Catholic Life
The University of Richmond has a vibrant, diverse Catholic campus ministry program that serves nearly 1,000 Catholic students, staff, faculty, and nearby residents who often attend Mass with the campus community.
Catholic Mass
Sunday, 5-6 p.m.
Cannon Memorial Chapel
Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Chapel during the academic year. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is generally available before and after Mass. The choir consists of talented student musicians and is directed by student music coordinators. Students also serve as lectors, ushers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Spiritual Life
Students have multiple opportunities outside of Mass to develop a robust spiritual life. Our community is known for being cheerfully Catholic and enthusiastically ecumenical. Students attend Kairos on Tuesday evenings; join to pray the rosary; attend Eucharistic Adoration on campus and at St. Bridget parish, and go on retreats. Scripture and a Slice Bible study offers a deeper dive into the Sunday lectionary, and various other devotional activities are offered depending on student interests.
Fellowship and Service
Students frequently enjoying getting together for monthly dinners after Mass on Sundays, or at a variety of regular social events. Service projects are typically connected with the University’s Center for Civic Engagement and have also included work with Habitat for Humanity, childcare for ESL classes, and serving as religious education instructors at local parishes.
Connecting to the Wider Church
Catholic Life is connected to the wider church through its relationship with nearby St. Bridget parish, which has historically provided priests who preside at Mass on campus. Catholic students frequently attend Holy Day liturgies at St. Bridget or one of the other local parishes when Mass is not available on campus. Students also attend various events sponsored by the Diocese of Richmond.
History
Catholic Campus Ministry was founded in the 1980s by Wendy Wood of St. Bridget parish through an agreement with former University Chaplain the Rev. Dr. David Burhans, who have both since gone home to God after decades of faithful service to their respective traditions and the University. Their remarkable partnership to establish a Catholic presence at a historically Baptist university set the tone for the inclusive and ecumenical approach that characterizes Cathlic Life on campus today.
Catholic Chaplain
The Rev. Mr. Tom Mullen
The Rev. Mr. Tom Mullen serves as Catholic Chaplain for the Office of the Chaplaincy at Richmond and happily directs Catholic Campus Ministry at the university. He describes the faith community here as cheerfully Catholic, enthusiastically ecumenical, and incredibly inclusive. Tom, who is a permanent deacon, teaches journalism in the School of Arts and Sciences, serves as a President’s College Fellow, and a first-year advisor to Endeavor students. You can find him moving around campus between classes, coffee stops, and chaplaincy gatherings. He is happy to meet to talk about faith, classes, college life in general, and any variety of sports. The quickest way to reach him is at tmullen@richmond.edu.