"Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure."
St. Pope John Paul II
Do you want to learn how to make the most of your college experience?
Do you want to form deep and meaningful friendships?
Are you interested in integrating your Catholic faith into your college life?
What is Venture?
Venture is a weekend away from campus for Catholic freshmen to form new friendships in Christ before classes begin.
The Venture experience promotes deep bonds of friendship in faith, moments of personal and common prayer, and an introduction to the wider Catholic community at AU.
What happens at Venture?
Get to know us at orientiation week events
August 17
Sunday Mass 5:00 PM
Kay Spiritual Life Center
August 19
Ice cream Social 5:00 PM
Faith, Food and Fellowship 6:30 PM
Kay Spiritual Life Center
August 20
Night Monumenting 7:00 PM
We meet at Kay steps
August 21
Art & Gelato in Downtown DC 5:30 PM
We meet at Kay steps
August 22
Venture Retreat 5:30 PM
Black Rock Retreat Center
August 24
Welcome Back Mass & BBQ 12:00 PM
Kay Spiritual Life Center
Join us for an unforgettable weekend at the very start of your college experience!
Venture is a weekend experience including great food, fun games, talks, small groups and the Mass.
Friday, August 22nd to Sunday, August 24th
Student Testimony
"The Venture Retreat shaped my entire college experience at American University.
On Venture, I met one of my closest friends and found a supportive Catholic community unlike anything I had experienced before.
Venture revealed the beauty of living a Catholic life in college, and introduced me to the richness of faith-based friendships.
Most importantly, it deepened my connection with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and opened my heart to desire to grow in relationship with Him.
Venture set the tone for my time at American University, and encouraged me to strive to live out my faith with joy."
Kristen Barrow ‘26
AUCatholic is staffed by the Saint John Society, a Society of Apostolic Life dedicated to the New Evangelization.
Venture Team
Fr. Iván Pertiné
Chaplain
Allie Dunbaugh
Campus Minister
Allison Junker
Volunteer Missionary
Tess Owen
Volunteer Missionary
Eric Baber
VP of Finance
Ella Bordwell
President
Questions?
Please complete the following forms so we can reach out