About Brown Univ & RISD · Providence, Rhode Island
The Brown-RISD Catholic Community (BRCC) is the Catholic campus ministry serving students of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) on College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island. Its stated purpose is to offer students opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ and to practice the Catholic faith through divine worship, prayerful study, and charitable action. Supported by the Diocese of Providence and served by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph (from St. Thomas Aquinas Priory at Providence College), the BRCC describes itself as a diverse assembly of believers seeking to communicate the love of God to one another and the broader community. It gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, weekly adoration and confession, dinners, talks, retreats, and service opportunities.
- Rector
- Fr. Justin Bolger, O.P. (Catholic Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
The BRCC offers one of the most vibrant religious communities on the Brown/RISD campus, with multiple daily Mass options, generous confession and adoration hours, and weekly community dinners that make it easy to plug in. Students are invited into a community that seeks to integrate the intellectual, creative, and social life of College Hill with the Catholic faith, supported by Dominican friars, FOCUS missionaries, and a staff dedicated to forming intentional disciples.
Mass times at Brown Univ & RISD
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:45–10:15 AM (Manning Chapel)
- Sunday 7:45–8:15 PM (Manning Chapel)
- Monday 10:45–11:45 AM (BRCC, 51 Prospect St.)
- Thursday 10:45–11:45 AM (BRCC, 51 Prospect St.)
- Wednesday 6:15–7:15 PM (BRCC, 51 Prospect St.)
Adoration times
- Monday 10:45–11:45 AM (Holy Hour, BRCC)
- Thursday 10:45–11:45 AM (Holy Hour, BRCC)
- Wednesday 6:15–7:15 PM (Holy Hour, BRCC)
About the Brown-RISD Catholic Community
The Brown-RISD Catholic Community (BRCC) is the Catholic campus ministry serving the students of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Its stated purpose is to offer students opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ and to broaden their appreciation of the Catholic faith. The BRCC describes itself as a community that strives to know, love, and serve God through divine worship, prayerful study, and charitable action — a diverse assembly bound together as a fellowship of believers seeking to communicate the love of God to one another and the broader community. The community's vision is to nurture the faith of students and to form a generation of intentional disciples, mindful that today's young people are the leaders of tomorrow.
Mission & Vision
Mission: to offer students opportunities to broaden their appreciation of the Catholic faith and grow in deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through divine worship, prayerful study, and charitable action. Vision: to nurture the faith of students and form a generation of intentional disciples.
Worship & Sacraments
Worship and the Sacraments are at the heart of everything the BRCC does. Two distinct spaces host the community's liturgical life: Manning Chapel on Brown's Main Green (21 Prospect Street) hosts Sunday Masses, while the BRCC Catholic Center Chapel at 51 Prospect Street hosts weekday Masses, adoration, and confessions.
- Sunday Mass: 10:30 AM and 8:30 PM at Manning Chapel (21 Prospect St.)
- Weekday Mass: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri at 12:05 PM, Wed at 7:30 PM, at the BRCC (51 Prospect St.)
- Confession before Sunday Masses: 9:45 AM and 7:45 PM
- Monday & Thursday Holy Hour and Confession: 10:45–11:45 AM
- Wednesday Holy Hour and Confession: 6:15–7:15 PM
Sunday Mass at Manning Chapel
Every Sunday when classes are in session, Mass is celebrated at 10:30 AM and 8:30 PM in Manning Chapel on the Main Green (21 Prospect St.). Confessions are heard before each Mass.
Weekday Mass at the BRCC
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday Mass is celebrated at 12:05 PM, and Wednesday Mass at 7:30 PM, at the Brown-RISD Catholic Center at 51 Prospect St. Each weekday Mass is preceded by a Holy Hour with confessions on Monday, Thursday, and Wednesday.
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) meets on Sundays at 1:30 PM at 51 Prospect Street, beginning October 5. Anyone interested in becoming Catholic, receiving the sacraments, or learning more about the faith is invited to contact Fr. Justin Bolger at [email protected].
Our Staff
The BRCC is served by a chaplain from the Dominican Order, an executive assistant, and a team of FOCUS missionaries dedicated to student discipleship on College Hill.
- Fr. Justin Bolger, O.P. — Catholic Chaplain
- Diana McIntyre — Executive Assistant
- Gabriella Thomas — FOCUS Missionary Team Director
- Andres Donovan — FOCUS Missionary
- Mary Krynitsky — FOCUS Missionary
- Alicia Lawson — FOCUS Missionary
- Patrick Doyal — FOCUS Missionary
Fr. Justin Bolger, O.P.
Fr. Justin grew up in Maryland and comes from a large family. After graduating from the University of Baltimore in 2003, he played music professionally before earning a master's in philosophy from Mount St. Mary's and entering the Dominican Order in 2012. He completed his S.T.L. at the Dominican House of Studies and was ordained to the priesthood in May 2020. He served as Chaplain of Providence College from 2021 to 2024 and now serves as the Catholic Chaplain at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. He enjoys sports, literature, music, songwriting, and theology, and is a member of the Hillbilly Thomists, a band of Dominican friars who play bluegrass and country music. Office Hours: Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 to 4 PM. Phone: 401-699-2183.
Dominican Sponsorship
The BRCC is supported by the Catholic Diocese of Providence and is served by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph. The friars of St. Thomas Aquinas Priory — based at Providence College (One Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918) — serve various apostolates including Providence College, St. Pius V Parish, and the Brown-RISD Catholic Community. This places the BRCC within the long tradition of Dominican preaching, teaching, and intellectual apostolate on College Hill.
Community Life
Beyond the sacraments, the BRCC describes itself as one of the most vibrant religious communities on campus, offering weekly dinners, talks, retreats, and opportunities to serve the wider community. The community page on the website hosts the events calendar for upcoming dinners, formation talks, retreats, and service opportunities.
- Weekly community dinners
- Talks and formation
- Retreats
- Service and charitable action
Support & Stay Connected
The BRCC welcomes donations through a virtual collection (including Venmo) to supplement the regular Sunday collection, and offers a newsletter for email updates about the good things happening in the community. Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–8:00 PM and Saturday–Sunday 9:00 AM–8:30 PM.
Locations
The BRCC campus ministry uses two principal spaces: the BRCC Catholic Center at 51 Prospect Street (Providence, RI 02906) — home to offices, the weekday chapel, weekday Mass, adoration, and confession — and Manning Chapel at 21 Prospect Street on Brown's Main Green, which hosts Sunday Masses.
- BRCC Catholic Center — 51 Prospect Street, Providence, RI 02906 (weekday Mass, adoration, confession, offices)
- Manning Chapel — 21 Prospect Street, Providence, RI (Sunday Masses)