Guess Who’s Back—Back Again
Across the country, a quiet but powerful movement is taking shape on college campuses, drawing the attention of national media outlets. The Catholic Church is seeing a surge as more students are yearning for meaning and a community of faith.
At University of Dayton (UD), the number of student Confirmations tripled this year to 24. But the real story is not the number—it’s the intention behind it. “These are students who are actively deciding that this is something they value,” said Katie Matthews, Campus Minister for Liturgy and Sacraments at UD.
For UD student Joseph Ellis-Vela, that decision came after years of waiting due to the demands of college football. Now, he sees it as a defining step forward. “Choosing Confirmation as an adult feels like finally stepping into the person I’m meant to be,” he said. “I plan to enter the police academy, and I know the work will be unpredictable. I don’t want to just be a face in the crowd. I want to be a helping hand for people on their worst days, and my faith gives me the peace to lead with my heart.”
His experience was made even more meaningful by his sponsor—his mother. “It felt wonderful knowing I am accepting my faith with the person who helped me get to this point in my life.”
At St. Mary’s University (StMU), a similar spirit is flourishing. During Easter 2026 and Intercollegiate Confirmation, eight students received sacraments, including Confirmations, First Communions, and a Baptism. Additionally, two recent graduates were confirmed, and seven other students are currently engaged in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) sessions to receive sacraments this fall and next year.
This growth is perhaps fueled by a strong sense of community, especially through the university’s partnership with nearby Holy Rosary Catholic Church. “Our daily Masses have shown a steady increase in student attendance as well as our Sunday Masses,” reported Deacon Albert Sanchez, Director of University Ministry at StMU and pastoral team member at Holy Rosary.
He notes that many students are also choosing to “reclaim” their faith once they arrive on campus, inspired by their peers. “They see many other students being active in their faith and feel more comfortable doing the same.”
In an uncertain world, students have revealed that they find refuge and a sense of hope in a community of faith. “I believe St. Mary’s is capitalizing on these growing interests by offering solid support of our affiliate student organizations such as the Catholic Student Association, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Athletics, Rattlers for Life, Student Government, and Greek Life. It’s quite moving how these organizations then, in turn, sponsor students financially to attend our Rattler Awakening retreats,” said Sanchez.
At Chaminade University of Honolulu, Fr. Marty Solma shared, “We had eight Confirmations last year and four this year, which is fairly standard for us.” He explained that many of the students commute and receive sacraments in their home parishes.
The movement is unmistakable, though—and it is beginning even before college.
Gross Catholic High School in Omaha, NE, recently welcomed three students and one teacher into the Church. St. John Vianney High School rejoiced as a coach and a student were welcomed into the Catholic faith, reflecting in a social media post, “Moments like these remind us of the strength of our brotherhood and the beauty of faith that unites us.”
Together, these moments tell a larger story. From high schools to universities, whether they be Marianist, Catholic, private, or public, students are not simply inheriting faith—they are choosing it. It’s a hopeful turn of events, especially given that a few years ago, research indicated a deep decline. Fr. James Heft co-authored the book Empty Churches: Where Have All the Young People Gone? In it, he examined why many young people had drifted away from the Church—citing a lack of connection, belonging, and meaningful engagement. What is happening now suggests young adults are once again finding community and purpose and are choosing to belong. And in that choice, the Marianist Mission continues to come alive in a new generation.
Bro. Robert Moriarty recently wrote an article that looks at the
increasing number of Marianist Lay Communities at a time of an aging and decreasing number of religious.
In the article, Aggiornamento, Ressourcement, and the Development of the Marianist Charism, he writes, “With this emergence, there has also developed an increasing recognition of our Marianist Family identity, the essential relatedness and interdependence that calls all the branches to a more collaborative engagement in pursuit of the common mission we share.”
Marianists have a strong history of serving the Church and rising to the challenge. By reconnecting with its roots and responding to today’s needs, the Marianist Family is ready to begin a new era of service. Click here to read the full article.
In The News
Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified by the Catholic Church on Sept. 24, 2026 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.
Sheen was internationally known in the mid-20th century as a television personality and evangelizer. In 1930, he started a radio show, The Catholic Hour, which attracted millions of weekly listeners during its 20-year run. In 1951, his nationally syndicated television show, Life Is Worth Living, began and ran until 1957 and earned Sheen an Emmy for “Most Outstanding Television Personality.”
Sheen was also a well-regarded author of religious works, writing more than 20 books, including The World’s First Love. In 1953, the Marian Library awarded Sheen its first Marian Library Medal, honoring him for his moving reflections on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon receiving word of the award, Sheen wrote,
“I am deeply grateful for your decision, and for a tribute that delights my heart. May I receive this honor, as the window pane receives the rays of light, not to store them, but to let them pass through me, back again to God, the Giver of all gifts.”
Marian Library director Fr. Lawrence Monheim, S.M., presented the medal to Sheen in New York on July 16, 1953. In gratitude, Sheen gave the Marian Library a signed copy of The World’s First Love, which today resides in the Marian Library’s rare books collection and can be viewed upon request.
Click here to read about the miracle that put him on the path to beatification.
U.S. News and World Report Ranks St. Mary’s Among Best
The St. Mary’s University School of Law Advocacy Programs ranked in the top 15 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report — tied for the No. 12 spot in the 2026 Best Graduate School Rankings of Trial Advocacy Programs released today. This is an increase of four spots from last year’s ranking in this category.
“St. Mary’s University School of Law remains committed to providing an excellent legal education that includes exceptional opportunities for skill building to talented students who embrace our Catholic and Marianist values of service, justice and peace,” said Patricia Roberts, J.D., St. Mary’s School of Law Dean.
For the second consecutive year, two members of the St. Mary’s Law National Dispute Resolution Team were named national champions at the American Bar Association Negotiation Competition. Kendall Michaelis and Caroline Villarreal, both third-year J.D. students, won the 2026 national championship in Chicago. This qualifies them to compete for the second time on the international level. The National Team is ranked No. 4 in the nation by the American Bar Association for 2025. For the last eight years, the St. Mary’s Advocacy Program has been ranked by the ABA in the top 10 in the country.
✨Service Spotlight 🔦
Retreat Guest to Faithful Volunteer
The first thing people might notice about Tony Mercogliano isn’t what he does—it’s how he does it: unassuming and humbly. He was hesitant even to be interviewed about his volunteer work at the Marianist Family Retreat Center (MFRC) in Cape May, NJ. “I usually like to stay out of the spotlight,” Tony admitted. “But I’m willing to take a step out of my comfort zone.”
That humility has shaped a lifetime of service rooted in his early Marianist formation that began as a high school student at Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY, in 1960. “The one extracurricular activity from my high school days which has carried over my entire life was membership in the Sodality of Our Lady of the Pillar Marianist Lay Community,” he reflected.
By 1966, while attending Manhattan University, Tony found himself visiting Cape May—back when it was simply a gathering place for college-age Marianist communities seeking retreat and renewal. He didn’t know it then, but Cape May would become a thread woven through the fabric of his life. In the 1980s, he, his wife Kay, and their daughter Anne began attending family retreats at MFRC, which then led to volunteer work that continues to this day.
“In the last four years since my wife passed away, I’ve been volunteering about every 6 to 8 weeks,” he shared. “I’ve done just about every possible job from being the kitchen assistant, hosting retreats, painting, and cutting the grass. Recently, I’ve helped in updating and publishing a booklet on the history of this ministry.”
There is no task too small, no role too insignificant. “Tony is truly dedicated. He lives in Virginia and travels four to five hours at least 15-20 times a year, and we are so blessed to have him,” exclaimed MFRC Director Anthony Fucci.
Ask Tony what keeps him coming back, and his answer is simple—but profound. “Volunteering gives me an opportunity to help spread the Marianist Charism of hospitality and acceptance,” Tony said. “The fact that after a 23-year career in the U.S. Navy, I love the ocean and the beach helps too.”
It isn’t the beauty of the beach that keeps him coming back, though; it’s the community and faith that flourish beside it. “The best part of my time at the Cape is meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. Listening to the stories of the events which brought each one of these folks to, and back to, the MFRC helps to strengthen and renew my faith.”
It’s in those stories—in shared meals, quiet conversations, and moments of prayer—that Tony finds the heart of his service.
Tony encourages everyone to experience a retreat at MFRC.
They offer retreats for teenagers, young adults, women, men, and senior citizens on topics such as Contemplative Prayer, the Gift of Aging, and many more.
For single folks, if you’re not sure where to start, he suggests one of the Spiritual Getaway Day programs held every spring and fall. For married couples, there is a great Couples Retreat each September. For families, he suggests one of the Advent Family Weekends in December.
Click here for a listing of the wide range of retreats available.
Marianist Moments
Bringing the Marianist Mission to Malawi
University of Dayton doctoral physiotherapy student Jacob Hammye ’27 traveled last spring to serve at clinics in Malawi, Southeastern Africa. Each day began with early morning Mass, grounding the team’s work in prayer before caring for patients and supporting local clinicians.
Driven by a desire to serve others, Hammye treated patients, shared knowledge, and even led a presentation on cerebral palsy—living out the Marianist call to educate for service and build community.
More than a clinical experience, the trip became a moment of spiritual growth. “I was able to reflect on my ‘why,’” Hammye shared, crediting the mentorship and faith-centered mission that shaped his journey.
He returned home with a deeper sense of humility and gratitude, inspired by the strong faith and community he witnessed. For Hammye, the experience affirmed a simple Marianist truth: when rooted in faith, service becomes a powerful way to bring hope to the world. Click here to read the original story featured in UD magazine.
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Good to Know
Honoring the Fiat
A contemplative retreat pondering personal Fiat will be held at the Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning, in Dayton, OH, May 8-9. In honor of Mother’s Day, the following day, this retreat will honor Mother Mary, the mothers in your personal lives, as well as the creative, nurturing force in all human souls. The retreat facilitator, Jen Straw, has led more than 100 retreats, bringing wisdom, compassion, and creativity to individual and group sessions. Let It Be will be a focal point of the discernment for participants. Click here to read more and register.
Check Out More Marianist News
Via Latina from the General Administration of the Society of Mary
Marianist Encounters Newsletters from the Marianist Family Encounters Project
Sharing Our Marianist Stories podcast from North American Center for Marianist Studies
All Things Marian podcast from the International Marian Research Institute
Justice Jottings from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
AMU Newsletter from the Association of Marianist Universities
Region Update #102 from the Marianist Region of India
FatherSide Chats is a web video series featuring Fr. Gene Contadino. Discover new episodes every Tuesday about a variety of topics. Click the graphic to view episodes. Click here to read more.
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