Testimonials

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship was a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the world with other young Catholic leaders who were on fire for the faith, and I will be forever grateful to have participated in this adventure. During the Fellowship, I grew in my leadership, my understanding of the Catholic faith, and my relationship with Jesus. My experience with CWF reinvigorated my passion for leading others to the truth and renewed my hope for my generation.

Words cannot describe what the Lord has done in my heart through the Catholic Worldview Fellowship! I came to the Fellowship with no plans, no expectations, and placed the month in the hands of the Lord. I trusted He would do more than I could ever imagine… and He did!

I applied for the Fellowship because I wanted to learn how to evangelize. Throughout our time abroad, I asked the Lord for boldness, and He answered this prayer abundantly through every aspect of the Fellowship. I felt so deeply loved by Christ through every person, and because of them, I was able to be more authentically myself than I have ever been. I did many things that I never thought I could do before. Through the courses, friendships, and prayer, Christ revealed things that I had never been able to see before, and He dismantled many lies that I had struggled with for so long.

My experience was full of thought-provoking and eye-opening classes, transformative prayer, laughter, singing, and unexpected surprises. Through the Fellowship, Christ has empowered me to be bold with Him as my strength. He has placed in my heart the desire to be a saint and to bring others to receive the gift that is our Catholic faith!

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship was one of the most impactful and important three-credit courses I’ve ever taken. To be able to spend an entire month in prayer, contemplation, study, and fellowship all revolving around developing a Catholic identity and a Catholic worldview is an invaluable experience that every Catholic could benefit from.

In our busy, day-to-day lives, we seldom have the chance to steep ourselves in the mysteries of the faith and become truly enculturated by the traditions of the Catholic Church. And yet, if we hold these teachings and traditions to be the Truth, we have an obligation and privilege to explore them and bring them into the chaos and busyness of our lives.

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship provides a first step—a sort of demonstration or example—of how this can happen.

The Fellowship program is an experience with the living God in an authentic Christian culture. You can read, inquire, and have discussions about Christian culture, but in this secular world, you will rarely EXPERIENCE a Christian culture. The Catholic Worldview Fellowship is where I experienced that culture.

I couldn’t tell you what my favorite aspect of this fellowship was. All I can say is go for it, experience it yourself. The staff are some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met, but in such a personable way that it was never imposing.

The fellows became some of my best friends almost immediately. Germany is beautiful and Rome is gorgeous. Experiencing all of these different components of the fellowship together in one month gives you the time, the flexibility, and the community you need to realize and become the change you’d like to see in the world and the change you’d like to see in yourself.

This fellowship is equally introspective as it is building community, experiencing culture, and absorbing information that you would never normally encounter. I came into the fellowship questioning everything, with a built up disdain for religion. The community you experience on the fellowship is like no other, I never experienced an ounce of animosity, an ounce of intellectual arrogance, only respectful dialogue.

I was welcomed in and was given the opportunity to ask the questions that had always bugged me. CWF gave me some of the answers I needed to realign the direction that my life was headed back towards what I wanted it to be.

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship checked all my boxes for a summer study abroad program. It combined elements of studying history, seeing history, and creating community. This was not only a great experience and memory for me, but a time of formation in the faith that will continue to impact me for the rest of my life. I have seen immense growth in my path to sainthood with the help of the fellowship, and I am excited to see more of its fruits radiate as time goes on!

I don’t even know where to start! The Fellowship was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Looking back to my decision to commit to it, I just remember, at the time, a lot of things going wrong in my life, but where I stand today, I am so happy and appreciative for that. Every day, the Fellowship challenged me to grow in ways I never thought I would. I honestly didn’t know much about the program or what to expect. Not knowing is something that typically fills me with a lot of anxiety, since I like to be in control, but for the first time I can remember, arriving in Germany with no expectations wasn’t stress-inducing. I felt so calm and excited for the month ahead of me, and it truly was the best month of my life.

I was poured into on the Fellowship in so many different ways by my peers, the instructors, and the spiritual directors. I was able to be open and honest and authentically myself with everyone, and I was met with love and kindness. I was supported and encouraged in my faith and my relationship with Christ, not only in the classroom or by the spiritual directors, but also by every other Fellow, whether it was a late night conversation with my roommate, a group discussion over lunch, or a walk through Xanten with my new friends.

I made friendships during this experience that will last a lifetime. I cannot imagine the person I would be going into my senior year of college without this experience. I am more secure in myself, my relationship with and identity in Christ, and, by extension, my relationships with other people. By the end of the Fellowship, I was a wreck. I cried the day we all left, mourning the most incredible month I had ever experienced with the most incredible people I had ever met. I asked myself, “What do I do now?” And for (probably) the first time, my first answer was to turn to Christ. However, my second answer for myself was to reach out to the friends I made on Fellowship. I am forever grateful for this remarkable experience that has made me, at the heart of it all, a happier and more loving daughter of Christ.

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship in one word is encounter. And that is exactly what Pope Francis has asked our culture to do: encounter one another.

Each and every day on the Fellowship is centered around many encounters with the Lord through fellowship with one another, through learning about Christ and about how to become Catholic cultural leaders, and through experiencing the historical sites that indicate how the Catholic Church has influenced culture throughout the centuries.

Being surrounded by some of the most amazing individuals and Catholic leaders that I have ever met and witnessing the tradition and heritage of our faith on a whole new level is something that I will hold near and dear to my heart for as long as I live.

The Fellowship brings together the most amazing individuals from all over the world and, by living in communion with one another, bonds us into a spiritual family that is extraordinary; it is a taste of Heaven.

I didn’t think this amount of spiritual and personal growth was possible within the duration of a month, but this incredibly life-changing Fellowship proved me wrong. It taught me that sainthood is still possible in the 21st century.

It showed me that I can live a life of holiness no matter what my vocation ends up being. It revealed to me that the Catholic Church is God’s gift on Earth to show us all the way to true happiness, wholesomeness, and fulfillment no matter what culture you come from or what your personality or temperament is.

I came into the Catholic Worldview Fellowship feeling rather lost. I had just graduated, and (after attending a public university), felt ill-equipped to go out and be a witness to my faith in the “real world.” But the fellowship met me right where I was at, and was exactly what I needed. I had been weary about even applying because I wasn’t sure how I would pay for the experience, but in prayer I felt a nudge in my heart that this was an opportunity that God wanted me to have. And He provided abundantly, both monetarily and with the community I found at Schloss Wissen.

The fellowship has changed how I see God, and how I see myself. The fellows and the staff that walk alongside you are truly incredible. I’ve never felt so fully alive. The classes and outings are all amazing; I learned more in a few weeks than I’ve learned in whole semesters. And the free time and community time are packed full of fun activities! I don’t think there’s a better way you could spend your summer. Aside from equipping me to be a Catholic leader in our secular culture, my experience on the CWF has made me start to understand what Christ means when He says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship was the single greatest decision I have made thus far in my life. For an entire month I had the chance to learn and grow in a community that supported me spiritually, socially, and academically. The people I met and the experiences we shared will remain with me long after the fellowship is over. Each day on the fellowship was filled with overwhelming joy and an abundance of curiosity. Through the classes and conversations, I now feel fully equipped to be a young Catholic leader in today’s world. The fellowship truly is “a little slice of Heaven.”

This experience doesn’t come and go with the wind but is carved into our hearts to remind us of where and to whom we belong. We are some of the lucky few that have experienced Heaven on Earth and know where we are called to live eternally.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I applied for, and then attended, the Catholic Worldview Fellowship, all I know is that I am so glad I did. Having had few expectations for the experience and trying to keep an open mind and positive attitude about everything that would come my way, time and time again I was met with pleasant surprise from the people, the activities, and the course material.

Never in my life have I had such blessed encounters- whether those were with the beautiful nature that surrounded our historic German home, the impressive staff and dynamic fellows, the holy places we visited, or with our Lord in almost every aspect of the day.

Participating in this fellowship is something I will hold in my heart forever as a time that strengthened and established so many elements of my spiritual life, and also gave me a community that I hope to continue growing and identifying with for quite some time. So many moments, alone in reflection or fully engaged in community, revealed to me who I am, who Christ is, and who I am called to be through him, and because of that I felt like on the fellowship I was in exactly the right place at the right time. This program is without a doubt the best thing I’ve ever done and I feel so much more equipped to go out into the world and be a light because of it.

The most impactful part of the Fellowship was the spiritual component. I can honestly say that I have never felt closer to God in my life. Many people talk about a feeling of peace during a retreat as a spiritual high point, but the peace and calm from this experience was not of that sort. This peace came from knowing that I was becoming more attentive to God’s voice; it was a confidence in knowing that I was growing close to Him through this program. It was more consistent and permeating.

By living my life structured around prayer and the sacraments, I could begin to distinguish the sound of God’s voice in my heart. Now that I know what his voice sounds like, I can have the confidence and courage to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:27).

The spiritual growth I experienced could only happen within this community of others seeking God. Without my peers and the staff, I would not have the joy and peace I have now.

I anticipated the Fellowship to be an incredible experience, and it exceeded and challenged my expectations in every way. The instructors were experts, the setting was idyllic, and the prayer time was more fruitful than I could have imagined.

Most of all, though, I was surprised and ignited by the community of the Fellowship, which formed before my eyes. My CWF family was – and still is – warm, zealous, supportive, challenging, and most importantly passionate about striving to be the saints God has called each and every one of us to become.

After hearing wonderful stories about the Fellowship from various sources, I was filled with enthusiasm to attend this program. However, nothing of this world could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. Having stepped foot for the first time onto Schloss Wissen soil, I was greeted with open arms and immediately welcomed into the community.

The Fellowship is made up of unique, talented individuals who all share a common love for God. To be surrounded by leaders, both the Fellows and the staff, each reflecting a different aspect of the Body of Christ, left a feeling of wonder and awe that was not shaken throughout the entire time I spent with them. We broke bread, drank wine, sang, laughed, and cried together. We shared in each others’ days intimately, and for that we became forever bonded. The Lord came to us in the classroom, in the beautiful art, in the inspiring music, and most of all in each other.

I am grateful for all that was given to me during the time spent on this program and to the sacrifices made to help it happen. Now that it is over, I hope to encourage others to come and see for themselves the goodness of the Lord manifested in the Catholic Worldview Fellowship.

This experience far exceeded any of my expectations. I was tremendously impressed with how comprehensively the fellowship inspired spiritual, academic, leadership, and cultural development. The incredible staff was organized and attentive—they planned every detail!

The curriculum was strong with vibrant guest speakers, and the structure of the program promoted what I know will be a lasting community of faithful friends. Unbelievably transformative!

Going into the Catholic Worldview Fellowship, I had no idea what to expect, but it greatly exceeded all I could have imagined. The program is centered on studying philosophy and experiencing culture, but the extent to which the Fellowship forms the whole person is indescribable.

The idea of studying modern culture from a philosophical perspective can seem very intimidating but through the wisdom of the staff, they were able to make the classes tangible for anyone. The program truly seeks to form not only form the intellectual side of the person but the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects. Through the staff and the amazing community, I was able to grow so much as a person and continue to grow post-fellowship because of the love and support from all across the world.

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship is an experience like none other and I am so grateful to have participated. The students who came from universities across the country were incredibly talented and inspiring to be around. We all decided to come on the Fellowship for different reasons, but shared a common desire to grow closer to Christ. This common goal allowed for an intense unity that I never imagined as we prayed, played, and studied together.

The experience of prayer in community with so many other people who are strong and passionate about their faith lifted my soul to God. I pray that many more students can share in this opportunity.

The Fellowship is an encounter with others, an encounter with oneself, and an encounter with God. It was incredible to see thirty-two people bind into a community in just a day, a community that was not just superficial friendship as can be found easily on any college campus, but also a sincere desire for the sanctification of others.

The CWF forms the fellows to bring the spirit of Christ out into the world, changing culture one encounter at a time. We experienced in community and in solitude a profound encounter with Jesus and a calling for more, a calling to bring the truth and love of Christ to others, a peace and joy that knows no bounds.

Prayer, intellect, and encounter with others combined to form the most powerful tool of formation, touching the human being on all levels. The key is being open to God’s path and letting him do the work.

Through the amazing lectures and deep discussions on forming a Catholic worldview and
evangelizing in our modern world, I was able to develop a deeper understanding of my faith and of how to live it more fully in every aspect of my life. More than that, I encountered God’s love in real and powerful ways through the relationships made with the staff and fellows, the new places and cultures we encountered, and especially in experiencing Jesus Christ in the Eucharist in daily mass and adoration.

Coming from a large public university, I had never been around so many other young college students who genuinely desired to grow in their faith and to grow in love and holiness. Through their witness and support, I was inspired to go deeper in my relationship with Christ, surrendering my whole self and plans to him. The Fellowship showed me the importance of the catholic community and has inspired me to seek that community out at my own campus. I want others to know the love and freedom that comes from a life given to Christ and rooted in the Church.

Before coming on the Fellowship, I was anxious and unsure about my life post-grad and
struggled to trust and discern God’s plan for me. I knew that the Fellowship would teach me more about our faith and help me to grow in understanding of what it means to be Catholic in such a secular world, but I didn’t expect to leave completely changed and renewed by God’s love. I have never felt more myself and more at home than I did on the CWF. This experience and the family we built here, has taught me how to rely on God more fully and filled me with the desire to call everyone home to Christ.

The most amazing part of the Fellowship for me was how it prepared me to evangelize at my college. Through the leadership courses and the example of the incredible staff, I began to see more clearly what my own leadership style looks like and how to live it out. Spiritually, the Fellowship helped me rekindle a fire for evangelization and grow in my relationship with God. And personally, being immersed in a community of Catholic leaders from all over the country gave me the confidence to live more authentically. The authentic love we shared for each other made it possible for me to discover more of who I truly am. Because of the Fellowship, I feel like I’ve grown into a new kind of leader—one who is ready to step back onto campus and share the faith with courage.

I believe that every young Catholic leader should experience the depth and beauty of the Catholic Worldview Fellowship. I wanted this program to change my life. It did. The Fellowship taught me to view our world and my own life, past and present, through the lens of a Catholic Worldview, not through the lens of the modern, secular world. Through insightful academic lectures, deep intellectual conversations with friends, and the fruits and graces of prayer, I realized for the first time what it means to have Christ at the center of my life. It means that in all things, academics, sports, leisure, relationships, all is for the glory of God.

I didn’t know that such freedom and joy was possible for myself. But it is, and I am so incredibly grateful to the Catholic Worldview Fellowship for transforming my relationship with Christ. It enables me to be most fully alive, and to more authentically and joyfully bring the light of Christ to my friends and family, college campus and the world.

I wouldn’t have exchanged my experience on the Catholic Worldview Fellowship for anything! It was such a privilege to travel all throughout Europe while learning, building community, and immersing myself in the beauty of the universal Church. The class itself was exceptionally organized, and the staff members expertly promoted the formation of every fellow in academics, spirituality, and leadership. Each cultural outing was filled with unique opportunities and was always accompanied by adventure and joy.

The Fellowship was more than I ever expected from a study abroad program: it was what I needed. This journey brought me knowledge, close friendships, and the tools to discern the calling in my life. Most importantly, it helped me establish my trust in His plan and goodness.

The Catholic Worldview Fellowship was far more than just a month of coursework. The Fellowship gave me a rich experience of Catholic living. Alongside 28 other college students, I pursued truth in the classroom, beauty in churches, and goodness in conversation at meals. We began and ended each day in prayer as a community, thus everything flowed from and to Christ. I deeply treasure the community I have found during these last weeks, and it has encouraged me beyond words to be surrounded by such peers.

Catholicism has the amazing ability to take shape in any culture of any age bringing forward the best of each. Positively, this program did not teach us how to defend the faith but rather how to advance it. We are called to be cultural leaders of our day.

Attending lectures led by a professional business coach over a proven model of leadership has excited me for the possibility of leadership in my own life. CWF has given me a vocabulary to define the leadership I strive to emulate and concrete steps toward achieving this end.

At the close of this program, we had achieved far more than just three college credits (although we did do that too); we had truly experienced the good, the true, and the beautiful. Now our time has come to go out and live it. This journey was not meant to end in Europe but had formed us to go make disciples of all nations, proclaiming the kingdom of God through the witness of our lives. Our habits of prayer, study, and leisure were intended so that we might share them with a world starving for these very things, starving for God. It is with great joy that I say this program has made a lasting impact on my own life.

This summer, I studied abroad in an authentically Catholic environment, where I experienced true integral student formation. In my time spent at Schloss Wissen, in rural Germany, as well as in the hustle and bustle of Rome, I truly encountered God, through powerful religious programing, as well as rigorous academic classes.

My experience at the Catholic Worldview Fellowship was personally transformative, for both my faith life as well as my academic enrichment. Through philosophy and visits to important historical sights, I developed a deeper understanding of the Catholic worldview. I experienced the beauty of Rome as the heart of the West and the home of the Roman Catholic Church. The leadership classes, as well as one-on-one coaching, allowed me new insights into my own personality. As an active student leader, the Catholic Worldview Fellowship has empowered me to lead well. I am excited to return to campus with a renewed passion for evangelization, as well as deepened knowledge surrounding the history and philosophy of Western civilization.

The CWF was a fundamentally life-changing opportunity for me to encounter new places, people, and ideas. I was able to witness the love above language which God has for each of us. I would do it all over again if I could!