About Parker Chapel - Trinity University · San Antonio, Texas
Parker Chapel at Trinity University is the Catholic worship home and spiritual heart of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Officially named the Margarite B. Parker Chapel and dedicated in 1966, the 600-seat sanctuary sits on the western edge of campus on the plaza with the Murchison Bell Tower. Catholic life is celebrated through Sunday Mass at 5:00 PM during the academic year, with priests from nearby Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church coming onto campus each week to celebrate the Eucharist and hear confessions. The chapel is currently being renovated into the Reverend Raymond and Mary Jane Judd Center for Spiritual Life and Formation.
- Established
- 1966
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
Parker Chapel at Trinity offers Catholic students a weekly Sunday Mass at 5:00 PM in a beautiful 600-seat sanctuary right on campus, with confessions available beforehand. The Catholic Student Group provides a student-led community for prayer, fellowship, small groups, Confirmation preparation, adoration, and service — including feeding the homeless with Our Lady of Grace. It is a warm, multi-faith campus environment anchored by an ordained Presbyterian University Chaplain (Alex Serna-Wallender) who welcomes every student into spiritual and pastoral care.
Mass times at Parker Chapel - Trinity University
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM (only during the school year)
About Parker Chapel
The Margarite B. Parker Chapel is Trinity University's central place of Christian worship and the spiritual home of the campus community. Dedicated in 1966 and situated on the western edge of campus on the plaza with the Murchison Bell Tower, the 600-seat sanctuary hosts services of worship, Catholic Sunday Mass, weddings, and other campus events regulated by religious considerations. It also houses the University Chaplain's office, where the multi-faith chaplaincy team supports students, faculty, and staff of every faith tradition.
- Dedicated in 1966
- 600-seat sanctuary
- Located on the western edge of campus on the Murchison Bell Tower plaza
- Houses the University Chaplain's office
Catholic Life at Trinity: The Catholic Student Group
Catholic ministry at Trinity is organized through the Catholic Student Group (CSG), a student-led community whose purpose is to cultivate Catholic faith and glorify God on campus. CSG provides spiritual and moral guidance, fellowship, community service opportunities, and education about Catholic traditions, while also welcoming non-Catholic members to enhance the broader spiritual community. Priests from Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church come onto campus each Sunday of the school year to celebrate Mass at 5:00 PM in Parker Chapel, with confessions at 4:15 PM, followed by food and fellowship.
- Student-led community for Catholic students at Trinity
- Open to non-Catholic members for ecumenical fellowship
- Sunday Mass at 5:00 PM in Parker Chapel during the school year
- Confessions at 4:15 PM every Sunday classes are in session
- Food and fellowship after Mass
Getting Involved: Ministries & Formation
Whether a student wants to join a small group, attend Mass, spend time in adoration, go to confession, prepare for Confirmation, or serve those most in need, the Catholic Student Group offers multiple ways to grow in faith. Catholic Campus Ministers appointed through the Archdiocese of San Antonio walk alongside students, and the broader Chapel and Spiritual Life office offers multi-faith programming, pastoral counsel, and the CSL Fellows leadership program (founded Fall 2019).
- Small faith groups
- Adoration and confession on campus
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic
- Service with Our Lady of Grace (feeding the homeless)
- Chapel and Spiritual Life (CSL) Fellows program
Weddings at Parker Chapel
Weddings at Parker Chapel are treated as services of worship. The practices and music relating to weddings in the chapel are regulated by religious considerations, and the chapel accommodates gatherings of up to 600. Couples interested in being married at Parker Chapel should contact the University Chaplain's office for guidance and scheduling.
- Weddings conducted as services of worship
- Capacity up to 600 guests
- Contact the University Chaplain's office to arrange
Meditation Garden & September 11th Memorial Garden
Surrounding the sanctuary are two contemplative outdoor spaces. The Meditation Garden, visible from inside the sanctuary, features three fountains representing the Holy Trinity, while garden lamps represent stages of Jesus' life, including The Last Supper and The Resurrection. On the south east corner of the Chapel, the September 11th Memorial Garden offers a quiet place for campus visitors to reflect and remember.
- Three fountains in the Meditation Garden representing the Holy Trinity
- Garden lamps depict stages of Jesus' life, including The Last Supper and The Resurrection
- September 11th Memorial Garden on the south east corner of the Chapel
The Judd Center for Spiritual Life and Formation
Parker Chapel is currently undergoing a major renewal of its 'formation wing,' which is being transformed into the Reverend Raymond and Mary Jane Judd Center for Spiritual Life and Formation. The new center is named in honor of Reverend Raymond Judd '56 and his wife, Mary Jane '57 — both Trinity alumni — and will create an integrated space for worship, pastoral care, and faith formation across the Trinity community.
- Renovation of the chapel's formation wing
- Named for Rev. Raymond Judd '56 and Mary Jane Judd '57
- Will house integrated spiritual life and formation programs
Chapel and Spiritual Life Staff
The University Chaplaincy is led by Alex Serna-Wallender '08, M'09, who serves as University Chaplain and holds the Everett H. Jones Chair of Ministry. A Trinity alumnus, Serna-Wallender holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is joined by Assistant Chaplain Jessica Kemp and a team of Catholic Campus Ministers appointed by the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The CSL Fellows program (begun Fall 2019) brings together student leaders across multi-faith, spiritual life, and Christian life programming.
- Chaplain Alex Serna-Wallender '08, M'09 — University Chaplain / Everett H. Jones Chair of Ministry
- Chaplain Jessica Kemp — Assistant Chaplain
- Veronica Ybarra — Catholic Campus Minister (Archdiocese of San Antonio)
- CSL Fellows — multi-faith student leadership team
Plan Your Visit
Visitors are warmly welcomed at Parker Chapel. Catholic Sunday Mass is celebrated at 5:00 PM during the academic year, with confessions heard from 4:15–4:45 PM. The chapel is open for individual prayer and reflection throughout much of the week, and the surrounding Meditation Garden and September 11th Memorial Garden are quiet places to pause. For questions about weddings, facility use, or pastoral care, contact the University Chaplain's office.
- Sunday Mass: 5:00 PM during the school year
- Confessions: Sundays 4:15–4:45 PM during the school year
- Meditation Garden and September 11th Memorial Garden open for reflection
- University Chaplain's office located in Parker Chapel, Room 202