Saturday, January 31, 2026

Sunday's Saint; first Saint for February

St. Brigid of Ireland

Feastday: February 1
Patron: of Ireland, dairymaids, cattle, midwives, Irish nuns, and newborn babies
Birth: 451
Death: 525

Saint Brigid was born Brigit and shares a name with a Celtic goddess from whom many legends and folk customs are associated.

There is much debate over her birthparents, but it is widely believed her mother was Brocca, a Christian baptized by Saint Patrick, and her father was Dubthach, a Leinster chieftain. Brocca was a slave, therefore Brigid was born into slavery.

When Dubthach's wife discovered Brocca was pregnant, she was sold to a Druid landowner. It is not clear if Brocca was unable to produce milk or was not present to care for Brigid, but legend states Brigid vomited any food the druid attempted to feed her, as he was impure, so a white cow with red ears sustained her instead.

Many stories of Brigid's purity followed her childhood. She was unable to keep from feeding the poor and healing them.

One story says Brigid once gave her mother's entire store of butter, that was later replenished after Brigid prayed.

When she was about ten-years-old, Brigid was returned to her father's home, as he was her legal master. Her charity did not end when she left her mother, and she donated his possessions to anyone who asked.

Eventually, Dubthach became tired of her charitably nature and took her to the king of Leinster, with the intention of selling her. As he spoke to the king, Brigid gave his jeweled sword to a beggar so he could barter it for food for his family. When the king, who was a Christian, saw this, he recognized her heart and convinced Dubthach to grant her freedom by saying, "Her merit before God is greater than ours."

After being freed, Brigid returned to the Druid and her mother, who was in charge of the Druid's dairy. Brigid took over and often gave away milk, but the dairy prospered despite the charitable practice, and the Druid eventually freed Brocca.

Brigid then returned to Dubthach, who had arranged for her to marry a bard. She refused and made a vow to always be chaste.

Legend has it Brigid prayed that her beauty be taken so no one would want to marry her, and the prayer was granted. It was not until after she made her final vows that her beauty was restored.

Another tale says that when Saint Patrick heard her final vows, he accidentally used the form for ordaining priests. When the error was brought to his attention, he simply replied, "So be it, my son, she is destined for great things."

Little is known about Saint Brigid's life after she entered the Church, but in 40 she founded a monastery in Kildare, called the Church of the Oak. It was built above a pagan shrine to the Celtic goddess Brigid, which was beneath a large oak tree.

Brigid and seven friends organized communal consecrated religious life for women in Ireland, and she founded two monastic institutions, one for men and one for women. Brigid invited a hermit called Conleth to help her in Kildare as a spiritual pastor.

Her biographer reported that Brigid chose Saint Conleth "to govern the church along with herself."

She later founded a school of art that included metalwork and illumination, which Conleth led as well. It was at this school that the Book of Kildare, which the Gerald of Wales praised as "the work of angelic, and not human skill," was beautifully illuminated, but was lost three centuries ago.

There is evidence that Brigid was a good friend of Saint Patrick's and that the Trias Thaumaturga claimed, "Between St. Patrick and Brigid, the pillars of the Irish people, there was so great a friendship of charity that they had but one heart and one mind. Through him and through her Christ performed many great works."

Saint Brigid helped many people in her lifetime, but on February 1 525, she passed away of natural causes. Her body was initially kept to the right of the high altar of Kildare Cathedral, with a tomb "adorned with gems and precious stones and crowns of gold and silver," but in 878, during the Scandinavian raids, her relics were moved to the tomb of Patrick and Columba.

In 1185, John de Courcy had her remains relocated in Down Cathedral. Today, Saint Brigid's skull can be found in the Church of St. John the Baptist in Lumiar, Portugal. The tomb in which it is kept bears the inscription, "Here in these three tombs lie the three Irish knights who brought the head of St. Brigid, Virgin, a native of Ireland, whose relic is preserved in this chapel. In memory of which, the officials of the Altar of the same Saint caused this to be done in January AD 1283."

A portion of the skull was relocated to St. Bridget's Church and another was sent to the Bishop of Lisbon in St. Brigid's church in Killester.

Saint Brigid's likeness is often depicted holding a reed cross, a crozier, or a lamp.

Pope Leo XIV adds statue & mosaic to the Vatican Gardens

Pope

Pope: St. Rose of Lima a shining example of our vocation to holiness

Pope Leo XIV blesses a Marian mosaic and an image of St. Rose of Lima in the Vatican Gardens and upholds the first saint born in the Americas as an example of our earthly journey of sanctification.

By Devin Watkins

The natural beauty of the Vatican Gardens was enriched on Saturday with two new images: a mosaic depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary and a statue of St. Rose of Lima.

Pope Leo XIV attended the inauguration along with the Ambassador of Peru to the Holy See, Jorge Ponce San Román, and the President of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Carlos Enrique García Camader of Lurín.

“This gesture renews the profound bonds of faith and friendship that unite Peru—a country so dear to me—with the Holy See,” said the Pope at the end of the ceremony.

The Vatican Gardens, he added, are a “beautiful place, where everything speaks to us of the Creator and of the beauty of creation.”

He thanked the artists who created the two works of art which have now found a permanent home in Vatican City State.

Commissioned by the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference, the images were created by the “Don Bosco Family of Artisans,” an association of young people from the Peruvian Andes Mountains.

“The two figures evoked—our heavenly Mother and the first Latin American Saint, Rose of Lima—lead us to the theme of holiness,” said the Pope.

Pope Leo XIV blesses the mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary installed in the Vatican Gardens (@Vatican Media)

He recalled the Second Vatican Council’s call for all of the faithful to seek the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of charity.

“The holiness of the People of God will bring forth abundant fruits, as the history of the Church splendidly demonstrates in the lives of so many saints,” he said, quoting the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium.

Pope Leo invited Christians to embrace the “greatness of the vocation to which God calls us, that is, the universal vocation to holiness.”

In conclusion, the Pope prayed that the Virgin Mary and St. Rose of Lima may intercede for us on our journey toward the heavenly homeland.

“I encourage you to be, with the grace of God,” he said, “witnesses and examples of that holiness in the world today.”

Friday, January 30, 2026

The final Saint of the Day for January

St. John Bosco

Feastday: January 31
Patron: of apprentices, editors and publishers, schoolchildren, magicians, and juvenile delinquents
Birth: August 16, 1815
Death: January 31, 1888
Beatified: June 2, 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized: April 1, 1934 by Pope Pius XI

John Bosco, also known as Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco and Don Bosco, was born in Becchi, Italy, on August 16, 1815. His birth came just after the end of the Napoleonic Wars which ravaged the area. Compounding the problems on his birthday, there was also a drought and a famine at the time of his birth.

At the age of two, John lost his father, leaving him and his two older brothers to be raised by his mother, Margherita. His "Mama Margherita Occhiena" would herself be declared venerable by the Church in 2006.

Raised primarily by his mother, John attended church and became very devout. When he was not in church, he helped his family grow food and raise sheep. They were very poor, but despite their poverty his mother also found enough to share with the homeless who sometimes came to the door seeking food, shelter or clothing.

When John was nine years old, he had the first of several vivid dreams that would influence his life. In his dream, he encountered a multitude of boys who swore as they played. Among these boys, he encountered a great, majestic man and woman. The man told him that in meekness and charity, he would "conquer these your friends." Then a lady, also majestic said, "Be strong, humble and robust. When the time comes, you will understand everything." This dream influenced John the rest of his life.

Not long afterwards, John witnessed a traveling troupe of circus performers. He was enthralled by their magic tricks and acrobatics. He realized if he learned their tricks, he could use them to attract others and hold their attention. He studied their tricks and learned how to perform some himself.

One Sunday evening, John staged a show for the kids he played with and was heartily applauded. At the end of the show, he recited the homily he heard earlier in the day. He ended by inviting his neighbors to pray with him. His shows and games were repeated and during this time, John discerned the call to become a priest.

To be a priest, John required an education, something he lacked because of poverty. However, he found a priest willing to provide him with some teaching and a few books. John's older brother became angry at this apparent disloyalty, and he reportedly whipped John saying he's "a farmer like us!"

John was undeterred, and as soon as he could he left home to look for work as a hired farm laborer. He was only 12 when he departed, a decision hastened by his brother's hostility.

John had difficulty finding work, but managed to find a job at a vineyard. He labored for two more years before he met Jospeh Cafasso, a priest who was willing to help him. Cafasso himself would later be recognized as a saint for his work, particularly ministering to prisoners and the condemned.

In 1835, John entered the seminary and following six years of study and preparation, he was ordained a priest in 1841.

His first assignment was to the city of Turin. The city was in the throes of industrialization so it had slums and widespread poverty. It was into these poor neighborhoods that John, now known as Fr. Bosco, went to work with the children of the poor.

While visiting the prisons, Fr. Bosco noticed a large number of boys, between the ages of 12 and 18, inside. The conditions were deplorable, and he felt moved to do more to help other boys from ending up there.

He went into the streets and started to meet young men and boys where they worked and played. He used his talents as a performer, doing tricks to capture attention, then sharing with the children his message for the day.

When he was not preaching, Fr. Bosco worked tirelessly seeking work for boys who needed it, and searching for lodgings for others. His mother began to help him, and she became known as "Mamma Margherita." By the 1860s, Fr. Bosco and his mother were responsible for lodging 800 boys.

Fr. Bosco also negotiated new rights for boys who were employed as apprentices. A common problem was the abuse of apprentices, with their employers using them to perform manual labor and menial work unrelated to their apprenticeship. Fr. Bosco negotiated contracts which forbade such abuse, a sweeping reform for that time. The boys he hired out were also given feast days off and could no longer be beaten.

Fr. Bosco also identified boys he thought would make good priests and encouraged them to consider a vocation to the priesthood. Then, he helped to prepare those who responded favorably in their path to ordination.

Fr. Bosco was not without some controversy. Some parish priests accused him of stealing boys from their parishes. The Chief of Police of Turin was opposed to his catechizing of boys in the streets, which he claimed was political subversion.

In 1859, Fr. Bosco established the Society of St. Francis de Sales. He organized 15 seminarians and one teenage boy into the group. Their purpose was to carry on his charitable work, helping boys with their faith formation and to stay out of trouble. The organization still exists today and continues to help people, especially children around the world.

In the years that followed, Fr. Bosco expanded his mission, which had, and still has, much work to do.

Fr. Bosco died on January 31, 1888. The call for his canonization was immediate. Pope Pius XI knew Fr. Bosco personally and agreed, declaring him blessed in 1929. St. John Bosco was canonized on Easter Sunday, 1934 and he was given the title, "Father and Teacher of Youth."

In 2002, Pope John Paul II was petitioned to declare St. John Bosco the Patron of Stage Magicians. St. Bosco had pioneered the art of what is today called "Gospel Magic," using magic and other feats to attract attention and engage the youth.

Saint John Bosco is the patron saint of apprentices, editors and publishers, schoolchildren, magicians, and juvenile delinquents. His feast day is on January 31.

USCCB President calls for Holy Hour in wake of the violence in Minneapolis

Catholic bishops' conference president calls for Holy Hour after Minneapolis DHS killings

(RNS) — ‘The current climate of fear and polarization, which thrives when human dignity is disregarded, does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel,’ wrote Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley.

People gather during a vigil for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was killed by U.S. immigration agents earlier in the day, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Aleja Hertzler-McCain

January 28, 2026

(RNS) — Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for bishops and priests in Catholic churches across the country to hold a Holy Hour of prayer for peace as killings by federal agents have caused national concern about the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort.

Elected to lead the bishops’ conference in November, Coakley made his most robust remarks thus far on the impact of the administration’s agenda in the Wednesday (Jan. 28) statement, signaling growing discomfort among Catholic leaders with current immigration policy and Department of Homeland Security tactics in carrying it out. In the past week, the archbishops of Los Angeles and Minneapolis have also spoken out.

“The recent killing of two people by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis and that of a detained man in Texas, are just a few of the tragic examples of the violence that represent failures in our society to respect the dignity of every human life,” Coakley wrote, referring to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos while he was detained in a facility near El Paso. Lunas Campos’ death, after agents held him down and he stopped breathing, has been ruled a homicide. “We mourn this loss of life and deplore the indifference and injustice it represents.”

The suggested Holy Hour will involve prayer in front of the Eucharist, often also called the Blessed Sacrament, in which Catholics believe Jesus is present in the consecrated bread and wine.

Coakley called on Catholics to pray “for reconciliation where there is division, for justice where there are violations of fundamental rights, and for consolation for all who feel overwhelmed by fear or loss,” whether they gather in a parish or chapel or pray privately.

“The current climate of fear and polarization, which thrives when human dignity is disregarded, does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel,” he wrote.

A relatively conservative member of the bishops’ conference, Coakley serves as an ecclesiastical adviser to the Napa Institute, an influential group of conservative Catholics whose co-founder last year called the Trump administration “the most Christian I’ve ever seen.” On Jan. 12, Coakley met with President Donald Trump, marking the first time a USCCB president had met with a U.S. president in nearly a decade. Two days later, the administration proposed a change to a current rule that requires foreign priests and other religious workers on an R-1 visa to leave the U.S. for a year before it will be renewed.

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, meets with President Donald Trump at the White House on Jan. 12, 2026. (Official White House Photo)

In Wednesday’s statement, Coakley praised Catholics and other “people of good will” for working for peace and justice. “While proper laws must be respected, works of mercy, peacefully assembling, and caring for those in your community are signs of hope, and they build peace more surely than anger or despair ever could,” he wrote.

On Tuesday, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, the country’s largest archdiocese, called for Congress to pass bipartisan immigration reform through the Dignity Act, which was first introduced in the House in 2022. “Right now our government seems to be treating undocumented immigrants — men, women, and children — as if they have no rights,” Gomez said in a statement. “The root cause of the current crisis is the country’s broken immigration system.”

Saying that U.S. residents’ “rights do not depend on the decisions of government officials or law enforcement officers; we do not lose our rights based on the color of our skin, or the language we speak, or for not having the proper documents,” Gomez argued that lawmakers should limit deportations to “violent criminals or those guilty of other serious offenses” and that it is not in the national interest to deport people who contribute “to the good of our society.”

He objected to the many deportations that leave children without their parents. “Surely, we can find another way to hold these men and women accountable for breaking our laws,” he wrote.

Gomez’s advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform echoed an op-ed by St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda that appeared earlier in The Wall Street Journal, though Hebda lauded 2013 immigration reform legislation that ultimately failed, while Gomez specifically pointed to the Dignity Act, which has also been supported by prominent Latino evangelical groups.

While providing support for border enforcement, the Dignity Act would require asylum cases to be decided within 60 days and provide “humanitarian campuses” managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the border where asylum-seekers would await their court dates. It would also allow immigrants without legal status who have been in the country at least five years to earn legal status by paying a fine, passing a criminal background check and being employed or going to school.

Gomez wrote: “There is much to improve in this legislation, but it is a genuine, good-faith starting point. And we need to start somewhere. And we need to start now.”

The Los Angeles archbishop noted Congress has not yet held hearings on the Dignity Act, but “I hope that changes soon.”

Gomez, who in a 2021 speech called “new social justice movements” “pseudo-religious,” described the current conflicts arising from immigration enforcement as involving “all sides.”

“I hope all sides in this conflict — federal authorities, city and state officials, and those protesting the enforcement actions — will take a step back in the interests of the common good,” he wrote. “We are caught in a dangerous pattern of angry rhetoric, provocations, and violence. It needs to stop.”

Some U.S. prelates have put the responsibility for recent violence more squarely on federal agents. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, called for members of Congress to vote against a bill that includes new funding for the Department of Homeland Security. El Paso, Texas, Bishop Mark Seitz wrote that the U.S. had become “a bully state.”

Each bishop is confronting unique immigration conditions in his own diocese, potentially shaping how each responds. Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski held a press conference Tuesday with several Catholic and secular groups to warn against the planned expiration of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians on Feb. 3. Miami has a significant Haitian population.

“We should not force Haitians into a crisis in Haiti, or create a crisis here forcing them out of their jobs,” Wenski said. “They’re not violating the laws, they’re documented.”

So far, beyond their November statement opposing the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” the Catholic bishops’ organized response to Trump’s immigration policy has been relatively decentralized and their rhetorical approaches have varied. And with Coakley weighing in and offering nationwide action that can be taken by each parish, it remains to be seen whether the bishops’ approaches will converge. He expressed hope that the Holy Hours held across the U.S. would be “a moment of renewal for our hearts and for our nation.”

“Entrusting our fears and hopes to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us ask the Lord to make us instruments of his peace and witnesses to the inherent dignity of every person,” Coakley wrote. “Let us pray together, confident that God hears the cry of his people and remains close to all who seek him.”

Pope Leo XIV has visit with Peruvian Bishops; recalls his service & time in Peru

Pope

Pope to Peruvian Bishops: Live like the Apostles

Pope Leo XIV urges the bishops of Peru to renew their commitment to unity, fidelity to the Gospel, and pastoral closeness, as they face the challenges of evangelization in today’s world. He also recalls his personal pastoral experience in the nation and admits that Peru has “a special place in my heart.”

By Linda Bordoni

Welcoming the bishops of Peru to the Vatican for their ad limina visit, Pope Leo XIV called them to live ad instar Apostolorum - “in the manner of the Apostles”.

Placing their pilgrimage within the wider context of the 300th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, patron saint of the Latin American episcopate, the Pope reminded those present that they are “the fruit of the evangelical seed that this holy bishop sowed in those lands.”

Communion as the heart of credibility

At the heart of the Pope’s address was a strong call to unity and communion. “Today,” he said, “the credibility of our announcement passes through real and heartfelt communion among pastors, and between them and the People of God, overcoming divisions, personal ambitions, and every form of isolation.”

Recalling the example of the early Church and the witness of Saint Toribio, he noted that authentic communion is not merely structural but deeply spiritual, rooted in a shared faith and mission.

Fidelity to the Gospel

Turning to the challenges facing the Church in Peru today, the Pope pointed to the need for a renewed fidelity to the Gospel, proclaimed in its fullness and integrity.

“Saint Toribio did not proclaim a word of his own, but a Word received, trusting in its transforming power,” he said, adding that the Church today is called to “a clear, courageous, and joyful proclamation, capable of engaging in dialogue with culture without losing Christian identity.”

Pastoral closeness and missionary dedication

Pope Leo also highlighted the importance of pastoral closeness, urging bishops to model their ministry on that of the Apostles and Saint Paul, who “became all things to all people” for the sake of the Gospel.

“To live ad instar Apostolorum means to become close to all those entrusted to us, taking an interest in them, sharing in their lives and their journey,” he said, highlighting the importance of concern for the most fragile and vulnerable.

A personal bond with Peru

Delving into personal experience, Pope Leo XIV recalled his own pastoral life in Peru, describing the country as holding “a special place in my heart.”

“There I shared with you joys and hardships, learned from the simple faith of your people, and experienced the strength of a Church that knows how to hope even amid trials,” he said.

A blessing for the whole nation

Concluding his address, the Pope entrusted the bishops, clergy, religious, and all the faithful of Peru to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Mercy, imparting his Apostolic Blessing in a special way to “those most in need of strength and consolation.”

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Great to see this good news Catholic story out of Notre Dame University thanks to OCIA

Notre Dame Sees Record Number of Converts Preparing to Join Catholic Church

The witness of ‘on fire’ Catholic peers and the campus’ faith-based ‘atmosphere’ are behind the 76-person-strong OCIA class

Abby Strelow EducationJanuary 26, 2026

Before his freshman year at the University of Notre Dame, the only time Alex Huang had ever set foot in a church building was for a piano recital. Now, the first-year student from Minnesota is just months away from becoming Catholic.

Raised by parents who never considered practicing religion due to their upbringing in atheist China, Huang became curious about Catholicism while in high school and is now a part of Notre Dame’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). He hopes to enter the Catholic Church at the upcoming Easter vigil, and he says that Notre Dame’s Catholic atmosphere is a big reason why he plans on taking the plunge.

“I went to a public high school, where nobody really talked about their religion,” he said. “But when I got to Notre Dame, people would mention their faith all the time, and that was super jarring — not in a negative way, but really interesting and new to me.”

He’s not the only one at the South Bend, Indiana, university who is discerning becoming Catholic. This year, Notre Dame’s OCIA program boasts a record number of participants. In total, 76 students are enrolled, including 42 catechumens, 12 candidates for full communion, and 22 Catholic candidates for confirmation.

The record year is part of a recent trend.

During the 2023 school year, 33 students were enrolled in the program, while in 2024 the number rose to 52. Growth this year has been particularly strong among catechumens, meaning those who have never been baptized, as this year’s group is nearly twice as large as last year’s.

Brett Perkins, assistant director for evangelization and religious education with Notre Dame’s Campus Ministry, is himself a convert to the Catholic faith. He sees the record surge in conversions as indicative of an even broader movement among young people who are turning to religion.

“I think the questions that people are wrestling with and the experiences of life remain the same, but perhaps there’s been a bit more of an awakening to start to pay attention to the longing in the human heart,” he said.

Peers ‘On Fire’ for Faith

According to Perkins, multiple factors are behind this turn toward deeper desires, from the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic to the impact of online evangelists like Bishop Robert Barron and Father Mike Schmitz.

But at a place like Notre Dame, one factor sticks out above the rest: the witness of faithful peers who are willing to invite non-Catholic students to come and see what their faith is all about.

“In the last couple years [at Notre Dame], I’ve just noticed folks are coming in really, really on fire,” Perkins said. “There’s a willingness to not just be on fire themselves, but also to invite others in.”

Perkins said this witness takes form in many ways, including Catholic students inviting their non-Catholic roommates to Mass in their dorm chapel.

“People start to have those moments of encounter and be like, ‘Wow, I want to learn more,’” he explained. “So a lot of times the aha moment happens before they actually come to me.”

Out of Notre Dame’s nearly 9,000 undergraduate students and more than 4,000 graduate and professional students, more than 80% identify as Catholic. And with chapels in every dorm and even many academic buildings, students can participate in a flourishing sacramental life. Each week, more than 158 Masses are celebrated on campus, and nearly 50 hours of Eucharistic adoration and 19 hours of confession are offered.

Faith also factors into academic life. All students are required to take two courses from the theology department, which boasts more than 800 students who have declared a theology major or minor.

But the thriving Catholic community — despite lingering questions about Notre Dame’s commitment to its Catholic mission — isn’t just a big part of getting non-Catholic students at Notre Dame interested in the faith. The witness of peers is also an integral part of OCIA. Students who are already Catholic can volunteer to sponsor a friend or relative or sign up to be paired with a participant they don’t yet know. Sponsors attend the weekly formation sessions with their catechumens or confirmandi and seek to learn alongside them, while providing a vibrant example for them of what it means to live out the Catholic faith in everyday life.

Clare Hettich, a freshman from Washington, D.C., volunteered to help with OCIA after sensing God calling her to be a sponsor.

“Being at Notre Dame … I’m surrounded by people who take their faith so seriously, and live it out so well, and that constantly makes me want to be like that,” she said. “And so being able to be in that position for someone else, I can really see the value of, simply because I’ve had people serve, even subconsciously, as mentors to me, whether it’s the friend who always invites me to 11 p.m. Rosary or the friend who says such beautiful prayers and makes me want to deepen my prayer life. So I really wanted to be that person for someone else.”

The 2025 Notre Dame OCIA class(Photo: Carmela Sadaya)

Lucas Santiago, a senior at Notre Dame who is a Catholic candidate for confirmation this year, was raised in an agnostic household after being baptized as an infant. But after coming to Notre Dame, he said, his “individually formed moral code felt incomplete for the first time” after seeing the faith of many of his close friends.

He said that witnessing the love and joy of Catholic young people and his exposure to Catholic social teaching left him “in awe” of the radical charity of the Catholic faith and inspired him to embrace it. Now, he continues to delight in the “jubilant spirit” that characterizes his peer community.

“It’s a beautiful thing that my peers and classmates at Notre Dame, people that might only know me in an academic or entirely informal context, have exemplified how another young person may walk with God,” said Santiago. “These counterparts at any other school might view me as a competitor, but at Notre Dame I am the recipient of endless love.”

A Grace-Filled Experience

Notre Dame students who are interested in becoming Catholic have two possibilities for their catechetical formation: the yearlong OCIA process for those who are not baptized and the semester-long “Short Course,” offered twice a year for those who are already baptized as Christians or Catholics, but are awaiting complete initiation into the sacraments of confirmation and the Eucharist.

While both catechetical processes aim to assist discernment of Catholicism, OCIA provides a longer and more comprehensive introduction to the life of discipleship, while the Short Course seeks to clarify and develop the Christian formation that baptized individuals have already received.

Members of OCIA who complete the program will be received into the Catholic Church at the 2026 Easter vigil on April 4, while Short Course participants receive their sacraments at different times at the end of each semester.

For students with no background in Christianity, Perkins explained that the program begins by exploring how the Catholic faith is the answer to their deepest longings.

“In OCIA, we start our first session by not necessarily digging right away into Scripture or into Church teaching, but, rather, we start with human experience … speaking to what exists at the heart of every person, that there is a longing for a relationship with God, and it’s an eternal longing and can only be filled by our eternal, infinite God.”

And for those like Santiago and Huang, it’s clear that God is at work through Notre Dame’s OCIA. According to Santiago, the joyful faith that fills the student body is what makes the program such a success.

“I’m blessed to walk alongside literally thousands of young disciples on my faith journey,” he said, “at least for a little while.”

abitadeacon