Faith Mentorship
for High School Students across the country
Serva Fidem, which is Latin for “Keep the Faith,” was founded to develop high school students into intentional disciples of Jesus Christ, freely committed to faith in college and beyond.
Our ministry pairs small groups of students with adult mentors in their communities for weekly gatherings. Students learn to better understand their faith and develop deep, personal relationships with Jesus Christ and his Church. Our small groups grow through personal prayer, Scripture, the sacramental life, and better understanding of Church teachings.
Students leave with knowledge, friendships to support them in a flourishing life of faith, and the chance for a personal encounter with Jesus. By forming virtuous relationships with one another, groups expand on their relationships with God and are able to answer the question, “Why am I Catholic?” for years to come.
Is God Calling You
to Explore Serva Fidem?
We would be delighted to discuss the opportunity of launching Serva Fidem at your school. Whether you’re interested in mentorship, getting your students involved, or have any questions about our purpose and ministry model, please feel free to reach out to us today.
research Shows a Growing Need
for Faith Mentorship
74%
of former Catholics report they stopped identifying as Catholic between the ages of 10 and 20, with a median age of 13.
-Going, Going, Gone (St. Mary’s Press, 2018)
20%
of adults in the United States classify themselves as Catholic. Of that percentage, only “some” considered themselves “deeply observant.”
–47% of U.S. Adults Have a Personal or Family Connection to Catholicism (Pew Research Center, 2025)
24%
of young people ages 13-25 with no adult mentors say they never feel their life has meaning and purpose. However, for those with even one adult mentor, this number drops to 6%.
-The State of Religion in Young People (Springtide, 2020)
A Proven Solution:
A Proven Solution: Impact of Serva Fidem Small Groups
Throughout our beginning at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, we’ve seen extraordinary results in the lives of our students, mentors, and communities at large. Groups have expanded, more students are being introduced to Jesus Christ, and our alumni are showing greater dedication to their faith. We are currently in 15 schools across Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, and Oklahoma. As Serva Fidem expands across the state of Iowa and into surrounding states throughout the country, these statistics are only the beginning of the impact God is making through our ministry.
Serva Fidem alumni are more likely to commit to their faith, feel more confident in defending their faith, continue growing in their faith during college, and engage in faith behaviors like daily prayer, Mass, reconciliation, and faith groups.
24%
By the end of year five at Dowling Catholic High School, Serva Fidem grew to 62 active small groups, or 333 students, which was nearly 24% of the student body.
59%
Serva Fidem alumni were 59% more likely to attend Mass 4+ times a month than non-Serva Fidem alumni in their senior year of college.
77%
77% of Serva Fidem alumni identified as active Catholics compared to only 50% of non-Serva Fidem alumni.
In the Media:
Research on Catholic Youth
At Serva Fidem, we’re dedicated to learning about how to most effectively serve our youth and reach the next generation of the Catholic Church. Several studies highlight the importance of nonprofit ministries that foster small, mentor-led faith communities like ours. Browse through some of the most compelling statistics to see how your support of our ministry can make a difference, whether it’s donating or starting a Serva Fidem at your high school.
Explore the Latest Serva Fidem News and
Student Spotlights
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Faith and Frozen Exploration
Read more: Faith and Frozen ExplorationI went on the Iceland pilgrimage over winter break. This experience was extremely special. I went into…
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Keeping the Faith x Greek Life – Recognizing my Light in the Darkness
Read more: Keeping the Faith x Greek Life – Recognizing my Light in the DarknessI always knew I wanted to be involved in Greek life. A lot of factors appealed to me: the social aspect
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Are we really filling our cups?
Read more: Are we really filling our cups?Have I been renewing myself spiritually lately? Have I actually been filling my cup? This is something that…
Podcast Feature:
“The Most Successful Youth Ministry in the Country”
“”They tell the story of developing this unique campus ministry program and the incredible success Addie has seen by developing small groups with spiritual mentors. Both in numbers and in culture, the dedication of the student body to the practice of the [f]aith, coupled with the ‘reverse statistic’ of how they keep their faith in college and are driven to mentor others themselves, speak[s] to a shocking effectiveness. Addie talks practicals about finding mentors who are already disciples but also the intangible power of asking God to guide her steps.””
