The Center for Campus Ministry provides students with opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ and cultivate a mature spiritual life. A part of the Division of Mission and Ministry, Campus Ministry collaborates closely with Student Life, the Center for Service, the Seminary, and others across the campus community to enrich the communal and spiritual lives of Mount students.
Rooted in our Catholic identity and embracing students of all faiths and Christian denominations, Campus Ministry encourages the integration of faith, vocation and leadership in the lives of students.
Women Youth Apostles and Youth Apostles are communities of women and men who work together in parish youth and college campus ministries to bring young people to Christ, in the spirit of St. John Bosco. Women Youth Apostles has directed the campus ministry at the Mount since July 2023. Part of the strength of our team is its fullness in representing the diverse states of life contained in both communities—our staff is made up of two consecrated women and one married man. Together with the university chaplain, seminarians, and other coworkers in the vineyard, we reach out to college students in friendship, inviting them to open themselves to God’s transforming grace and to become His witnesses on campus, at home, and in the world.
Campus Ministry at the Mount has taken as a patron St. Pier Giorgio Frassati—an Italian Catholic activist known for his deep faith, authentic friendship, commitment to social justice and dedication to helping the poor, and who was just canonized as a saint in September 2025 by Pope Leo XIV! The expression "Verso l'alto" was found in Pier Giorgio's handwriting on a photograph of himself climbing a mountain and gazing upward. Literally, the translation is "toward the top," or, "to the heights!" St. Pier Giorgio was constantly striving to reach the summit of eternal life, and Mount St. Mary’s Campus Ministry has taken Verso L'alto as a motto to reflect our devotion to him and desire to imitate his virtue. You can get to know more about the life and legacy of Frassati by visiting frassatiusa.org.
The Center for Campus Ministry would love to talk to you about coming to the Mount. Email or call us at 301-447-5223.
Hours and LocationMon.-Fri. 8:30-a.m.-5 p.m.
151 McGowan Student Center
OCIA meets weekly for students who want to explore Catholicism or become Catholic, and for students who are already Catholic but want to finish receiving Eucharist, Confession and/or Confirmation.
For more information please email email Krysti Patient or call 301-447-5030.
Every Wednesday, Campus Ministry hosts a time for prayer, formation, and fellowship. Frassati Nights start with Eucharistic Adoration at 6:50pm in our Chapel of the Immaculate Conception-- with praise and worship music, confession, and seminarian-led prayer teams-- and then moves to our Frassati Room next door at 8:00pm for a talk and social time.
Frassati Nights have featured talks on the lives of the saints, praying with scripture and art, as well as activities like puzzle-solving scavenger hunts and "Stump the Priest"! They also always feature a good snack-- root beer floats, tiramisu, pancakes, s'mores!
Seminarians are assigned to work with the Center for Campus Ministry as part of their formation to the priesthood. You might notice a deacon regularly serving and preaching at Mass, or seminarians at Campus Ministry events, OCIA, or other weekly programs!
Mount seminarians studying for the priesthood are assigned to sports teams to foster prayer and fellowship. If you are a student-athlete, your team’s chaplain will be a great resource for prayer, support and encouragement!
Interested in learning more about connecting with our faith formation groups?
Email the CenterThroughout the year, the Center for Campus Ministry offers a variety of retreats: both single-day and overnight retreats, with talks, prayer experiences, small groups, and fun! Mountaineers going on retreat discover the ways the Lord is ready to encounter them and provide students with strong Christian community.
Our community-building overnight retreat, To The Heights! takes place in September, off-campus at Summit Lake Camp. Kick off the new school year with Jesus at the center, encounter Christ anew, make new friends, and take advantage of the beautiful retreat property for outdoor fun and adventure!
Save the date for To The Heights 2026: September 18-20
For students looking to take a next step, we offer the Altitude retreat in November at Priest Field Pastoral Center in West Virginia. Altitude is a silent retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Spots for Altitude are limited, and students will need to apply to attend. Applications open on PEAK at the start of the academic year. Applicants will hear back from us if they've been accepted and will be required to attend a retreat 'orientation' meeting to prepare for this unique experience.
Save the date for Altitude 2026: October 30 - November 1
Students at the Mount have access to pray before the Blessed Sacrament almost any time, any day. The added blessing of Eucharistic Adoration—to pray with Jesus face-to-face—is also available almost every day in our on-campus chapels. Every week in your email inbox you will receive The Chaplain’s Memo from University Chaplain, Fr. Justin Gough, with details and any changes to the Adoration, Mass, and Confessions schedule, as well as announcements and highlighted events to look out for that week.
In addition to regular opportunities to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in our chapels, there are Eucharistic processions on campus on particular solemnities and on other significant dates in the academic calendar. Campus Ministry and the Office of the University Chaplain also host periodic events to foster Eucharistic devotion and spiritual growth in the campus community, such as the following:
Every semester the seminarian Sports Chaplains and Campus Ministry host an evening of prayer, encounter, and mercy. Each REVIVE includes a witness talk from a student and a keynote address from a speaker, followed by adoring the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament with praise and worship music, while the sacrament of reconciliation is available along with seminarian-led intercessory prayer teams.
Taking place on campus, this traditional devotion of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration is an opportunity for our community to make a Lenten 'retreat' as their schedules allow. This period of Adoration March 15-17, beginning after the Sunday 7:00pm mass, will include opportunities for personal and public prayer.
Inspired by St. Maximilian Kolbe, MI students grow in their knowledge and love of their faith through devotion to Mary. Join the group on Monday evenings at 7pm to pray the rosary, and occasionally for spiritual talks and formation.
Mount students will find opportunities for prayer, spiritual direction, retreats, and discussion around vocational discernment and development through the Center for Campus Ministry and the Office of the University Chaplain. If you are interested in joining a regular men’s or women's discernment group, contact the Center for Campus Ministry and we'll get you connected!
Liturgies on campus couldn’t happen without the support and gifts of our students! Getting involved in any of the liturgical ministries at the Mount is a great way to grow closer to God and serve His Church.
If you are interested in serving as a Greeter/Usher, Lector, Altar Server, Sacristan, or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or are interested in lending your voice or your instrument to our Music Ministry, email us and we would love to get you connected!
*Please note that guidelines of the Catholic Church require that only practicing Catholics can serve as Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers, and Sacristans.*
Interested in learning how you can contribute to Chapel Mass services?
Email the CenterMount Students for Life sponsors spiritual and educational activities to promote respect for the gift of human life from conception to natural death. With this group you will have the chance to help organize the University’s participation in the annual March for Life in Washington, D. C., volunteer at pregnancy centers and sponsor educational opportunities to respect life at all stages.
This Catholic men's organization focuses on serving God, the Catholic Church and nation.
Interested in learning more about our justice and human dignity groups?
Email the CenterFrequently Asked Questions about Campus Ministry at Mount St. Mary's University.
No! While Catholic in mission and identity, Campus Ministry at the Mount strives to support all students in their continual spiritual development while respecting individual faith backgrounds. We seek to reach everyone through effective and diverse programming, individualized attention, and community sharing.
Non-Catholics are invited to all Campus Ministry experiences and opportunities. Our community strives to be welcoming and inclusive to all. Weekly bible studies, fellowship nights, and our Young Life group are particularly great opportunities we offer. We also welcome any additional suggestions students might have to expand our ministry!
We get this question a lot from students who are not Catholic but went to Catholic school prior to joining our Mount community and experienced the required weekly school Mass. The answer is no, Mass is not a requirement for Mount St. Mary’s University students. Mass is offered twice on Sundays and daily Monday-Friday. All students are welcome and invited to attend Mass and Catholics are encouraged to uphold their obligation to attend on Sundays.
Yes, however, non-Catholics can come forward for a blessing from the priest.
Director of Campus Ministry
University Chaplain
Campus Minister
Campus Minister
Having a Mass said for the needs of a special person, for a special request, or in thanksgiving has a long history in the Catholic Church. We are honored to pray with you for your intention. The Mass will be celebrated by our priests on the Mount's campus.