Finding Community: a bisexual Catholic shares her experience at St. Joe's University

On a journey to find community: a bisexual Catholic's story at St. Joe's

When I embarked on my college search, I had one unwavering goal in mind: to find a school with a strong sense of community. I know that community is not built overnight; it takes sustained effort and attention. So when I came to St. Joe's, I was determined to be fully engaged, not just in the campus community, but actively involved in its nurturing. I encourage each and every one of you to join in this endeavor.

As a bisexual Catholic, I often encounter people who are confused about my identity. Many people seem at a loss for words when I share this part of myself, wondering how these two identities can coexist harmoniously. Some even find it contradictory that my email signature simultaneously serves as the Minister of Liturgy and Peer Minister of Music for Campus Ministries and as the SJUPride Secretary. However, I have my own theological convictions that allow me to comfortably embrace these two sometimes seemingly conflicting identities.

However, this personal sense of belonging is lost if it is not embraced by the Catholic Church and the LGBTQIA+ community. I often felt like I was wearing two hats, attending Mass one day and Pride the next. There aren't many spaces on campus where I can feel both bisexual and Catholic.

However, I have found Wolfington Hall, home to Campus Ministry, to be a place where I can feel completely accepted. I have always felt a warm welcome whenever I have stepped foot here, especially when attending "Spiritual Coming Out," an Affinity Christian Leadership Community (CLC) led by Maeve DeNardo '25 and Alex DiGiacomo '26, where we explore spiritual and gender issues. The CLC is a place where we explore spiritual and gender issues.

The concept of "Hawkmates" also blurs my identity as a bisexual Catholic at St. Joe's Are LGBTQ couples invited to alumni events targeting couples, such as Hawkmates Masses? I think our campus needs more LGBTQ advocates. I hope that members of the Coalition (an LGBTQ support group of faculty, staff, and administrators) will be more recognized in our community as advocates, not just allies. I long for my LGBTQ friends to experience the same strong sense of community that I felt when I entered Wolfington Hall.

At St. Joe's, I learned that community is more than just a place, it's a feeling, a feeling of acceptance and support. Each of us should strive to be that person who makes others feel like they belong and are accepted, regardless of our faith or sexual orientation. In this journey, we are not just looking for a community, we are creating one.