What do Latina/o students need to grow spiritually? 

Springtide sought to explore this question with the PASOS Network, a group of universities focused on culturally responsive ministry in higher education. The Springtide team surveyed and/or interviewed students at Catholic Hispanic-Serving Institutions as well as campus ministers serving students at these universities, and the analysis of the responses revealed a surprising discrepancy.  

When asked to evaluate Latina/o students’ spiritual thriving, a smaller share of campus ministers agreed that Latina/o students were thriving compared to the percentage of Latina/o students who said the same. Our findings reveal differences in how Latina/o students and campus ministers understand what it means to thrive spiritually.

Based on students’ descriptions of spiritual thriving, markers of growth in faith include: 

Exploration, questioning and growth. Many of the Latina/o students in this study see thriving as a lifelong process of spiritual development rather than a destination to be one day reached. Introspection, learning, and even wrestling with doubt can signal spiritual thriving to students. Students experience their campus ministries as safe spaces to explore their faith. Trusting relationships with ministers—ones who normalize doubt and model open dialogue—are key to creating these spaces. 

A personal relationship with God. Like their general approach to spirituality, Latina/o students portray their relationship with God as an ongoing journey, not a destination. While the majority (67%) of the Latina/o students we surveyed express an undoubting belief in God, their relationship with God is something that students are continually pursuing. Many interviewees say they deepen their relationship with God by participating in the sacramental and ritual life of the Catholic Church.  

Living the faith. Latina/o students in the study describe thriving as the extent to which their faith shapes their everyday lives—how they live their faith through their daily choices, relationships, and habits. Several describe how thriving means practicing one’s faith consistently even when it’s not convenient. For many students, thriving is a form of spiritual discipline in which students actively choose to prioritize their faith over other competing demands. Living the faith is not limited to formal ministry activities, but also sustained by spiritual friendships, reinforced through service, and deepened by leadership. 

Faith como en casa (like at home). For many of the students with whom we spoke, their Latina/o and Catholic identities are greatly intertwined. In fact, nearly half (47%) say that being Catholic is a central part of being Latina/o. Therefore, spiritual thriving for Latina/o students can also include the ability to express one’s faith through cultural rituals and traditions—latinamente, as they do en casa (at home). Expressing one’s faith como en casa may involve celebrating feast days honoring Latin American saints; a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary; attending Spanish or bilingual Mass; or creating religious art and music that incorporates cultural imagery, to name a few. When campus ministries incorporate these cultural expressions of faith, they shift from being a friendly place on campus to feeling like home. This approach to ministry helps Latina/o students feel connected to their families, heritages, and to other Latina/o students.