Perhaps the hardest part of sending your child off to college as a parent is adjusting to the physical space that now separates you. For so many years, we are embedded in their daily lives—and then, just like that, in the blink of an eye, they're off on their own, struggling to navigate life without us there to lead the way.

One of the easiest ways that we can continue to support them spiritually and emotionally is enormous in its power: a care package. Parent to parent, I want to share with you the immense impact a lovingly prepared, spiritually charged care package can make on your Catholic college student.

Care Packages Boost Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being
College life is great, but also stressful, isolating, and overwhelming at times. A care package, especially one that reminds them of their faith, is a tangible reminder that they are cared for, loved—and not alone.

Research has shown that considerate gifts can significantly boost emotional well-being. Kindnesses like receiving thoughtful gifts lead to measurable boosts in happiness and reductions in loneliness, according to research conducted by the Journal of Happiness Studies.

Including spiritual support—in the form of Scripture quotes, prayer cards, or inspirational sayings from the saints—adds an extra layer of reassurance. These reminders can inspire them during times of stress and anchor them in their Catholic faith.

Supporting Their Mental Health With Faith
College students today are coping with more anxiety and depression than ever. Almost 60% of students felt totally overwhelmed by anxiety during the past year, based on the American College Health Association.

A care package containing Catholic devotional items—such as a Rosary, a prayer book, a pocket Bible, or even a saint medal—is not only comforting but also truly spiritual supplies for survival. Reciting the Rosary, reading scripture, and reflecting on the saints' lives can serve as lifelines when students feel anxious, overwhelmed, or homesick. Faith does not eliminate the challenges of life, but it instills hope, perseverance, and peace in our children as they work through them.

Encouraging Academic Motivation through Prayer
Believe it or not, fostering your college student's spiritual life can also benefit their academic life. Studies show that feeling part of a religious heritage can have a positive effect on a student's sense of direction and motivation.

Including a personal note with a favorite Bible verse—like "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)—reminds your child that his work and abilities have a mightier power behind them. A little pick-me-up by way of God's Word can be a great motivator.

Creating a Spiritual "Home Away from Home"
College dorm rooms are unfamiliar and impersonal. A care package of a tiny crucifix to put on their desk, a Rosary to keep handy, or a prayer book can turn a small area into a place of worship in front of them wherever they go. As Inside Higher Ed relates, staying organized and anchored to home—and to faith—is required in order to build resilience in college students.

These small actions remind our kids that they remain part of something greater: the Catholic Church, their family, and communion of saints—providing them with strength and consolation even from afar.

Nurturing the Parent-Child Bond Through Faith
Sending a care package of goodies and Christian encouragement extends your bond with your college student. It says: "I'm caring about you—not merely about your grades or health, but about your heart and soul, too."

Care packages can lead to open doors of meaningful conversations of faith, prayer, and perseverance, so you can maintain a relationship based on trust, love, and shared values—despite distance.

Final Thoughts: Faith, Love, and Encouragement in a Box
We can't be with them every step of the way through college, but we can give them loving reminders that they are loved, noticed, and prayed for. A prayer-laced care package—with calming snacks, comfort foods, Scripture cards, a Rosary, or a small prayer book—does more than fuel their bodies. It provides them with spiritual armor to battle the battles they will face in becoming the person God created them to be.

A care package reads, "You are never alone. Christ walks with you—and so do we." And that's a message our Catholic college students hear more than ever.