Newman Center

Newman Centers, Newman Houses, or Newman Clubs are Catholic ministry centers at non-Catholic universities found throughout the world. The establishment of this movement was inspired by the writings of Cardinal John Henry Newman encouraging societies for Catholic students attending secular universities. The first Newman club was established in 1888 at Oxford; the original Catholic club was founded by Hartwell de la Garde Grissell.

These centers/houses may include residential living space (such as Troy University), or may be actual houses close to the campus with or without a chapel (such as the Newman House associated with UMass Dartmouth). Activities vary between Newman Centers/Houses/Clubs but usually include both spiritual worship (like Sunday mass and Eucharistic Adoration), social get-togethers (like movies or coffee socials) and group outings (like apple picking, March for Life events, and amusement parks).

The first American Newman Club was established in 1893 at the University of Pennsylvania by Timothy Harrington, a graduate medical student, together with John Gilbride, James and Joseph Walsh with assistance of Father P. J. Garvey, pastor of the local St. James Catholic Church.

The centers provide pastoral services and ministries to their Catholic communities, in particular to the Roman Catholic student population within the universities. However, since these centers are located on university campuses, Christians of other denominations often come and participate as well. A variety of university and parish related meetings and social events take place at the centers, as well as personal events including weddings, anniversary celebrations, baptisms, Masses and funeral receptions.

The following are partial lists of Newman Centers/Catholic Student Associations.

In 1878 the Oxford University Catholic Club was founded by Hartwell de la Garde Grissell In 1888 it was renamed the Oxford University Newman Society.

St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—formerly known as the Newman Foundation—is the largest in the nation and has been considered one of the model Newman Centers in the United States. It encompasses three main entities: St. John's Catholic Chapel, Newman Hall, and the Institute of Catholic Thought. St. John's Catholic Newman Center finished an expansion/renovation in August 2008. St. John's is in the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. It is one of the few Newman Centers that also encompasses a large undergraduate housing, through the University's Certified Private Housing program, having over 600 live-in residents, a cafeteria, etc. Other Newman Centers/Programs in the Peoria Diocese include the Augustana Catholic Campus Ministry, Galesburg Newman Club, Monmouth Newman Club, Newman Foundation - Bradley University & ICC, St. Francis of Assisi Newman Center, and Salve Regina Newman Center at Eureka College.

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