About Mt. St. Joseph University · Cincinnati, Ohio
Mount St. Joseph University is a Catholic coeducational university on Delhi Road in Cincinnati's Delhi Township, founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati as the first Catholic college for women in Southwestern Ohio. While it is technically a university (not a parish), the school's Catholic identity is lived out through its Office of Campus Ministry and Mater Dei Chapel, where Sunday and weekday Mass are celebrated by resident priest Fr. John Amankwah, alongside a robust roster of faith-sharing groups, retreats, service trips, and interfaith programming. The university's mission, rooted in the heritage of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and her Sisters of Charity, commits the institution to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes persons of all faiths while keeping Catholic tradition at its center.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. John M. Amankwah (campus priest / assistant professor of Communication and New Media Studies; presider at Sunday Student Mass and Tuesday/Thursday 12:15 p.m. Masses)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Mount St. Joseph University's Mater Dei Chapel is the spiritual heart of campus, with Catholic Mass every Sunday night during the academic year plus Tuesday and Thursday 12:15 p.m. weekday Masses, presided over by Fr. John Amankwah. Beyond liturgy, Campus Ministry runs small faith-sharing groups (Faith & Food), Bible Study, a Rosary Group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an Interfaith Club, and a non-denominational Christian Praise & Worship service every Sunday at 5 p.m. Students also serve through Thirsty Thursdays service projects, Hunger & Homelessness Awareness events, and Alternative Break Trips — living out the Sisters of Charity mission of 'risking a caring response' alongside their studies.
Mass times at Mt. St. Joseph University
Weekly Mass schedule
About Mount St. Joseph University
Mount St. Joseph University is a Catholic coeducational university sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. It opened in 1920 as the first Catholic college for women in Southwestern Ohio and now serves a diverse undergraduate and graduate student population, with strong programs in the health sciences and professional studies. The University remains committed to its Catholic identity, mission of service, and inclusive welcome of persons of all faiths.
History & Heritage
Founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, the Mount celebrated its centennial in 2020–21. The Sisters of Charity trace their roots to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; the first Sisters arrived in Cincinnati from Maryland in 1829 and opened St. Peter's Academy, later St. Mary's Academy and Mount St. Vincent Academy. The 1906 move to the Delhi Township property gave the academy its current name. After more than a century, the University has grown from 20 students to a thriving coeducational campus anchored on the 75-acre quadrangle that opened in 1962.
- 1920 — College opens September 14 with 20 students and 11 faculty
- 1954 — Sisters announce plans for a new campus
- 1959 — First separate Office of the President (Sister Maria Corona Molloy, SC)
- 1960 — Groundbreaking at Delhi & Neeb Roads (March 19)
- 1962 — New campus opens with nine buildings around a central quad
- 1972 — Sisters of Charity separately incorporate the College under a Board of Trustees
- 1986 — College becomes fully coeducational
- 2013 — Name change announced (October 9); effective July 1, 2014
- 2022 — Sisters of Charity announce conclusion of sponsorship
- 2023 — Board of Trustees commits to preserving Catholic identity through new sponsorship
Presidents of the University
From 1920 to 1959 the Mother Generals of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati served ex officio as president. The first separately named president was Sister Maria Corona Molloy, SC (1959–1967), followed by Sister Adele Clifford, SC (1967–1986), Sister Francis Marie Thrailkill, OSU (the fifth president, through 2008), Dr. Anthony Aretz, Ph.D. (2008–2015, second lay leader, who led the transition to university status), and the current president, Dr. H. James Williams, Ph.D. (since 2016).
Catholic Identity & Sponsorship
The Catholic identity of the University is rooted in its mission, Gospel values of service, compassion, and charity, and the legacy of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. In September 2022 the Sisters announced they were concluding sponsorship of the Mount and four other ministries, citing the decline of the congregation from about 1,600 sisters in 1960 to fewer than 200 today. The Board of Trustees resolved in April 2023 to preserve Catholic identity and is actively exploring future Catholic sponsorship models.
Campus Ministry
The Office of Campus Ministry 'infuses all aspects of faith into the culture at Mount St. Joseph University,' seeking to create opportunities and nurture an environment for students to explore and deepen their faith through prayer, retreats, community-building, interfaith encounters, and service. Programming encourages deepening faith through liturgy, retreats, faith-sharing, and prayer; fosters leadership development; cultivates a commitment to service, peace, and justice; and collaborates across campus for the development of the whole person. The office explicitly welcomes students of all religious, spiritual, and philosophical backgrounds.
- Faith & Food — small faith-sharing groups meeting over meals
- Bible Study
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
- Interfaith Club
- Lions for Life
- Prayer Warriors
- Rosary Group
- Got Mission? (Quad event)
Mass & Prayer Services
Catholic Mass is celebrated almost every weekend during the school year in Mater Dei Chapel; everyone in the Mount community is invited regardless of faith tradition. Fr. John Amankwah is the principal presider of Sunday Mass and weekday Masses; when he is unavailable, a prayer service is led by a faculty or staff member.
- Sunday Student Mass — 7:00 p.m. (some sources note 8:00 p.m.), Mater Dei Chapel (fall/spring semesters)
- Non-denominational Christian Praise & Worship — Sundays 5:00 p.m., Mater Dei Chapel
- Weekday Mass — Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:15 p.m., Mater Dei Chapel (when classes are in session)
- Interfaith Prayer Service — Wednesdays 12:00 p.m., Interfaith Chapel (Seton Center East Lobby, 6th floor)
- Rosary Group — Wednesdays 9:00 p.m., Interfaith Chapel
Retreats & Service
Weekend off-campus retreats give students space to step away from academics and reflect on identity and relationships in community. Alternative Break Trips immerse students in social issues affecting Cincinnati and beyond, with 3–4 mandatory pre-trip meetings. Thirsty Thursdays host fun, simple service projects (e.g., Valentines for Bayley Place residents, bookmarks for C.O. Harrison Elementary, Easter goody bags for the Boys & Girls Club of Cincinnati, blessing bags for the homeless). Hunger & Homelessness Awareness programming has included a Cincinnati Poverty Simulation facilitated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Shantytown, hygiene drives for a local shelter, and food-pantry service.
- Campus Ministry Retreats (financial scholarships available)
- Alternative Break Trips
- Thirsty Thursdays
- Hunger & Homelessness Awareness
Mater Dei Chapel & Interfaith Chapel
Mater Dei Chapel is the Catholic heart of campus and the regular venue for Sunday and weekday Masses. The Interfaith Chapel, located in the Seton Center East Lobby on the 6th floor, hosts the Interfaith Prayer Service and Rosary Group. The Office of Mission Integration also operates the campus ministry staff office from Harrington Center Room 142.
Staff & Contact
The Office of Mission Integration / Campus Ministry can be reached at (513) 244-4866 or at Harrington Center Room 142 on the 1962 campus. The office welcomes questions, concerns, ideas, comments, and suggestions from the Mount community.
- Michelle Arnold — Assistant Director of Mission & Belonging — [email protected] — 513-244-4866
- Maria Ditullio — Assistant Director of Mission & Belonging Scholars — [email protected] — 513-244-4390
Campus Ministry Retreats
Weekend off-campus retreats provide a space for students to step away from the school schedule and spend intentional time processing life with peers, reflecting on identity and relationships, and building new friendships. Spots are filled first-come-first-served; financial scholarships are available by contacting the Assistant Director of Mission Integration.