. I want to personally invite you to the Freshman Kick-off at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 21st for some fun, fellowship and ice cream, of course. Also, get to the PCS Block Party on August 28, featuring Catholic band Popple and Catholic comedian Judy McDonald. It is going to be a great event. There will be food and a PCS activities fair occurring at the same time, so you can find out more about the different groups at St. Tom’s as well. Above all else, it’s your chance to meet a ton of new friends and just have fun! Also, join thousands of Purdue students for the annual Mass on the Grass on August 30—where? Right on the Memorial Mall!