We are the Catholic Church at Butler
University. We have no buildings
so we  are the face of the Church at Butler.
We have no tabernacle on campus but we are the God reminders. We celebrate the sacraments, pray and share faith together and work together to serve others.  We do these things  as part of our Catholic heritage and tradition. We are open to each person as they search for their own personal and Christian identity.
We welcome those who  question and doubt  as well as those who are content. We welcome conservative and liberal  and those who wonder what they are. Respect for differences and diversity is essential. We seek conversation about how faith is lived at Butler and how it will be lived as students find purpose for their lives  and in their careers. We seek Christ as he is to be found in ourselves, each other and also in the poor. (Check out our other pages to see what we do and when to put this into practice.) 

Spirituality for College Students

Growing in your faith can be a challenge. Being both a college student and a practicing Catholic at the same time can

be an even bigger challenge.

Then add questions like:

How do I find God in my life?

What about my doubts, both big and little?

How can I be a more loving person?

Every Thursday evening in September, we will be exploring the spiritual realities for college students while using the

lives of the Saints as guidelines.

So why Saints?

challenges of both love and faith. Even though they lived in times quite different from our own they can still be examples

and guides for us today. Today these saints can act as our companions in our faith and also be a strong support for us.

The Saints included in this series are: Saint Joan of Arc (1412-1431), Saint Brendan (484-577), Blessed Pier Frassati

(1901-1925) and Juan Diego (1474-1548) and others yet to be chosen.

Please come and join the discussion as to how an unlikely young woman (Joan) who heard voices, acted as a military

leader, the Patron Saint of France and was then burned at the stake might speak to college students of the 21st century.

With the help of your thoughts the other saints will be equally helpful.

The dates are 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 of September from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. If those times do not work for you, please

form your own group of at least 6 persons and negotiate a time with Fr. Jeff.

Because they’ve been there, they’ve done that; because they endured their struggles, met the everyday

Gathering The Community for Mass & Sacraments

Every Sunday the Butler Catholic Community gathers for Mass at 1 p.m. in the Johnson Room of Robertson Hall. This

is the main time

serve as readers, communion ministers, musicians, and are also asked to help with set up.

As Mass begins for our Sunday celebration a student witness shares a story on how one of the readings has touched some

area of his / her college life. As one student put it last year,

their insight on the gospel”

We also have special Masses on Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday and holidays. Most weeks there is a simple

(perhaps the only time for some) that we are reminded of our life and connection with Christ. Students“I loved the witnesses! I like to hear from real people and. The Mass had more depth and many different layers.(and short)

celebration of Mass on Wednesdays at 5 p.m.. We have a special Easter Sunday Mass with brunch following

are invited)

(families. Other prayer opportunities are planned by request. Reconciliation is available simply by contacting Fr. Jeff.

There will also be specific times available on occasion and noted on our listserv. If you have not been confirmed, your

college years might be a good time to begin that process.

Music is exceptionally important to our liturgy and we would like to have two musical groups that will provide a variety of music

for our prayer. If you’re interested, please contact Fr. Jeff by e-mail at

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 317-509-6012.

Freshman Retreat

All freshmen are invited to a retreat evening, Friday, September 17 from 6 p.m. to Midnight. It begins with a meal that

everybody helps prepare followed by conversation about how your experience of the first month as a college student has

been and how that relates to faith and challenges to faith. Upper class students lead it. It is an opportunity to share faith

and some prayer time with your classmates. Past participants have said about the retreat evening:

“The retreat was amazing in my opinion”, “It helped me to figure out things with my faith while here at college. I

especially liked to person testimonials”’ “I enjoyed the quiet time because it’s so hard to find quiet”’ “I liked the

prayer session the best”’ “I have always had a hard time talking about my faith, but this retreat really helped me.”

Sign up after Mass or by contacting Fr. Jeff by e-mail at

wishing to extend the Spirit of the Retreat may form a small group for further faith sharing.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 317-509-6012. Those

Busy Person’s Retreat

3 - 8 October

We have so little time to stop and pray and reflect about our faith. The Busy Person’s retreat is intended to be an answer

to our time crunch. In this retreat each person has his or her own retreat director and agrees to meet for one half hour

with the director four times

according to your schedule. The participant also agrees to pray for one half hour each of those days with a passage from

Scripture. The retreat director serves only as a guide and a mentor. You decide what to work on during the retreat. An

orientation with lunch will be held after Mass on Sunday, the 3rd of October. An optional evening prayer will be held

each evening at 5 p.m. with a closing session on Thursday at 5 p.m.

(Monday-Thursday) at a time convenient for you. The time may be different each day

The Busy Person’s Retreat gives you an opportunity to make some special time for your spirituality and faith for five

days while allowing you to continue all your other obligations.

Spring Break Service / Retreat Trip

12 - 19 March

OUR NEWEST SERVICE ADVENTURE

with the Daughters of Charity

shelter and soup kitchen and other service opportunities. The pace will be relaxed and we will also take time for

will be a Spring Break Service/Retreat Trip March 12-19. We will be working(www.doc-ecp.org) in Evansville, Indiana in a day-care center for the poor, a homeless

reflection and prayer. We hope to meet with Bishop Gerald Gettlefinger, a friend of Fr. Jeff’s. We will finish the trip with

two days at Saint Meinrad Benedictine Monastery for some prayer and downtime.

 

 

LITURGY AND PRAYER IN THE BUTLER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.

Most Sundays, Mass is at 1:30 in the Johnson Room in Robertson Hall. Music is provided by Butler Students and students have the opportunity to be servers, lectors, communion ministers. The readings are preceded by a student witness who connects one of the readings to his or her life. Fr. Jeff makes an effort to preach homilies that directly concern college students.

Midweek Mass is a short, simple celebration of the Mass each Wednesday at 12:10 in the blue House across from Clowes. It lasts about 20 minutes.

RECONCILIATION is celebrated at different times announced on the listserv. or by appointment by emailing
Fr. Jeff or calling 317-509-6012.

The Butler Catholic Community celebrates special Masses on Holy Days, Ash Wednesday, a midnight Mass on the last weekend of the first semester, and Holy Thursday.

Good Friday we join with Campus Crusade and the pastor of Common Ground CHurch for an ecumenical service.

Easter Sunday Mass is at 1:30 followed by brunch to which parents are invited.

Starting mid-September students are invited to join together for a a time of adoration every other week at St. Luke's parish ( ten minutes from Butler)

Occasionally we pray evening prayer on Sundays preceded by supper.

We have a daily email prayer available through email. If you want to receive a daily email prayer contact Fr. Jeff

See this page for thoughts about prayer and also  Fr. Jeff's pages on Prayer and meditation.