About Elon University · Elon, North Carolina
Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) at Elon University is the official Catholic ministry serving the Elon, North Carolina campus, operating as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh rather than a territorial parish. The community worships on campus during the academic year in two signature locations — the Sacred Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion at 10:00 AM Sundays and the Elon Community Church at 5:00 PM Sundays — with weekday Masses in the Pavilion and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of every month. Led since 2016 by Franciscan Friar Fr. Peter Tremblay, OFM Conv., the ministry serves nearly 30% of Elon's undergraduates who identify as Catholic, the largest single religious affiliation on campus, and runs its student-run life out of the CCM House at 515 E College Ave and the Truitt Center offices inside the Numen Lumen Pavilion.
- Established
- 1989
- Rector
- Rev. Peter C. Tremblay, O.F.M. Conv. (Campus Minister & Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina
Why belong here
Elon CCM offers a full Catholic rhythm of life on a secular university campus: two Sunday Masses (one right in the Numen Lumen Pavilion at the heart of campus, one downtown at the Elon Community Church), Tuesday and Friday daily Mass at 12:15 PM, monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, weekly Reconciliation, and 24/7 Eucharistic adoration in the Portiuncula Chapel inside Holt Chapel. The ministry pairs worship with small faith-sharing groups, a Beach Retreat and a day-long Spring Retreat at St. Francis Springs, an intramural sports team, Music and Liturgical ministries, and free spring-break service trips (recently to Eastern Kentucky with Christian Appalachian Project and to Jamaica with Mustard Seed Communities). It also operates the welcoming CCM House at 515 E College Ave, where coffee, snacks, Sunday Suppers, and friendships are shared — a ready-made home for any Catholic student, faculty or staff member, or visitor at Elon.
Mass times at Elon University
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Sunday Masses (contact Fr. Peter in advance)
- After Sunday Masses during Lent
- By appointment with Fr. Peter Tremblay any time during the week
- Lenten Penance service at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Burlington/Graham, NC
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, in the Numen Lumen Pavilion (before the 12:15 PM daily Mass)
- Eucharistic Chapel 'Portiuncula' in Holt Chapel, South Campus — 24/7 access available to Catholic students, faculty, and staff by request
Who We Are — Mission and Identity
Catholic Campus Ministry describes itself as 'a welcoming home at Elon' with a four-part mission: LIVE as a community of faith on campus, LOVE Jesus in prayer and the Eucharist, GROW as disciples and leaders, and SERVE the needs of the Elon community and the whole world. Although Elon is a university historically founded by the United Church of Christ, CCM is an official ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh and all of its professional staff are employees of the diocese, including its full-time on-campus priest. It is recognized by the university as a student organization and is one of the largest single religious communities on campus.
- Mission: LIVE as a community of faith, LOVE Jesus in prayer and the Eucharist, GROW as disciples and leaders, SERVE the Elon community and the world
- Official ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
- Student-run organization with student leadership team, peer ministry coordinator, CCM President, Music Interns, and Service Trip Leaders
- Approximately 30% of Elon undergraduates identify as Catholic — the largest single religious affiliation on campus
History of Catholic Campus Ministry at Elon
CCM traces its origins to 1989, when a small group of Catholic students began gathering for what would become weekly Mass — first in a classroom and then at the Elon Community Church. The broader chaplaincy context was already decades old: Bill Sharpe became Elon's first full-time chaplain in 1980 and Richard McBride succeeded him in 1984, building religious life for 25 years. A milestone moment came in 2003 when alumna Edna Truitt Noiles '44 and her husband Doug endowed the Vera Richardson Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life with a $1 million gift; in spring 2013 Elon dedicated the Numen Lumen Pavilion as the multi-faith home of the Truitt Center and CCM. The 25th anniversary was marked in September 2014 by a Jubilee Mass with Bishop Michael Burbidge; the 30th was observed at Homecoming 2019.
- 1989 — first weekly Catholic Mass celebrations on campus (in a classroom, then Elon Community Church)
- 2003 — Edna Truitt Noiles '44 and Doug Noiles endow the Truitt Center with a $1 million gift
- 2006 — Fr. Gerry Waterman, O.F.M., becomes associate chaplain for Catholic Life
- 2013 — Numen Lumen Pavilion dedicated; CCM offices move into the Truitt Center
- 2014 — Silver Jubilee Mass in McCrary Theatre celebrated by Bishop Michael Burbidge
- 2016 — Fr. Peter Tremblay, O.F.M. Conv., succeeds Fr. Waterman as Catholic campus minister
- 2019 — 30th anniversary celebrated at Homecoming with Mass in Holt Chapel and alumni reception at Holland House
Other Devotions and Community Gatherings
Beyond Mass, Reconciliation and Adoration, CCM fosters community through a monthly Sunday Supper — a free meal served after the 5 PM Sunday Mass in the Community Life Center attached to the Elon Community Church — and through seasons of faith formation including Stations of the Cross during Lent. Once a semester CCM celebrates 'Mass on the Grass' outdoors on campus, and special liturgies mark Family Weekend and Easter Sunday (when baptisms and Confirmation are occasionally celebrated).
- Sunday Supper (monthly free community meal after 5 PM Mass)
- Stations of the Cross during Lent
- Mass on the Grass (once a semester, outdoors)
- Easter Sunday liturgies (occasionally include baptisms and Confirmation)
Retreats
Retreats are a signature part of the CCM year, offering students time away from the daily rhythm of classes to pray, reflect, and build community. The Beach Retreat in the fall takes students to the North Carolina coast for an immersive weekend, while the Spring Retreat (recently held at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center) is an affordable one-day getaway ($15) departing Elon in the morning and returning by late afternoon. Retreats are described by the ministry as 'a time for prayer, peaceful reflection, and spiritual growth, not to mention all the fun you'll have with your fellow students,' and are open to students of any year.
- Annual Beach Retreat (fall) — coastal NC, September 11–13 2026 example
- Annual Spring Retreat (day) — St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, ~$15
- Periodic additional retreats during the academic year
Small Groups
CCM small groups — 'echoing the earliest Christian communities who met in homes and were nourished by the Word of God' — meet weekly at the CCM House for about an hour. They discuss how to live out faith on campus, the upcoming Sunday Scriptures, and books of the Bible, and they are the ministry's primary engine of one-on-one friendship and formation. Groups are always open to newcomers; among the named tracks are a First-Years group (Wednesdays), women's and men's groups, and Scripture-focused groups meeting on different weekday evenings.
- First-Years Small Group — Wednesdays 7 PM, CCM House
- Women's Group — led by student leaders
- Men's Group — led by student leaders
- Sunday-Scripture discussion groups — multiple weekday evenings, CCM House
- Lenten small-group tracks for prayer and reflection
Service Trips and Local Outreach
Service is one of the four pillars of the CCM mission, expressed both locally (volunteer work in Alamance County) and through free spring-break service trips (made possible by a recent grant to Catholic Life). Recent trips partnered with Christian Appalachian Project in Eastern Kentucky to repair homes for families in rural poverty, and with Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica, where students cared for children and adults who are disabled, abandoned, or marginalized and joined in manual work projects. Each trip integrates daily prayer and group reflection under the leadership of student Service Trip Leaders who work closely with the staff chaperone.
- Domestic trip — Eastern Kentucky with Christian Appalachian Project (rural poverty, corporal works of mercy)
- International trip — Jamaica with Mustard Seed Communities (mission work, care for the vulnerable)
- Local volunteer service in Alamance County throughout the year
- Student Service Trip Leader applications and training each year
- All trips free to student participants thanks to a grant to Catholic Life
Liturgical and Music Ministries
CCM is a student-led worshipping community, and students serve in every liturgical role. Lectors proclaim the Word of God, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist distribute the Body and Blood, Greeters welcome people at the door, and Altar Servers assist at the altar. The Music Ministry — led by student Music Interns who pick songs, run rehearsals and lead the choir at Sunday Masses — welcomes singers, instrumentalists, and anyone willing to be trained as a Cantor. Trainings for new liturgical ministers are scheduled throughout the year.
- Lector
- Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist
- Greeter
- Altar Server
- Choir, Cantor and instrumentalist (Music Ministry; led by Music Interns)
Becoming Catholic (OCIA) and Sacramental Preparation
The Office for Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is part of how CCM welcomes those who want to become Catholic or who are preparing to receive the sacraments of Confirmation or Baptism. Students can indicate their interest through the CCM 'Get Involved' form and will be contacted by the staff; the ministry also notes that Confirmation and Baptisms have even been celebrated at Easter on campus.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for inquirers
- Baptismal preparation for current Catholics
- Confirmation preparation for students needing the sacrament
- Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday celebrations sometimes including baptisms and Confirmation
The CCM House — 515 E College Ave
The CCM House, located at 515 East College Avenue across from the East residential neighborhood and adjacent to the Historic parking lot, functions as the social heart of the ministry. It offers students a hangout space, a coffee bar, a meeting room, a small-group space, and a kitchen — and coffee and snacks are always provided. Many small groups meet there weekly, students drop in to study between classes, and the building is open for students to 'make it your own.'
- Hangout space and coffee bar
- Meeting / small-group room
- Kitchen for dinners and events
- Phoenix Card access available for students
- Used for most weekly small group meetings and hospitality
Locations and Worship Sites
Three signature locations shape Catholic life at Elon. The Numen Lumen Pavilion, the university's multi-faith center in the Academic Village at 301 East Haggard Avenue, houses both the Truitt Center offices and the Sacred Space where the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and weekday Masses are celebrated. The Elon Community Church at 271 N. Williamson Avenue (corner of Haggard & Williamson) hosts the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass and, once a month, the Sunday Supper community meal in its Community Life Center. Holt Chapel on South Campus houses the Portiuncula, the 24/7 Eucharistic Chapel for personal prayer.
- Numen Lumen Pavilion — 301 E Haggard Ave (offices and Sunday 10 AM / weekday Masses in the Sacred Space)
- Elon Community Church — 271 N. Williamson Ave (Sunday 5 PM Mass; monthly Sunday Supper)
- Holt Chapel — South Campus (Portiuncula Eucharistic Chapel, 24/7 access by request)
- CCM House — 515 E College Ave (social and small-group hub)
- Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church — Graham, NC (off-campus Masses when Elon is not in session)
Staff and Leadership
Catholic Campus Ministry is led professionally by Fr. Peter Tremblay, O.F.M. Conv. — Catholic campus minister and associate chaplain for Catholic life, ordained since 2012, raised in the Buffalo NY area — with a broader professional staff team that are all employees of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. On the student side, a leadership team made up of a CCM President, peer ministry coordinator, Music Interns, Service Trip Leaders, and 'Servant Leaders' in various roles organizes and animates the community throughout the year.
- Fr. Peter Tremblay, O.F.M. Conv. — Campus Minister & Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life (cell 443-690-1382)
- CCM President — student leader
- Peer Ministry Coordinator
- Music Interns — student leaders of the Music Ministry
- Service Trip Leaders — student leaders for spring-break trips
- Servant Leaders across retreat, small-group, social, liturgical, and outreach roles
- All professional staff are employees of the Diocese of Raleigh
Connect, Calendar, and Get Involved
The CCM website publishes a current calendar of upcoming Masses and events and an easy online form for 'First Time Here?' visitors and anyone interested in getting involved. People can check boxes for Mass volunteering (Lector, EMHC, Greeter, Altar Server, Choir, Cantor, Musician), small groups, retreats, local service, service trips, OCIA, the CCM House, and Phoenix Card access to the building. The website also links to the most up-to-date Mass schedule so visitors can confirm details on the day.
- Mailing address: Elon Catholic Campus Ministry, 2960 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244
- Office phone: 336-278-7355
- Fr. Peter cell: 443-690-1382
- Online interest forms: First Time Here?, Liturgical Ministries, Music Ministry, Service, OCIA, CCM House access
- Live calendar of Masses and events on the CCM site
Alumni and Community Engagement
Although CCM's primary audience is current Elon students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community are explicitly welcomed at every liturgy. The ministry maintains an active alumni network — recent highlights include a Homecoming Sunday Mass in Holt Chapel and a reception at Holland House for the 30th anniversary, plus alumni weddings celebrated by former campus ministers. During the 25th-anniversary Jubilee Mass in 2014, Bishop Michael Burbidge presided and dozens of families attended.
- Open invitation to faculty, staff, parents, families, local community members, and visiting friends at all Masses
- Alumni Homecoming Mass and reception at Holland House for the 30th anniversary (2019)
- Alumni weddings celebrated by former campus ministers
- Programs supported in part by Catholic Life grants and donor gifts
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gerry Waterman, O.F.M.2006 – spring 2016
Franciscan friar; began as associate chaplain for Catholic Life; guided CCM for eleven years; built out Sunday/daily Mass program, Newman Center on South Campus, service-trip program, and alumni weddings/community; led silver jubilee in 2014. Left Elon in spring 2016 to become chaplain with Catholic Campus Ministry at Syracuse University.
- Fr. Peter Tremblay, O.F.M. Conv.August 2016 – present
Associate chaplain for Catholic Life and Catholic campus minister; raised outside Buffalo, NY; attended Franciscan University of Steubenville; M.Div. Washington Theological Union; ordained 2012; arrived at Elon from Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore where he taught morality and philosophy.