Mass and the sacraments at ANU
The sacramental life is the heart of everything the Society does. Everything below happens on campus at the St John the Evangelist Chapel, 51 Daley Road, Acton ACT 2601, during teaching weeks.
| Liturgy | Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confession | Friday | 5:30 pm–6 pm | St John the Evangelist Chapel, 51 Daley Road |
| Eucharistic Adoration | Friday | 5:30 pm–6 pm | St John the Evangelist Chapel, 51 Daley Road |
| Holy Mass | Friday | 6 pm–7 pm | St John the Evangelist Chapel, 51 Daley Road |
Schedule shown is for ANU teaching weeks in Semester 2, 2026. Times can move in teaching breaks and exam periods - check our Instagram for the current week. Schedule maintained by the ANU Catholic Society Executive; last verified 2026-10-16.
A Sunday Mass is also offered in the chapel occasionally during semester — watch our Instagram for the dates.
Subscribe: Mass & liturgy calendar (.ics)Sunday Mass near ANU →
Confession
Confession is available every Friday from 5:30 pm, in the half hour before the 6:00 pm Mass, in the chapel — or at any time by asking the chaplain. If it has been years, say exactly that; the priest will walk you through it gladly. There is no queueing system and no judgement, only mercy.
Unsure what to do or say? Our chaplain would genuinely rather you come unprepared than not come. Ask us anything privately.
Eucharistic Adoration
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed on Fridays from 5:30 pm alongside confessions, for the half hour before Mass. Come for five quiet minutes between classes or stay for all of it — many members call it the stillest point of their week.
Faith seeking understanding
True to our Dominican roots, the Society treats the intellectual life as part of the spiritual life. Each year brings guest lectures — the Roncalli Lecture, and recently the Hon Justice Steward AC of the High Court on jurisprudence and theology — alongside two regular strands of formation.
Faith formation with the MGLs. A series run with the Missionaries of God’s Love, working through the foundations of the faith with plenty of room for questions — come for one session or all of them.
Dominican retreats. Each semester the Dominican friars lead a retreat for the Society: talks, prayer and silence, in the tradition the Society grew out of.
Recordings, reading suggestions and upcoming talks are shared on our channels; no background knowledge is ever assumed.
Becoming Catholic
Adults become Catholic through OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — a gentle, unhurried journey of learning and discernment. It typically spans an academic year, meeting weekly, and leads (if and when you choose) to baptism or reception into the Church, Confirmation and First Communion.
How it runs depends on how many people are seeking it in a given year: if there are enough of you, our chaplain may offer OCIA through the Society; otherwise we will point you to a nearby parish running it and stay alongside you while you go through it.
You can enquire at any time of year, and enquiring commits you to nothing — you would not be walking alone.
Returning to the faith
Baptised long ago, drifted at some point, unsure how to begin again? The door is simply open. Come to Friday Mass and sit anywhere; go to confession when you are ready, not before; or ask to meet the chaplain for a coffee first. Nobody will ask where you have been.