About Christ Sun of Justice (Rensselaer Polytech Chapel + Cultural Center) · Troy, New York
The University Parish of Christ Sun of Justice (CSJ) is the Catholic parish serving the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) community in Troy, New York. Established in 1970–1971 by the Diocese of Albany as a 'personal parish' under Canon 518, it exists specifically to serve a particular community of persons — RPI students, faculty, staff, alumni, and neighbors — rather than a geographic territory. The parish is the canonical home of Catholic life at RPI and provides the ecclesial matrix within which the Newman Catholic Fellowship student organization, the Knights of Columbus council, and the broader Rensselaer Newman Foundation chaplaincy operate. Its worship, faith formation, and service programs are open to all, and the community is ecumenical and interfaith in spirit. Mass is celebrated in the Chapel + Cultural Center (C+CC), an award-winning multi-purpose building at 2125 Burdett Avenue in Troy that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- Christ Sun of Justice (Christ the Sun of Justice / Sol Iustitiae — from Malachi 4:2)
- Rector
- Father Tom Morrette (canonical pastor of the University Parish of Christ Sun of Justice)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Christ Sun of Justice is the canonical Catholic home for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute community — students, faculty, staff, alumni, and neighbors — offering Sunday and weekday Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation, and the full sacramental life of the Church. The parish is closely woven into campus life through the Newman Catholic Fellowship (the oldest religious organization on campus, founded 1907), a Knights of Columbus council, liturgical and service ministries, and the Chaplain's Office. Worship takes place in the Chapel + Cultural Center, an award-winning multi-purpose building that joins sacred and secular in one space, with concerts, art exhibitions, and community events alongside the liturgy — a warm and engaging place for anyone looking for Catholic community at RPI.
Mass times at Christ Sun of Justice (Rensselaer Polytech Chapel + Cultural Center)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:30 PM with Fr. Jordan (Reconciliation available by appointment as well)
History of the Parish
Catholic life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute began in 1907 with a Newman Association and a faculty advisor. A part-time chaplain was assigned by the Bishop of Albany in 1914, and Monsignor William M. Slavin became RPI's first Resident Catholic Chaplain in 1936. When Father Thomas W. Phelan arrived as chaplain in 1959, Catholic Mass on campus was available only once a month. As the community grew, Phelan and a group of RPI faculty and staff launched plans for a permanent chapel. The Rensselaer Newman Foundation was chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York on November 22, 1963, and in 1966–1968 it built the Chapel + Cultural Center on Burdett Avenue. The parish of Christ Sun of Justice was canonically erected on September 22, 1970, by the Bishop of Albany, with Father Phelan installed as its first pastor. He led the parish until 2001, when Father Edward S. Kacerguis succeeded him. Father Kacerguis served for nearly 30 years until his retirement in 2019, when Father Jordan Lenaghan, O.P., came to RPI from Quinnipiac University.
- 1907 — Newman Association founded at RPI
- 1914 — Part-time chaplain assigned by the Bishop of Albany
- 1936 — Msgr. William M. Slavin becomes first Resident Catholic Chaplain
- 1959 — Fr. Thomas W. Phelan arrives at RPI
- Nov. 22, 1963 — Rensselaer Newman Foundation chartered
- Oct.–Nov. 1968 — Chapel + Cultural Center dedicated
- Sept. 22, 1970 — Christ Sun of Justice parish canonically erected
- 2001 — Fr. Edward S. Kacerguis succeeds Fr. Phelan as pastor
- 2019 — Fr. Jordan Lenaghan, O.P., arrives from Quinnipiac University
- 2022 — Christ Sun of Justice separately incorporated from the RNF
The Chapel + Cultural Center
The Chapel + Cultural Center (C+CC) is the parish's home and one of the most distinctive Catholic campus buildings in the United States. Designed by Levatich and Miller of Ithaca, New York, and built by Corina Construction Company, it opened in 1968 as a multipurpose facility intentionally fusing sacred and secular, liturgical and cultural, religious and academic life. It was an early architectural embodiment of the Second Vatican Council's vision for the Church's engagement with the modern world, and its bold 'unfinished block' design won a New York Times cover story and the Liturgical Conference's highest award for religious buildings.
- Modern Movement style, architects Levatich & Miller
- Builder: Corina Construction Company
- Main auditorium seats up to 450 with movable risers and chairs
- Altar chapel separated from auditorium by sliding wooden doors
- Stained-glass oculus designed by Ade Bethune
- Greek, Roman and Hebrew alphabets on auditorium floor by Fr. Edward Catich
- Eric Gill 'Spoil Bank Crucifix' fragment from the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic
- Works in collection by Picasso, Tomie dePaola, George Nakashima, Edgar Holloway, Larry Kagan
- Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011
Clergy & Staff
The canonical pastor of the University Parish of Christ Sun of Justice is Father Tom Morrette. Father Jordan Lenaghan, O.P., serves as the Catholic Chaplain at RPI and is the leader of the parish community. He came to RPI from Quinnipiac University, where he had been Executive Director of Religious Life for more than ten years. The parish and the larger Rensselaer Newman Foundation are supported by RPI Religious Affairs staff including Nicole Campbell, Kevin Krolik (also Chapel + Cultural Center Director), and Monica Rokjer.
- Fr. Tom Morrette — Canonical Pastor
- Fr. Jordan Lenaghan, O.P. — Catholic Chaplain at RPI
- Kevin Krolik — Chapel + Cultural Center Director / Religious Affairs Associate
- Monica Rokjer — Religious Affairs Associate
- Nicole Campbell — Religious Affairs Associate
Mission & Vision
The mission of the Rensselaer Catholic community is to serve Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. This is carried out through four intertwined pillars: the parish of Christ Sun of Justice provides a Catholic home for spiritual and service opportunities; the Chapel + Cultural Center is a center for arts, humanities, and worship; the Newman Catholic Fellowship and Knights of Columbus council support and nurture the faith of Catholic RPI students; and the Chaplain's Office serves the spiritual needs of the whole RPI community in an environment of ecumenical and interfaith respect and collaboration. The Rensselaer Newman Foundation supports all of this through philanthropy and stewardship. The Foundation's motto is 'God is the Measure of All Things.'
- Parish of Christ Sun of Justice — Catholic home for spiritual and service opportunities
- Chapel + Cultural Center — arts, humanities, and worship
- Newman Catholic Fellowship & Knights of Columbus — Catholic student faith and fellowship
- Chaplain's Office — ecumenical and interfaith spiritual care for all of RPI
- Rensselaer Newman Foundation — philanthropy and stewardship
- Foundation motto: 'God is the Measure of All Things'
Ministries & Student Life
Faith, service, and community programs at Christ Sun of Justice are open to all RPI students, faculty, staff, and neighbors — Catholic and non-Catholic alike. Liturgical ministries (such as lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, music ministers, sacristans, and ushers) animate the parish's worship. Service opportunities include community outreach coordinated through the parish and the Newman Foundation. The community is ecumenical and interfaith: while the parish itself is mostly Catholic, programs and opportunities welcome everyone.
- Liturgical ministries (lectors, EMHC, music, sacristans, ushers)
- Service and outreach opportunities
- Faith formation programs open to all
- Interfaith and ecumenical welcome
Newman Catholic Fellowship
Founded in 1907, the Newman Catholic Fellowship is the oldest religious organization on the RPI campus and the official Catholic student organization at the university. Its mission is to provide a place where students can find fellowship and friendship with one another and with Christ, growing in faith intellectually and spiritually and exploring the presence of God in their lives. Membership is open to all RPI students as well as students at Russell Sage College, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, and spouses are welcome — whether a person has never attended Mass or is actively involved in the Church.
- Founded in 1907 — oldest religious organization at RPI
- Open to RPI and Russell Sage College students
- Catholic and non-Catholic members welcome; spouses welcome
- Meetings, dinners, and activities
Knights of Columbus
A Knights of Columbus council is part of the parish community at RPI, supporting and nurturing the faith of Catholic RPI students through fraternity, service, and charitable works in the tradition of the Knights.
- Knights of Columbus council on campus
- Supports faith and service of Catholic RPI students
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas W. Phelan1970–2001
First pastor of Christ Sun of Justice; arrived at RPI as chaplain in 1959 when Mass was offered only monthly; also served as RPI's Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences through much of his tenure.
- Rev. Edward S. Kacerguis2001–2019
Succeeded Father Phelan as pastor and chaplain; served for nearly 30 years until his retirement in 2019.
- Rev. Jordan Lenaghan, O.P.from 2019
Came from Quinnipiac University, where he had served as Executive Director of Religious Life for more than 10 years; serves as Catholic Chaplain to RPI.