Spiritual Life
Spirituality and faith formation are at the heart of what happens on campus. We have numerous programs and offices available to assist students of diverse heritages and enrich their college experience.
St. Mary’s is a Catholic, Marianist university. Learn more about what it means to be a Marianist University or read on to find out why students from a wide variety of denominations and faiths come together to learn and share at St. Mary’s.
Holy Mass On Campus
Daily Mass
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
12:15 p.m. in Assumption Chapel
Tuesday, Thursday
12:30 p.m. in Assumption Chapel
Sunday Mass – Morning
11 a.m. in Assumption Chapel (Confessions at 10:30 a.m.)
Sunday Mass – Evening
9 p.m. in Guadalupe Chapel (Confessions at 8:30 p.m.)
Spanish Mass – Last Sunday of the Month
9 p.m. in Guadalupe Chapel (Confessions at 8:30 p.m.)
Weekly Confessions
Thursday
4:30 p.m. in Assumption Chapel
Hispanic Faith and Culture
St. Mary’s University has a culturally diverse community, with a large portion of the student population that is Hispanic. University Ministry has established a ministry outreach for Hispanic students to assist them adjust to college life while at the same time learn more about one’s culture and faith.
Hispanic Ministry organizes different programs to experience diverse faith expressions, celebrate cultural heritage, foster service and encourage intellectual pursuits. Following the Marianist charism, this unique ministry outreach supports the spiritual development of young Hispanics that will enable them to become active leaders in their faith communities.
Spanish Mass
University Ministry sponsors Spanish Mass on the last Sunday of the month at 9 p.m. in Guadalupe Chapel. All are welcome to experience Hispanic liturgy and music presided by Spanish-speaking priests from around the Archdiocese of San Antonio and our Marianist communities near the university.
Latin Nights
Join us to celebrate our cultural diversity! Through Latin Nights twice a semester, we help promote Hispanic cultural diversity in a fun and interactive way with different musical genres, dance, Latin-styled refreshments and fellowship.
Messengers of Faith and Hope (June 15-18, 2018)
The Sixth Annual Hispanic Ministry Training for Campus Ministers and Young Adults will take place June 15-18, 2018 on the campus of St. Mary’s University. This residential summer program is specifically designed for young adults, together with the ministers who serve them, to address the particular needs of young Hispanic Catholics interested in strengthening their faith while studying in colleges and universities. This experience will provide a vision and better sense of direction for Hispanic young adults at the parish level, to guide them to become a vital contribution to their faith community.
As St. Mary’s University will also host the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute (CMLI) June 19-23, we are offering two alternatives for the Hispanic Ministry training: the first option, consisting of the full weekend experience in San Antonio area (June 15-18); and a second option, consisting of a one-day training on campus the day before starting CMLI (June 18).
Campus Ministry Leadership Institute (CMLI) (June 19-23, 2018)
CMLI is an intense, five-day training and working institute for student leaders and campus ministers from across the country who attend together as campus teams. As a team, you should expect to work intensely throughout the week, learn about campus ministry from a national perspective, gain skills and confidence in your ability to improve ministry on your campus, meet people from across the country and be tired when it is over. CMLI days at St. Mary’s University will include prayer and liturgies, interactive presentations on the basics of Campus Ministry, project preparation time, team building, free time, small group conversations, networking, meals and socials.
Pastoral Care
Whether you’ve reached a fork in the road, are facing a crisis or could simply use some guidance in your spiritual life, University Ministry’s pastoral team is here to help. Our team understands that your experience is unique to you, and we offer spiritual direction, support services and vocation discernment services to meet your needs.
Through meaningful conversation, you’ll be able to give voice to your curiosity, concerns and contemplation about your spiritual journey. Our team offers a safe, compassionate setting for you to share your experiences with people who are going through something similar. You can feel good knowing that someone is always available to help you in your time of need.
Our Pastoral Team
St. Mary’s has the largest ministry team in the state of Texas, with seven full-time professional campus ministers, four student ministerial assistants and a number of student peer ministers.
Chaplaincy Services
St. Mary’s University has numerous chaplains who support the pastoral concerns of the St. Mary’s campus community. These chaplains promote the pastoral, spiritual and liturgical life of the community in the content of the Roman Catholic and Marianist traditions.
Services provided by the members of the chaplaincy include assisting or presiding over campus liturgies, Marianist feast and community liturgies as well as major University events such as a Baccalaureate or alumni events. They may oversee services for weddings, work closely with other member of University Ministry for times of crisis, provide spiritual support for Confirmations and other faith celebrations and provide invocations for meetings and events as needed.
Prayer Requests
If you would like to request prayers for yourself, a loved one, or some situation that is in your heart, use the form below to send your request to Father Tim Eden. He will make sure that your request is offered to God with the prayers of the St. Mary’s community in a confidential manner.
Residence Hall Ministry
We provide outreach to our students in University housing through Faith and Life Communities, programming, seasonal prayer services and special events. Our “ministry of presence” foments personal growth within a community setting, following the model of Blessed Father Chaminade, founder of The Marianists.
Residence Hall Ministry is a collaborative effort between University Ministry and the Residence Life staff. We share a common concern for the needs of our students in University housing.
-
Prayer Rooms
Along with Assumption Chapel and Guadalupe Chapel, the prayer rooms provide great opportunities to meditate in a quiet environment amidst the busyness of daily life. Different religious groups are welcome to use these prayer rooms to host activities that foster spiritual growth and development.Founders Hall Interfaith Prayer Room –1st Floor behind the main desk – enjoy times of quiet for personal reflection as well as weekly faith-based programs.
Treadaway Hall Interfaith Prayer Room – 1st Floor – Across the entrance to Guadalupe Chapel, in the Treadaway Foyer area, come and visit the newest interfaith prayer space. Open every day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Treadaway Hall Meditation Room – 4th Floor – Going up the staircase by Guadalupe Chapel, all the way to the top, come and meditate in a quiet space overlooking the San Antonio skyline. Open every day between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Sacraments
Confirmation
This sacrament is for those who have been baptized and received the sacrament of Eucharist in the Catholic Church. The sacrament of Confirmation celebrates the fullness of the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord sent upon the apostles at Pentecost. It is a sacrament that celebrates God’s special strengths and gifts in those who have been baptized.
Administration of the Sacrament is preceded by a series of classes. Students preparing for Confirmation must also freely choose to be confirmed, attend Mass regularly, and practice the precepts of the faith. This class is open to current St. Mary’s students, faculty, staff and alumni. Persons under the age of 18 are encouraged to receive Confirmation through their home parish.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
RCIA is for anyone who is not currently Catholic, but would like to find out what Catholics believe. You can receive the sacrament of Eucharist and Confirmation after being previously baptized in a different faith tradition or baptized Catholic. Likewise, RCIA is also appropriate for anyone who has never been baptized.
Administration of the Sacraments is preceded by a series of classes. This class is open to current St. Mary’s students, faculty, staff and alumni. Persons under the age of 18 are encouraged to receive Confirmation through their home parish.
Spiritual Retreats
University Ministry fosters personal growth in community following the example of Marianist communities throughout the world, with a tradition that encourages each person to invest in quiet time for prayer and meditation that will help us to keep the most important things in mind on a regular basis.
Our retreat ministry offers different experiences throughout the year: a busy-person personal retreat format, one-day reflections on campus, overnight and weekend retreats off campus. To nurture the interior life is one of the most challenging but also most rewarding practice during college years.
Rattler Awakening XXIV
Friday, Feb. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018
Online registration will be available beginning Dec. 1, 2017 to Feb. 1, 2018.
University Ministry
University Ministry serves the St. Mary’s University community by encouraging and promoting personal development, growth in the community, lived-faith values, leadership, and service to the University and our world.
University Ministry supports the faith journey of all students, faculty and staff regardless of faith tradition. An interfaith prayer room is available for students to use for prayer or quiet meditation. This room can be reserved by contacting the University Ministry office. Usually in the early part of the fall semester an Interfaith Fair is held in the University Quad to introduce students to the various faith communities in the San Antonio. We welcome ideas of how to improve our interfaith collaboration on campus.
We are professional ministers committed to, and passionate about, engaging St. Mary’s in servant leadership, and to living a vibrant and faith-filled witness of the Marianist charism in our world. Also, let us know if you have previous ministry experience and are interested in volunteering with University Ministry.
Interested in Ministry?
Serve as a greeter, lector, music minister or in many other ways. If you’re interested in finding out how you can get started as a Liturgical Minister, please contact Julie Sanchez, Assistant for Liturgy, at 210-436-3304.