For young people of faith, college can be a challenging and trying time.  With new-found independence from parents, lack of transportation, social pressure to fit in, and academic challenges, many students may find themselves feeling adrift or disconnected from their Catholic faith.  The result is a lack of faith formation in young adults at this most crucial time in their lives.  In response to this need, St. Anthony’s established The Grotto in 2012.  The Grotto is an outreach, hospitality, and campus ministry center; just blocks from the Hillsdale College Campus.  The Grotto acts as a meeting place for students to hang out with friends, pray, study, take a break from campus pressures, and find an active and relevant Catholic community.  The greatest gift of The Grotto is its chapel, which reposes the Holy Eucharist.  Dozens of students come each day to spend time with our Lord, growing in relationship with Christ and love of the Church.

The Grotto hosts multiple events each week: Discussion groups, mass and confession, rosary, scripture study, meals, guest speakers, and feast day celebrations.  The Grotto seeks to bring every student – Catholic or otherwise – into deeper intimacy with the Lord and greater knowledge of the Faith.  By engaging at The Grotto, students find connections at St. Anthony’s; and many students are involved in all aspects of parish ministry.  Through this active parish involvement, they grow in faith and help to support the important ministry of St. Anthony’s in Hillsdale County.