As part of Mr. Haardt’s World Religions class, the seniors participated in the annual interfaith field trip, an experience many consider one of the most meaningful moments of senior year. Rooted in Prep’s mission to form Men For and With Others, this experience invites students to explore a rich diversity of faiths through firsthand visits to places of worship.

The group visited Beth Sholom Synagogue, Avatamsaka Vihara, Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, and the Diyanet Center of America & Mosque. These visits serve as the culmination of their study in The Spiritual Quest, a course focused on the world's major religions. Along the way, students engaged in respectful dialogue, quiet reflection, and meaningful observation.

Abai Aldayarov ’25 shared, “My key takeaway from this field trip is that though we’re all inherently different and practice in different ways, we all have the same goal: to worship God.”

Brian Fayer ’25 added, “In each space, I truly felt a sense of awe and wonder, thinking about the differences between these religions and mine. I will never forget the generosity and kindness I experienced, especially at Beth Sholom Synagogue.”

As the late Pope Francis reminds us in his third encyclical Fratelli tutti, “We can walk together, taking care of one another and of creation. All religious traditions have values that can contribute greatly to building this fraternity.”

This exploration is an important extension of Prep’s educational goals to help young men grow in empathy, understanding, and faith.