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From the Dive to Discipleship: Summer Fun at Wakulla Springs
By Teagan Milhous
This past Fourth of July, Catholic Noles took a day trip to Wakulla Springs State Park. Joined by several seminarians from our diocese and Catholic Noles staff, it was an afternoon filled with fun, grilling, and fellowship.
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I had the opportunity to meet and speak with many students I had never met before—several incoming freshmen, a couple of transfer students, and a sophomore who had just returned from studying abroad. What they all had in common was that this was their first Catholic Noles event.
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Throughout the afternoon, we took turns jumping off the high dive platform into the spring, went swimming, socialized along the shore, and enjoyed delicious hamburgers and hotdogs grilled by the seminarians.
This time of community building reminded me just how important these social gatherings are, especially during the summer. Since many newly admitted students begin their coursework in the summer, these events offer a key opportunity to connect with them as they begin looking for ways to get involved on campus.
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During my four years with Catholic Noles, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that a student’s first event can have on their faith journey in college. Last summer, I helped host similar gatherings, and I still remember two freshmen telling me months later how that first event made them feel welcomed and inspired them to keep coming back. Since then, I’ve watched them grow deeply in their faith and become actively involved in our community.
It warms my heart to know that those same seeds of faith and belonging are being planted again this summer. As St. Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians: “We are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:9). We are called to plant seeds and contribute to the spiritual growth of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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I am incredibly excited for the upcoming year and all the fruit that God will bring forth in our Catholic Noles community.
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Tegan Milhouse is a super senior studying business administration. He has been involved in Catholic Noles since the fall of 2021. He is very active in men’s group, and he enjoys participating in Catholic Noles intramural sports.
