By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/25/03)

Every Sunday night, at 8 and 10 p.m., there is a force at George Mason University that draws students from their dorm rooms. The students, some dressed in jeans and t-shirts, some in Sunday best, arrive in small groups at St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel.

Late night Sunday Masses are growing in popularity on college campuses, and for some students, the later the Mass the better.

At George Mason University in Fairfax, the interest in late Mass is so high the 8 p.m. Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel is very often standing room only. At the 10 p.m. Mass, the last chance for students at George Mason to fulfill their Sunday obligation, the chapel is usually two-thirds full.

"They think this is a normal time, God bless them," said Father Peter Nassetta, campus minister. "If we just had morning Mass, a lot less of them would be coming."

Cory Davis, a sophomore from Vienna, said 10 p.m. Mass is great. "I hate getting up in the morning to go to Mass," he said. He enjoys the upbeat, contemporary music provided at campus Masses.

Campus Ministry Masses are not only a way to connect with Catholic students living on campus, but, Father Peter added, "sometimes we can connect with commuter students."

Some commuter students attend student Masses in order to socialize more with their peers.

Laura Ballard, a junior at George Mason, is a member of St. Leo Parish in Fairfax, but attends the 10 p.m. student Mass during the school year. She attends the Mass because it is a way to "get away from the parents and get out on my own." She also enjoys gathering with other students in the friendly atmosphere.

Between the two late Masses, and following the 10 p.m. Mass, students can be found gathered outside the chapel catching up on the latest news and exchanging phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

This time after Masses also helps FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) get more students involved in campus ministry.

Father Peter welcomed a group of four FOCUS volunteers to George Mason for the first time this year. The volunteers assist Father Peter to "find students we’re not connecting with yet," he said.

"Campus ministry a relational ministry," said Father Peter. "You can’t just preach to them. You have to build relationships. FOCUS helps to realize that."

FOCUS was created in 1997 by Curtis Martin. According to the organization’s Web-site, the intent of FOCUS is to "foster among college and university students a deep conversion to Jesus Christ within the framework of the Roman Catholic Church."

FOCUS leaders provide students with opportunities to participate in small group Bible studies, personal discipleship, leadership training and, most importantly, fellowship.

John Martino, a FOCUS volunteer, said FOCUS spent the first few weeks at George Mason meeting students where they are.

The late Masses on Sunday night help FOCUS connect with more students. "At a school like George Mason, people are all over the place as to where they go home for a weekend," said Martino. "Ten o’clock Mass makes it possible to gather them back together."

Late night Masses were first celebrated at George Mason by Father Bob Cilinski when he served as chaplain. They were held in a lecture hall on campus before the completion of St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel in 1994. Father Bob began celebrating 8 p.m. Mass to encourage Catholic students to attend Mass who did not want to wake up on Sunday morning. He later added a 10 p.m. Mass to accommodate students involved in fraternities and sororities who often met on Sunday evenings.

Trevor Wallace, a junior from Newport News said he comes to 10 p.m. Mass because it works with his schedule. "I’m up late. I’m up until 3 a.m. I guess that’s what college kids do."