Crimson Circle - Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry

Loyola Marymount's Office of Campus Ministry is a component to the promotion of the university’s mission and identity.

Founded in 1911 as the University Chaplain, this division became known as Campus Ministry in 1973 with a stipulation that the Director would be a Jesuit. By 1986 this requirement was waived when Sr. Margaret Mary ("Peg") Dolan, R.S.H.M. became the director. Dolan, an alumna of Marymount College's class of 1958, received her Master's from LMU in 1974 and also served the university as a campus minister, director of alumni relations, residence hall minister, and alumni chaplain since 1973. In 2008, as part of the university's Centennial Capital Campaign, it was announced that a $8-million fundraising goal was set to endow the office as the "Peg Dolan, RSHM Campus Ministry Center" in honor of Dolan's contributions to the university. The same year, the university asked her to address the class of 2008 at the undergraduate commencement exercises and she was awarded an honorary doctorate. At the dedication ceremony in September 2008, over 700 alumni returned to campus to honor her legacy at the university. When Dolan died in 2009, over 1000 people returned to campus for two days of liturgies celebrating her life.

Located at the north end of the University, Sacred Heart Chapel is the main worship space on campus. A basilica-style church, Sacred Heart has two side altars and the Mary chapel, which is located behind the crucifix, in addition to the main chapel space. The chapel is lined by tall stained glass windows. Each window bears the seal of one of the 28 other Jesuit Universities in the United States; additionally, following the 1973 merger, edged glass window of the other 4 Marymount colleges and universities in the United States were added.