Catholic Liturgy and Worship

Join us in sharing the mystery of faith through our many prayer and worship opportunities. We welcome all and pray that everyone may find a place of peace and transcendence in our prayer and worship.

Whether for Sunday Eucharist or Opening Year Celebration, we seek to foster and promote worship that “draws the faithful into the compelling love of Christ and sets them on fire” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy §10).

Together, the worship and prayer life at the university is both rich in its heritage and diversity.

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Seasonal Reflections

• December 28, 2025

  Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

  Today’s Readings Perhaps this season finds your home illuminated by the soft glow of Christmas lights, wrapped in the warmth of a fireplace, brightened by a Christmas tree decorated to perfection with ornaments that recall cherished memories from throughout the years. And perhaps, for some, on the top of the tree sits an angel, perched serenely in adoration, or jubilant in song, looking out over the room with a reverence and joy that befits the coming of Christ. At and around the Nativity, angels abound. The Gospel today tells us twice that “the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph”. We immediately hear echoes of Christmas night when angels of the Lord come to proclaim tidings of great joy: the Savior is born! Angels are God’s messengers, sent to communicate a word from the heart of God, a word that guides, instructs, makes clear the way to walk with the Lord. In this passage, the angel of the Lord helps Joseph keep Mary and Jesus safe; the angel directs the Holy Family where to go to escape the wrath of Herod and then guides them safely back to Nazareth years later. Each time we learn that the angels’ instruction is […]

• December 25, 2025

  Christmas Day: Nativity of Our Lord

  Today’s Readings As we celebrate Christmas Day, how do we move forward into a new year as people shaped by the reality of the Incarnation? What difference does the Incarnation make in our lives once the gifts have been opened, the good dishes have been put away, the radio stations have returned to non-Christmas music, and kids have returned to school? We need look no further than today’s reading from the Gospel of John, which includes a beautiful summation of John the Baptist’s ministry: He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. We are not the light, but today and every day, we are called to point people to the light, to reflect the light in how we live and work and love others. As Pope Leo has shared, when we center ourselves on Christ, we “overcome the logic of the world, of fake news, of frivolity, with the beauty and light of truth.” What might it look like for you to point others to the light? It will almost certainly look different from person to person, from one day to the next. Maybe it’s an encouraging word, a meal, an invitation, a deeper question, a […]

• December 21, 2025

  Fourth Sunday of Advent

  Today’s Readings The familiar Advent reading from Matthew 1:18-24 places us squarely in a moment where Joseph faces not joy, but profound crisis and confusion. Mary is found to be with child, and the life growing within her threatens to shatter Joseph’s reputation, legal standing, and future. Yet, it is this specific, unexpected life that the entire divine plan hinges upon. God interrupts a narrative of human anxiety with the angel’s pivotal command “do not be afraid.” This divine intervention is not merely a comfort; it is a summons to radical courage. It affirms that life, even in its earliest, most vulnerable stages, is not an accident. The identity, mission, and inherent value of this child are established before he ever draws a breath. Joseph’s action in response is the ultimate model of protection. Though legally entitled to divorce Mary, he is called to a higher righteousness—one defined not by the law, but by sacrificial love and a courageous faith that acts despite circumstances. He refuses his natural fear and chooses to make room, physically and spiritually, for a vulnerable life that was not part of his initial plan. As we journey through Advent, the angel’s call “do not be […]

• December 14, 2025

  Third Sunday of Advent

  Today’s Readings Rejoice! Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, stands apart as a moment of joyful anticipation, marked not only by the lighting of the rose-colored candle, but also by a distinct shift in tone—one most profoundly expressed through music. While much of Advent is characterized by quiet reflection, Gaudete Sunday offers a glimpse of the joy that awaits. For many—myself included—music becomes the vehicle through which this joy is felt, understood, and shared. The very name “Gaudete” draws from the ancient introit Gaudete in Domino Semper—“Rejoice in the Lord Always.” Sung for centuries, this chant is grounded in scripture and serves as the musical heart of the day. Its melody is both contemplative and uplifting, inviting listeners to reflect deeply while awakening within them a quiet but unmistakable joy. In its simplicity, it recalls the nearness of Christ’s birth and the hope already taking root in the world. Throughout the liturgy, music supports and amplifies the spiritual meaning of the day. Hymns for the day weave together themes of longing, hope, and celebration. Unlike the triumphant carols of Christmas, Advent music is often gentle, restrained, and meditative. However, on Gaudete Sunday, the tone subtly brightens. Harmonies lift upward. […]

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