Founded on the core values of Honor, Glory, and Love, Mater Dei’s Catholic identity is what makes it stand out from other educational institutions. From religion classes incorporated into each student’s schedule to numerous prayer and spiritual opportunities, Mater Dei provides the necessary tools needed to help grow one’s understanding of the Catholic faith and its corresponding ethics.

Campus Ministry is a program at Mater Dei which coordinates events to establish a faith-filled community both on and off the school grounds. Their carefully planned retreats in particular have impacted sophomore Anabelle Tran’s life by assisting her in cultivating a personal relationship with God. 

“Campus Ministry opportunities [such as] retreats at Mater Dei have had a profound impact on my faith life,” Tran said. “They give me a chance to step away from the real world and truly reflect on my relationship with God.”

Service is another integral aspect of living out the Catholic faith. This is integrated into the Mater Dei curriculum as 80 hours of service are required to graduate. In learning to connect with others and give back to communities in need, Tran strengthens her faith by building a sense of community with those around her.

“One thing I have learned from being at Mater Dei as a Catholic school is the importance of faith in everyday life,” Tran said. “The emphasis on service and sense of community has shaped my perspective and made an impact in my life. I am able to see my faith in action by serving those around me.”

Catholic service has provided students with the clarity needed to discern how students want to live their own lives. Senior Preston Jensen describes how Mater Dei retreats motivated him to dedicate his life in service to others.

“Through retreats at Mater Dei, I’ve learned how to incorporate a relationship with God into my everyday life,” Jensen said. “This has made a difference for me because my relationship with God is everything and stands above all my life. By bringing me closer to God in the service of others, being able to bring the love of God to others has become my life’s mission.”

From daily prayer opportunities in the Chapel to monthly Masses, community prayer is another way to enrich the Catholic faith at Mater Dei. Junior Andrew Evans feels God’s presence most clearly when he attends all-school Masses.

“Campus ministry has helped my [faith life] by setting up Masses,” Evans said. “They really bring an opportunity for me as a Catholic to go to Mass more often to see the beauty of God.”

Mater Dei‘s religion classes deepen each students’ understanding of Catholic doctrine, tradition, and morals. Although she is not Catholic, senior Tina Lam values religion classes for their teachings in morality and values as well as personal growth and reflection.

“Although I come from a different religious background, being at Mater Dei has deepened my understanding of Catholic beliefs and traditions,” Lam said. “Religion classes have encouraged me to reflect on my own beliefs. They’ve helped me see the similarities between different faiths, especially when it comes to moral values and ethics. The focus on service, ethics, and community is something that can benefit anyone, regarding meaningful discussions about life, morality, and purposes, which are valuable lessons for everyone.”

Not only do religion classes benefit students through their academic content, but the religion teachers at Mater Dei personalize each student’s experience. Lam is grateful for the open and welcoming attitude the religion teachers have towards everyone, regardless of their background.

“I really appreciate the strong sense of community, especially the guidance of our religion teachers, who support us throughout the school year and lead us through meaningful events,” Lam said. “It creates a welcoming environment where everyone feels supported.”

Religion has helped Lam broaden her mindset by being more open to different ideas and learning the importance of choosing to spread love to others.

”[Religion classes have] made me more open-minded and reflective,” Lam said. “I think being in this environment has helped me grow as a person by reinforcing the importance of kindness and service in everyday life.”

Mater Dei’s Catholic environment has made an invaluable impact on many students’ lives, both academically and personally. Through Evans has grown into a better version of himself, both spiritually and personally.

“Catholic education has changed me as a person,” Evans said. “It helped me to become a better person and brought sense to my faith that everything you do kindly and generously will be rewarded.”

Evans hopes that students will recognize and appreciate the loving environment resulting from Mater Dei’s Catholic identity, and that they may be brought closer to God in the process.

“I think students will come to realize what a blessing it is to be able to come to this school and how everybody is nice, and it’s a really kind environment,” Evans said. “There are just good people here. The school being Catholic, helps people come to Jesus and find themselves closer to God.”