Sunday evening Mass on Santa Clara University’s campus is attracting a growing number of students, offering a powerful space for peace and community.
Over the past two years, student attendance at the Mission Church’s Sunday evening services has grown by 57%, rising from an average of 180 students per week in the 2022–23 academic year to 225 students in 2023–24. In the 2024-2025 school year, an average of 282 students were in attendance.
For many, these gatherings have become more than a religious tradition; they’re a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves, with one another, and with something greater than the daily rush of college life.
What’s drawing students in? “Warm hospitality, beautiful music, and thoughtful homilies that speak to the student experience,” says Matthew Carnes, S.J., vice president for Mission and Ministry. But more than that, it’s a student-led effort. From selecting the music to offering insights for the homily, students shape the Mass in ways that feel relevant and welcoming.
“They find peace, centeredness, and a felt experience of God’s grace,” Carnes says. “For some, it’s a tradition from home. For others, it’s a new community that helps them face the week ahead—with all of its tests, relationships, and big life decisions.”