About The Catholic Community at Stanford · Stanford, California
The Catholic Community at Stanford (CC@S) is a personal parish of the Diocese of San Jose in California, serving the Stanford University campus and surrounding community since 1906. It functions as both a parish and a Catholic campus ministry, ministering to Stanford undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, emeriti, alumni, and local Catholics attracted by the campus community. The community is under the pastoral care of the Western Dominican Province (Order of Preachers), making it a unique cooperative ministerial effort between the Diocese of San Jose and the Dominicans. Mass is celebrated at Stanford's historic Memorial Church, with offices and additional worship space in Old Union on the third floor.
- Established
- 1906
- Rector
- Fr. Bart Hutcherson, OP
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Jose
Why belong here
CC@S welcomes everyone — Stanford affiliation is not required to attend Mass or participate in parish life. It is a vibrant community that combines the best of a parish and a campus ministry, with daily and Sunday Mass in the iconic Memorial Church, abundant opportunities for Eucharistic adoration and confession, faith formation for adults and children (including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program), RCIA, retreats, service and outreach, fellowship, and music ministry. Under the pastoral care of the Dominican Order, the community is animated by four pillars — Community, Prayer, Study, and Preaching — making it an intellectually rigorous, prayerful, and welcoming home for Catholics in Silicon Valley.
Mass times at The Catholic Community at Stanford
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 9:00pm — Memorial Church
- Thursday 9:00pm — Old Union 3rd Floor
- Friday 1:00–3:00pm — Old Union 3rd Floor
- By appointment: contact Fr. Bart at [email protected]
Adoration times
- Daily Holy Hour: 8:00am — Old Union Room 304
- Tuesday 9:00pm — Memorial Church
- Thursday 9:00pm — Old Union 3rd Floor
About the Catholic Community at Stanford
The Catholic Community at Stanford (CC@S) is a personal parish and Catholic campus ministry serving the Stanford University community and surrounding area. It is the product of a unique cooperative ministerial relationship between the Diocese of San Jose and the Western Dominican Province (Order of Preachers), making Dominican spirituality central to its identity and programming. Pastor Fr. Bart Hutcherson, OP, has explained that 'when a bishop invites a religious order to assume responsibility for a ministry within the Diocese, there is an expectation that the spirituality and charism of that order will develop within the life of that ministry.' The community has served Stanford since 1906 and today ministers to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local Catholics.
- Founded in 1906
- Personal parish in the Diocese of San Jose
- Under pastoral care of the Western Dominican Province
- Mission: 'to develop and form well educated, passionate, and faithful Catholic leaders'
The Four Pillars of Dominican Life
CC@S organizes its ministry around the four traditional pillars of Dominican spirituality — Community, Prayer, Study, and Preaching (Apostolate) — all aimed at the Dominican charism of spreading the Gospel for the salvation of souls. The community reads these pillars as 'really 4 categories of Christian living' that would, in some sense, be present in the life of every Christian, but as Dominican Pillars they are oriented toward preaching the Good News of the Kingdom. Fr. Bart teaches that 'Community is the canvas on which the rest of the Christian life is painted,' and the four pillars together shape the community's worship, formation, study, and service programs.
- Community — worship, small Christian communities, meals, hikes, friendship
- Prayer — Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, holy hours, retreats, Rosary, Divine Office
- Study — liturgical preaching, theology lectures, guest speakers, sacramental formation, catechumenate
- Preaching/Apostolate — witness, service and outreach, justice, spreading the Gospel on campus
Faith Formation & Religious Education
CC@S offers a full slate of formation opportunities for children, youth, and adults. The children's program is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach for ages 3–12 centered in prayer, scripture, and liturgy; preparation for First Communion and First Reconciliation is folded into this program. Junior High and High School Faith Formation programs are offered, as well as Sacrament Preparation for baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation. For adults, RCIA welcomes those investigating Catholicism, those seeking adult baptism, and those preparing for first communion; Adult Confirmation classes are also offered. Newman Nights, a year-long theological forum held Tuesday evenings from 7:30–9:00pm in Old Union, presents Catholic thought through lecture and discussion to serve RCIA, Adult Confirmation, and ongoing formation.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–12, Sundays, Old Union)
- Junior High and High School Faith Formation
- Sacrament Preparation (First Communion, First Reconciliation, Confirmation)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Adult Confirmation
- Newman Nights theological lecture series (Tuesdays, 7:30–9:00pm, Old Union)
Sacraments
Information and coordination for the seven sacraments is provided through the parish office and staff. Baptism is coordinated by the Baptism Coordinator; Marriage preparation and coordination is handled by the Chaplain/Marriage Coordinator; and sacramental preparation for children is integrated into the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Adults seeking baptism, first communion, or confirmation proceed through RCIA and Adult Confirmation programs. Inquiries and appointments can be initiated through the parish contact page.
- Baptism — coordinated by staff
- First Communion & First Reconciliation — via Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Confirmation — youth and adult tracks available
- Marriage Preparation — Chaplain/Marriage Coordinator
- RCIA for adults
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music and liturgical service are central to CC@S's worship. The community maintains a Music Director and a dedicated 9 PM Mass Pianist, and music sheets for the livestreamed 4:30pm Sunday Mass are published online. Liturgical ministries invite parishioners to serve as greeters, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, altar servers, singers, and instrumentalists; training is provided for all of these roles. A Livestreaming Ministry supports the online broadcast of Sunday Mass.
- Music Director
- 9 PM Mass Pianist
- Greeters, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, altar servers
- Singers and instrumentalists
- Livestreaming Ministry
Staff & Leadership
The community is led by a Dominican pastor and supported by a team of clergy, religious, and lay staff. The Pastor is Fr. Bart Hutcherson, OP, and the Parochial Vicar is Fr. Chrysostom Mijinke, OP. The Campus Ministry team is led by Nicholas Mourlam, with Oriana Li Halevy serving as Director of Adult Faith Formation. Lay staff include a Director of Mission Advancement, a Chaplain/Marriage Coordinator, an Administrative Assistant/Baptism Coordinator, a Music Director, and a 9 PM Mass Pianist.
- Fr. Bart Hutcherson, OP — Pastor
- Fr. Chrysostom Mijinke, OP — Parochial Vicar
- Nicholas Mourlam — Campus Ministry
- Oriana Li Halevy — Director of Adult Faith Formation
- Nancy Greenfield — Director of Mission Advancement
- Jessica Foster — Chaplain/Marriage Coordinator
- M'Lis Berry — Administrative Assistant/Baptism Coordinator
- Dr. Olukunle Owolabi — Music Director
Service, Outreach & Community Life
Service and outreach form the Dominican 'Preaching' pillar at CC@S, and the community invites all members to participate in ministries of Word and Service. Service Outreach opportunities are offered alongside faith development and mentoring programs, and the community has historically offered graduate-student and young-adult discussion forums addressing issues impacting Catholics. Retreats, social gatherings, meals, and excursions round out community life.
- Service Outreach opportunities
- Faith development and mentoring
- Graduate student forum / young adult discussion groups
- Retreats and community meals
- Annual Lenten reflection booklet written by community members