For St. Paul VI senior Rodrigo Jauregui, Christendom College was not even on his radar — until two days before he unexpectedly arrived for the college’s Best Week Ever high school summer program. Jauregui had only just heard of the school recently, thanks to his school chaplain who thought he would thrive at Christendom. But Jauregui had not seriously considered it until he was offered a last-minute spot at Best Week Ever. He decided to take a leap of faith — one that left him a week later with a deeper Catholic identity and renewed hope for his generation.
Jauregui was the lead in St. Paul VI’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
A Fairfax, Virginia native, Jauregui joined St. Paul VI Catholic High School in 2022, quickly becoming involved in football, choir, theater, and Campus Ministry leadership. School chaplain Fr. Jonathan Fioramonti noted Jauregui’s many interests and asked him during a conversation near the end of this past school year what he was considering for college. Jauregui wanted a school that continued the rich Catholic education he was receiving at St. Paul VI, while also giving him outlets to continue pursuing his other extracurricular passions. Fr. Fioramonti, who graduated from Christendom in 2014, recommended his alma mater to Jauregui — something that continued to stick with him as he wrapped up his junior year.
Jauregui with Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington (left) and St. Paul VI chaplain Fr. Jonathan Fioramonti ’14 (right).
With that in the back of his mind, Jauregui started his summer break, still with no firm plans for his future after high school. Weeks later, Jauregui made a day visit to Christendom to meet with the Admissions team and to tour campus. While he had only signed up for a campus visit, within a few hours he was offered something even more.
“Once on campus, I was introduced to [Vice President for Enrollment] Tom McFadden, and he, my mother, and I had a conversation. It was during this conversation that I felt hooked to Christendom College as a community and institution. I was then generously given the opportunity by [Director of Admissions] Sam Phillips to spend a whole week at Christendom for what they called ‘The Best Week Ever.’ To be frank I found that name quite ambitious. Nevertheless, I gave in to the spirit of wonder and said yes to Mr. Phillips’ invitation to join the next session, starting just two days later.”
When Jauregui arrived on campus that Sunday, he did not know anyone. Just two hours later, however, he had already met everyone in the men’s residence halls and gotten to bond with them.
“The atmosphere the second I walked on campus was the most welcoming I’ve experienced. I didn’t expect to see so many smiling faces in a place before. Immediately, I felt at home,” he said. “We bonded so quickly, and I credit this to the commonality of the faith we shared. Although we came from all over, I felt as if these were people I was already connected to.”
Over the next six days, Jauregui’s friendships deepened, as did his connection to the faith. Mornings began in the classroom with Christendom faculty, diving into history, philosophy, theology, and literature. Afternoons brought daily Mass, canoeing on the Shenandoah River, hiking Skyline Drive, a debate night, a talent show, and his first lessons in swing and contra dancing.
By the end of his week at Christendom, Jauregui did not want to leave. For him, it truly was “the best week ever.”
By the end of the week, Jauregui did not want to leave Christendom — a place he had barely known just a few days before.
“The experience holds to the name,” he said. “If I could do it all again, I’d do it without hesitation. Without a doubt, this was absolutely the best week ever.”
Jauregui left Fairfax unsure what he was walking into. He returned with a stronger Catholic faith and a new perspective on his peers.
“I feel like there has been a decline in the amount of teens and young adults practicing the faith, but being around so many vibrant Catholics showed me there is still hope for my generation to have a backbone of morality through the faith,” he said. “The fraternity and communal respect and friendship we all fostered throughout the week, even being from such different backgrounds, was completely unmatched.”
Jauregui is now back in school at St. Paul VI, beginning his senior year. After a junior year where he got to be the star of the musical “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” compete on the football team, and grow in leadership skills both in and outside the classroom, Jauregui is eager to see what his final year will bring Christendom, once an afterthought, is now firmly on his college list.
The Early Bird application window for the 2026 Best Week Ever high school summer program is now open through December 1. To find out more, visit www.thebestweekever.com.