Faith and Spiritual Life

There are opportunities to serve in Liturgical Ministries:

Altar Servers, Special Ministers of Communion, Lectors, and Ushers, assist in the celebration of Mass. Training is provided; no previous experience is necessary.

Music Ministry leads the music at weekend Masses and other Holy Days. Both vocalists and instrumentalists are encouraged to participate.  All levels of experience are welcome. 

Any student interested in the Liturgical and Music Ministries should contact one of the campus ministers.

Sacramental Preparation:

Thinking about becoming Roman Catholic?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) prepares students who wish to enter the Catholic Church through the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation). The program begins in the Fall Term and continues through the spring. Student and chaplains serve as the catechists, instructing participants in the basic tenets of the faith and serving as mentors throughout their spiritual journeys. The culmination is the Easter Vigil Mass when the participants become full members of the Catholic Church.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in the Winter Term and concludes with the celebration of the Sacrament by the Bishop of Manchester in May.

Any student interested in participating in RCIA or Confirmation preparation should contact one of the campus ministers.

Vocation Discussion Group:  Have you ever thought about becoming a priest, brother, or sister?  You may not be alone! The Vocation Discussion Group is an opportunity to meet others who are thinking about a vocation, to have questions answered, and to find out more about religious life and the priesthood.  The purpose of the group is to inform and not to recruit; there are "no strings attached."  This informal group meets once or twice each term at a convenient time to be determined by those who express an interest.

Some of the activities held throughout the year include:

Retreats:   A retreat for freshmen is held during the Fall Term.  The Vox Christi Retreat, based on the Encounter with Christ Retreat, is an annual weekend retreat that is held at the beginning of the Spring Term.  Several day-long and evening retreats take place throughout the year.

Mass of Joy and Light: A Celebration of Advent and Christmas is an opportunity for students to commemorate these seasons of hope and joy.

Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction provides time for quiet reflection in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord.

Community Dinners are held weekly to build up the AQ community:  Students come to know each other, members of other religious groups, and catholic professors, in an informal setting.    

Small Church Communities (SCCs) are groups of students who meet weekly to reflect on and discuss the Scriptures and Catholic life.  SCCs are student led and may meet over dinner or coffee, and occasionally organize other activities for fellowship.

Faith Focus is a weekly discussion of important aspects of our Catholic faith:  
      Special Topics (Fall Term) - Various subjects of interest will be considered including the Church's theology and practice of marriage, the recent Vatican statement about non-Catholic Christians, and Latin in the Liturgy.
      Bible Study (Winter Term) offers students the opportunity to reflect on and share insights from the Scriptures.
      Aquinas on Catholic Life (Spring Term) examines our Catholic faith through the approach of St. Thomas Aquinas and his valuable and enduring theology.

Ecumenical and Inter-Faith activities are planned several times a year with different religious groups on campus. Aquinas House students are encouraged to engage in dialogue with and to be respectful of the various religious traditions found at Dartmouth.

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