Spring semester may involve changes in students’ class schedules, but this February, some spiritual schedules have experienced a switch too.

The 9 a.m. Mass in the on-campus Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas was added in February 2012 on a trial period and has now been discontinued because of low attendance and interest.

Sophomore and Campus Ministry member Allen-Michael Muench said the change makes sense.

“There are three pillars of what Campus Ministry does: faith, social justice and community,” Muench said. “So by eliminating the 9 a.m. Mass, we think it will bring together a stronger community at the Masses.”

Kellen O’Grady, coordinator of liturgical celebrations, said attendance at both the 11 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. Masses have gone up since the time change.

“We were hearing from students that the community wasn’t as lively as it used to be back when we only had two (Masses) … so we decided to revert back,” O’Grady said. “We’ve had about two weeks and the Chapel is noticeably fuller during both Masses.”

Muench also noted the attendance of the 9 a.m. mass was low, and that students wanting an early mass can find other options, such as making the trip to the Church of St. Mark.

“I actually know a lot of students who go to the St. Mark’s Mass, which is off campus,” Muench said. “So if they still really want to go early, they can.”

Senior Collin Kearney said canceling the Mass will anger some churchgoers, and this move is not the most ideal way to bring people together.

“People all have different schedules and different habits of when they want to go to church, so the 9 a.m. Mass may have been a big part of their day,” Kearney said. “Taking this away from people may actually cause a disruption to attending Mass and practicing faith in general.”

On the other hand, freshman Mackenzie Watson said she could see how having everyone attending one mass might help strengthen the community and build lifetime connections.

“When you get everyone in the same place at the same time, there’s just more of a chance that you’re going to really connect with someone,” Watson said.

Alison Bengtson can be reached at beng4632@stthomas.edu.