Campus Ministry FAQs

Who is Campus Ministry for?

Campus Ministry invites students and all members of the Notre Dame family to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Campus Ministry seeks to care for the spiritual needs of all students on campus, regardless of denomination or faith tradition. Our ministry is rooted in the Catholic tradition and inspired by the Congregation of Holy Cross. We foster spiritual growth through worship and prayer, reflection and service, and education and faith formation. We call upon our students and ourselves to proclaim the Good News and to become signs of hope in our community, the Church, and the world.

Where is Campus Ministry?

CM’s main offices are in the Coleman-Morse Center (or CoMo), which is located on South Quad between Badin Hall and the Knights of Columbus building. Any of the more than 30 members of the CM staff in the Welcome Center & Retreats Office (114 CoMo) or in the Main Office (319 CoMo) can provide you with program information or connect you with the right person.

How do I get involved in a retreat?

Check out our website for more info or to print off an application, or drop by the Welcome Center & Retreats Office (114 CoMo). CM offers a variety of retreats that are open to undergraduates of all faith traditions and levels of faith experience. The Freshmen Retreat and the "Notre Dame Encounter with Christ Retreat (NDE) ":/retreats/notre-dame-encounter are two of the most popular. Many others include the Sophomore Road Trip, the Senior Retreat, and various cross-cultural retreats.
Contact: Mary Olen / Olen.2@nd.edu

Are there any faith-sharing groups or Bible studies?

Yes! Emmaus is our totally student-led, campus-wide faith sharing program. It’s a great way to get plugged into a solid Christian community and meet new people from across campus. Emmaus groups meet weekly for about an hour, breaking open the Bible to explore various topics. There are also a variety of other Campus Bible Studies that meet regularly on campus each week. In addition, groups like Four:7 Catholic Fellowship and Iron Sharpens Iron Interdenominational Fellowship gather students from various faith traditions to praise God through spiritual reflection and song. Sign up for any of these on your own or with friends.
Contacts:
Emmaus: Tami Schmitz / Schmitz.8@nd.edu
Campus Bible Studies: Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC / DelFra.2@nd.edu
Four:7 Catholic Fellowship or Iron Sharpen Iron Interdenominational Fellowship:
Brett Perkins / Perkins.26@nd.edu

Are there any cross-cultural ministries?

In addition to its many programs open to all undergraduates, CM’s Office of Cross-Cultural Ministry offers specific cultural, faith-based experiences for students of Latino, African American, and Asian / Asian American heritage. Activities include retreats, Bible studies, special liturgical celebrations, and various conferences.
Contacts:
Latino Student Ministry: Fr. Ralph Haag, CSC / Haag.6@nd.edu
African American Student Ministry: Judy Madden / jmadden2@nd.edu
Asian / Asian American Student Ministry: Priscilla Wong / pwong@nd.edu

How do I get involved at the Basilica?

Each semester, there is a training session for students who wish to serve as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, or Altar Servers in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Contact: Coordinator of Basilica Ministries: Harv Humphrey / Humphrey.17@nd.edu

How do I join the Catholic Church or get confirmed in the Catholic faith?

CM offers the "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) ":/sacraments/sacramental-preparation-at-nd/becoming-catholic-rcia each academic year. RCIA is for those who have never been baptized or who have been baptized in another Christian denomination and seek full membership (Full Communion) with the Catholic Church. We also offer a Confirmation Program for baptized Catholics seeking to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Sessions for both RCIA and the Confirmation Program begin in September, and the sign-up cut-off for both is Fall Break.
Contacts:
RCIA Process: Tami Schmitz / Schmitz.8@nd.edu
Confirmation Program:
Fr. John Conley, CSC / Conley.9@nd.edu
John & Sylvia Dillon / Dillon.14@nd.edu

What if I’m not Catholic?

Students of all faiths are welcome to any of our Campus Ministry activities. Even though Notre Dame is a Catholic university, we offer a variety of spiritual opportunities for those who come from other Christian denominations and other faith traditions. Every week, hundreds of students from various backgrounds participate in one of our interdenominational programs, Bible studies, retreats, or other activities. And if you’re looking for an off-campus place of worship of your particular denomination or faith tradition, we can help you with that, too!
Contact: Brett Perkins / Perkins.26@nd.edu

How do I join a Campus Ministry choir?

Our Campus Ministry Choirs are world-renowned for the quality of music they provide. Students of all ages, majors, and musical experience are welcome to audition. Auditions for all choirs are held the Sunday and Monday preceding the start of classes for the fall semester, or individually as scheduled by the directors listed below:
Contacts:
Liturgical Choir: Dr. Gail Walton / Walton.4@nd.edu
Celebration Choir & Handbell Choir: Karen Schneider Kirner / Karen.Kirner@nd.edu
Folk Choir: Steve Warner / Warner.1@nd.edu
Women’s Liturgical Choir: Dr. Andrew McShane / McShane.1@nd.edu
Basilica Schola: Dr. Andrew McShane / McShane.1@nd.edu

Do you offer anything for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students?

CM provides ongoing support and opportunities for discussion with individuals or groups of students who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. CM also offers an annual weekend retreat for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students.
Contact: Fr. Joe Carey, CSC / Carey.22@nd.edu

Who can I talk to about my faith life or personal issues? How do I get involved with Spiritual Direction?

The doors of all CM staff members are always open, and we are ready to answer any questions, assist in your spiritual growth, discuss your faith experiences, or just simply listen. CM also has an extensive list of Spiritual Directors from all areas of campus. All are available for one-on-one discussions about issues related to your spiritual life, faith development, vocational discernment, relationships, family, prayer life, etc.
Contact: Tami Schmitz / Schmitz.8@nd.edu

Have other questions not addressed here? Please contact us at ministry@nd.edu.