About University of Massachusetts Catholic Campus Ministry, Boston Campus · Boston, Massachusetts
UMass Boston Catholic Campus Ministry (UMBCatholic) is the Catholic outreach serving the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Massachusetts Boston on Columbia Point. Its mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ and bring people into relationship with Him and with His Church. The ministry is led by Fr. Donald Brick, OCD, a Discalced Carmelite friar who serves as Catholic chaplain, and is supported by FOCUS missionaries, seminarians from St. John's Seminary, and a student-run Catholic Student Association. Weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated at nearby St. Christopher Catholic Church in Dorchester, while weekday Masses, Bible studies, retreats, and fellowship are held on campus in the Interfaith Center on the third floor of McCormack Hall.
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (listed as patron saint)
- Rector
- Fr. Donald Brick, OCD (Catholic Chaplain, Discalced Carmelite Friars)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
UMass Boston Catholic Campus Ministry offers a clear on-ramp to Catholic life for busy college students: weekday Mass in the heart of campus (Tuesdays at 5:15 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 12 pm), a Sunday Mass with free fellowship meal at nearby St. Christopher Church, men's and women's Bible studies, an annual spring retreat, sacramental preparation for those becoming Catholic or completing First Communion and Confirmation, and a student-led Catholic Student Association that organizes evangelization, outreach, and events. The chaplaincy is staffed by a Discalced Carmelite priest and FOCUS missionaries, giving students access to spiritual direction, faith formation, and a tight-knit community.
Mass times at University of Massachusetts Catholic Campus Ministry, Boston Campus
Weekly Mass schedule
About UMass Boston Catholic Campus Ministry
UMB Catholic Campus Ministry (UMBCatholic) is the Catholic student outreach serving UMass Boston. According to its published mission, the ministry seeks to proclaim Jesus Christ and bring others into relationship with Him and with His Bride, the Church. Its offices are located in the Interfaith Center on the third floor of McCormack Hall, and it serves the entire UMass Boston community of students, faculty, and staff. It operates through three overlapping pillars: a chaplaincy led by a Discalced Carmelite priest, FOCUS missionaries and seminarians, and a student-run Catholic Student Association.
- Mission: proclaiming Jesus Christ and bringing others into relationship with Him and the Church
- Office: Interfaith Center, McCormack Hall, 3rd Floor
- Affiliation: Archdiocese of Boston
Chaplain and Staff
The Catholic chaplain is Fr. Donald Brick, OCD, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Washington Province. The chaplaincy is assisted by FOCUS missionaries assigned to UMass Boston's Campus Boston team, which includes Paulo Carvalho, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Boston at St. John's Seminary, and Paul Farruggia Jr., a seminarian for the Diocese of Rochester, NY, also at St. John's Seminary. A brother referred to as 'Br. Vladimir' coordinates liturgical ministries (greeters, lectors, altar servers, choir). The staff page on the UMass Boston website lists the Catholic Campus Ministry as part of the university's Beacon Wellness and Inclusion & Belonging division.
- Fr. Donald Brick, OCD — Catholic Chaplain, Discalced Carmelite Friars
- Paulo Carvalho — Seminarian, Archdiocese of Boston, St. John's Seminary
- Paul Farruggia Jr. — Seminarian, Diocese of Rochester NY, St. John's Seminary
- Br. Vladimir — Liturgical ministry coordinator
Catholic Student Association Officers (2025–2026)
The student leadership of the CSA coordinates the ministry's outreach, evangelization, communications, and events. Officer roles include a President, Vice President, Vice President of Evangelization & Outreach, Secretary, and Communications & Events Coordinator.
- Samaria Q. — President
- Joe Maurer — Vice President
- Angélica A. — Vice President of Evangelization & Outreach
- Dana V. — Secretary
- Jadienne H. — Communications & Events Coordinator
FOCUS Missionaries — Campus Boston
Two FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries serve alongside the chaplain and CSA to support the spiritual life of the campus.
- Paulo Carvalho — Seminarian, Archdiocese of Boston, St. John's Seminary
- Paul Farruggia Jr. — Seminarian, Diocese of Rochester NY, St. John's Seminary
Programs and Activities
Beyond Mass, the ministry runs an annual Spring retreat, men's and women's Bible studies (held in the Interfaith Center), and an Athletics ministry that attends UMass Boston Beacons games alongside Fr. Don. An up-to-date calendar is published on the ministry's website and Instagram for current dates and events.
- Annual Spring Retreat
- Men's Bible Study (Interfaith Center)
- Women's Bible Study (Interfaith Center)
- Athletics — supporting Beacons teams with Fr. Don
Sacraments and Becoming Catholic
The ministry welcomes students who are interested in becoming Catholic through the RCIA process, as well as baptized Catholics who want to receive the sacraments of First Communion and/or Confirmation. Inquiries are directed to the ministry via the UMBCatholicConnect form on its website or by email.
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
Patron Saints and Devotional Life
UMass Boston Catholic Campus Ministry draws its spiritual inspiration from a wide range of patron saints and blesseds, reflecting its Carmelite chaplaincy, its Catholic university context, and its diverse student body. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus is named as the patron saint; Carmelite greats (St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) reflect the chaplain's Discalced Carmelite identity; St. John Paul II is honored; and modern saints and blesseds — Bl. Carlo Acutis, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Nossa Senhora Aparecida (patroness of Brazil) — represent youth, holiness, and the Latin American Catholic heritage present in the UMass Boston community.
- Patron Saint: St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
- St. John Paul II
- St. Teresa of Jesus (of Avila)
- St. John of the Cross
- St. Catherine of Siena
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
- Bl. Carlo Acutis
- Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati
- Nossa Senhora Aparecida
Contact
The ministry can be reached by phone, email, online form, or its dedicated website, and is listed under UMass Boston's Beacon Wellness and Inclusion & Belonging division.
- Phone: 617-287-5434
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.umbcatholic.org
- UMass Boston staff listing: umb.edu/campus-life/inclusion-belonging/campus-ministry/staff/