Catholic Community Brings Something Monastic to College Life

Men's and Women's Catholic houses at Marquette University
 

Marquette University students are known for living their faith. The campus community is recognized for its commitment to service and social justice programming, and campus-wide speakers and events continually challenge the students. However, for one group of students, the challenge to live a life a faith continues in a unique way as they return home each night.

These students live in the men’s and women’s Catholic houses on Marquette’s campus. The St. Claude de la Colombière Men’s Catholic House and the St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Women’s Catholic House at Marquette University exist solely based on student interest and, aside from housing Marquette University students, are completely unaffiliated with the school.

To the students who live in these houses, living a life of faith means living in a community with others where prayer, theological discussion and communal meals are important aspects of getting to know Christ. In what some refer to as “the Godless years,” these students are challenging themselves to look beyond the now. Just like any other students who chose to live together off-campus, everyone pays rent and pitches in with daily tasks. However, above all else, these students get together and pray.

Michael Tedone, a recent Marquette University graduate and former Catholic house resident, says of his experience, “Living in the men's Catholic house has drawn me closer to liturgical prayer both in the Hours and Mass.”

According to Tedone, “During the week, we pray the morning offering prayer every morning after “The Office.” Ask a typical Catholic college student what that means and they would likely confuse the Divine Office with “The Office” airing Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC, but the residents of the Catholic houses are more than typical Catholics. In fact, the women take their faith so seriously that they have made the focal point of their living room décor a framed picture of Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican flag.

For many in the Catholic houses, the Divine Office and morning offering to the Sacred Heart have helped them to gradually get into the habit of daily prayer, with or without community. In addition to their daily prayers, every Friday a group of about 12 men and women, which sometimes includes other members of the Marquette community too, gets together to pray the rosary before class. Once a week, they have a house Mass together at Gesu Parish or the St. Joan of Arc Chapel at Marquette University. For some, the highlight of the year is the annual retreat before the start of first semester when the residents of both houses come together for a weekend of spiritual growth and contemplation.

Emily LaLoggia, a junior at Marquette University, says of her experience, “The community that flows from the houses has compelled me to seek Christ in communities all around campus. I have met some wonderfully holy people in the houses that have taught me more than they will ever know.”

Last year, the Catholic houses were honored with a visit from Archbishop Timothy Dolan. “Having Archbishop Dolan at our home last year for dinner before he celebrated a Mass at St. Joan of Arc was a true blessing,” said Tedone. “His warm and gregarious personality filled the rooms and he took time to talk to all of us while he was with us.”

For Michael Tedone, the experience in the Catholic house has allowed him to live his faith. “I have learned the deep value of the virtue of patience, as well as the realization that there is a lot going on within a person that we may never understand, and we must respect that.”

Article and cover picture by Thomas Klind
(Four students from the men's and women's Catholic houses on the Marquette University campus)