About Catholic Student Center (AT WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY) · Canyon, Texas
The Catholic Student Center at West Texas A&M University is a Catholic campus ministry (classified as a mission in the Diocese of Amarillo) serving students, faculty, and staff of WTAMU in Canyon, Texas. Located at 2610 4th Avenue, the Center provides Sunday and weekday Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confession, Bible studies, retreats, and a weekly dinner-and-program night. Under its mission statement — to "build, maintain, and share our faith in the community, one student at a time" — the CSC welcomes all students, not just Catholics, into a warm, home-away-from-home environment for faith, fellowship, and service. It is staffed by a chaplain/director priest, an assistant director, and a student leadership team.
- Rector
- Fr. Alvin Ryan Tshuma
- Diocese
- Diocese of Amarillo
Why belong here
The Catholic Student Center offers a genuine home-away-from-home for WTAMU students — a free weekly dinner every Sunday night paired with Mass, Adoration, Confession, and a game or activity. Students grow in faith through Awakening Retreat, Bible studies, Mass ministries, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, while building friendships and serving the wider Canyon community. All WTAMU students, faculty, and staff — Catholic or not — are welcomed into this warm campus ministry supported by the Diocese of Amarillo's Cardinal Newman League.
Mass times at Catholic Student Center (AT WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (during school year)
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (during school year)
- Monday 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (during school year — per Catholic Church Directory)
Welcome & Mission
The Catholic Student Center at West Texas A&M University describes its mission as striving 'to build, maintain, and share our faith in the community, one student at a time.' The Center aims to be a fun home-away-from-home for students of all backgrounds, offering Mass, a free delicious meal, and a game or activity throughout the school year. The office is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the building open for student use from 8 AM to 10 PM.
- Mission statement: build, maintain, and share faith one student at a time
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM
- Building hours: 8 AM–10 PM (daily during school year)
- All students, faculty, and staff welcome — Catholic or not
Our Priest & Staff
The CSC is led by Fr. Alvin Ryan Tshuma, who serves as Chaplain, Director, and Pastor. He is supported by Betty Aragon, the Assistant Director, and a Pastoral Assistant. A Student Leadership Team (SLT) helps run the Center's programs and ministries. The staff can be reached at (806) 655-4345 or [email protected].
- Fr. Alvin Ryan Tshuma — Director/Pastor/Chaplain
- Betty Aragon — Assistant Director ([email protected])
- Pastoral Assistant (role listed on staff page)
- Student Leadership Team (SLT)
Grow Your Faith — Programs & Retreats
The 'Grow Your Faith' page is the hub for spiritual programming at the CSC, linking students to the sacraments and deeper formation opportunities. The signature retreat is the Awakening Retreat, with both retreatant and staff applications available online.
- Mass Times
- Mass Ministries (sign-up)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (info/sign-up)
- Awakening Retreat — Retreatant Application
- Awakening Retreat — Staff Registration
Bible Studies & Small Groups
Bible studies are listed among the Center's ongoing faith-formation offerings, giving students regular opportunities to study Scripture together outside of Mass.
- Bible Studies (sign-up via the Grow Your Faith page)
Student Leadership Team (SLT)
The SLT is the student-run leadership body that helps operate the Catholic Student Center, from coordinating Sunday dinners to running ministries and outreach. Students interested in leadership can meet the team on the staff page.
- Student Leadership Team — see staff page for current members
Sunday-Night Dinner & Fellowship
A signature weekly tradition: students gather at the CSC for Confessions at 5:00 PM, Mass at 6:30 PM, and a free dinner at 7:15 PM, followed by hangout time and a chance to meet new friends. It is designed to be a 'home away from home' and a primary point of community for WTAMU students.
- 5:00 PM — Confessions
- 6:30 PM — Mass
- 7:15 PM — Dinner (free)
- After dinner — Hang out and meet new friends
Annual Auction & Giving
The CSC holds an Annual Auction as a primary fundraising event to support Catholic campus ministry at WTAMU. Donations and attendance help sustain the Center's programs, meals, retreats, and student staff.
- Annual Auction (donate / attend via the website)
- Cardinal Newman League support (Diocese of Amarillo)
Photo Albums & Community Life
The CSC maintains online photo albums of its events and activities throughout the year, with additional photos linked via an outside partner site, so prospective and current students can see the community in action.
- CSC Photos (on the website)
- More Photos (external link)
Contact & Stay Connected
Students can reach the Catholic Student Center by phone, email, in person, or through several digital channels including a Remind text group and a Discord chat server.
- Phone: (806) 655-4345
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2610 4th Ave, Canyon, TX 79015
- Text @cscwt to 81010 on Remind
- Join the CSC Discord Chat
- Fr. Alvin and Betty Aragon also reachable directly
Diocese & Affiliations
The Catholic Student Center is a mission of the Diocese of Amarillo and is supported by the Cardinal Newman League, which was established to provide continuing support for Catholic campus ministries within the diocese. The Diocese of Amarillo was erected in 1926 and covers twenty-six counties of the Texas Panhandle.
- Diocese of Amarillo
- Cardinal Newman League — support for Catholic campus ministries
- GCatholic Church ID: 33391