About University of Dayton Campus Ministry · Dayton, Ohio
The University of Dayton Campus Ministry is the Catholic and Marianist faith-formation and worship program of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Housed in and around the historic Chapel of the Immaculate Conception — the heart of campus since 1869 — it serves the spiritual needs of UD students, faculty, staff, and alumni through daily and Sunday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, faith communities, and justice-oriented service through its Center for Social Concern. With about thirty staff members and one of the largest campus ministry programs in the United States, it forms persons and communities in lived faith through worship, compassionate relationships, and commitment to justice and service, especially those marginalized by society.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher M. Staich, S.M. (Marianist priest serving the University of Dayton community in Campus Ministry)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Belonging to the University of Dayton Campus Ministry means plugging into one of the largest and most active Catholic campus ministry programs in the country, anchored by the historic 1869 Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. Daily Mass, multiple Sunday liturgies, weekly Eucharistic adoration, regular Reconciliation, an extensive retreat program (over 20 retreats a year), small faith communities like Madeleine Groups and Journey Groups, vibrant music and liturgy ministries, and the faith-justice mission of the Center for Social Concern give every student a clear path to grow in prayer, service, and leadership. Whether Catholic, ecumenical, or from another faith tradition, students find here a Marianist community committed to accompanying them in faith, vocation, and a life of justice.
Mass times at University of Dayton Campus Ministry
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 11:00 a.m. – Noon (Chapel of the Immaculate Conception)
- Wednesday 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (fall and spring semesters)
- Friday 11:00 a.m. – Noon (fall and spring semesters)
- Communal Reconciliation services scheduled multiple times each year
- Personal appointments by request via the Campus Ministry office (937-229-3339)
Adoration times
- Monday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, fall/spring)
- Tuesday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (fall/spring)
- Wednesday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (fall/spring)
- Thursday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (fall/spring)
- Friday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (fall/spring)
Campus Ministry at the University of Dayton
Rooted in the University of Dayton's Catholic and Marianist tradition, Campus Ministry cultivates the faith life of the campus community through transformative encounters with God. It fosters spiritual growth through worship, pastoral care, faith formation, service, and reflection, and is committed to peace and justice. With about thirty staff persons, UD has one of the largest and most active campus ministry programs anywhere in the United States. The Assistant VP for Mission and Executive Director of Campus Ministry is Crystal Sullivan, and the Senior Director is Kelly Adamson. The ministry is informed by the Roman Catholic tradition, but the vast majority of its programs appeal to students from different Christian backgrounds and those of other faiths; a full-time Protestant campus minister serves on the team, and students from other faith traditions are connected to their respective faith communities off campus.
- Executive Director: Crystal Sullivan, Assistant VP for Mission and Provost Fellow for Mission Integration
- Senior Director: Kelly Adamson
- Approximately 30 staff members
- Graduate Assistant Program in Ministry
- Full-time Protestant campus minister on team
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
Built in 1869 and consecrated by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell on June 24 of that year, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception has been the heart of the UD community in mission, spirituality, and campus geography ever since. Originally known as the 'Church of the Nazareth' under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, it carries twelve white marble Maltese crosses on the side and rear walls as the mark of its consecration. The chapel sits under an iconic blue metal-and-wood dome that is a Dayton landmark, rising 95 feet above ground and topped by a cross 7 feet 4 inches tall. Renovated dramatically in 1971 in response to Vatican II and again in a comprehensive 14-month renovation completed in 2015, the chapel remains the spiritual center of the University of Dayton and the home of Campus Ministry.
- Consecration: June 24, 1869 by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell
- Twelve marble Maltese consecration crosses
- Blue metal-and-wood dome — Dayton landmark
- Renovated 1971 (Vatican II), 1983, 2000, and 2015
- Rededicated August 12, 2016 by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr
Prayer and Worship
Campus Ministry offers a robust schedule of prayer and worship opportunities in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and in residence hall chapels. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m. during the academic year (Tuesday–Thursday at 12:30 p.m. during summer). Sunday Mass during the academic year is offered at 10:00 a.m., noon, 6:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m., with summer Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. Adoration and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and on Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Tuesday and Friday 11:00 a.m. to noon and Wednesday 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., with personal appointments available by contacting the office. A monthly Memorial Mass remembers members of the extended UD community who have died, and a monthly Spanish-language Mass is celebrated at 4:00 p.m. An interdenominational Protestant worship service is held each Sunday during the academic year.
- Weekday Mass: 12:30 p.m. Mon–Fri
- Sunday Mass: 10 a.m., noon, 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. (academic year)
- Summer Sunday Mass: 10:00 a.m.
- Adoration: Mon–Thu 4–6 p.m., Fri 1–3 p.m.
- Reconciliation: Tue/Fri 11 a.m.–noon; Wed 7–8 p.m.
- Spanish Mass monthly at 4:00 p.m.
- Memorial Mass first Wednesday of most months
- Protestant ecumenical service each Sunday in academic year
Faith Formation: Retreats, Madeleine Groups, and Journey Groups
Over twenty retreats are offered each year for UD students — quiet guided retreats, wilderness retreats, retreats specific to each academic year, large community-focused retreats, interdenominational retreats, and more. Most are led by student teams who prepare through weekly formational meetings. Students also join small faith communities called Madeleine Groups that meet regularly for faith sharing, scripture study, and theological reflection. Journey Groups are topically focused, lasting about 5–7 weeks, and include Lenten Journey Groups, a Couples Journey Group, Sophomore Journey Groups, and an LGBTQ+ Journey Group. The Callings pre-orientation program for incoming first-year students fosters faith, vocation, and leadership, while Agape Latte, Faith, Vocation, and Leadership Houses, and Chaminade Scholar spiritual support round out vocational exploration.
- 20+ retreats each year
- Madeleine Groups (ongoing small faith communities)
- Journey Groups (5–7 week topical groups; Lenten, Couples, Sophomore, LGBTQ+)
- Callings pre-orientation for first-year students
- Agape Latte faith-and-leadership conversations
- Faith, Vocation, and Leadership Houses
- Chaminade Scholar spiritual support
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Students, faculty, and staff actively serve the liturgical life of the University as lectors, servers, Eucharistic ministers, music ministers, Mass coordinators, and hospitality ministers at both daily and Sunday celebrations of the Eucharist. Jessica Wallace serves as Director of Liturgy. The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception hosts an extensive music program, with choirs and instrumentalists supporting daily Mass, Sunday Mass, and the major liturgical seasons. Special lighting effects around the tabernacle have been part of the chapel's history since shortly after electrification in 1899.
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Servers
- Music ministers, choirs, cantors, instrumentalists
- Hospitality ministers and Mass coordinators
- Director of Liturgy: Jessica Wallace
Center for Social Concern
The Center for Social Concern is the social-justice and service arm of Campus Ministry, committed to faith-based social justice education through direct service to the poor and marginalized, work on behalf of social justice, and changing unjust structures. The Center supports 30 different student-run service clubs and offers BreakOut Trips, Summer Immersion Trips (domestic and international), and the Summer Appalachia Program, alongside guest speakers and reflection opportunities.
- BreakOut Trips
- Summer Immersion Trips
- Summer Appalachia Program
- 30+ student-run service clubs
- Reflection opportunities integrated with service
Residence Life Ministry
Each residential area has campus ministers who actively engage students in faith-based activities. Student leaders guide participation in faith sharing groups, Bible studies, retreats, Mass, service and social opportunities, and other prayer experiences, accompanying and supporting students in leadership, personal growth, and spiritual development.
- Faith sharing groups in residence halls
- Bible studies
- Service and social opportunities
- Residence hall Masses in Stuart and Marycrest complexes
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
Campus Ministry provides ongoing sacramental and pastoral care for the University community. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered weekly during the academic year, daily Mass and Sunday Mass celebrate the Eucharist, and Eucharistic adoration is held multiple days each week. Weddings are celebrated in the chapel (the first recorded wedding was June 1, 1963), and baptism, confirmation, and RCIA referrals are supported. A monthly Memorial Mass remembers deceased members of the UD community.
- Reconciliation: Tue/Fri 11 a.m.–noon; Wed 7–8 p.m.
- Daily and Sunday Eucharist
- Eucharistic Adoration Mon–Fri
- Marriage preparation and weddings
- Baptism, Confirmation, RCIA referrals
- Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care
Graduate Assistant Program in Ministry
Is God calling you to ministry? The Graduate Assistant Program in Ministry offers formation, skills, and mentoring to help participants thrive in ministry and faith-based leadership positions. It is part of UD's commitment to forming the next generation of pastoral leaders.
- Formation, skills, and mentoring
- Graduate assistantships in ministry
- Pipeline into ministry and faith-based leadership
Chapel Architecture, Stained Glass, and Art
The chapel's original 1869 stained glass windows — ten long windows with modest bands of color and vivid liturgical symbols, four richly colored representations of Saints Peter, Paul, Augustine, and Ambrose in the apse, and rosette windows on east and west walls — were designed for a then-luxury total cost of nearly $2,000. Over the decades the murals and side altars were added, painted over, and removed, until the 1971 Vatican II renovation cleared the interior. The 2015 renovation commissioned ten new 20-foot nave windows whose two-foot medallions depict Marianist scriptural images of Mary, plus twenty-one additional windows for the addition and offices — over 32,000 hand-cut pieces of stained glass in all. The original 1869 windows have been restored to their original beauty. The chapel's interior also features the bronze-and-onyx tabernacle door (1901), the reredos with statues of Mary Immaculate, John, and Peter (1876, with the statue of Peter later transformed into Joseph), and the niches holding Our Lady of the Pillar and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade (1951–1952).
- Original 1869 windows (ten nave, four saints in apse, rosettes) restored
- New 2015 nave windows designed around Marianist scriptural themes
- 32,000+ hand-cut pieces of stained glass in 2015 commission
- 21 additional windows for the 2015 addition and offices
- Bronze-and-onyx tabernacle door (1901); reredos statues (1876); Marianist founder statues (1951–52)
Marianist Heritage and History
The University of Dayton was founded in 1850 by Father Leo Meyer, S.M., and Brother Charles Schultz, the first Marianist missionaries to America, who arrived from Alsace, France, in 1849 during a cholera epidemic. The land they purchased from John Stuart for a medal of St. Joseph and a promise of $12,000 became Nazareth, the first permanent Marianist foundation in the Western Hemisphere. The brothers rebuilt after a devastating 1855 fire, and by the 1860s under Brother Maximin Zehler the campus expanded rapidly, culminating in the 1869 completion of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. The chapel, the campus, and the Society of Mary have shaped UD's Catholic and Marianist identity for more than 175 years.
- Founded 1850 by Father Leo Meyer, S.M., and Brother Charles Schultz
- First permanent Marianist foundation in the Western Hemisphere
- 1855 fire destroyed original Stuart mansion; rebuilt within a year
- 1860s 'brick-and-mortar years' under Brother Maximin Zehler, S.M.
- 1869 chapel completion under Archbishop John Baptist Purcell
Visiting and Contact
The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and the Campus Ministry offices are at 300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469-0408. The office phone is 937-229-3339. Visitor parking on weekdays requires a permit from the UD Visitor Center in Lot C. The chapel is open to the public for prayer, and visitors are warmly welcomed at any scheduled liturgy.
- Address: 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-0408
- Phone: 937-229-3339
- Visitor parking permits at UD Visitor Center, Lot C
- Open daily for prayer
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo Meyer, S.M.1850–1857
Founder of the American Province of the Society of Mary; administrator of St. Mary's School and of the chapel that would be built after his directorship. Died January 30, 1868.
- Brother Maximin Zehler, S.M.1860–1876
Director/President of St. Mary's; the 'brick-and-mortar' president who oversaw the construction of Zehler Hall (1865), Liberty Hall (1866), the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (1869), St. Mary's Hall (1870), and the gymnasium/Rike Center (1874).