Campus Ministry

Student Mass

All are welcome to attend Sunday Mass at 7:00 pm in Sacred Heart Chapel at the Motherhouse. Student musicians enliven the liturgy with upbeat music on their guitars, bass, keyboard, bongos and more. Also, Campus Ministry hosts several opportunities for fellowship following Mass throughout the semester. Listen up for the chance to stick around for pizza or come along to a home-cooked spaghetti dinner on select evenings.

In addition to attending, the entire Alvernia community is welcome to more actively participate in Sunday liturgies. Those interested in lectoring, altar serving, Eucharistic ministering or assisting with liturgical music should contact Campus Minister Jo Pressimone at joanna.pressimone@alvernia.edu.

All Faith Directory

Not all students are Catholic or choose to come to Sunday Mass. While our Sunday services on campus are limited to Catholic Liturgies, Campus Ministry is happy to provide information about local churches in almost any denomination, Christian or otherwise. Check out the All Faith Directory; if you need more help finding a local church, don't hesitate to give Campus Ministry a call or stop by the Center for Student Life and see us!

Interfaith and Eccumenical Prayer Services

There are many opportunities for prayer during the academic year at Alvernia. Campus Ministry makes a conscious effort to make our prayer services all-inclusive and welcoming. Keep an eye and an ear out for different prayer services during the semester.

Eucharistic Adoration

This is an opportunity for us to come before the real presence of Jesus to pray, meditate, reflect. It is a beautiful Catholic tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages. Eucharistic Adoration refers to simply being with Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, which is the body and blood of Christ. During Eucharistic Adoration, the priest will take the Eucharist out of the tabernacle and place it in a monstrance on the altar. Time is given for silent meditation and reflective prayer. A special prayer and blessing, called the Benediction, is then led by the priest. This tradition offers an opportunity to spend time with Jesus in prayer. You can attend and observe, even if you do not wish to participate.

Adoration is held monthly in Francis Hall Chapel.

RCIA : Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

* For anyone with questions about the Catholic Faith
* For those desiring to join the Catholic Faith Community
* For Catholics seeking the sacrament of Confirmation

RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the process by which people become full members of the Roman Catholic Church. During the process, the teachings, history, and liturgy of the Church are introduced while persons are guided on a deeper exploration of their own faith journey.

The RCIA process is flexible. The length of time a person spends in the process is determined by their faith and spiritual guidance. The process culminates in the reception of one or more of the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic Church or the RCIA process, contact Campus Minister Jo Pressimone at joanna.pressimone@alvernia.edu or by phone at 610.796.5512.

Retreats

Retreats at Alvernia University afford students, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, to explore their own spirituality in a different context than everyday life. Some retreats involve going away for a religious weekend, while others can be conducted within the comfort of our own campus. Keep an eye out for some exciting retreat opportunities! Check out the Retreats Page for more information on specific retreats.