Luana Neves
Catholic Community at Dartmouth
Making good friendships is at the core of finding a home. That's a wordy way of saying the people make the place. Truer words have yet to be told about Dartmouth. So, coming to a new place as a Catholic, I wondered whether I would find a community that embraced or shared my religion in a way that would make Dartmouth feel like home. After only a month here, I can already state with certainty: I found community.
My first week of the term already amazed me with the Catholic community on campus. During a club fair, I found incredible Christian organizations and Aquinas: our Catholic Student Center, home to our campus ministers, a gorgeous library, a beautiful chapel that offers Masses Sunday through Thursday, Adoration, and a community dinner on Monday.

They are constantly planning events where people have the chance to embrace the Catholic faith and meet the community. When they offered me the opportunity to go on a retreat during my second week of the term, I jumped at it.
After a two-hour drive, blasting Taylor Swift the whole way through, I found myself at Saint Anne's Shrine in Lake Champlain accompanied by thirty-four Dartmouth students who shared in the Catholic faith or had an interest in a relationship with God. Between talks about worship with Father Timothy—our school chaplain—and bonfires where we poured our hearts out singing, we bonded in the faith.

Day 1:
We arrived to find a welcoming pizza dinner, icebreakers, and fun conversations, followed by an enlightening talk about praising God through the many forms of prayer. After that, we went to Mass and ended the day at a bonfire. It was through delicious smores, singing, and worshiping that we shared life stories. Suddenly, I noticed I was surrounded by amazing people who came from different walks of faith and backgrounds. All of us reunited to delight in our faith and love for God.

Day 2:
Day 2 started early with some individual prayer time, where I chose to venture out through St. Anne's Shrine. I came across a statue of Our Lady, surrounded by benches in between the trees. Enchanted, I stayed there to pray and be thankful.

Later, everyone gathered to enjoy each other's company through charade games, playing baseball, swimming in the lake, and Mass. Soon enough, the whole day had rushed by unnoticed, and we were headed home.
I have so much to be grateful for to have found such an uplifting Catholic community that truthfully reflects the welcome and warmth every first-year wishes to encounter.
After two days of enlightening conversations, peaceful moments with God in worship, and making good friends surrounded by gorgeous scenery, it is through memories like these that you glimpse at what being Catholic at Dartmouth looks like.
Posts You Might Like
While many people might associate cold, long, snowy winters with hardship, I've found that winter at Dartmouth is full of potential to be just as fun as other seasons.
For my first-year at Dartmouth I'm living in French Hall. Here's a tour of my dorm!
Slopes of success at Dartmouth Skiway: join me for some free ski lessons and TikTok filming!
In just a month, I went from a complete beginner to a proficient skier, smoothly making my way down the green and blue runs at Dartmouth Skiway. Read about my journey and how I made such rapid progress!
I sat down for a Q&A with Wyatt about his membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Varsity Lightweight Rowing