University mass builds friendships and diverse community among city’s new students

Ottawa is just a few weeks away from welcoming thousands of new students to the city’s two universities and Algonquin College, including many who may not only be looking for a physical home, but a spiritual one as well.

When St. Joseph’s Parish first started offering a special evening mass dedicated to students and young adults eleven years ago, the service only attracted a small handful of students, filling up a dozen chairs arranged in a circle around the altar, offering a meditative, reflective experience. Many of these students have since graduated, but remain attached to university mass and continue to attend, even as young professionals from all walks of life.

The meditative nature of university mass remains the same as when it was first launched, with an emphasis on contemplative prayer, periods of silence and the lighting of candles. But the number of participants has risen exponentially over the years.

The fact that mass is offered at a convenient 7:30PM time slot on Sundays, rather than early in the morning, tends to attract students, but so does the more personal, intentional experience of standing with other young adults around the altar and praying together as a community for the social, economic and environmental well-being of our world.

University mass makes no secret of its commitment to social justice, human rights, equality, peace and multiculturalism, and building a modern, lay-led spiritual community in Sandy Hill that is fully engaged in the contemporary world and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and life experiences.

The community also serves as an open, welcoming place to meet other students, chat over refreshments and snacks after mass, and join the Parish’s young adult group for pot-luck dinners, discussion groups, themed parties and live music during musical and literary evenings.

University mass at St. Joe’s starts up again on Sunday, September 11^th, 2011.