About St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel - GMU Catholic Campus Ministry · Fairfax, Virginia
St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel is the Catholic Campus Ministry chapel serving George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, operated under the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Led by Chaplain Rev. Joseph Farrell and known as the 'Catholic Patriots,' the ministry serves GMU students, Northern Virginia Community College students, and the wider campus community with daily and weekend Mass, the sacraments, and a robust calendar of formation and fellowship events. The chapel was dedicated in 1994, and the ministry now welcomes 400–500 students to weekend Masses each week while running RCIA, Bible studies, FOCUS missionary work, and Thursday Night Gatherings. As of late 2024 the ministry was preparing its largest capital campaign in more than three decades to expand the chapel and student center.
- Established
- 1994
- Patron
- St. Robert Bellarmine
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Farrell (Chaplain and Director)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel offers Catholic George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College students a ready-made Catholic home on a large public university campus, with daily and weekend Mass, regular confession, RCIA for those entering the Church, and a thriving calendar of small-group Bible studies and large fellowship events. Its ministry is led by a chaplain and supported by campus ministers, FOCUS missionaries, and a music director — a team intentionally built to form the next generation of Catholic leaders in a secular environment.
Mass times at St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel - GMU Catholic Campus Ministry
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30pm – 5:15pm
- Sunday: 10:00am – 10:45am
- Sunday: 4:00pm – 5:15pm
- Tuesday/Thursday: 4:00pm – 4:45pm (during academic year)
- By appointment with the Chaplain for Mason and NVCC students
About St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel & Catholic Patriots
St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel is the worship heart of Catholic Campus Ministry at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The community, which calls itself 'Catholic Patriots,' states its mission simply: 'we help students to encounter Jesus, follow Him, and share His love with others.' The chapel sits at 4515 Roberts Road on the GMU Fairfax campus and serves as a home-away-from-home for thousands of students each semester, including students from neighboring Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC).
Our Mission
According to the ministry's own mission statement: 'At Catholic Patriots, we help students to encounter Jesus, follow Him, and share His love with others.' That three-fold vision — encounter, follow, and share — shapes every program the chapel runs, from Mass and confession to Bible studies and Thursday Night Gatherings.
- Encounter Jesus
- Follow Him
- Share His love with others
History & Growth
St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel was dedicated in 1994 as the dedicated Catholic worship space on the GMU campus. In the three decades since, GMU has grown into the largest university in Virginia, and the chapel's ministry has expanded alongside it: staff has tripled and thousands of students now pass through the chapel every semester. In one recent year the ministry reported a 44% jump in Mass attendance and a 36% jump in small-group Bible study participation.
- Chapel dedicated 1994
- Ministry staff has tripled since dedication
- Largest capital campaign in 30+ years launched in 2024
Capital Campaign & Expansion
In October 2024, Fr. Joseph Farrell and the CCM staff previewed a $3.2 million capital campaign — the largest in the chapel's history — to fund a 2,600-square-foot expansion of the chapel and student center. The project envisions an outdoor terrace, a new student lounge, quiet study areas, dedicated Bible study rooms, centralized offices with natural lighting, renovated bathrooms and kitchen, a modernized flexible events hall, and environmentally friendly upgrades. Construction is targeted to begin in 2026 or 2027.
- $3.2 million campaign goal
- 2,600 sq ft expansion
- Outdoor terrace, student lounge, study and Bible study rooms
- Construction targeted 2026–2027
Chapel & Office Hours
Chapel and office hours are published on the chapel's homepage and updated weekly. Visitors should check the website popup or call the office during the summer, when Mass times shift to follow the Chaplain's schedule.
- Check homepage for current weekly schedule
- Call office in summer to confirm Mass times
Catholic Patriots Staff
The ministry is staffed by a chaplain, campus ministers, FOCUS missionaries, a music director, and administrative support, as published on the Diocese of Arlington's College Campus Ministry page.
- Rev. Joseph Farrell — Chaplain and Director
- Rita Daly — Bookkeeper
- Valeria DeCelle — Campus Minister
- Dom Fatzinger — FOCUS Team Director
- Joe Frommelt — Campus Minister
- Sarah Johns — Campus Minister
- Kenny Kohlhaas — Music Director
- Carly McCrumb — Advancement Director
- Sarah Richardson — Administrative Assistant
Recognitions
In December 2024, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington presented Fr. Joseph Farrell with the Ex Corde Award for excellence in campus ministry at the annual Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries Appreciation Dinner held at St. Joseph Church in Herndon.
- Ex Corde Award — Fr. Joseph Farrell, December 2024
Ministries & Programs
Beyond the sacraments, the chapel runs an active calendar of formation, fellowship, and outreach programs designed to form Catholic leaders in a secular university setting. The FOCUS missionaries (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) are central to this work, alongside the staff campus ministers and student leadership teams.
RCIA & Becoming Catholic
The chapel's RCIA program welcomes students and others into full communion with the Catholic Church. The ministry has brought more than 40 students into the Church over the past three years, including 19 at a single recent Easter Vigil, according to the Catholic Herald.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- More than 40 adult initiations in 3 years
- 19 received at one recent Easter Vigil
Bible Studies & Small Groups
Small-group Bible studies are a core pillar of the ministry; participation grew by 36% in one recent year. Bible study rooms are among the spaces targeted by the 2024 capital campaign expansion.
- Small-group Bible studies
- Dedicated Bible study rooms planned in expansion
Fellowship & Thursday Night Gatherings
Each summer the chapel hosts Thursday Night Gatherings from 7:00pm–9:00pm in June and July, open to all GMU and NVCC students as well as graduating high school seniors. A recent cookout drew students from 14 different schools and featured opening prayer, bingo, volleyball, spike ball, and cornhole. During the school year the student ministry team leads Thursday Night Suppers, Sunday Night Gatherings, lofi music nights with coffee and donuts, and other regular events.
- Thursday Night Gatherings (summer, 7–9pm)
- Thursday Night Suppers (academic year)
- Sunday Night Gatherings
- Lofi music with coffee and donuts
- Recent gathering drew students from 14 schools
Vocations
The ministry actively supports students discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life. In the past decade, 15 Catholic Patriots have discerned a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life.
- 15 vocations discerned over the past decade
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music is led by Kenny Kohlhaas, the chapel's Music Director, supporting the Sunday Student Mass and other liturgies throughout the academic year.
- Kenny Kohlhaas, Music Director
Events & Calendar
The chapel keeps a public calendar of upcoming events on its website. Major recurring items include the Sunday Student Mass, Thursday Night Gatherings in summer, Thursday Night Suppers during the academic year, Sunday Night Gatherings, and the annual Baccalaureate Mass for graduating seniors.
- Weekly calendar at gmuccm.org/calendar
- Baccalaureate Mass for graduating seniors
Stay Connected
Students can register as Catholic Patriots via the chapel's homepage, and community members, alumni, and parents can sign up to receive updates on events, Mass times, and the capital campaign.
- Register as a Catholic Patriot (Mason & NVCC students)
- Sign up to stay connected (alumni, parents, community)
Contact
The chapel can be reached by phone, email, and fax, and is listed by the Diocese of Arlington's College Campus Ministry office as the official Catholic presence on the GMU campus.
- Phone: (703) 425-0022
- Fax: (703) 425-0753
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 4515 Roberts Road, Fairfax, VA 22032