About Catholic Campus Ministries at SMU · Dallas, Texas
Catholic Campus Ministry at SMU (CCM-SMU) is the official Catholic campus ministry serving students, faculty, and staff at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1932 and operated as a ministry of the Diocese of Dallas, it serves what the ministry describes as the largest religious group on campus, with self-identified Catholics making up roughly 25–30% of the student body. CCM-SMU is housed at the Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center at 3057 University Boulevard, near the corner of University Boulevard and Airline Drive, and offers daily and Sunday Mass, the sacraments, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, Bible studies, service projects, small groups, and a vibrant student community led by a chaplain, lay campus ministers, and FOCUS missionaries.
- Established
- 1932
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin Kolker (Chaplain and Director)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
CCM-SMU is a 'home away from home' for Catholic students — and for any student curious about the faith — at one of the largest non-Catholic universities in the country. The ministry offers Sunday and daily Mass, daily Eucharistic adoration, and the sacrament of reconciliation, alongside a deep bench of formation: small-group Bible studies, FYSH (First-Year Student Homes) for freshmen, the OCIA process for those becoming Catholic, the Mustang Awakening retreat, Jericho nights of praise and adoration, women's and men's ministry, the Catholic Hispanic Association (CHACHA), a spring break mission trip, monthly Service Saturdays around Dallas, and weekly Sunday Suppers after the 5 PM Mass. With a chaplain, two lay campus ministers, a development team, and a FOCUS missionary team on staff, there is a clear path for nearly anyone to get involved.
Mass times at Catholic Campus Ministries at SMU
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Daily Mass, Monday–Friday at the Catholic Center (Mon, Wed, Fri 11:40 AM; Tues, Thurs 4:40 PM)
- By appointment — email [email protected]
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Catholic Center
- Monday–Thursday, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Catholic Center
- Monthly 'Jericho' nights of Eucharistic adoration, praise, and worship
About Catholic Campus Ministry at SMU
Catholic Campus Ministry at SMU (CCM-SMU) is a ministry of the Diocese of Dallas that has served Southern Methodist University since 1932. It operates out of the Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center at 3057 University Boulevard, on the southeast corner of University Boulevard and Airline Drive, and serves what it describes as the largest religious group on campus — self-identified Catholics make up roughly a quarter to a third of the SMU student body. The current Chaplain and Director is Rev. Kevin Kolker, who took on the role in July 2024.
- Founded 1932
- Ministry of the Diocese of Dallas
- Served by the Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center
- Chaplain/Director: Rev. Kevin Kolker (since July 2024)
History of the Ministry
Catholics at SMU first organized formally in 1932, when the university was 21 years old. For the next six decades, the ministry functioned without a dedicated building. That changed in 1994 when then-chaplain Fr. Michael Duca — who also served as the Diocese of Dallas' vocations director — launched a capital campaign. Ground was broken on July 24, 1994, for what became the Thomas Hudson Neuhoff and Judy Austin Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center; the Neuhoffs gave $250,000 toward the project and $890,000 in pledges was raised overall. The three-story center, built around a chapel and community room and including private meeting rooms, a library, and dining facilities, has anchored the ministry ever since. The 90th anniversary of CCM was celebrated in April 2022 with a dinner at SMU's Bush Institute, where Bishop Greg Kelly offered remarks and Bishop Michael Duca (now of Baton Rouge) received the Servant Leader Award.
- 1932 — formal organization of Catholic ministry at SMU
- 1985–1994 — Fr. Michael Duca serves as chaplain and vocations director; initiates building campaign
- July 24, 1994 — groundbreaking for the Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center
- 1995 — opening of the three-story Neuhoff Center
- c. 2008 — Fr. Anthony 'Tony' Lackland (SMU B.A. '93) becomes first full-time priest on campus
- Fall 2013 — Fr. Arthur Unachukwu joins CCM from St. Michael the Archangel, McKinney
- July 2020 — Fr. Wade Bass becomes director and chaplain, coming from St. Monica
- April 23, 2022 — 90th anniversary celebrated at the Bush Institute
- July 2024 — Fr. Kevin Kolker becomes the current Chaplain and Director
Mission, Vision, and Values
The ministry's stated mission is to be a home for forming Servant Leaders through an intentional and personal relationship with Jesus Christ through His Church, summarized in the motto 'Know. Love. Serve.' Its published values center on forming SMU students into servant leaders through prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, moral formation, and service; helping students discern vocations to the priesthood, religious life, marriage, or the single life; and bringing students into full communion with God through the Catholic Church.
- Mission: forming Servant Leaders through an intentional, personal relationship with Jesus Christ through His Church
- Motto: Know. Love. Serve.
- Emphasis on prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, moral formation, and service
- Promoting vocations to priesthood, religious life, marriage, and single life
Staff and FOCUS Missionaries
CCM-SMU is staffed by a diocesan chaplain-director, two lay associate directors, and a development/external relations team, and is partnered with a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary team. All are reachable through the main office line (214) 987-0044 and via their @smucatholic.org and @focus.org email addresses.
- Rev. Kevin Kolker — Chaplain and Director ([email protected])
- Margaret Abruzzo — Associate Director of Campus Ministry ([email protected])
- Teresa LaCour — Associate Director of Campus Ministry ([email protected])
- Katie Quinn — Development Officer ([email protected])
- Katie Longoria — External Relations Associate ([email protected])
- FOCUS Team Director: Grace Rosa
- FOCUS Missionaries: Sarah LeBlanc, Gabe Allis, Luke Boldt
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
CCM-SMU offers the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) for SMU students who are unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, or already-Catholic students preparing to receive First Communion or Confirmation. The journey involves formation in prayer, doctrinal instruction, conversion, service, and Christian community, and culminates in the reception of the sacraments of initiation. (Christian initiation through CCM is available to SMU students only; community members who are not SMU students are directed to their local parish.)
- For unbaptized students, non-Catholic Christian students, and Catholics needing further formation
- Open to SMU students only
- Walk through prayer, doctrine, conversion, service, and community
- Ends with full reception into the Catholic Church
Spiritual Formation and Small Groups
Beyond the sacraments, the ministry offers a robust set of formation opportunities — small-group Bible studies led by FOCUS missionaries, the FYSH (First-Year Student Homes) program for incoming students, the annual Mustang Awakening retreat, a 'The Truth Will Set You Free' monthly talk series, and one-on-one spiritual direction. Jericho nights combine Eucharistic adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation, and contemporary praise-and-worship music.
- FYSH — First-Year Student Homes, Tuesdays at 7:30 PM at the Catholic Center
- Small-group Bible studies
- Mustang Awakening Retreat (student-led weekend retreat)
- Jericho Nights — monthly adoration, reconciliation, and praise-and-worship
- 'The Truth Will Set You Free' monthly talk series
- Spiritual direction
Service and Mission
Service is at the heart of CCM-SMU's mission. On one Saturday each month, students gather for Mass at the Catholic Center and then head out to serve together in the Dallas community through Service Saturdays. Each year the FOCUS missionary team also leads a spring break mission trip, giving students the chance to step away from campus, serve communities in need, and grow as disciples.
- Monthly Service Saturdays in the Dallas area
- Annual spring break mission trip led by the FOCUS team
- Service Chair on the Servant Leadership Council coordinates student volunteers
Community Life and Student Leadership
The heart of CCM-SMU's community life is Sunday Supper, a free weekly meal hosted at the Catholic Center after the 5:00 PM Mass, and a packed calendar of beloved annual socials including the Back-to-School BBQ, the ugly-sweater 'SMUCUS' Christmas party, and a Mardi Gras celebration. Women's and Men's ministries offer formation events, socials, and small groups specific to each, and CHACHA builds community among students from Latin American cultures while welcoming all who want to learn more about Hispanic Catholicism. The Servant Leadership Council (SLC) is the student leadership body that runs the ministry's programs.
- Sunday Supper after 5 PM Mass
- Back-to-School BBQ, SMUCUS (Ugly Christmas Sweater Party), Mardi Gras
- Women's Ministry and Men's Ministry
- Catholic Hispanic Association (CHACHA) and monthly Misa y Comida
- Servant Leadership Council (SLC) with chairs for Liturgy, Service, Community Events, Mustang Awakening, Freshman Outreach, Men's/Women's Ministry, CHACHA, John 1:39, and SLC President/Treasurer
Visit the Catholic Center
The Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center is the day-to-day hub of the ministry. During the fall and spring semesters the building is open Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 10 PM and Friday 9 AM to 4 PM, with reduced hours in the summer. Prospective, incoming, and current students are welcome to stop by for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, reconciliation, socializing, or simply a cup of coffee.
- Address: 3057 University Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75205-1944
- Phone: (214) 987-0044
- Hours (Fall 2025): Mon–Thu 9 AM–10 PM; Fri 9 AM–4 PM
- Open for prayer, reconciliation, socializing, and coffee
- Located at the SE corner of University Boulevard and Airline Drive
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Michael Duca1985–1994
Chaplain of CCM and vocations director for the Diocese of Dallas; initiated the building of the Neuhoff Catholic Student Community Center; later Bishop of Baton Rouge; received CCM's Servant Leader Award in 2022.
- Fr. Anthony 'Tony' Lackland2008–
SMU alumnus (B.A. in music, 1993); first full-time priest at the Neuhoff Center; ordained in 2006 for the Diocese of Dallas.
- Fr. Arthur Unachukwu2013–
Joined CCM in fall 2013 after 18 months as parochial vicar at St. Michael the Archangel in McKinney.
- Fr. Wade BassJuly 2020 – July 2024
Became director and chaplain in July 2020 after two years as parochial vicar at St. Monica's.
- Fr. Kevin KolkerJuly 2024 – present
Current Chaplain and Director.