About Merrimack College · North Andover, Massachusetts
The Grace J. Palmisano Center for Campus Ministry serves Merrimack College, a private Catholic and Augustinian university in North Andover, Massachusetts, founded in 1947 by the Order of Saint Augustine. Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the College's Augustinian heritage, the Center fosters the spiritual development of students by helping them grow in friendship with God and serve God's people. Campus Ministry offers faith formation, liturgy and worship, retreats, pilgrimages, and service immersion experiences, and its programs are open to students of all faith traditions. The Center is located in North Residential Village, House 6, and supports a vibrant worshipping community at two sacred spaces on campus: the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher and the Chapel of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Austin Hall.
- Established
- 1947
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Whether a student arrives Catholic, of another faith, or simply curious, Campus Ministry invites all members of the Merrimack community to recognize and respond to God's call through liturgies, retreats, service outreach, sacramental preparation, faith education, pastoral care, and spiritual direction. Daily and Sunday Masses, weekly faith-sharing groups (Rosary Group, Kingdom Builders Bible Study, Shared Prayer, Emmaus), the Explore sacramental preparation process, retreats like LAUNCH and Engage Hearts, and service-immersion trips through the SEND program offer multiple, real ways to grow in faith while forming friendships that last a lifetime.
Mass times at Merrimack College
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment with an Augustinian friar on campus
About the Grace J. Palmisano Center for Campus Ministry
Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the College's Catholic and Augustinian heritage, the Grace J. Palmisano Center for Campus Ministry fosters the spiritual development of Merrimack students by helping them grow in their friendship with God and use their strengths and talents in service to God's people. The Center's mission is to invite all members of the community to recognize and respond to God's call through liturgies, retreats, service outreach, sacramental preparation, faith education, pastoral care, spiritual direction, and other programs — in order to help bring about a world of peace, justice, and harmony. Its programs are open to members of all faiths and are designed to enrich lives outside the classroom. The offices are located in North Residential Village, House 6, and the staff welcome visits from any student.
- Five core areas of programming: faith formation, liturgy and worship, retreats and spiritual development, pilgrimages, service immersion
- Programs open to students of all faith traditions
- Office: North Residential Village, House 6
History of Merrimack College
Merrimack College was founded in 1947 in North Andover, Massachusetts, by the Order of Saint Augustine. The Augustinians, at the invitation of Archbishop of Boston Richard Cushing, established the college as a direct response to the needs and aspirations of local soldiers returning from World War II. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts chartered the institution as The Augustinian College of the Merrimack Valley in March 1947, and it opened that September. The College's founder, the Rev. Vincent A. McQuade, O.S.A., was a native of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and longtime friend of Archbishop Cushing; he organized land purchases, zoning, curriculum, and the campus's early construction. The campus has grown from one building to nearly 40 on 220 acres and has graduated almost 30,000 students. While the Order has relinquished financial responsibility, three Augustinians still serve on the Board of Trustees, and the Augustinian charism continues through Augustinian faculty and ministers.
- Founded 1947 by the Order of St. Augustine at the invitation of Archbishop Richard Cushing
- Founder: Rev. Vincent A. McQuade, O.S.A.
- Chartered as The Augustinian College of the Merrimack Valley
- Second Augustinian-affiliated college in the U.S. (after Villanova)
- Motto: Per Scientiam Ad Sapientiam (Through Knowledge to Wisdom)
Presidents of Merrimack College
Merrimack has had eight presidents since 1947, beginning with founder Vincent A. McQuade and currently led by Christopher E. Hopey. The list reflects the institution's growth from a small college for WWII veterans into a comprehensive Catholic university enrolling roughly 5,700 students.
- Vincent A. McQuade, O.S.A., 1947–1968 (founder)
- John R. Aherne, 1968–1976
- John A. Coughlan, 1976–1981
- John E. Deegan, 1981–1994
- Richard J. Santagati, 1994–2008
- Joseph D. Calderone, 2008 (interim)
- Ronald O. Champagne, 2008–2010
- Christopher E. Hopey, 2010–present
Mission and Ministry Staff
The Office of Mission and Ministry, which oversees the Grace J. Palmisano Center for Campus Ministry, the Stevens Service Learning Center, Community Service and Outreach, and other programs, is led by Augustinian friars and supported by lay professional staff. Campus Ministry staff are based in North Residential Village, House 6 (and 7), and welcome all students regardless of faith background.
- Rev. Raymond (Ray) Dlugos, O.S.A. — Vice President for Mission and Ministry (617-837-5130)
- Rev. Daniel Madden, O.S.A. — Director, Campus Ministry
- Rileigh Armstrong — Associate Director, Campus Ministry
- Marissa Myers — Spiritual Director and Wellness Advisor
- Hugh Hinton — Director of Campus Music Activities
- Brother Frank Connor, O.S.A. — Augustinian Formation, Pastoral Year
- Rory Perretti — Campus Ministry Intern
- Emily Hanrahan — (Augustinian Pastoral Year)
Liturgy and Worship
Merrimack's Campus Ministry describes itself as 'a worshipping community in the Augustinian, Roman Catholic tradition.' Daily and Sunday Masses are offered during the academic year, and all are welcome. The two sacred spaces used for worship are the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher (Sunday Mass) and the Chapel of Our Mother of Good Counsel on the second floor of Austin Hall (weekday Mass). Special annual liturgies include the Mass of the Holy Spirit and Baccalaureate Mass. Liturgical ministers serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, and music ministers.
- Sunday Mass: 5:00 p.m. at the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher
- Monday–Friday Mass: 12:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Our Mother of Good Counsel (Austin Hall, 2nd floor)
- Schola Cantorum / Campus Music Activities — contact Hugh Hinton
- Liturgical ministers: lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, music ministers — contact Fr. Dan Madden
Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher
Since 1954, the Collegiate Church has served the spiritual needs of generations of Warriors. It was comprehensively renovated and reopened in 2022 as both a sacred worship space and a multi-purpose campus center, paired with a new Student Union on the lower level. The renovated main hall measures approximately 6,200 square feet and seats hundreds, with vibrant stained-glass windows, a moveable altar, and a restored pipe organ originally from Western Massachusetts. A new glass-enclosed elevator at the entrance makes the building fully ADA-accessible. In addition to Mass and the Sacraments, the space now hosts lectures, concerts, meetings, and symposiums.
- Serving the Merrimack community since 1954
- Hosts Mass of the Holy Spirit, Baccalaureate Mass, weddings, and other worship
- Hosts weddings of Merrimack students and alumni (eligibility: bride or groom must be a current student or graduate of Merrimack AND a practicing Catholic)
- Wedding fee: $1,000 (use of church, sacristan, paperwork, liturgical consultation)
- Reservations required at least six months in advance; officiants include the Augustinian friars at Merrimack
Chapel of Our Mother of Good Counsel (Austin Hall)
Located on the second floor of Austin Hall, this chapel hosts the daily 12:30 p.m. Mass during the academic year. It was recently renovated with movable, comfortable seating, replacement windows, new flooring, doors, sanctuary lighting, and a sound system. The most prominent liturgical addition is a tracker-action pipe organ built by Noack Organ Co. of Georgetown, Massachusetts, installed in a wall niche at the side of the sanctuary.
- Site of the daily 12:30 p.m. Mass (Monday–Friday)
- Renovated; reopened with a new Noack Organ Co. tracker-action pipe organ
- Used for non-liturgical campus purposes when not in worship
Faith Formation
Campus Ministry invites students to explore their faith more deeply through formative experiences rooted in the Catholic tradition. Opportunities include sacramental preparation, faith-sharing groups, and liturgical ministry, with the aim of helping one grow in understanding of the Catholic faith and one's relationship with God. The 'Explore' process welcomes anyone interested in becoming Catholic or completing the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation), as well as Catholics who wish to deepen their faith commitment.
- Explore — faith formation process for receiving the Sacraments of Initiation (contact Fr. Dan Madden)
- Rosary Group — weekly prayer of the Rosary
- Kingdom Builders Bible Study — weekly Scripture discussion
- Shared Prayer — weekly reflection on 'where have you seen God this week?'
- Emmaus — living out faith on campus and inviting others
- Spiritual Direction — one-on-one conversation with a campus minister ([email protected])
Retreats and Spiritual Development
Retreats are offered throughout the year as a time to step away from college life and reflect on one's relationship with God, self, and others. Students of all faith traditions are welcome. Several retreats are held off campus at retreat houses in New Hampshire and on the North Shore, while others take place at St. Ambrose Friary and other on-campus locations.
- LAUNCH: First Year Retreat — at Toah Nipi Retreat Center, led by upperclassmen
- Weekend Among Men — fall retreat in New Hampshire with hiking and conversation
- Engage Hearts Retreat: Women's Retreat — at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center, North Andover
- Senior Retreat — spring retreat for graduating seniors
- Welcoming the Word: Advent Retreat — evening of reflection at St. Ambrose Friary
- Welcoming the Light: Lent Retreat — evening of reflection during Lent
- Spiritual Direction — one-on-one accompaniment
Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages are journeys to sacred places meant to lead to encounters with God. Merrimack offers three signature pilgrimage experiences that immerse students in the Augustinian tradition, the life of St. Augustine, and the wider Catholic world.
- Walking with Augustine (Pellegrinaggio in Italia) — spring break pilgrimage in Italy for the four-credit course RTS 2425; routes through Milan, San Gimignano and Tuscany, and Rome
- Summer Pilgrimage — recent destinations include World Youth Day (Portugal, 2023), The Camino (Spain, 2024), and the Way of St. Francis and Jubilee (Assisi and Rome, 2025)
- Pellegrinaggio (Augustinian Heritage Pilgrimage) — every November, travel to Villanova University and Philadelphia, including the Shrine of St. Rita and Old St. Augustine's in South Philadelphia
Service, Outreach, and the SEND Program
Service is integral to Merrimack's Augustinian identity. The Office of Mission and Ministry is composed of several departments and programs, including the Stevens Service Learning Center (which anchors the College's service-learning program) and Community Service and Outreach. The SEND Program — named for Isaiah 6:8 ('Here I Am, Send Me') — has been sending Merrimack students, faculty, and staff on weeklong, student-led service-immersion trips during winter, spring, and summer breaks for more than 50 years. More than 1,000 students participate annually in service projects and outreach, totaling 14,500 hours of service in a recent year.
- SEND Program four pillars: Service, Solidarity, Community-Friendship, Reflection
- Recent SEND locations: Mariandale/NYC; Dolores Mission/Los Angeles; Nazareth Farm/West Virginia; Dominican Republic; Costa Rica; Remember/South Dakota
- Stevens Service Learning Center — integrates service with academic study
- Community Service and Outreach — domestic and international engagement
Weddings at the Collegiate Church
The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher has been the setting for many campus weddings over the years. Weddings are open to current students or graduates of Merrimack College who are practicing Catholics. Reservations must be made at least six months in advance, and the official confirmation comes from the Office of Campus Ministry. The Augustinian Friars at Merrimack are available to preside, though couples may also invite their own priest or deacon.
- Eligibility: bride or groom is a current student or graduate of Merrimack College AND is a practicing Catholic
- Reservation: at least six months prior to the wedding date
- Fee: $1,000 (church use, sacristan, paperwork/record keeping, liturgical consultation)
- Mailing address: Office of Campus Ministry, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845
- To register: complete the wedding registration form, email [email protected], or call 978-837-5450
Visit and Contact
Campus Ministry invites all students to visit in person. The offices are located in North Residential Village, House 6, and the staff welcome conversations about spiritual direction, faith formation, service opportunities, retreats, pilgrimages, or sacraments. The main College address is 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845, approximately 25 miles north of Boston.
- Mailing address: 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845
- Main College phone: 978-837-5000
- Office of Mission and Ministry: 617-837-5130
- Weddings / church reservations: 978-837-5450
- Email (general): [email protected]
- In-person visits: North Residential Village, House 6