Boston Catholic Options

Aiming to become the world’s leading Catholic university and theological center, Boston College gives students access to a wealth of vibrant Catholic life both on and off campus. This article is your guide for that Catholic life you’re seeking to become a greater part of this year.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston

Essential to the Catholic life is the Mass. With nearly 100 Jesuits in residence, St. Mary’s hall offers a number of liturgies in its beautiful chapel, at 7, 8, 11, and 12 p.m. Masses offered every weekday morning, in addition to 8 a.m. options on the weekend. St. Ignatius hosts a 5:30 daily Mass, as well as a 4 p.m. Saturday vigil, and 8, 10, 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. options to fulfill your Sunday obligations. Campus Ministry presents a choice between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. at St. Joseph’s chapel on upper campus, as well a 9 p.m. in the St. Ignatius lower chapel. For the especially late risers amongst us, a 10:15 p.m. Mass in the Heights Room is also available. Gaining popularity amongst freshmen and lowercampus dwellers alike is the daily Mass offered Monday-Thursday at 10 p.m. in St. Joseph’s chapel. For a taste of off campus Masses, try the 11 a.m. or 8 p.m. Sunday liturgy at St. Clement’s shrine, just a block away from the Hynes Convention Center T stop. For those interested in the Traditional Latin Mass, ride on over to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton, which offers the Mass of All Ages daily, including a High Mass with Gregorian chant at 12PM on Sundays.

Confession, the sacrament of healing, is available every weekday 15 minutes before the 12 p.m. Mass in the parlor connected just outside the chapel in St. Mary’s. If you feel the spontaneous need for Confession, just trek to St. Mary’s and call up a priest (they will not bite) or ask your resident minister – he will be overjoyed to hear your confession!

Liturgical life is just the beginning of the vita Catholica at and around BC. For Catholic community life on campus, check out Campus Ministry groups. The St. Thomas More Society (STM) meets Monday evenings at 5:30 in St. Mary’s for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration – a great way to deepen your prayer life and prep for the beginning of the hectic school week. Socialization and intellectual discussion, along with free and delicious pizza, follows from 7-8 in the Gasson Honors Library (contact: Eric Hinz eric.hinz.1@gmail.com). Salt & Light, while Catholic in name, offers a broader Christian option, for those looking for a more “ecumenical” approach. Meetings are every other Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. in O’Connell house. For those searching to live out an authentically male or female Catholic lifestyle in all aspects of one’s life, not just on Sundays, try the Sons of St. Patrick, meeting at 6 p.m. in St. Mary’s, (men, contact Grayson Heenan grayson. heenan@gmail.com) or Gratia Plena (ladies, contact Kathleen Best bestkc@bc.edu). CURA gives the opportunity for students to discuss faith in small group settings in weekly meetings. Always popular are Campus Ministry retreats, including the Kairos retreat, and the highly recommended Manresa silent retreat, modeled on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Student initiative both on and off campus has resulted in the proliferation of Catholic events hosted at or around BC. Koinonia features a monthly Saturday evening Holy Hour with contemplatively played contemporary music, followed by a reception and open-mic night in the Gasson Honors Library. Popular for its slogan, “What Would Jesus Brew?,” Agape Latte hosts a popular faculty member or local speaker in Hillside Café on certain weekday evenings. Amongst the Archdiocesan youth-oriented programs are “Jesus in the North End” gatherings, offering Friday night Adoration and Mass followed by get-togethers in tasty North End bakeries. Pure in Heart, a prayer group dedicated to praying for chastity amongst the youth, meets Thursday evenings at 7 for Mass, Adoration and Rosary at St. Columbkille’s parish in nearby Brighton Center (contact: Leah Gunning leah.gunning@ gmail.com).

As the cherry on top of this formidably rich and delicious Catholic sundae, the aforementioned St. Clement’s shrine offers perpetual adoration of the Eucharist. With this Love illuminating the heart of the city of Boston 24/7, it is no surprise the vita Catholica is alive and well, on and around the Boston College.

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