On the Old Dominion University campus in Norfolk, Virginia, the Catholic Campus Ministry - known as the Catholic Monarchs - provides a spiritual home for the university's Catholic students, faculty, and staff. Run as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, the Monarchs gather for Mass, faith formation, fellowship, and service throughout the academic year. Its stated mission is to be "a Christ-centered community that seeks to be a true witness to the Catholic Faith," living out Christ's calling through the sacraments, religious formation, prayer, and friendship.
Sunday and Thursday Mass in the Webb Center
Sunday Mass is celebrated at 4:00 PM in the Executive Dining Room of the Webb University Center, the central crossroads of campus life at ODU. A weekday Mass is offered each Thursday at 6:00 PM in the same space when classes are in session; the schedule pauses for summer, fall, holiday, and spring breaks. Any location changes are announced in the weekly email and at the preceding Mass, and the ministry follows all ODU closings for weather.
For students who want to take a more active role in the liturgy, the Serve at Mass program recruits lectors, ushers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. No prior experience is needed; group training sessions are held once a month, with individual training available at any point throughout the semester. Word Among Us missals, with the daily readings, are available at the CCM House for anyone who wants to follow along.
The Sacraments: Reconciliation, Adoration, and Becoming Catholic
Confessions are heard each Thursday beginning at 5:00 PM at the CCM House, and by appointment with Fr. Gerry Kaggwa, the ministry's Sacramental Priest. Eucharistic Adoration takes place every other Tuesday at 6:00 PM at the CCM House, a quiet hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. On the off-Tuesdays, the community gathers at the CCM House to pray the Rosary together, and online resources explain both the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Rosary for newcomers.
For those who want to become Catholic, or for already-baptized Catholics seeking full communion through Confirmation and Eucharist, the Becoming Catholic program offers an Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process. Classes meet weekly, with the sacraments of initiation typically received at Easter, in partnership with the local parish, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Norfolk.
For those who sense a calling to ordained or consecrated life, the ministry points students toward the Diocese of Richmond's Office of Vocations for priesthood discernment, while Director Marissa O'Neil makes time to talk with and pray with students curious about consecrated life.
The CCM House on West 49th
The CCM House, located at 1306 W. 49th Street directly across from the Webb Center, doubles as the ministry's hub and a living room away from home. The first floor is open throughout the day, complete with a full kitchen, comfortable couches, free Wi-Fi, a widescreen TV, gaming systems, and board games - a place to study, meet up with friends, or just take a break between classes. Upstairs, a quieter study room stocked with Catholic resources provides space for exams or group projects. Also on the second floor is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a quiet room to step away from the rush of campus life and spend time in prayer. The CCM House is also where the Director and Sacramental Priest keep their offices, making it easy to drop in for spiritual direction, advice, or just a conversation.
Soul Food: Thursday Nights Around the Table
Every Thursday evening during the semester, the Monarchs gather for Soul Food, a combination of Mass, a home-cooked dinner, and a talk on an aspect of the Catholic faith. The evening begins in the Webb Center, followed by a move to the CCM House for the meal and presentation, running from 5:45 PM to 7:30 PM. The dinners are prepared by community members and parent volunteers; students who enjoy a particular dish can find the recipes in an online recipe book to recreate favorite meals at home.
Small Groups on Campus
Small faith-sharing communities meet weekly throughout the semester for prayer, Scripture study, and mutual support. Two groups meet in the Webb Center, across from Starbucks: a Monday group at 1:30 PM led by Jai and Declan, and a Tuesday group at 1:45 PM led by Nabeeha and Nick. The groups begin in late August and continue until the close of the semester, and students are welcome to join at any point.
Fellowship Throughout the Year
Fellowship is built into the rhythm of CCM. Holiday-themed parties, movie nights at the CCM House, football tailgates, men's and ladies' nights, and other social events fill the calendar, and friends are always welcome along. A Sunday evening event on home football game days and similar seasonal gatherings help students connect with one another outside of formal programs. The CCM Calendar and weekly newsletter keep the community posted on what's coming up.
Service in Norfolk and Across the Region
Service is woven into the life of the Monarchs. Each month, the community prepares, cooks, and freezes casseroles that are delivered to St. Mary's Basilica Soup Kitchen in downtown Norfolk, where they help feed more than 300 people for dinner four nights a week throughout the year. The Monarch Pantry, a food pantry housed in the Webb Center and run by ODU's Office of Leadership & Learning, provides fresh foods, nonperishables, and personal hygiene items to ODU students. Each fall, the campus-wide Monarchs Give Back food drive collects items for the pantry and for Norfolk Public Schools, culminating in a Homecoming Week celebration.
For Spring Break, the ministry offers an annual service trip. Past destinations have included Richmond, Newark (Delaware), Cape Charles, and Hampton, Virginia. The trip fee is typically modest, with financial assistance available for those for whom cost is a barrier.
Each spring, the Monarchs join the ODU community for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Campus Walk, raising funds and awareness for suicide prevention - one of the leading causes of death among young adults. A Catholic Monarchs team invites walkers and donors from across the wider CCM family.
Standing for Life
The ministry educates and energizes students on life issues. Each winter, students travel to Richmond for Virginia Pro-Life Day, meeting with legislators and advocating for pro-life policies. Each spring, the community joins the Virginia March for Life in Richmond, giving public witness to the cause alongside others from across the commonwealth.
Retreats and the Wider Diocese
Retreats are a regular rhythm at CCM. The annual Fall Retreat in early November takes the whole community on an overnight to Hampton, Virginia for a weekend of prayer, fellowship, and fun, with a low cost to keep it accessible. Each February, students can attend the Virginia Catholic Campus Ministry Summit, a diocesan conference hosted by the Diocese of Richmond that gathers college ministries from across the state for speakers, breakout sessions, and community.
The ministry also takes part in diocesan pilgrimages. Most recently, Bishop Knestout invited the faithful of the Diocese of Richmond on pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., with free shuttles to the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land and the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.
The Student Leadership Team
A student leadership team keeps the ministry running day to day. Sarah Ryan serves as president and Natalie Wolanin as vice president. Ministry chairs include Jaisingh Riske (Evangelization), David Lairson (Faith Formation), MacKinnley O'Donnell (Fellowship), Brady Donahue (Liturgy), and Jeremy Morris (Service & Social Justice). These students are employees and leaders of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, working alongside Director Marissa O'Neil and Sacramental Priest Fr. Gerry Kaggwa.
Open to Students Across Hampton Roads
While CCM is rooted at Old Dominion University, it welcomes students from neighboring schools as well. Catholic students from Tidewater Community College, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Regent University are invited to register, attend any ODU CCM event, and join the Fall Retreat, the Spring Break trip, and the rest of the calendar. The Diocese of Richmond also hosts events specifically for college students throughout the year, and CCM helps connect interested students to those opportunities.
Practical Details
The CCM Office can be reached at info@catholicmonarchs.org, by phone at 757-447-4617 or 757-440-9065, or in person at the CCM House, 1306 W. 49th Street, Norfolk, VA 23508. Online giving is available through Parish Soft, with #iGiveCatholic tied to Giving Tuesday each December. CCM merchandise, from t-shirts to accessories, is sold through an online storefront run in partnership with Rojo Ink. Prayer intentions can be submitted online, and the ministry keeps alumni, parents, and the wider community informed through a regular newsletter and a subscription listserv.