Twenty-one high school students spent a week at The Catholic University of America June 11-17 experiencing academics, exploring Washington, D.C., and receiving spiritual formation during session one of the annual Light the World! summer institute. Thirty more students began the second session June 25, which runs through July 1.
Operated by the School of Theology and Religious Studies, Light the World! leads high school students from across the country and the world to explore authentic ways of living the Catholic faith in their future education, careers, and beyond. Throughout the week, participants witness how faith and culture interact in the everyday lives of professionals working in business, science, politics, sports, and the arts.
Light the World! Director Brian Rhude, B.A. 2020, said the program aims to show Catholic youth they have a place in the Church.
“If the mission of the University is to raise up the next generations of Catholic leaders, Catholic minds, Catholic souls, then there’s no time to start that is too soon,” said Rhude. “Introducing high schoolers to the intellectual life of faith and how the faith is lived here at CatholicU — which eventually leads to some of them coming to study here — is a massively important thing that we can do.”
Each day consisted of morning Mass, presentations from University faculty, site visits in Washington, D.C., a guest presenter, communal prayer, and small group discussions. At the end of the week, participants went out into the city to do service work for various communities.
“They're very long days, but they're fulfilling days,” said Rhude. “Light the World! is a way for young people to see how big the Church is, how beautiful the Church is, and that the Church has a place for them, regardless of where they are from, what they've experienced, who they believe Jesus to be.”
Each year, various presenters are invited to speak with the students and share how they include the Catholic mission in their careers and personal lives.
During the first week, participants toured EWTN headquarters, went on Nationals Park's field during batting practice, toured the Supreme Court, explored the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and more.
Light the World! guests during the first week included Michael Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN; Dr. Marguerite Duane, family physician and co-founder and executive director of FACTS about Fertility; Sarah Yaklic, the chief digital officer of the Archdiocese for Los Angeles; Nathaniel Hurd, senior fellow for public policy for the Religious Freedom Institute; and Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for Military Services, who celebrated the first week's closing Mass June 17.
During the second week, students will meet a different line-up of presenters, including Christopher Raub, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Catholic University; Emma Boyle, director of operations at Leonine Forum; Ingrid Delgado, a policy advisor in the Office of Domestic Social Development for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Mike Gutelius, football head coach at Catholic University.
“The goal of who we bring in isn’t necessarily that they are the biggest name or the flashiest speaker or presenter,” said Rhude. “More important for us is that these people are mission driven and can communicate with high schoolers.”
The camp is staffed by 14 University student counselors. Rhude said the University students’ participation throughout the week is always the biggest highlight for high schoolers and the reason many decide to enroll at Catholic University after their summer experience.
“It is these 14 college students who are helping these high schoolers see that the life of faith is livable, and not just livable and bearable, but that it can be joyful and fulfilling,” said Rhude.
The program, which Rhude hopes will continue to expand, is open to all high school students and after this year, about 370 participants will have benefited from the program since it began in 2016.
“Catholic University needs to be there (for Catholic youth),” said Rhude. “It shouldn’t be a question of whether or not we are providing for the young Church in a way that leads to high schoolers having some encounter with the Lord. … This next generation of participants could be the next generation of Cardinals.”
