Catholic Community at USMA

Q

questionablecadet

USMA 2027
Joined
Sep 13, 2021
Messages
16
Hello everyone,

I was wondering if someone could describe the Catholic community at West Point? I am a recent convert (and a candidate for the Class of 2027), and I was hoping to hear about what it’s like to be Catholic at USMA, what opportunities there are to grow in your faith, what the balance of time looks like, etc.

Thank you very much!
 
Many of us have Catholic cadets who regularly attend Mass and do events w/ the Catholic Community. If they are doing Chaplain's Time this summer, you will meet during that time period (they did not do that for the last couple of summers--but otherwise it is a way to relax, meet the other cadets, and learn about the community during BCT). You might also look at the Facebook and other pages for Most Holy Trinity. Father Matt is a West Point Old Grad, priest, retired officer, now serving/leading the community--it was his recitation of the Rosary on the sidelines that may have pushed Army into finally breaking the 13 year streak against Navy. (like I am not saying it was causal...but, we all saw it...)
So, prepare to be welcome & meet other Catholic cadets and families stationed at West Point. During the academic year there is weekly Mass and then there are other holiday focused activities, too. My cadet really enjoyed his time w/ MHT.
Hope that helps.
 
DrMom said:
Many of us have Catholic cadets who regularly attend Mass and do events w/ the Catholic Community. If they are doing Chaplain's Time this summer, you will meet during that time period (they did not do that for the last couple of summers--but otherwise it is a way to relax, meet the other cadets, and learn about the community during BCT). You might also look at the Facebook and other pages for Most Holy Trinity. Father Matt is a West Point Old Grad, priest, retired officer, now serving/leading the community--it was his recitation of the Rosary on the sidelines that may have pushed Army into finally breaking the 13 year streak against Navy. (like I am not saying it was causal...but, we all saw it...)
So, prepare to be welcome & meet other Catholic cadets and families stationed at West Point. During the academic year there is weekly Mass and then there are other holiday focused activities, too. My cadet really enjoyed his time w/ MHT.
Hope that helps.
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This does help a lot! I'm looking forward to getting to meet everyone. Thank you so much for your help!
 
Dito to everything above! USMA also has FOCUS missionaries that plan many events and activities for the cadets. Many of the cadets join the Knights of Columbus, sing in the choir or join in many of the other events they offer. My Ds's have attended the retreats that are offered through the catholic community too. Congratulations on your appointment!
 
My DS was very involved with the Catholic Community. He made wonderful friends through this. He grew very close to the FOCUS missionaries, as well, so much so that one of them was his Best Man at his wedding! Father Matt was DS's sponsor and he had many activities over at his quarters when he was on active duty. Father Matt flew to the Midwest to officiate our DS's wedding and they have stayed in contact through the years. DS was not a D1 athlete, but was an engineering major. He always found time to go to Mass and hang out with his fellow Catholic cadets.
 
Not sure if you’re considering your other options, but despite letting Army have this year’s game (by one questionable call…in overtime…), the Catholic community at USNA is very strong and very active! Daily mass is well attended and Catholic Midshipman Club (CMC) works with FOCUS to put together a lot of cool events and retreats along with weekly meetings. There are several masses on Sundays on and off the yard as well as a Midshipman-only mass in the evening that is more intimate and accessible. My favorite thing is adoration and our nightly rosary that takes place daily in the Rotunda Chapel (which we’re super fortunate to have right at the center of Bancroft/the dormitory). There are a ton of more opportunities to grow spiritually at the Naval Academy that I could go on and on about, but then I might be trolling a little too hard 😉. If you’d like to hear more or if you have any questions about USNA (Catholic related or otherwise) feel free to DM me. GO NAVY BEAT ARMY.
 
MSNavy said:
Dito to everything above! USMA also has FOCUS missionaries that plan many events and activities for the cadets. Many of the cadets join the Knights of Columbus, sing in the choir or join in many of the other events they offer. My Ds's have attended the retreats that are offered through the catholic community too. Congratulations on your appointment!
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That sounds great! All of this is getting me even more excited for this next step, which I frankly did not think was possible. Thank you so much!
 
USMAROTCFamily said:
My DS was very involved with the Catholic Community. He made wonderful friends through this. He grew very close to the FOCUS missionaries, as well, so much so that one of them was his Best Man at his wedding! Father Matt was DS's sponsor and he had many activities over at his quarters when he was on active duty. Father Matt flew to the Midwest to officiate our DS's wedding and they have stayed in contact through the years. DS was not a D1 athlete, but was an engineering major. He always found time to go to Mass and hang out with his fellow Catholic cadets.
Click to expand...
That sounds amazing! I’m very much looking forward to this community, thank you for your insights!
 
GottaServe2026 said:
Not sure if you’re considering your other options, but despite letting Army have this year’s game (by one questionable call…in overtime…), the Catholic community at USNA is very strong and very active! Daily mass is well attended and Catholic Midshipman Club (CMC) works with FOCUS to put together a lot of cool events and retreats along with weekly meetings. There are several masses on Sundays on and off the yard as well as a Midshipman-only mass in the evening that is more intimate and accessible. My favorite thing is adoration and our nightly rosary that takes place daily in the Rotunda Chapel (which we’re super fortunate to have right at the center of Bancroft/the dormitory). There are a ton of more opportunities to grow spiritually at the Naval Academy that I could go on and on about, but then I might be trolling a little too hard 😉. If you’d like to hear more or if you have any questions about USNA (Catholic related or otherwise) feel free to DM me. GO NAVY BEAT ARMY.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your insight! Although, I think it may be within my best interest to go to the oldest (and as it seems from the past year, athletically superior) service academy. In all seriousness though, the Catholic community at USNA sounds incredible. I’m hoping that the community at West Point is similar (especially the nightly rosary! That sounds beautiful!) I will say that it’s nice to have the Rotunda Chapel a bit more central on campus, I know that Most Holy Trinity is a bit outside of the main area at USMA. I’m looking forward to seeing what other opportunities are provided at West Point, but it’s great to hear that the brothers and sisters at USNA are keeping the faith. Maybe if they had offered me an appointment before USMA I may have had a harder decision to make ;) GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!
 
DrMom said:
it was his recitation of the Rosary on the sidelines that may have pushed Army into finally breaking the 13 year streak against Navy. (like I am not saying it was causal...but, we all saw it...)
Click to expand...
14 years 😊
 
questionablecadet said:
Thank you for your insight! Although, I think it may be within my best interest to go to the oldest (and as it seems from the past year, athletically superior) service academy.
Click to expand...
Athletic Superiority like beating the rival for 20 out of the 24 star competitions for 2021-2022?
That would be USNA Navy's 2021-22 Star Game Record vs. Army 20-4 (.833)

Maybe you're looking at a previous year. . .
Or look at the last 26 years combined. . . Navy's Star-Game Record vs. Army, Last 26 Years (1996-97 to 2021-22)368-196-11 (.650)
 
OldRetSWO said:
Athletic Superiority like beating the rival for 20 out of the 24 star competitions for 2021-2022?
That would be USNA Navy's 2021-22 Star Game Record vs. Army 20-4 (.833)

Maybe you're looking at a previous year. . .
Or look at the last 26 years combined. . . Navy's Star-Game Record vs. Army, Last 26 Years (1996-97 to 2021-22)368-196-11 (.650)
Click to expand...
Oh, and for this year 2022-2023: Things look similar thus far.

2022-23 Star Series Record: Navy Leads, 10-7
 
@OldRetSWO and @Gnarlygoat27 Why are you here? Did anyone summon your vast experience with the Catholic Community at USMA? No, actually, we did not. Please, and I say this with a whole lot of love, go back to your salty USNA thread & let the Army crowd pontificate without you. No need to chime in with that sort of negativity. Please know that I am only taking the time to point this out to be polite...just in case you considered your input helpful. The Army crowd does not want you to wander around the web being so misguided.

GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY, again!
 
questionablecadet said:
Hello everyone,

I was wondering if someone could describe the Catholic community at West Point? I am a recent convert (and a candidate for the Class of 2027), and I was hoping to hear about what it’s like to be Catholic at USMA, what opportunities there are to grow in your faith, what the balance of time looks like, etc.

Thank you very much!
Click to expand...
My son attended mass at Most Holy Trinity his Plebe year, when possible. It was during covid (class of 24, Like None Before) so there were restrictions on numbers and sometimes he would get climb up that hill (MHT is a bit of a hike beyond the main Chapel) and the small chapel was already at capacity so he would literally have to turn around and leave. While he didn't have any complaints about MHT, he prefers to attend the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Highland Falls. We go there when in town and like it too. It's another option if they want to go off post.
 
Father Matt is an inspirational man and his vocation is a gift. Not too many priests out there have the Ranger tab! We miss attending an occasional Mass at MHT now that our son graduated and our Parent Passes expired.
 
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