About Catholic Student Center at USF · Tampa, Florida
The Catholic Student Center at USF is the official Catholic campus ministry serving the students, faculty, and staff of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Operated as a mission of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, it is the spiritual home of the Catholic Student Union (CSU), the registered student organization for USF students. The center offers daily and Sunday Mass, the Sacrament of Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, retreats, Bible studies, men's and women's groups, a thriving homeless outreach, and opportunities for service and fellowship throughout the academic year.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist (patron of the chapel, designated April 16, 2024 by Bishop Gregory Parkes)
- Rector
- Rev. Kyle P. Bell (Executive Director)
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
Why belong here
The Catholic Student Center at USF welcomes every student — and any member of the wider community — into a mission-driven Catholic life on campus. Students can attend Sunday Mass (Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 10:00 AM), join daily Mass at 12:30 PM weekdays, go to Confession multiple times a week, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays through Fridays and overnight on First Fridays, and grow in fraternity through Men's Group, Women's Group, Bulls Night, on-campus Bible studies, and retreats such as the annual New Student Retreat. Service-minded students can plug into a thriving homeless ministry and other service trips, while those exploring the faith can journey toward Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and Confirmation classes. Faith-based housing is also available at Bellarmine Newman Hall right across from campus.
Mass times at Catholic Student Center at USF
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
- Monday–Friday: 11:30 AM – 12:20 PM
- Also available by appointment by emailing [email protected]
Adoration times
- Tuesday–Friday: 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM (offered during Fall and Spring semesters)
- First Friday: 8:00 PM through 8:00 AM Saturday morning
About the Catholic Student Center
The Catholic Student Center (CSC) is a mission of the Diocese of St. Petersburg serving the students, faculty, and staff of the University of South Florida. It is the spiritual home of the Catholic Student Union (CSU), the official student organization for USF students, and welcomes all college students from the Tampa Bay / St. Pete area. Its stated vision is 'to see a soul, a campus, and a city transformed by Christ,' and its mission is 'to reach college students through relational evangelization, call them to conversion to Christ and to His Church, form them as a community of missionary disciples, and send them out to transform the world around them.' Members of the Mission — non-student supporters — also play an active role in giving back to the ministry.
- Diocese: St. Petersburg
- Campus served: University of South Florida (Tampa)
- Spiritual home of the Catholic Student Union (CSU)
- Mission statement focused on relational evangelization and missionary discipleship
History & Chapel Patron — St. Luke the Evangelist
Catholic life at USF dates back to 1967, when Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine celebrated the first Mass in the campus chapel on September 24, 1967. For nearly six decades the chapel has welcomed generations of USF students to worship, formation, and fellowship. In April 2024 the community marked a defining moment: Bishop Gregory Parkes signed a decree granting St. Luke the Evangelist as the official patron of the chapel. The students chose St. Luke for his emphasis on missionary discipleship, his attention to Mary's vocation, and his regard for family life — values mirrored in the CSC's own mission. A Mass on April 16, 2024 marked the occasion and included veneration of a relic of St. Luke; Bishop Parkes's decree also directed that October 18 be kept as a solemnity each year.
- 1967 — first chapel Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph Hurley (September 24)
- April 16, 2024 — Bishop Gregory Parkes formally designates St. Luke the Evangelist as chapel patron
- St. Luke's feast day kept as a solemnity on October 18
- Relic of St. Luke venerated at the dedication Mass
Staff & Clergy
The Catholic Student Center is staffed by a team of clergy and lay ministers under the leadership of Father Kyle Bell, who has served as Executive Director since July 1, 2021. Father Kyle was raised in the United Methodist Church, became Catholic in 2007, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Petersburg on May 19, 2018. He holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University, an M.A. in Theology and Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a B.Phil. from St. John Vianney College Seminary, and an M.Div. from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.
- Rev. Kyle P. Bell — Executive Director
- Deacon Frank Julian — Assigned
- Brother Ray Morris
- Matthew Kuizon — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Catherine Kuizon — Managing Director / Director of Mission Advancement ([email protected])
- Office Administrator — Catherine Kuizon ([email protected])
- Fr. Kyle scheduling: calendly.com/frkylebell
Mass and Sacraments
The center celebrates Mass throughout the week, with a Saturday vigil and a Sunday morning Mass forming the core of the weekend schedule, and a daily 12:30 PM Mass every weekday during the academic year. Confessions are heard six days a week, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered on weekday mornings plus overnight on First Fridays. Liturgical ministers — lectors, ushers, and altar servers — are recruited from the student body to help make the liturgies beautiful.
- Saturday vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM
- Weekday Mass: Monday–Friday 12:30 PM
- Confession: Sat 4:00–4:50 PM, Sun 9:00–9:50 AM, Mon–Fri 11:30 AM–12:20 PM
- Adoration: Tue–Fri 8:30–9:30 AM (Fall/Spring); First Friday 8:00 PM overnight to 8:00 AM Saturday
Becoming Catholic & Sacraments of Initiation
The CSC welcomes students who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or already-baptized Catholics seeking First Communion or Confirmation. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) meets on Thursdays at 5:00 PM, beginning each year in early September. Confirmation preparation meets on Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the CSC Upper Room, typically running from mid-October through mid-November, with Confirmation celebrated at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Thursdays at 5:00 PM, starting September 5
- Confirmation Classes — Thursdays at 6:00 PM (CSC Upper Room), October–November
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation available
- No pressure approach — 'walk with you in your discernment and prayer'
Student Life & Get Involved
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the Catholic Student Center offers a wide range of opportunities for fellowship, formation, and fun. Bulls Night is the signature weekly social gathering, while the Men's Group and Women's Group provide same-sex fraternity rooted in prayer and discipleship. Retreats — including the New Student Retreat at the start of the academic year and the Spring Retreat — anchor the rhythm of the year. Students can also join on-campus Bible studies, service trips, an overnight Eucharistic Exposition, and a Student Slack channel for day-to-day community. Faith-based housing is available at Bellarmine Newman Hall, directly across from campus.
- Bulls Night — Wednesday 8:00 PM, Newman Room, Bellarmine Hall
- Men's Group — Thursday 7:45 PM, CSC then Brotherhood of Hope
- Women's Group — Thursday 8:00 PM, Newman Room, Bellarmine Hall
- On-campus Bible Study
- New Student Retreat and Spring Retreat
- Service Trips
- Overnight Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- Faith-based housing at Bellarmine Newman Hall
- Student Slack channel and Flocknote weekly email
Service & Outreach
Service is a defining mark of CSC student life. The center runs a thriving homeless ministry in the Tampa area, alongside other community-service projects in collaboration with campus and diocesan partners. Students can plug into service opportunities through the dedicated Community Service channel on the Student Slack.
- Homeless Ministry
- Community Service Slack channel
- Service Trips
- Collaboration with USF campus groups and the Diocese of St. Petersburg
Location, Diocese & Contact
The Catholic Student Center is located at 13005 North 50th Street, Tampa, FL 33617, in Hillsborough County (North Tampa Deanery) of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The office can be reached at (813) 988-3727 or [email protected]. The Diocese lists the title as Director rather than Pastor, reflecting the CSC's status as a diocesan mission to the university.
- Address: 13005 N 50th Street, Tampa, FL 33617
- Phone: (813) 988-3727
- Fax: (813) 609-6931
- Diocese: St. Petersburg — North Tampa Deanery
- County: Hillsborough
- Web: catholicusf.org