St. Mary's Catholic Center

In the midst of the Texas A&M University community, St. Mary's Catholic Center has become a place of commitment and encounter with Jesus Christ for generations of Aggies and Blinn Buccaneers. Our students become "Apostles for the Church and World" as they live out this encounter during and after their time in college.

Thanks to our benefactors, over the past year 300+ students found a home group to join and nearly 500 joined a Bible study. Thanks to all who gave to our operating support, our giving increased and allowed our small group ministries to expand, drawing more and more students to the church. Because of our donors, so many students had the opportunity to experience the joy of their faith alongside virtuous friends.

Through gifts to our capital campaigns, St. Mary's has almost doubled the size of our student center and is preparing to build a new church. With a goal of $23 million for the new church and having raised $21 million to this point, we are almost there.

More information about St. Mary's:

• Total estimated Catholics at Texas A&M and Blinn: 17,000 (25% of the total student population)
• Number of students participating in retreats (estimated): 1600
• Number of students involved in organizations weekly: approximately 700
• Number of Aggies Confirmed during the last school year: 67
• Aggies who became Catholic through our RCIA program last year: 45
• Typical daily Mass attendance: 250
• Typical weekend Mass attendance: 3700
• Typical home football weekend Mass attendance: 4500
• Times each week the Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled: 6
• Number of Aggie priests: 95
• Average number of Aggie men entering seminary each year: 9
• Number of Aggie women in religious life: 18
• Number of Aggie men in formation, as either priests or brothers: 56
• Number of Aggie women in formation: 10
• Number of recent former students serving as FOCUS missionaries: 43

Testimonials

"St. Mary's was my refuge in the spiritual storms of life. From 1987 to 1992, it was the place I prayed for good grades, career guidance, relationship struggles, feeling the longing of my soul, healing of my husband's cancer and for the family we prayed God would one day provide. William and I were married at St. Mary's in 1988 and I was welcomed home and confirmed in 1989. Our Catholic faith has guided us through 30 years of marriage, building a thriving family business and raising our four children. There is something so special about St. Mary's. I know that God is everywhere and yet I feel him so powerfully and profoundly here, in this place and with this community. It is our greatest honor and joy to give." Micha Pugh '89

"As an Aggie student in the late 70s, my prayer life coincided with difficult exams and my mass attendance was more out of fear of retribution than for the love of God, but I know my time at St. Mary's was so important in my formation as a Catholic and a Christian. Fast-forward through 33 years of marriage, four children and three grandchildren, today I truly believe that if we make time for God first, then he will make time for everything else. Make prayer and the sacraments a priority in your life and you will feel his grace. All glory and honor to his name!" Don Pesek '80