About Catholic community at St. John Fisher University · Rochester, New York
The Catholic community at St. John Fisher University is the Office of Campus Ministry of St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York. Rooted in the Basilian (Congregation of St. Basil) and Catholic heritage of the university, the office welcomes students of all faith traditions and provides worship, prayer, faith formation, pastoral care, and service opportunities for the entire campus. Sunday and weekday Masses are celebrated in the Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great, a 9,000-square-foot Gothic-style chapel dedicated in 2017 and located on the main axis of campus adjacent to Kearney Hall. Because the campus ministry is not a diocesan parish, its programming is student-focused and it does not offer parish religious-education classes, but it does serve the wider Fisher family — students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community guests.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Basil the Great (patron of the Basilian Fathers; chapel named in his honor); the university itself is named for St. John Fisher
- Rector
- Fr. George Smith, CSB (campus chaplain, also serving as the William and Helen Cavanaugh Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester (the chapel is a university chapel, not a diocesan parish)
Why belong here
The Catholic community at St. John Fisher welcomes every student — Catholic or not — into a vibrant liturgical and service life rooted in the Basilian values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Whether you are drawn to the student-led 7:30 p.m. Chapel Night Mass, weekday liturgies, weekly Eucharistic adoration and confession, the Peer Ministry leadership program, or one of many service trips like Alternative Spring Break or the new FOCUS pre-orientation program, there is a place to grow in faith and friendship. Families of students, alumni, and community guests are always welcome at the Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great, which is open 24 hours a day to students, faculty, and staff.
Mass times at Catholic community at St. John Fisher University
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Priests are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on request — contact the Campus Ministry Office to schedule
- Individual confession available anytime by appointment with any of the Basilian/Diocesan priests on campus
- Weekly student-led Eucharistic adoration and confessions (per 'Get Involved' page)
Adoration times
- Weekly student-led Eucharistic adoration (often with music and reflection talks) — see 'Get Involved' page
- Holy Thursday: time for adoration/reflection at the altar of repose following the Mass of the Lord's Supper
Welcome & Catholic Identity
Guided by its Catholic heritage, the Office of Campus Ministry at St. John Fisher University welcomes students of all faith traditions and provides opportunities for worship, prayer, and service for the entire campus community. The office is rooted in the Basilian (Congregation of St. Basil) tradition and lives out the values of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge to promote religious expression, peace, justice, and a culture of service. The staff supports the spiritual and religious experience of each person and offers pastoral care to students, faculty, and staff alike.
- Rooted in the Basilian and Catholic heritage of St. John Fisher University
- Welcomes students of all faith traditions
- Pastoral care for the entire campus community
Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great
The Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great is the primary worship space on the St. John Fisher campus and is visited by thousands each year. Dedicated in 2017, the 9,000-square-foot sanctuary seats 250 in its nave, which is lit by twelve 11-foot stained-glass windows designed by artist Valerie O'Hara. Its brick exterior with a spire deliberately reflects the Gothic style of the adjacent Kearney Hall. The chapel is open 24 hours a day to students, faculty, and staff, and guests are welcome at all worship services.
- Dedicated 2017; inaugural Mass celebrated by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano on Sept. 17, 2017
- Named for St. Basil the Great, patron of the Basilian Fathers
- Funded by a principal gift from the Hermance Family Foundation in memory of Ronald E. Hermance Jr. '69
- Adjacent to Kearney Hall on the main axis of campus
Ministries & Student Engagement
Campus Ministry offers a wide range of programs and faith-based student groups, most of which are open to students of all faith traditions. The Peer Ministry Program is an application-based leadership experience; Music Ministry welcomes vocal and instrumental musicians of all skill levels; and Liturgical Ministry trains students as readers, altar servers, and ministers of communion. Seasonal Men's and Women's Groups, the Interfaith Council, and the Umma United Muslim women's group round out a diverse spiritual life.
- Peer Ministry Program
- Music Ministry & Liturgical Ministry
- Men's and Women's Groups
- Umma United (Muslim women's group)
- Interfaith Council
- Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International
- Call for Christ (multidenominational fellowship)
- Muslim Student Association & Jewish Student Association
Service Opportunities
Service is at the heart of the Basilian mission at Fisher. The Office of Campus Ministry runs an annual Alternative Spring Break trip, the Giving Tree Program during the Christmas season, and a frequent Sunday Service outing that immediately follows the 7:30 p.m. Chapel Night Mass. Feed the Hungry takes small groups out monthly to a local agency serving those experiencing food insecurity. Beginning Fall 2026, the new FOCUS (First-Year Outreach to Community and Service) Pre-Orientation Program will engage incoming first-year students in a three-day leadership and service experience rooted in the Basilian heritage.
- Alternative Spring Break
- FOCUS Pre-Orientation Program (launching Fall 2026)
- Giving Tree Program (Christmas/holiday giving)
- Sunday Service (post-Mass service outings)
- Feed the Hungry (monthly)
Sacraments & OCIA
Adults wishing to become Catholic, Christians from other traditions entering into full communion, and baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) through the Office of Campus Ministry. Each academic year the office hosts informal inquiry gatherings as a first step in exploring Catholic faith. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available any time by appointment with any of the Basilian or diocesan priests on campus.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Sacrament of Reconciliation — by appointment
- Exploring Catholicism inquiry gatherings each academic year
Interfaith Life
Two interfaith prayer spaces — one in the Trovato Campus Ministry Center and another in the Wegmans School of Nursing — are available for the spiritual needs of every student. Prayer materials are kept on hand for Muslim, Christian, and Jewish students, and the office will provide materials for other traditions upon request. Campus Ministry also connects students with local churches, temples, and mosques, and can help arrange transportation to those worship sites.
- Interfaith prayer spaces in Trovato Center and Wegmans School of Nursing
- Prayer materials for Muslim, Christian, and Jewish students
- Transportation assistance to local worship sites
Campus Ministry Staff
The Office of Campus Ministry is led by a small staff working from the Fr. Joseph A. Trovato, CSB Campus Ministry Center on the first floor of the Donald E. Bain Campus Center. Fr. George Smith, CSB, serves as the university's campus chaplain while also holding the William and Helen Cavanaugh Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies in the Department of Religious Studies.
- Fr. George Smith, CSB — Campus Chaplain; Cavanaugh Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies
- Deacon Jonathan Schott '02 — Director of Campus Ministry Programs — (585) 385-8197 — [email protected]
- Sarah Mancini-Goebert — Director of Pastoral Care and Interfaith Engagement — (585) 385-8194
- Grace Adams — Campus Ministry Coordinator — (585) 385-8196