By Lisa Kaczke

A sign on the door of the darkened St. Ann University Parish on St. Stephen Street read, “6 p.m. Mass. Come join us at St. Cecilia’s.”

On the other side of Massachusetts Avenue by the Berklee College of Music, jeans-clad students filled the pews at St. Cecilia’s Church for the Sunday night Mass — many of them Northeastern students trekking through the cold to their new spiritual home. They came into the high-ceilinged sanctuary carrying backpacks, bike helmets and rollerblades.

The Rev. John Unni began the service with the young crowd by having them greet their neighbors.

“Give them a high-five,” Unni said.

Later in the service, Charlene Wong, president of the Northeastern’s Catholic organization The Newman Club prayed, “May the community of St. Cecilia’s meet the challenge of the gospel.”

Catholic services in the area of Northeastern’s campus transferred to St. Cecilia’s after St. Ann’s last service Oct. 17. The church was forced to close due to financial reasons, including the Archdiocese of Boston’s financial sufferings in the wake of sex-abuse scandals and the over $1 million worth of repair St. Ann would have required.

While the number of students attending the Sunday night Mass has been low since the switch to the new church, students and Unni said they are optimistic the number will increase.

“It’s going to take time to build. I’m hopeful it’ll build,” Unni said. He said he believes there is a good energy and spirit during the Masses.

Unni said between 275 to 400 students attended the 6 p.m. Mass at St. Ann, and only between 125 and 175 students are attending Mass at St. Cecilia’s currently.

The 6 p.m. Mass was started at St. Cecilia’s to help with the transition from St. Ann, Wong said.

St. Cecilia’s is much farther away from Northeastern’s campus than St. Ann, accounting for the decrease in students, Unni said.

Some students said they have faith in the dedication of Northeastern parishioners to their new church community, regardless of the distance.

“It’s a little further for Northeastern students, but hopefully that won’t keep them from walking over here,” said Jackie Stanley, a freshman pharmacy major.

The Newman Club is making plans for a human shuttle to help with the transition.

“We personally were going to meet people at St. Ann and walk them over. We haven’t seen a big drop in our 6 p.m. parishioners, so we nixed that idea,” Wong said.

The change from St. Ann to St. Cecilia’s has been a somewhat difficult transition, but overall a welcoming one, said Brian Talbot, a freshman English major.

“It’s bittersweet,” Talbot said. “St. Ann’s was more cozy, but St. Cecilia’s has a lot more room.”

Unni has been a good example to the students, Wong said.

“[Unni’s] character is so strong and he’s very determined that the transition goes well,” Wong said.

In addition, the regular parishioners have accepted the recent addition of a college-aged crowd to their church family with open arms, Unni said.

“People have been very welcoming,” Unni said.

Unni also has the support of Northeastern. Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Klotzbier has been tremendously helpful, Unni said.

“The university, throughout the whole process, has been very accommodating,” Unni said.