Today at John Paul II Catholic School, our community gathered for an inspiring and deeply meaningful conversation about one of the most important transitions in a young person’s life—maintaining and strengthening their Catholic faith after high school. We were blessed to welcome Father Rhett Williams, Chaplain at the University of South Carolina and Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Charleston, who shared both wisdom and urgency as he spoke to families about keeping students rooted in Christ during their college years.

Father Williams began by sharing his own journey—from his years at Bishop England High School to Furman University, and eventually to Dallas and Washington, D.C., for seminary studies. Now serving college students across the state in multiple roles, he sees firsthand the spiritual challenges young adults face. “My job as chaplain,” he explained, “is to build a second home on the college campus—a place where students encounter Christ, community, and authentic joy.”

Yet his message came with a sobering truth: 79% of Catholics who leave the faith do so by their 23rd birthday, and only one in four Catholics regularly attend Mass. “By the time they get to me,” he said candidly, “we have often already lost them.” But he also emphasized hope—and a clear, practical roadmap for parents.

Five Ways Parents Can Keep Their Children Anchored in Faith

1. Live the Faith Yourself.
“Kids know when you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk,” Father Williams reminded parents. Authenticity is everything.

2. Have meaningful conversations about faith.
Discuss your beliefs, your struggles, your passions. Students need to understand the why of faith—not just the what.

3. Visit campus ministry on every college tour.
Meet the chaplain, attend Mass, and show your student it matters.

4. Encourage involvement—and connect them early.
Campus ministry staff are eager to welcome new students. Share your child’s contact information; “Welcome Week” is a powerful on-ramp.

5. Support campus ministry financially and spiritually.
“Students have no money,” he joked, but these ministries depend on the generosity of families and parishes.

Father Williams also highlighted the vibrant life available through campus ministries: mission trips, community service, intramural sports, pilgrimages, Bible studies, and especially the transformative presence of FOCUS missionaries at USC, Clemson, and Coastal Carolina.

In closing, he reminded parents that faith after high school is not accidental—it's intentional, relational, and rooted in the witness of family. “If we want our students to stay anchored in Christ,” he said, “we must give them the home and the habits that make faith real.”