“How can you attend college and not lose your faith?” One look at the news is all it takes to see that this question only becomes more relevant with each passing day. According to a survey performed by Barna Research in 2018, roughly 70% of high school students who enter college as professing Christians will leave with little to no faith—a distressing statistic, and one that plagues faithful Catholic families across the country.
The Piroch family, like so many others, saw these statistics and desired better for their own children. After homeschooling each of them, they wanted their children to continue to thrive academically in college, while also keeping their Catholic faith intact. After years of searching, beginning with their oldest child, Theresa ‘21, they found what they were looking for at Christendom—a school that was academically demanding and deeply, authentically Catholic. Sibling after sibling followed in Theresa’s footsteps, resulting in four Pirochs enrolling concurrently during the 2023-24 academic year.
Enrolling five students in college, including four at the same time, is a momentous decision. But it’s one that the Pirochs would make over and over again.
DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON
This past year, siblings Joseph ’24, Maura ’25, Anastasia ’26, and Lauren ’27 all studied together at Christendom. There were many blessings born from that reality, ranging from support, to encouragement, to love. Even more so, each was able to witness their siblings growing both academically and spiritually, thanks to studying in an environment that runs counter-culturally to what is currently found on college campuses.
Maura Piroch ’25.
“I don’t think young people today realize how much college has an impact on their formation,” says Maura. “For many, it is simply a degree-machine and so the school you choose doesn’t really matter, as long as it advances your career. The problem is that the teenager’s mind is so impressionable that secular schools can form your intellect to think against your faith, most times without you even knowing it. Christendom is different in that it offers a full education and steps to a successful career, but from a Catholic viewpoint. The whole person is developed at Christendom, both academically and spiritually. It is since coming to Christendom that I began to attend daily Mass, frequented the Sacraments and spiritual direction, and have been able to foster a prayer life—and not at the expense of my academics or social life. The fabric of Christendom is woven with the threads of religion so that the college experience itself is inseparable with Christ. I am forever thankful for such a counter-cultural education as it has kept my siblings and myself fervent and faithful Catholics.”
This story comes from the latest issue of Instaurare Magazine, the official magazine of Christendom College. Read more from Instaurare here!
Joseph, who recently graduated with the Class of 2024, also saw the college’s spiritual life, in addition to the intentionally smaller student body size, as a huge draw. For him, the “camaraderie that accompanies this environment provides a positive peer pressure to stay true to Christ.”
Joseph Piroch ’24.
“The statistics regarding the importance of collegiate formation in spiritual life speak for themselves,” says Joseph. “Christendom succeeds where many fail by marrying a fervor for the truth with a focus upon the needs of the individual student. The small student body plays a massive role in this aspect. Unlike most college students, I recognize all my classmates, and know almost all of them.”
For Anastasia, who was a sophomore this past year, the opportunity for an education that would form her not only academically and socially but, above all, spiritually was enough to convince her to follow in her siblings’ footsteps. Getting to attend at the same time as Joseph, Maura, and then Lauren this past year as well was a happy bonus.
“I have been fortunate enough to attend Christendom with three of my siblings, which has been such a blessing,” relates Anastasia. “A lot could be said about our shared experience, but perhaps the most notable is our ability to communicate and share our Faith. At home or at school, all of us continue to pray and attend Mass together, talk about our Faith, and pass it on to those around us.”
Anastasia Piroch ’26.
Anastasia further notes that this situation is not at all uncommon in Christendom circles. Why? Because the Pirochs are not the only large family to send multiple children to the college at the same time.
“Big Catholic families continue to send child after child to this school,” says Anastasia. “Why? No other school can match the true Catholic formation and Christian culture that Christendom fosters. Large families like my own continue to return after seeing both significant academic growth and spiritual flourishing in their children. On top of this, parents recognize that all students at Christendom share the same base values and, consequently, their children are being immersed in an incredibly faithful culture and are enabled to form beautiful, long-lasting friendships.”
A FAMILY EXTENDED
When Christendom was first founded in 1977, the decision was made to keep the student body size intentionally small in order to foster close connections between the students, faculty, and staff. This choice has resulted in a familial atmosphere at the college—one only increased by the number of families with multiple siblings attending the college at the same time.
During the 2023-24 academic year, the Pirochs were one of eleven families with three or more children enrolled at Christendom concurrently, including the Sullivans, Altmanshofers, Byers, Eviches, Colemans, O’Haras, Schaus, Simpsons, Twyfords, and Bellevilles. Sending multiple children at the same time can seem daunting, especially financially. According to Piroch parents Joe and Christen, this decision was more than worth it for their children, however.
“This year, we had a senior, junior, sophomore, and freshman at Christendom—all at the same time,” says Christen. “People ask us how we do it. Admittedly, it has been a sacrifice, but we know the worth of a superior education from an orthodox Catholic school. We wanted that for our children, and God made it possible.”
The Pirochs, like many other families, took advantage of Christendom’s many financial aid opportunities, including the Padre Pio Full-Tuition Scholarship Competition and the college’s sibling discount.
“Don’t let the sticker price scare you away,” says Joe. “Unlike many schools, Christendom offers both financial need scholarships and merit scholarships. We’ve graduated two children from Christendom so far, and several more will follow.”
LEARNING THE TRUTH AND LIVING THE FAITH
Since arriving at Christendom, each of the Pirochs have actively participated both in the classroom and outside of it, taking advantage of all that Christendom has to offer. Joseph played on the college’s varsity baseball team, served as Student Body Vice President his senior year, and participated in the college’s Chester Belloc Debate Society. Both Maura and Anastasia have served as resident assistants, as baristas at the college’s Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, and have participated in clubs like Swing ‘n Sundaes. Lauren, meanwhile, is a part of one of the college’s Strongholds—student-run groups for male and female students to grow in virtue and support each other spiritually.
Lauren Piroch ’27.
Lauren believes that, since arriving at the college and participating in one of these groups, her spiritual life has grown exponentially—just as her family always hoped.
“The Christendom community has been extremely welcoming and helpful in my personal and spiritual growth,” says Lauren. “I genuinely believe it is the Christocentric nature of campus. The importance of strengthening your faith before being fully immersed in society is so extremely important, and Christendom College is the perfect platform for that. My experiences with community college have made the differences even more stark, as without a Christian basis to your education, everything that flows from day-to-day life is affected.”
Each of the Pirochs has big plans for after college as well, believing that the college’s Catholic liberal arts education has prepared them for future success. Joseph has already accepted an IT job with an Air Force contractor for this summer, before he attends Ohio State University to pursue a master’s degree in computer science and engineering. Anastasia and Lauren both intend on pursuing careers in medicine, thanks to taking necessary prerequisites at Christendom, while Maura is hoping to pursue missionary work and then perhaps a career in forensic anatomy.
In addition to studying on campus together at the same time as siblings, the four Pirochs are also proud aunts and uncles to their sister Theresa’s two children. They are joined by students Mark and Rachel Cermak as aunts and uncles of the two children — one of the first times that six aunts and uncles have all been enrolled concurrently.
“Although I was constantly assured that Christendom’s education would prepare me for any future I decided upon, I never truly understood or believed that to be possible until I showed up,” says Anastasia. “And yet, the college, by aiming to form every aspect of the person, has enabled me to think critically and meld to whatever situation I am placed in, an essential skill for any career path which most now lack. In sum, I am incredibly pleased with the Christendom education and its permeation in every aspect of my life.”
PREPARED FOR THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT
How can you attend college and not lose your faith? The Pirochs found this answer at Christendom, with each of their children thriving at the school since arriving. For this, the Pirochs are deeply thankful.
“We express our deep gratitude to the generous benefactors at Christendom and elsewhere who have made this education a reality for our children,” says Christen. “It is a pearl of great price, and our children will be forever grateful.”
The Pirochs, like many families before them, wanted more from their college experience than just a degree and a path to a successful career. They wanted an education that would help them grow in their Catholic faith, while at the same time preparing them to strive for greatness and achieve success in whatever vocation God has called them to fulfill. The five Piroch siblings that have attended thus far are proof that getting a faithful, rigorous Catholic education is possible and affordable, thanks to the college’s sibling discount and other financial aid offerings.
At campuses across the country, students may be losing their faith. At Christendom, students are working hard, conversely, to instead increase their faith, preparing them for success in this life—and the next.
Written by Zach Smith.
Read more from Instaurare Magazine here.