About Wake Forest University - Catholic Community · Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Wake Forest Catholic Campus Ministry (WFCCM) is the Catholic Church on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a recognized student organization that serves both undergraduate and graduate students. Catholics make up the largest single faith community at Wake — roughly 25% of the university's approximately 5,500 undergraduates identify as Catholic — and the community regularly gathers around 200 students for Sunday Mass. The ministry is staffed by a full-time, on-campus Catholic chaplain, Fr. David McCanless, along with a campus minister (Jenn Barlow) and a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary team, all of whom support students in growing in their Catholic faith while forming lifelong friendships.
- Rector
- Fr. David McCanless (Catholic Chaplain since 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
WFCCM is a thriving, on-campus Catholic community where students can worship, be fed, and build real friendships. Three Sunday Masses, weekday Masses, regular Adoration, and Reconciliation make daily sacramental life accessible, while Wednesday community dinners, small groups, Bible studies, intramural teams, retreats, and traditions like Hit the Bricks, Project Pumpkin, Pitsgiving, and Wake N Shake give students a place to belong. With a full-time chaplain who is himself a Wake Forest alum, a FOCUS missionary team, and a peer Leadership Team, WFCCM is open to all students — Catholic or not, undergrad or grad — and warmly welcomes anyone wanting to grow in faith.
Mass times at Wake Forest University - Catholic Community
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (contact Fr. David or Jenn)
- Good Friday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Catholic Campus Ministry Office, Kitchin (special yearly offering)
Adoration times
- Regular opportunities for Adoration are offered during the academic year (specific times published on the WFCCM calendar)
About WFCCM
The Wake Forest Catholic Campus Ministry is an active student organization at Wake Forest University and serves as the Catholic Church on campus. Its mission is to support undergraduate and graduate students in living and growing in their Catholic faith, and to be a witness to Jesus and his Gospel to the entire Wake Forest community. The ministry is open to all students — Catholic or not, undergraduate or graduate — and offers worship, formation, fellowship, and service opportunities throughout the academic year.
- Catholic students make up the largest single faith community at Wake (~25% of ~5,500 undergrads)
- Around 200 students attend Sunday Mass on a typical weekend
- Always open membership — no formal 'join' required
- Sponsored Sunday Masses at 10:30 AM, 4:30 PM, and 6:00 PM in Davis Chapel
Mass and Worship
WFCCM celebrates the Eucharist as the center of campus Catholic life. Three Sunday Masses and weekday Masses are offered during the academic year in Davis Chapel, the heart of the Wake Forest campus. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday through Friday. Adoration and Reconciliation are offered on a regular basis, and the schedule is updated on the WFCCM calendar.
- Sunday: 10:30 AM, 4:30 PM, 6:00 PM — Davis Chapel
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM — Davis Chapel
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00 PM — Davis Chapel
- Baccalaureate Mass held annually in Pugh Auditorium
- Special Masses for Welcome Back, Family Weekend, Homecoming, and Easter
Sacraments
Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, WFCCM offers the other sacraments and formation needed for students to live a full sacramental life. Confession is available by appointment with Fr. David, with a special offering on Good Friday. Students who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation are prepared to enter full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass.
- Reconciliation: by appointment; Good Friday 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at the Campus Ministry Office, Kitchin
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation — completed at Easter Mass
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) for those seeking full initiation
Locations and Facilities
WFCCM uses three spaces on the Wake Forest campus, each with its own purpose. The Campus Ministry Office (Fr. David and Jenn's office) is in the basement of Kitchin Residence Hall, the Catholic Lounge for community life is in the basement of Collins Residence Hall, and most Masses and other liturgical offerings are celebrated in Davis Chapel. All mail is sent to a campus PO box.
- Davis Chapel (Building 1) — Sunday and weekday Mass
- WFCCM Catholic Lounge, basement of Collins Residence Hall (Building 16) — hangout, coffee bar (espresso, Keurig, tea), free snacks, meeting and small-group space, kitchen; Deacon One card access required
- Campus Ministry Office, basement of Kitchin Residence Hall (Building 22, room 45) — entrance across the street from the Sutton Center / Reynolds Gym
- Mailing address: PO Box 7204, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Leadership and Staff
WFCCM is led by a full-time Catholic chaplain from the Diocese of Charlotte, a lay campus minister, a FOCUS missionary team, and an elected student leadership team. The chaplain is a 2007 alumnus of Wake Forest who returned to his alma mater in 2024.
- Chaplain — Fr. David McCanless (Diocese of Charlotte, ordained 2016; Gregorian University, Rome; assignments at St. Patrick Cathedral Charlotte, Basilica of St. Lawrence Asheville, Our Lady of Mercy Winston-Salem); chaplain at Wake since 2024; [email protected]
- Campus Minister — Jenn Barlow (336-758-5110)
- FOCUS Missionaries — Kevin Lee, Lily Engles
- Student President — Dom Waugh (Wake Forest, NC; Economics)
- Student Vice President — Sophia Damian (Winston-Salem, NC; Computer Science)
- Student Treasurer and Secretary — named on the Leadership & Staff page
- Servant Leadership Team — ministry-facing student leaders
Get Involved
WFCCM makes it easy to drop in. Worship at Mass, share a Wednesday dinner, join a small group, or play on an intramural team — participation can be as light or as deep as a student wants. The Executive Board and Servant Leadership Team are drawn from active student members.
- Weekly Sunday Masses — 10:30 AM, 4:30 PM, 6:00 PM
- Wednesday community dinner — 6:00 PM in the Catholic Lounge
- Small groups and Bible studies
- Intramural sports teams
- Campus traditions — Hit the Bricks, Project Pumpkin, Pitsgiving, Love Feast, Wake N Shake
- Leadership — Exec Board (President, VP, Treasurer, Secretary) and Servant Leadership Team
Small Groups and Bible Studies
Following the model of the earliest Christian communities (Acts 2:42–47), WFCCM small groups meet weekly to share Scripture, prayer, and the lived experience of the Catholic faith. Groups are open to anyone who wants to join, with the schedule set each year by the FOCUS missionaries once classes begin.
- Weekly small groups — Scripture, prayer, and fellowship
- FOCUS-led Bible studies
- Open to any student wishing to join
Retreats and Spiritual Opportunities
WFCCM offers retreats as a chance to step away from the busy rhythm of college life for prayer, peaceful reflection, and spiritual growth. Retreats are held both on campus and off site, including an overnight Spring Retreat.
- Spring Retreat (overnight, off-site)
- Day retreats and spiritual opportunities on campus during the year
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Students serve in all of WFCCM's liturgical roles at Mass. Music is an integral part of worship, and student instrumentalists and singers are welcome to join the Music Ministry. Liturgical roles include Lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and Greeter.
- Music Ministry — instrumentalists and singers
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Greeters
- Training provided for any student wanting to serve
FOCUS Missionaries
FOCUS — the Fellowship of Catholic University Students — is a national campus ministry movement that helps college students seek meaning and purpose during a formative stage of life. FOCUS missionaries at Wake Forest lead small-group Bible studies, foster intentional community, and walk with students on the path toward a strong adult faith.
- FOCUS missionaries on staff — Kevin Lee and Lily Engles
- Bible studies and small groups led by FOCUS
- Part of a national Catholic campus ministry movement
Diocese and Wider Church Connection
WFCCM is part of the Diocese of Charlotte's Catholic Campus Ministry. The chaplain is a priest incardinated in the diocese, and the ministry is supported by the bishop's office and the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation. Fr. David McCanless currently serves as Secretary of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (2025–26).
- Diocese of Charlotte
- Chaplain incardinated in the Diocese of Charlotte
- Diocese of Charlotte Foundation — 400th endowment directed to WFCCM in 2025
- Presbyteral Council (2025–26) — Fr. David serves as Secretary
Giving and Support
Unlike a parish with weekly collection income, WFCCM is fully self-funded. Its only direct university support is a small annual budget allocation that all student organizations share. Donations to the Annual Fund, endowment gifts, and designated gifts through Wake Forest University are the ministry's primary lifelines.
- Annual Fund
- Designated gifts through Wake Forest University (designate to WFCCM)
- Diocese of Charlotte Foundation endowment support