“Observe what is right, do what is just” — Isaiah 56:1.
The middle of August is a time when we are preparing to send many of our young people back to college. For some, this will be a return to a familiar campus and a new year of classes, friendships, challenges, and opportunities. For others, it will be the beginning of an entirely new chapter—the first experience of college life, living away from home, and making decisions with greater independence.
As our young people begin this new journey, I would like to offer them a simple reminder from the prophet Isaiah: “Observe what is right, do what is just.”
College is about much more than earning a degree. It is also a time when young adults discover more deeply who they are, what they believe, and what kind of person they want to become. There will be many voices competing for their attention, and many choices placed before them. Some choices will seem insignificant; others will have lasting consequences. Isaiah reminds us that faith is not simply something we practice on Sunday. Our faith should shape the way we live every day.
As you head to campus, I would offer three simple pieces of advice:
Respect for your freedom – For many students, college is the first time you will experience a great deal of independence. No one may be there to tell you when to get up, when to study, where to go, or who to spend time with. That freedom is a gift—but freedom is not simply the ability to do whatever we want. True freedom is the ability to choose what is good.
Use your freedom wisely. Think before you act. Do not allow peer pressure, the desire to fit in, or the fear of missing out to make your decisions for you. You are responsible for the person you are becoming. Your choices today are helping to shape the person you will be tomorrow.
Respect your body – Your body is not something separate from who you are. It is part of the person God created and loves. Treat it with dignity. Get enough rest. Eat well. Make good choices. Be careful about alcohol and other substances. And, especially, remember that another person’s body is never an object for your pleasure or entertainment.
Respect yourself and respect others. Do not allow yourself to be pressured into sexual relationships or situations that compromise your dignity or the dignity of another person. And never pressure someone else. Genuine love always respects the freedom, dignity, boundaries, and conscience of the other person.
You do not have to prove your worth by what you do with your body. Your worth comes from the fact that you are created and loved by God.
Respect your faith – Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of college life is maintaining your faith when you are surrounded by people who may not share it. Do not be embarrassed by what you believe. Your faith is not something you need to hide to fit in.
At the same time, respecting your faith does not mean imposing it upon others. Live it. Let people see your faith in the way you treat others, the way you speak, the way you handle disagreements, the way you respond when someone is hurting, and the choices you make when no one is watching.
Find a Catholic parish, Newman Center, or campus ministry. Go to Mass. Make time for prayer. Go to Confession. Stay connected to the Sacraments. Find friends who will support you in living your faith rather than encourage you to abandon it. And remember you do not leave God behind when you leave home. Wherever you go, God is already there.
To our parents and grandparents: as you watch your young people leave for college, it is natural to worry. You have spent years teaching, guiding, correcting, encouraging, and loving them. Now you must give them greater freedom while continuing to give them your prayers. Trust that the seeds of faith you have planted will continue to grow.
And to our college students: know that your parish family is praying for you. Wherever your studies take you, St. Rose of Lima remains your spiritual home. You are always welcome here, and we look forward to hearing about your experiences when you return.
May God bless all our college students—those beginning college and those returning for another year. May He give you wisdom in your decisions, courage in your challenges, good friends along the way, and a heart always open to His presence. And may the Lord bring you safely home again.
FR. JOE McCANN – Earlier this summer, Fr. Joe joined us once again for a summer visit and assistance. Unfortunately, he injured himself in a fall and has had to return home to Ireland for recovery. We thank Fr. Joe for the 50 summers he spent at St. Rose, and we continue to pray for him. I am grateful to the parish staff who provided support to Fr. Joe during his stay. I am especially grateful to parishioners Wayne and Donna Torgersen who assisted Fr. Joe with doctor visits, mobility care, packing and travel arrangements. Their assistance and care were truly remarkable.
Fr. Joseph-Mary Hertzog, OP, will be assisting us throughout the rest of the summer. Fr. Joseph-Mary is the diocesan preacher and is a member of the Dominican community of priests living at St. Barnabas in Bellmore
Peace!
