About Catholic Campus Ministry- The O'Reilly Catholic Student Center Chapel · Springfield, Missouri
Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) at the O'Reilly Catholic Student Center, also known as the Chapel of the Blessed Claretian Martyrs, is the Newman Center serving the college students of Springfield, Missouri. Located directly across from Missouri State University (and serving students at Drury University and Ozarks Technical Community College), it is a vibrant Christ-centered community offering daily Mass, two Sunday Masses, Eucharistic adoration, Reconciliation, retreats, small groups, and a chapel that houses relics and murals of the Claretian Martyrs of Spain. The chapel, building, and student center complex at 847 S. Holland Avenue was constructed in 2000–2001 after years of rapid growth that had outgrown earlier homes.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Blessed Claretian Martyrs
- Rector
- Fr. Andrew Williams
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
CCM is ideal for any college student in Springfield seeking a vibrant Catholic community that takes both faith and student life seriously. Visitors can worship in a chapel housing the sacred relics and murals of the Blessed Claretian Martyrs, attend daily and Sunday Masses (including a candlelight Mass on Thursday evenings), spend time in Eucharistic adoration multiple days a week, go on student-led retreats like the Awakening, join men's or women's small groups, serve on mission trips, and build friendships through dances, intramural sports, and the Vitis Vera freshmen formation program. It is also open to anyone touring or attending Missouri State, Drury, or Ozarks Technical Community College who wants a supportive, Christ-centered 'home away from home.'
Mass times at Catholic Campus Ministry- The O'Reilly Catholic Student Center Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:00–10:45 AM
- Sunday: 6:30–7:15 PM
- Tuesday: 3:00–3:45 PM
- Thursday: 7:00–8:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:00–9:00 AM (Holy Hour)
- Tuesday: 3:00–4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00–9:00 AM (Holy Hour)
- Thursday: 7:00–8:45 PM
- Friday: 8:00–9:00 AM
- Friday: 3:00–4:00 PM
Mission & History
Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) describes itself as 'a home away from home for college students in Springfield, MO' and 'a Christ-centered community dedicated to the growth and development of each student for the good of the Church and society.' The ministry was founded in 1946, has served three area colleges for 79 years, and now believes it is being called to expand to serve all college-aged young adults in the Springfield area.
- Founded 1946 at SMSU as a Newman Club with Fr. William Rochford
- Drury chapter formed one year later; combined ~50 students at start
- Locations over time: house near St. Agnes (1946) → Newman Hall on S. Kings / S. Florence → Ecumenical Center at 680 S. Florence (1966) → Nancy McGregor House at 847 S. Holland (1989) → current O'Reilly Catholic Student Center (2001)
- Claretian Missionaries staffed CCM from 1979 to 2024
- Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau took direct oversight in 2024
The Chapel of the Blessed Claretian Martyrs
The heart of CCM is the Chapel of the Blessed Claretian Martyrs, dedicated to the young Claretian seminarians martyred in Barbastro, Spain, in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. The chapel houses their sacred relics and is decorated with murals depicting their lives and witness, described by CCM as speaking 'eloquently here about the love and truth of Christ.' The martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on October 25, 2015.
- Sacred relics of the Claretian Martyrs enshrined in the chapel
- Murals of the Claretian Martyrs of Barbastro on the chapel walls
- St. Carlo Acutis devotion highlighted in chapel signage
Liturgy & Music Ministry
Students can be trained to serve at the liturgy as ushers, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The Music Ministry invites vocalists and musicians to serve at Sunday Mass, Emmaus Night, Candlelight Mass, and Campus Carols.
- Liturgical roles: usher, lector, altar server, sacristan, EMHC
- Choir serves Sunday Mass, Emmaus Night, Candlelight Mass, Campus Carols
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Emily Steppig
- Campus Minister (Liturgy/Music liaison): Jeffrey Roxas
- Chaplain: Fr. Bibin Mathew, CMF ([email protected])
- Peer Minister – Liturgy: John Echele
- Peer Minister – Music Ministry: Carolyn Burke
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at CCM is structured around walking with students through every stage of the Christian life — from honest questions about life and faith, to entering the Church, to ongoing discipleship.
- Veritas ('Truth Seeking') — weekly gathering for questions, faith exploration, OCIA-style inquiry, and Confirmation preparation
- Vitis Vera — freshmen formation program
- SLU at CCM — Saint Louis University course offered on-site (e.g., Fall 2025: Ancient Faith)
- Director of Religious Education: Andrew Mercer, PhD ([email protected])
Small Groups & Bible Studies
Small groups are the relational core of CCM. Student leaders guide numerous groups throughout the week, including groups for freshmen, upperclassmen, men, women, and mixed groups. Recent topics include 'Theology and Sanity,' 'The Crux,' and Scripture studies.
- Group tracks: freshman, upperclassmen, men, women, mixed
- Topics include Theology and Sanity, The Crux, Scripture
- Peer Minister for Small Groups: Bella Humm
- Director point of contact: Andrew Mercer, PhD
Community Life
Beyond Mass and formation, CCM builds community through men's and women's ministries, intramural sports, dances, and special events like Emmaus Nights and ONCE.
- Women's Ministry
- Men's Ministry
- Knights of Columbus council
- MSU Cathletics intramural sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball) in Fall and Spring
- Heart of Virtue
- CCM Chapter at Drury University
- Formal dances each semester
Retreats
Most CCM retreats are student-led, allowing students to share faith 'heart to heart' with one another. The flagship retreat is the Awakening Retreat each fall, with men's and women's retreats in the spring and a Vocations Retreat each fall.
- Awakening Retreat #73 (fall, student-led; October 6–8, 2023)
- Men's Retreat (spring)
- Women's Retreat (spring)
- Vocations Retreat (fall): Marriage, Priesthood, Religious Life
- SEEK 24 FOCUS Conference trip (winter; January 1–5, 2023, in St. Louis)
Staff & Leadership
Since 2024 CCM has been led directly by the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau. The team includes a chaplain/director, a director of religious education, campus ministers, and operational and development staff.
- Director / Chaplain: Fr. Andrew Williams ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Andrew Mercer, PhD ([email protected])
- Campus Minister: Jeffrey Roxas ([email protected])
- Assistant Director of Operations: Cindy Reichert, CPA ([email protected])
- Development Assistant & Alumni Relations: Beverly Franklin ([email protected])
- Liturgical Music Coordinator: Emily Steppig ([email protected])
Visit & Contact
CCM welcomes students touring or attending Missouri State University, Drury University, or Ozarks Technical Community College to fill out a contact form on ccm847.org. Office contact information is also listed by the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau.
- Address: O'Reilly Catholic Student Center, 847 S Holland Ave, Springfield, MO 65806-3513
- Phone: (417) 865-0802; Fax: (417) 865-0895
- GPS: N37° 11' 55.03", W93° 17' 09.00"
- Website: https://www.ccm847.org
- Diocese listing: https://dioscg.org/about/find-a-church/ccm-oreilly-catholic-student-center-chapel-springfield-mo/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Rochford1946 (founding)
Priest from St. Agnes Church (now St. Agnes Cathedral) who helped SMSU students start the Springfield chapter of the Newman Club in 1946.
- Fr. Dan Drinan, CMFfrom 1979
First Claretian Missionary assigned to CCM after the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau invited the Claretians in 1979.
- Fr. Len Brown, CMF
Claretian chaplain at CCM after Fr. Drinan.
- Fr. Ron Stua, CMF
Claretian chaplain at CCM.
- Fr. Eddie De Leon, CMF
Claretian chaplain who led the construction of the current O'Reilly Catholic Student Center building in 2000–2001.
- Fr. Tom McGann, CMF
Claretian chaplain at CCM.
- Fr. Javier Reyes, CMF
Claretian chaplain at CCM.
- Fr. Bibin Mathew, CMF
Claretian chaplain; listed as Chaplain on the Liturgy & Music page. Last Claretian chaplain before the 2024 transition.
- Fr. Andrew Williamsfrom 2024
Appointed chaplain and director of CCM by the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau after the Claretians departed in 2024.