Religious Institutions
Religion in the United States is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a very important role in their lives. The majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians, while close to a quarter claim no religious affiliation. According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, 70.6% of the American population identified themselves as Christians, with 46.5% professing attendance at a variety of churches that could be considered Protestant, and 20.8% professing Roman Catholic beliefs. The same study says that other religions (including Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism) collectively make up about 6% of the population. According to a 2012 survey by the Pew forum, 36 percent of Americans state that they attend services nearly every week or more. (excerpt from Wikipedia)
Your time abroad is a time to not only experience new things but also a time when you will most likely want to hold on to those traditions you value from home. If you are interested in attending religious services or getting involved with a group from a religious institute, there are many ways to find the right one for you. First, ask! Your host family, counselor and new au pair friends may know of several religious institutions right in the neighborhood. If you are not able to find something that way, google your religion and your town – you are sure to get a list to choose from. The below links can also be helpful.
http://www.churchfinder.com (for Christian churches)
www.beliefnet.com (for all religions)