An outdoor terrace, new student lounge, quiet study areas, and dedicated Bible study rooms are just some of the enhancements the growing Catholic Campus Ministry at George Mason University in Fairfax envisions in announcing its largest capital campaign in more than 30 years.
Father Joseph Farrell, chaplain, and ministry staff previewed the plans with students and alumni at launch events hosted Oct. 19-20, in conjunction with weekend Masses.
The ministry’s worship space, St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel, was dedicated in 1994.
“In those three decades, GMU has become the largest university in Virginia,” Father Farrell wrote in an appeal letter. “We have continued to experience tremendous growth. In just one year, we have seen a 44 percent increase in Mass attendance and 36 percent increase in student involvement in small group Bible studies. … Our ministry is thriving, and we need your help to form the next generation of Catholic leaders.”
Since the chapel’s dedication, ministry staff has tripled and now host thousands of students every semester as a home-away-from-home. The 2,600-square-foot planned expansion is intended to alleviate the growing pains and foster more small-group ministry, seamless events and individual mentoring. In addition to the terrace lounge and study areas, the campaign envisions centralized offices with natural lighting; renovated bathrooms and kitchen; modernized and more flexible hall for large events; and environmentally friendly upgrades.
Each weekend, 400-500 students attend Mass, according to the ministry. Its RCIA program helped bring more than 40 students into the Catholic Church over the past three years. Fifteen Catholic Patriots have discerned the priesthood or religious life in the past decade.
Father Farrell, a 2007 university alumnus himself, hopes to raise $3.2 million and start construction in 2026 or 2027.
Find out more
To learn more and support the GMU ministry campaign, go to gmuccm.org/campaign.
