Finding Your Place: Navigating a Catholic University as a Non-Catholic
As someone who has attended Catholic schools throughout my entire education, I often hear the question: “What is it like to attend these institutions without practicing the religion?” One might assume that the majority of the student body is Catholic or that only Catholic events happen on campus, but that is simply not the case. Most students here are not Catholic, and while we do have Catholic events and Masses, they are always fully optional. Even orientation features no religious themes in order to remain inclusive to people from all walks of life.
Regis is a Jesuit university with Catholic values and symbolism displayed on campus, yet it remains deeply respectful of everyone’s individual beliefs. When I came to Regis, I met many different people from varying backgrounds and practices. Even though our university is small, it maintains a wide diversity of students who all have their own clubs and organizations to help them feel included.
Regis also celebrates its students' cultures by observing holidays like Ramadan and hosting events like Día de los Muertos or a drag show for Pride. If you attend these campus events, you won’t hear a religious prayer to start the proceedings; instead, you’ll hear the Regis Land Acknowledgment, in both English and Spanish, honoring the Indigenous people who originally inhabited this land.
Our advantage in being a smaller school is that we are heavily community-based. This means it is the students and faculty who represent Regis, not just the Jesuit symbols. Frankly, it is quite easy to forget that I attend a Catholic university until I pass by our stunning chapel or see the Jesuit crest embedded around campus. This isn’t because the Jesuits aren't active; it’s because the people here understand a core value of Christianity very well: the value of love. It aims to be a place where everyone feels welcomed. There are people I have had only one conversation with who still remember me and always wave hello when we pass. That is a foundation for community built on acceptance.
Religion in the Classroom
There are still religion classes required for all students; however, these classes are not solely focused on Catholic history. The professors aim to include every type of belief, even ancient traditions like Paganism. Throughout history, many cultures have used religion to understand the unseen forces of life — even modern science serves a similar purpose for others. These courses at Regis aim to look at various religions to understand their cultural significance. Ultimately, this builds our knowledge of people and promotes unity over judgment.
A Tradition of Belonging
Whether you subscribe to a different religion or aren’t religious at all, there is a place for you among the students of Regis. Perhaps it is because we are a Jesuit institution that we have such a great community with little tension, but I know for certain that the sense of belonging exists here.
This school brings people together in a unique way. It is evident in our history, such as when the student body once surrounded the school hand-in-hand to prevent the KKK from attacking it, or when Loretto Heights College closed and Regis welcomed those students with open arms. In my eyes, getting a Jesuit education is simply learning how to embody these core values:
• Cura Personalis: Care for the whole person.
• People for and with Others: Creating societal change by working together.
• Contemplatives in Action: Looking at the world with love and taking meaningful action.
• Magis: Always striving for the "more" or the greater good.
• Unity of Minds and Hearts: Looking past differences to move as a united whole.
• Finding God in All Things: Finding beauty and love in everything.
These principles help make up a community that welcomes every person — Catholic or not.