Finding God in College: Faith, Purpose, and Real Community

College students today are hungry for meaning, wrestling with loneliness, and searching for something real. What if the answer isn’t found in another achievement or relationship, but in learning how to pray? In this episode of our alumni interview series, we sit down with Fr. Rhodes Bolster, chaplain of University Catholic (UCat) Nashville, which serves students at Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities in Nashville, TN. A Santa Croce alumnus, Fr. Rhodes shares his own journey—from growing up in Nashville, to discovering prayer through a men’s mentorship program, to studying theology in Rome. Along the way, he talks about the deepest challenges college students face today—anxiety, isolation, and the pressure to succeed—and how faith, community, and beauty can speak to those needs. Whether you’re a student, parent, or simply searching for purpose, this conversation offers timeless insights on discerning God’s call and living out your faith wherever He places you.