KANSAS CITY, Kan. — As another academic year draws to a close, thousands of Catholic students nationwide prepare for one of life’s most significant transitions: the journey to college. While this milestone brings excitement and opportunity, it also presents unique challenges to maintaining one’s faith. Statistics show that up to 80% of Catholic students drift away from their faith during college years — a sobering reality that the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is actively working to change.
Enter Newman Connection, a national nonprofit organization with an innovative program transforming how the archdiocese supports our young Catholics during their college or military transition. Through a new diocesan partnership with Newman Connection, youth ministers are working to ensure that every graduating high school senior has support for their Catholic faith journey from day one on campus or in the military.
“This isn’t just about maintaining numbers — it’s about souls,” said Kyle Kuckelman, archdiocesan consultant for youth ministry. “We’re creating a bridge between our parishes, schools and college campus ministries that helps our young people stay rooted in their faith during a critical time in their lives.”
The program’s approach is straightforward, yet effective. Working with Catholic high schools and parishes throughout the archdiocese, Newman Connection helps connect graduating seniors directly to Catholic campus ministry at their chosen college or military base —before they even arrive on campus. Since 2009, the organization has successfully connected more than 600,000 students across over 800 college campuses nationwide.
Newman Connection offers peace of mind for parents concerned about their children’s faith journey. Many parents worry about their children maintaining their faith in college; this program provides a concrete way to help ensure their children have immediate access to a Catholic community and the sacraments when they arrive on campus.
The initiative couldn’t be more timely. Recent studies by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate indicate that young adults often begin distancing themselves from the church before their college years, with over 60% reporting they stopped identifying as Catholic by age 18. However, early connection to campus ministry can help reverse this trend.
Participation in the program is free thanks to Newman Connection’s donor-supported model. Schools and parishes simply share graduating seniors’ contact information and college or military destinations, enabling campus ministry teams to reach out and welcome students upon arrival.
Catholic schools, parishes and families interested in participating can contact Kuckelman by email at: kylek@archkck.org for more information. Together, youth ministers hope to keep graduating high school seniors connected to their Catholic faith throughout their college years and beyond.
