Grow in Faith
Campus Ministry offers many opportunities for students to grow in faith during their time at SJU. Whether you are confident in your beliefs or have many doubts and questions, we invite you to explore with us. Our ministry is rooted in the Catholic tradition and inspired by Ignatian Spirituality, but all are welcome, regardless of denomination or faith tradition. Please consider becoming involved through our retreats and weekly faith sharing groups, or by taking part in other programs which can inspire you to find God’s presence more readily in your life.
Welcome
Worship & Pray With Us
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Hawk Hill Campus-Chapel of Saint Joseph
Sundays:
11AM year round
7:00PM & 9:00PM when classes are in sessionWeekdays:
12:20PM M-F when classes are in session
University City Campus
Sunday mass: St. Francis DeSales Church, 4625 Springfield Avenue
- 5pm Saturday vigil
- 7:00am
- 10:15am
Religious groups seeking prayer space on the UCity Campus: please contact us at campusministry@sju.edu
Lancaster Campus
Nearby Catholic Parishes
St. Anthony of Padua Church
St. John Neumann Parish
St. Joseph Catholic ChurchPlaces of Worship in Lancaster (varied denominations)
Religious groups seeking prayer space on the Lancaster Campus: please contact us at campusministry@sju.edu
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Wednesdays 8:45PM-9:15PM
Sundays: 8:00PM-9:00PM
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During the Semester on Wednesday Evenings, our campus community gathers in front of the Blessed Sacrament for a time of Adoration. From 8:30PM-9:30PM, join us in the chapel for traditional Adoration and Benediction, Acoustic Praise and Worship Music, or Silent Prayer Time. Priest will also be available to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession.
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Mondays 8:00PM Wolfington Hall
Thursdays: 8:00PM Chapel
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Each Week Father Daniel Joyce, S.J., our Vice President of Mission, records a Sunday Homily that is available to be viewed on youtube. We invite you to listen or view Father Joyce's homily to supplement your Sunday devotions.
You can view the homily on the campus ministry you tube page
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Members of the SJU community and alumni are invited to submit requests for prayer to prayer@sju.edu. Your intentions will be remembered at mass by a member of the Jesuit community.
Prayer at SJU
Liturgical Ministry
Students are invited and encouraged to serve in our liturgies in various capacities. Opportunities exist to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Sacristans/Altar Servers, music, hospitality, etc.
Required training is offered at the beginning of each semester for liturgical ministry.
For more information, contact Diane Hankee at dhankee@sju.edu.
Music Ministry
Chapel Choir is open to new members in the beginning of each semester. We are a 4-part SATB choir. No auditions are necessary to join!
Membership requires a commitment to attend rehearsals on Tuesdays 5-6:30 PM in the Chapel and Sundays beginning at 5:30pm before 7pm Mass. Students must be able to attend BOTH Tuesday and Sunday rehearsals.
To join the Chapel Band, auditions ARE required. All instruments are welcome. Chapel Band rehearses Thursdays 11am-12pm.
For more information or to set up an audition for the Chapel Band, contact Diane Hankee at dhankee@sju.edu.
Sacramental Preparation
Confirmation
OCIA(formerly RCIA) is a program involving a journey of faith and ongoing conversion in which a person designed to orient individuals seeking to enter the Faith of Jesus Christ. We offer Christian Initiation for those who have been baptized in the Catholic Faith but have not completed their initiation by receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. The program runs throughout the fall and spring semesters with the reception of the sacrament taking place on the Saturday after Easter.
For more information, please contact Fr. Dan Joyce, SJ at djoyce@sju.edu.
Becoming Catholic
Campus Ministry offers an OCIA formation process culminating in the reception of the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. The program involves a journey of faith and conversion in which a person is introduced to the beliefs, life, liturgy, and apostolic work of the Catholic Community. At SJU, it will run throughout the Fall and Spring Semesters with the sacraments of initiation being received at Easter.
The OCIA program is designed primarily for those desiring Baptism. However, since Christians who are already baptized in another denomination may be seeking membership in the Catholic Church, the OCIA is adapted to their needs. Both of these adaptations attempt to meet the needs and desires of each participant.
For more information, please contact Fr. Dan Joyce, SJ at djoyce@sju.edu.
Spiritual Direction
Are you looking for ways to grow in your spiritual life or deepen your relationship with God? Spiritual Direction is the process of encountering God and examining ways to enhance our personal prayer with a trained guide.
We are happy to facilitate finding a director for students, faculty/staff, and alumni here at SJU. Contact Fr. Joyce or Michael in the Office of Mission at officeofmission@sju.edu.
The Spiritual Exercises
The Spiritual Exercises are a collection of prayer forms and meditations developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola to assist people in deepening their relationship with God. The traditional form of the Exercises, which all Jesuits take part in during their formation, is experienced as a “long retreat” of about 30 days. Many laypeople take part in the Exercises as well – sometimes through the long retreat, but more commonly as a “retreat in daily life.” In this format, the retreatant commits to several months of daily prayer and weekly meetings with a spiritual director.
The Exercises at Saint Joseph's University
We are pleased to offer the rich experience of the exercises to our students, faculty/staff, and alumni. After an initial interview, the prospective retreatant will be assigned a spiritual director to accompany them through the experience. The retreat takes part in a structured period in one of two options.
- The Five Week Option: Offered in the beginning of the Fall or Spring Semesters and also on a rolling basis.
The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life(SEEL) experience: This more in depth and extended period of prayer is completed over 32 weeks and begins in the Fall Semester
However, both retreat experiences contain common elements:
- a commitment to daily prayer
- keeping a journal recording the prayer experiences
- Learning to make the Ignatian Examen
- meeting weekly individually with the director
For more information, contact Father Joyce, SJ or Michael Matulewicz in the Office of Mission at officeofmission@sju.edu. or Visit sju.edu/mission to learn more.
Interfaith Opportunities at SJU
Our Religious Diversity on Campus
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Each year in January, the university sponsors an interfaith prayer service during which members of various faith traditions share the beauty of their own religious practices. All are encouraged to come and participate in this uplifting community event!
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The SJU community is welcome to use the interfaith prayer room for prayer, reflection, and meditation (located on the 2nd floor of Campion Student Center, room 209/207). The room is open during the same hours that Campion is open and it can be accessed by using your SJU ID card after hours. Prayer mats are available for use. Please remove your shoes before entering the room. If additional interfaith prayer space is needed, please contact Campus Ministry at campusministry@sju.edu about reserving space in Wolfington Hall for particular day and times.
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Whitecar 203
This prayer room is open during building hours. Please remove your shoes before entering the room. The Muslim Prayer Room is available for daily and Friday prayers. For other religious groups seeking prayer space on UCity or Lancaster Campus, please contact us at campusministry@sju.edu. -
The MSA seeks to unify and serve the Muslim community at Saint Joseph's University. It provides unity among Muslims, conducts social, cultural, religious, and other such activities in the tradition of Islam; and arranges congregational prayers and Islamic religious festivals. The organization also promotes hospitable relations between Muslim and non-Muslims and works towards sharing Islamic knowledge and character among the student body. Follow on Instagram @sju.msa
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Hillel at SJU is the center of Jewish life on campus, helping students connect to the Jewish community and their Jewish identity. Follow at @sjuhillel
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As a Jesuit University, SJU values religious diversity. If you are interested in forming another religious organization on campus, please contact campusministry@sju.edu and the Office of Student Leadership and Activities at SJU.
“Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in me.”
Local non-Catholic Religious Institutions/Resources
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- City Line Church
404 Levering Mill Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-255-7177 - Ardmore United Methodist Church
200 Argyle Road, Ardmore, PA 19003
610-649-4382 - Overbrook Presbyterian Church
6376 City Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19151
215-877-2744 - Church of St. John Episcopal
404 Levering Mill Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-664-4517 - African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
6361 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19151
215-473-3065 - Pinn Memorial Baptist Church
2251 N 54th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-878-2742 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
196 Woodbine Ave. Narberth, PA 19072
610-664-5503 - Church of Saint Asaph, Episcopal
27 Conshocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-664-0966 - Merion Friends Meeting
615 Montgomery Avenue Merion Station, PA 19066
610-664-4210 - Anchor Church
10:15AM Sunday Mornings at School of the Future
4021 Parkside Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
(267) 289-2995
- City Line Church
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- Adath Israel (conservative)
250 N. Highland Ave. Merion Station, PA 19066
610-664-5150 - Lower Merion Synagogue (orthodox)
123 Old Lancaster Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-664-5626 - Main Line Reform Temple
410 Montgomery Ave. Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-649-7800 - AISH HaTORAH
50 Montgomery Ave. Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-668-9600 - Beth Hamedrash
200 Haverford Rd. Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-642-6444 - Lubavitch of the Mainline (Chabad Center for Jewish Life)
General Wayne Inn, 625 Montgomery Ave. Merion Station, PA 19066
610-660-9900
- Adath Israel (conservative)
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- The Mosque of Shaikh M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
5820 Overbrook Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-879-6300 - Masjid Salaam
N 41st St. Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-473-3222 - Masjid Al-Madinah
6800 Ludlow St Upper Darby, PA 19082
610-352-7774 - Philadelphia Masjid Inc
4700 Wyalusing Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-877-2800 - Masjid Al-Jamia
4228 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104
267-275-8087 - The Islamic Center of Ridge Avenue
3112 Ridge Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19121
215-232-9435
- The Mosque of Shaikh M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
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- Baha’i Center Philadelphia Regional Baha’i Center
2462 Bryn Mawr Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-879-8866
- Baha’i Center Philadelphia Regional Baha’i Center
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- Radha Krishna Temple
41 W Allen Ln. Philadelphia, PA 19119
215-247-4600 - Samarpan Hindu Temple
6515 Bustleton Ave. Philadelphia PA 19149
215-537-9537
- Radha Krishna Temple
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- Buddhist Congregational
136 Austin Ave. Lansdowne, PA 19050
610-626-2473 - Lian Sheng Tang Buddha Temple
1539 McKean St. Philadelphia PA 19145
267-687-1904
- Buddhist Congregational
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- Buddhist Congregational
136 Austin Ave. Lansdowne, PA 19050
610-626-2473 - Lian Sheng Tang Buddha Temple
1539 McKean St. Philadelphia PA 19145
267-687-1904
- Buddhist Congregational
Alumni Services at Hawk Hill
Weddings
SJU Alumni are invited to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony in the Chapel of St. Joseph. More information can be found on our Weddings page.
Alumni Memorial & Funeral Masses
Family members and friends desiring to remember a deceased alumnus are welcome to arrange to do so at our 11am Sunday mass. Memorial masses outside of the regular Sunday liturgy are scheduled only in exceptional circumstances.
Funeral Masses are not ordinarily offered in the Chapel of St. Joseph.
For more information, please contact Diane Hankee, Campus Minister for Liturgy, Music, and Weddings at dhankee@sju.edu.