Faith That Endures: Why St. Norbert College Remains a Beacon of Catholic Education

March 19, 2025 | De Pere, WI

There’s a story in the Gospels about a storm. The disciples, seasoned fishermen, found themselves caught in a tempest so fierce they thought they wouldn’t survive. They were panicked. Terrified. Certain that everything was about to be lost. But then—Jesus. Walking on water, calming the waves, speaking peace into the chaos.

Right now, there are some who believe a storm is raging at St. Norbert College. They’ve heard the news—"The Theology and Religious Studies major is being eliminated!"—and, like the disciples, they are gripped by fear. Some have even begun to shout from the rooftops that this is the beginning of the end, that the Catholic and Norbertine identity of the college is being washed away.

But to those who are worried, let me say this plainly: Be still. Have faith. This college—this place of learning, formation, and tradition—has not abandoned its mission.

Theology is Still at the Heart of St. Norbert College

Let’s get the facts straight. Theology and Religious Studies are not disappearing. They remain essential to the core curriculum of the college. Every student, no matter their major, will take courses that challenge them to think critically about faith, morality, scripture, and tradition. They will encounter the richness of Catholic thought, engage in meaningful dialogue about their beliefs, and wrestle with the deep questions that have shaped humanity for centuries.

In other words, the intellectual foundation of the faith is still here. The difference? Fewer students have been choosing to major in Theology and Religious Studies. In recent years, only a handful have done so. The reality is that institutions of higher learning, especially those stewarding their financial future wisely, must make difficult decisions about sustainability. A Catholic college is not only responsible for teaching faith; it is also responsible for stewarding resources well, ensuring it can continue its mission for generations to come.

A Catholic Education is More Than a Major

Let’s think for a moment about Catholic education in its most familiar form: K-12 Catholic schools. Every day, children walk into classrooms where they learn mathematics, literature, science, and history—all while being immersed in an environment that fosters faith. They pray together. They attend Mass. They study the lives of saints. They are formed not just in knowledge but in character.

And yet—when those students graduate, their diploma doesn’t say “High School Graduate in Religious Studies.” No one questions the Catholic identity of a school just because its students are not earning theology degrees. Instead, we recognize that Catholic education is about formation, about instilling faith as a foundation for whatever vocation or profession they pursue.

The same is true at St. Norbert College. The presence of faith is not measured by the number of Theology degrees awarded each year—it is measured by the way faith is integrated into every part of the student experience.

A Catholic business major doesn’t need to major in theology to learn how to lead with integrity, serve with humility, and build a career centered on justice and ethics.

A Catholic educator doesn’t need to major in theology to bring faith-based values into the classroom and help form the next generation.

A Catholic scientist doesn’t need to major in theology to see the wonder of God’s creation in every discovery.

A Call to Faith, Not Fear

This decision does not mean St. Norbert College is “less Catholic.” If anything, it reaffirms what has always been true: The heart of Catholic education is not in the name of a major—it’s in the people formed by it.

For more than a century, St. Norbert College has shaped young minds, nurtured souls, and sent forth graduates who carry the Gospel message into boardrooms, hospitals, classrooms, and communities. That mission continues.

So to those who are fearful, I ask: Do you trust?

Do you trust that the Holy Spirit is still moving within the halls of this college?

Do you trust that God’s work is not dependent on course catalogs, but on the hearts of those who study, teach, and serve here?

Do you trust that faith—real, deep, abiding faith—is not something that fits neatly into a degree program, but is something that shapes every discipline, every profession, every life?

Theology is not disappearing. The Catholic identity of St. Norbert College is not diminishing. The work of faith and reason, of study and service, of knowledge and wisdom—this work continues.

And so, as we look to the future, let us not be like the disciples in the boat, fearful of the storm. Let us remember instead the voice of Christ, who speaks peace into every wave, who calls us not to panic, but to trust.

The mission of St. Norbert College is alive and well. Let’s stand together in faith and move forward.

Travis Vanden Heuvel is a 2009 alumnus of St. Norbert College, business executive, and community leader. He is the former President of the Parish Council at Old St. Joseph Church + National Shrine of St. Joseph at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, and currently serves on Bishop Ricken's Diocesan Pastoral Council in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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