Light the World! Summer Institute has welcomed over 270 high school age participants from over 30 states and 4 different countries since 2016. Our participants come from public school, private school, and home school environments. We’ve welcomed siblings and cousins, friends of CatholicU and those who are joining us for the first time.
What do all of our participants have in common? They all have a desire to learn more about how the Christian life and the Catholic tradition can play a role in their lives in high school, college, and beyond.
Who Should Attend Light the World?
- Age: Light the World! is a summer institute for high school students who are rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
- Student Leaders: We are looking for students who want to be leaders and achieve excellence in whatever they do.
- Spiritual Maturity: We are looking for teenagers whose faith is important to them, and who want to know how it impacts their everyday lives beyond Mass and moments of prayer. Light the World! is housed within The School of Theology and Religious Studies which is based in the Roman Catholic tradition but it is open to all people of faith.
- Young People Discerning College Choices: We seek students who want a college experience where they will be challenged intellectually and spiritually.
Why Should You Attend Light the World?
Witness Faith in Action
Light the World! is a chance to learn how faith and culture interact with everyday activities. Each day you will witness how this is achieved at a locale in D.C. You will have the opportunity to witness faithful excellence in action in business, science, politics, sports, and the arts.
Visit Impressive Washington, D.C. Sites
Throughout the week you will travel to places such as the U.S. Capitol, National Gallery of Art, and a Professional Baseball Stadium and hear from people who have achieved success in those realms talk about how faith complements those activities.
Experience College Life
Light the World! is located on the campus of The Catholic University of America. You will spend a week on campus living in a residence hall, eating in the Pryz (Catholic U dining hall), praying in sacred spaces across campus and learning from world-renowned Catholic U professors.
Program Highlights:
- Monument Scavenger Hunt
- Morning of Service
- Professional Baseball Game
- Daily Mass
- Forming friendships that will last a lifetime
Testimonials
Light the World! helped me to form meaningful connections with others who were also passionate about living a Catholic life and discovering how faith interacts on the different paths God calls us to.
- Joseph, LtW! ‘18
Something I loved about Light The World is that it has impacted the way I open up and help my own community. I can now do this without being afraid of sharing my faith and religion and was able to learn how to see my faith in everything I do in my everyday life.
- Azucena, LtW! ‘19
“Light the World! meant so much to me and I had an absolutely amazing time! Not only was I able to meet new people and have so much fun in DC and on a college campus for a week, but I also was able to go to Daily Mass, Adoration, talk in small groups and grow in my faith together with the people I met!”
Kelly, LtW! '19
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