About St. Mary. University of MA Dartmouth · North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth is the Catholic campus ministry serving students, faculty, and staff of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It is funded by the Diocese of Fall River and operates as the 'parish' for Catholic students on campus, with its own chapel, retreat programs, small groups, and service outreach. The ministry is closely affiliated with Saint Mary's Catholic Parish in South Dartmouth, where most weekend Masses are celebrated and which serves as the parish family for the campus community.
- Rector
- Fr. David Frederici (Diocesan Director for Campus Ministry)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
Newman Catholic Ministry welcomes every student, faculty, or staff member 'regardless of personal history, background, race, age, orientation, etc.,' offering Sunday and weekday Masses on campus and at affiliated Saint Mary's Parish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, small faith-sharing groups, retreats through its Charis Ministries partnership, and active outreach like the Catholic Corsair soup kitchen and Knights of Columbus College Council. Free Uber rides to and from Saint Mary's make weekend Mass easy to attend even without a car, and the ministry's open-door, peer-oriented culture makes it an easy entry point for Catholic life at UMass Dartmouth.
Mass times at St. Mary. University of MA Dartmouth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- On Campus: Tuesdays at 2:00 PM (and by appointment) at the Campus Center conference room, 2nd floor
- St. Mary's: Tuesdays 6:00-6:45 PM (and by appointment)
- St. Mary's: Wednesdays 6:00-6:45 PM
- St. Mary's: Sundays 3:00-4:00 PM
- St. Mary's: First Mondays 12:00-1:00 PM
Adoration times
- On Campus: Tuesdays at 1:00 PM in the Reflection Room, 2nd floor of Campus Center
- St. Mary's: Tuesdays 6:00-7:00 PM
- St. Mary's: Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 PM
- St. Mary's: Sundays 3:00-4:00 PM
About Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth
Newman Catholic Ministry is the Catholic 'parish' for students, faculty, and staff at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Its stated mission is 'to provide students, faculty and staff at Newman Catholic Ministry at UMass Dartmouth the opportunity to be supported, educated and to grow in the Catholic Faith.' The ministry explicitly welcomes everyone regardless of personal history, background, race, age, or orientation.
- Funded by the Diocese of Fall River
- Campus Ministry office: Campus Center, Room 202 (also referenced as Room 205), 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
- Newman House chapel: 359 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
- Office phone: 508-999-8872
Meet the Campus Ministry Team
The team is led at the diocesan level by Fr. David Frederici, Director of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Fall River, and served on the UMass Dartmouth campus by Fr. Bill O'Donnell and Deacon Frank Lucca. Both Fr. Bill and Deacon Frank are available for spiritual direction and 'drop-in' conversations with students in addition to their formal programming.
- Fr. David Frederici — Director of Campus Ministry, Diocese of Fall River ([email protected]; mobile 774-205-4378)
- Fr. Bill O'Donnell — Campus Minister at UMass Dartmouth ([email protected]; office 508-999-8873)
- Deacon Frank Lucca — Campus Minister at UMass Dartmouth ([email protected]; office 508-999-8872; cell 508-454-6618)
- Tim Wiedenmann — staff contact ([email protected])
Newman House and the Campus Center Chapel
Newman House at 359 Old Westport Road is funded by the Diocese of Fall River specifically for Catholic Campus Ministry and hosts the Thursday evening Mass and programming. The Thursday evening 'Newman Nights' begin at 5:30 PM with Mass, followed by pasta night and conversation at 6:00 PM, open to all students.
- Newman House: 359 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
- Thursday 5:30 PM Mass, then 6:00 PM pasta night and conversation
Affiliated Parish: Saint Mary's, South Dartmouth
Saint Mary's Catholic Parish (789 Dartmouth Street, South Dartmouth, MA 02748, 508-992-7505) is the affiliated parish family for the UMass Dartmouth Catholic community. Most weekend Masses are celebrated there, and it hosts the on-campus ministry's OCIA process, with neophytes from St. Mary's, Newman Catholic Community, and UMass Dartmouth receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil together.
- Saint Mary's Parish: 789 Dartmouth Street, South Dartmouth, MA 02748
- Parish phone: 508-992-7505
- Parish office hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM; Welcome Center open after all weekend Masses
- Free Uber rides from UMass Dartmouth to St. Mary's through Uber for Business partnership
Faith Formation, Retreats, and Small Groups
Catholic Campus Ministry offers a full formation pathway for students: small faith-sharing groups, peer-led retreats, leadership training, and OCIA for those becoming Catholic or seeking Confirmation. UMass Dartmouth is a Charis Ministries Partner location, hosting a Seekers' Retreat in the fall and the 'Jesus - Who Do You Say That I Am?' Retreat in spring, alongside one-day retreats and the twice-yearly Busy Person's Retreat.
- Newman Small Groups: 4-6 people gathering regularly for fellowship, encouragement, spiritual growth, and evangelistic outreach
- Bible Sharing groups meet weekly with the same peer group
- Charis Retreats (Seekers' in fall; 'Jesus - Who Do You Say That I Am?' in spring)
- Busy Person's Retreat — offered twice annually with downloadable journal
- One-day retreats
- Peer Minister Leadership Institute: five-session training in spring and early fall for student leaders
Service and Outreach (Catholic Corsair Outreach)
Rooted in Catholic social teaching, the Catholic Corsair Outreach program engages students in service to the local and global community, working toward social justice. Students run a monthly soup kitchen and partner with several local ministries including Catholic schools, Saint Mary's Parish, My Brother's Keeper, and the on-campus food pantry.
- Monthly soup kitchen
- Support for local Catholic schools
- Partnership with My Brother's Keeper
- Support for the on-campus food pantry
- Knights of Columbus College Council
- Relay for Life and March for Life (Washington, DC) participation
OCIA — Becoming Catholic or Getting Confirmed
Students and adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their initiation through Confirmation join the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process run jointly with Saint Mary's Parish. Neophytes from St. Mary's, the Newman Catholic Community, and UMass Dartmouth receive the Sacraments of Initiation together at the Easter Vigil each year. Inquiries are directed to Deacon Frank Lucca.
- OCIA process shared with Saint Mary's Parish
- Easter Vigil Sacraments of Initiation celebrated jointly
- Contact: Deacon Frank Lucca — [email protected]
Social Life and Getting Involved
Beyond liturgy and formation, the ministry runs a robust social calendar designed to build community — weekly pasta nights at Newman House, trips, and large annual events like Relay for Life and the March for Life trip to Washington, DC. Students can also join the Knights of Columbus College Council or sign up through the parish to serve in one of many ministries.
- Weekly Pasta Nights at Newman House
- Knights of Columbus College Council
- Relay for Life team
- March for Life pilgrimage
- Praise and Worship Mass every Sunday at 5 PM at St. Mary's
Contact and Visit
The Catholic Campus Ministry office is open in the Campus Center on the UMass Dartmouth campus. Visitors can also stop in at Newman House. Staff are available for appointments or 'drop-ins,' and are intentionally present in dining halls, hallways, the coffee shop, and around campus as a listening presence for students.
- Campus Ministry office: Campus Center, Room 202, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
- Phone: 508-999-8872
- Fr. Bill O'Donnell — [email protected]
- Deacon Frank Lucca — [email protected]