Alliance for Catholic Education
I chose to pursue the Frassati Internship because it provided a summer opportunity embodying Notre Dame in every way. At its core, it gives interns an opportunity to see how they can use their talents to serve others through a Catholic lens in accordance with Notre Dame’s mission. Additionally, Frassati interns are called to live in community with their fellow interns in order to build lasting relationships and grow in faith with one another.
For my Frassati experience, I interned at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In my work at the Archdiocese, I was able to meet many incredible people who work to serve God every day. I got the opportunity to do just the same by using my finance background to assist over 150 parishes with consolidating their records and managing large data sets. Not only was I able to take what I’ve been learning in the classroom and apply it in a work environment, but I was able to do it in a way that directly helped others in the Catholic community. This is one of the biggest ways the Frassati internship sets itself apart from other summer internship opportunities.
When I wasn’t working at the Archdiocese, I spent time with four other interns at our house in St. Paul. Over the seven week internship, I formed amazing relationships with my housemates, and we became great friends. It was a cool experience to bond with others who were fully committed to their faith and using their talents for good, like myself. From exploring the Mall of America, to visiting beautiful lakes, and eating tons of ice cream, there was never a dull moment for us. Just as Notre Dame does for its students on campus, the Frassati internship will allow you to build life-long friendships.
As students at Notre Dame, we have come to learn that the process of discernment is one of the most important pieces of our education. The Frassati Internship is no different and perhaps emphasizes this even more. Seeing my talents give a positive benefit to society helped me understand the responsibility I have to use my skills for good. Moreover, the God-centered nature of the Frassati Internship work we complete allowed me to see how my faith and work can combine and compliment each other. I have walked away from the Frassati experience with an immense sense of gratitude and clarity as it relates to my post-grad plans. Helping others is my passion, and there are endless opportunities to pursue that passion in my future work and life.
My advice for those considering the Frassati Internship is to really understand the internship is truly special. There aren’t many other internships where you can find yourself serving God every day through your work. There aren’t many other internships where you can do it all alongside your Notre Dame classmates. And there aren’t many other internships where you can have the same opportunity to grow in faith and as a whole person. The bottom line is that everything that makes Notre Dame special is amplified within this internship experience. If you truly want to get the most out of your time at Notre Dame, I’d highly recommend pursuing the Frassati Internship.
