Catholic Experience
We Are Truly a Global Community
Stanford University believes that a diverse community learns from one another and CC@S reflects that. Our CC@S undergrads come from all 50 states and 70 different countries creating a tapestry of diverse cultures, ethnicity, gender identity, and political affiliations not found in typical parishes and university ministries. The Stanford graduate students, faculty, staff and Silicon Valley locals who have chosen to make CC@S their home mirror this diversity.
Not Just College Seniors. Not Just Senior Citizens
American Catholics under 30 years old make up less than 17% of the typical parish. Our national church is older and aging. In contrast, closer to 50% of CC@S is under the age of 30. The energy, the curiosity, the vibrancy of youth is alive and well in our Catholic community!
Because our community ranges from the Professors Emeriti to the current undergrads with many in the generations in between making up the grads, alumni and professionals who have moved to work in Silicon Valley, we offer uncommon intergenerational experiences.
Both students and permanent community appreciate the opportunity to learn and benefit from each other through mentoring, small group discussion, classes, service/immersion opportunities as well as our socials. Our students’ intelligent insight and our permanent community’s incredible experience bring a richness to our interactions.
Our primary focus is on the students, but it is the mix of the whole community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and year-round members that makes CC@S unique.
Belong First - A Modern Approach
The pre-1960s approach for many churches was “behave, believe, belong”: act a certain way (behave), learn the basics of the faith (believe), and then you’ll be a legitimate church member (belong).
Pope Francis has pointed out that Jesus followed the “belong, believe, behave” paradigm. He reached out to the outcast and marginalized in sincere fellowship. These were authentic relationships, not ones designed so that he could convert others to his thinking. Similarly, CC@S extends hospitality and community life that is welcoming to both newcomers and more established Catholics so they have a rich community they feel they belong to.
From this belonging to each other in God’s community, believing becomes clearer; believing in God’s love and his invitation to us becomes our response.
Finally, behaving follows. We do not lead first with a code of ethics. Rather, from belonging and believing flows a witness to live as God’s servant for others.
Most Stanford Students Live On Campus
Unlike most universities, Stanford is a residential campus with 98% of undergraduates and 70% of graduates, along with 40-43% of faculty living on campus. Consequently, CC@S is the closest, most convenient Catholic resource for this large residential University community.
We provide a religious home away from home for all.
Both A Campus Ministry and A Parish
CC@S is a group of student organizations that has been made a personal parish of the Diocese of San Jose, thus differentiating our community:
By permitting us responsibility for our own programs and governance, we are not influenced by outside entities
By having complete financial responsibility and accountability to CC@S, our operating budget and endowment are dedicated solely to service of Catholics of the University community
Because we are not a subset of a local parish, we are independent
Enriched by Both Dominican and Ignatian Spirituality
In most Catholic communities, whether parish or campus ministry, one form of spirituality helps shape the community: either Diocesan or Order Priests (Jesuit, Dominican, Franciscan, etc.) Our CC@S is blessed with the presence and integration of the Dominican and Jesuit spiritualities through the two Dominican priests, two Dominican sisters, one Jesuit priest and lay staff educated in at Dominican and Jesuit universities.
Our preaching, counseling, educational experiences, and spiritual accompaniment are imbued with these rich spiritual traditions. Every member of the CC@S is met “where they are”, so that they may learn to grow in faith and encounter Christ through the tradition that best supports their growth in prayer, faith, their service to God’s world.
CC@S’s and Stanford University’s Missions Align
The Catholic Community at Stanford exists to enrich and deepen the spiritual life of Catholic students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as bring the wisdom of Catholic faith and social teachings in dialogue with the University’s world.
Stanford recently announced a new Long-Range Plan and CC@S eagerly aligns its efforts with this plan. We are committed to enhancing the University’s mission by forming character, training leaders, growing caring hearts and open minds to solve humanity’s greatest problems.
Stanford is extraordinarily well positioned, with its disciplinary and interdisciplinary strengths, to bring new approaches to addressing the fundamental questions of our time. It reflects the view that advancing knowledge and solutions for society means not just developing technology, but integrating an understanding of attitudes, values, behaviors, cultures, histories, and our capacity for cooperation. It fervently underscores the need to provide strong support for the people in our community, and to advance our mission with integrity and values.
A Purposeful University – see Ourvision.Stanford.edu
In an age of division, entitlement and isolation, society more than ever needs mature, effective leaders who work together. Robust intellectual and spiritual lives are part of the development of the whole person. Without critical questioning, well-informed virtuous leaders will not be intentionally formed to transform us to work together for a better world.
