Being a Devout Catholic at a Secular College: Challenges, Community, and Hope

PRINCETON, N.J. — While many college students are juggling classes and social plans, a devoted group of young Catholics at Princeton University gathers every weekday at noon for Mass. Nestled in a side chapel within the vast, non-denominational Princeton University Chapel, these students find a rare sanctuary amid an Ivy League environment that’s often secular and socially liberal.

For them, it’s more than a routine—it’s a spiritual home. “People’s faith here feels incredibly strong,” said Logan Nelson, a student who attends daily Mass. “It feels like home—sometimes even more than my own house.”

A Historic Space for a Tight-Knit Community

The Princeton Chapel itself is a stunning Gothic structure built in 1928, capable of seating over 2,000 people, making it one of the largest university chapels in the world. Today, it hosts everything from interfaith services and concerts to weddings, acting as “the bridge between town and gown,” as the university puts it.

Inside this grand space, the Catholic community has carved out a close-knit refuge. On May 8, just as students were worshipping at daily Mass, their phones buzzed with news from the Vatican: white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel signaled the election of a new pope—the first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.

Rev. Zachary Swantek, Princeton’s Catholic chaplain, gathered the students to watch the historic announcement together. “It was electric,” said Nelson. “There was an uproar when Cardinal Robert Prevost became the 267th pope. Seeing an American pope was so cool.”

A Resurgence of Faith on Campus

For Nelson, who converted to Catholicism just last year, the moment was a sign of something bigger—a hopeful resurgence of Catholicism in America. “I see a new wave of passionate believers, many coming from the ‘nones’—people who used to be unaffiliated with any religion like I was,” he said.

Indeed, surveys show that while many Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated, campus ministries like Princeton’s are thriving. The Office of Religious Life at Princeton welcomes students of all faiths—or none—offering support in a campus culture where being openly devout can sometimes feel like swimming upstream.

Swantek, the chaplain, said he’s never felt “more needed as a priest” than in this environment, proud of how the Catholic community supports recent converts and welcomes newcomers.

A U.S.-Born Pope Brings New Hope

The election of Pope Leo XIV has sparked excitement far beyond Princeton. Ace Acuna, a Princeton alum, recently attended Mass at the chapel before embarking on a pilgrimage from Indianapolis to Los Angeles. For him, the pope’s missionary background is a beacon of hope.

“In a world where faith feels like it’s declining, a Church willing to go to the margins and evangelize is so important,” Acuna said.

Reflecting on his own college experience, Acuna recalled how the chapel was a steady source of calm amid Princeton’s fast-paced life. “You want silence and a place to lay down your burdens,” he said.

Personal Stories of Faith and Community

At a recent Mass, David Kim, a Princeton Theological Seminary graduate and recent Catholic convert, stayed behind with his girlfriend Savannah Nichols to pray by the altar. Kim described the chapel’s side altar as “an island of Christian life in an unbelieving world.”

Princeton’s religious diversity runs deep, said religion professor Eric Gregory. “The campus isn’t threatened by Christian presence. Religious students are fully integrated—part of sports, clubs, the newspaper,” he said.

Celebrations and Challenges in Leo’s Home State

At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Catholics are also celebrating Pope Leo XIV’s election with renewed energy. Student Daniel Vanisko called it a blessing to live out his faith in such a secular environment.

“Seeing someone from my home state become pope helps me draw closer to my faith,” Vanisko said.

For Cavan Morber, a rising junior at UIUC, college is a place to challenge beliefs and share faith. “What a time to be alive!” Morber exclaimed. “I’m hopeful Pope Leo XIV will unite the Church during these divided times.”