Despite name, Catholic Newman Center serves all faiths

What building is visible during the drive onto campus, and perhaps on the shuttle between North and South Campus? It is none other than UM-St. Louis' Catholic Newman Center.

But despite the "Catholic" affixed to the name, the Newman Center is open to anyone on campus, regardless of their faith.

So what is it and what do they do?

Tracy Van de Riet, campus minister at the Newman Center, said that it is a "Catholic parish on the university campus."

She said that students call the Newman Center their "home away from home" or sometimes "the black hole of time- time goes quickly here." Students will come expecting to spend an hour or two and find when they look at the clock, discover that it is four hours later. "It's a cozy place,"says Van de Riet.

Situated on Natural Bridge across from the main entrance to North Campus, it is easy to see how it would become a gathering place or "home" to students. Liz Detwiler, campus minister with the Newman Center said, "There's always food here, and free wi-fi."

Van de Riet said that the basement is a good place to hang out, it is equipped with couches, a TV and a ping pong table. There is a kitchen, dining room and student study room in addition to the office space and chapel.

There are approximately 20 students present during the day, with about 100 members.

They host a number of events including Mass three times a week, retreats, leadership opportunities, service projects, social justice education, prayer services and naturally, social opportunities and fun.

One of the retreats early in the year is the Great Getaway. It's not spiritual in nature, but a "retreat into nature," said Van de Riet. It gives students the opportunity to get away from campus for the weekend and that it is a great team building opportunity.

According to Detwiler, the biggest program is Awakenings. It is held in October and is a weekend long retreat, led by students.

Part of the retreat involves listening to talks from other students. There is also an opportunity for sacraments.

"We spend a lot of time planning it," said Detwiler. Students come from far away to participate.

She said it is good for the students to make the connections that they do at Awakenings, not only the social connections, but the connections in the spiritual realm as well. "They last longer and they're stronger," she said.

Van de Riet said that "the transformation from Friday to Sunday is amazing."

Aside from the retreats, the Newman Center is also actively involved with Social Justice Month, which falls in November. According to Van de Riet, some of the events are already planned because MSC fills up so quickly.

One week will be devoted to Homelessness Awareness and will include a reprise of Shantytown, where students sleep in cardboard boxes overnight.

Another week will be Hunger Awareness Week. Previous events that will be held again include the Hunger Banquet and Hold 'Em For Hunger. Another week will be dedicated to Fair Trade.

Aside from these events, the center is also responsible for several service projects, held on the first Friday of the month. One project is for Our Lady's Inn which is a crisis shelter for pregnant women in need.

They have also held a Rake-a-Thon last November for the elderly residents of Bel-Nor, an event they would like to repeat this year, according to Van de Riet.

They are in the process of working out a service project with Forest Park for doing plantings, although it's not firm yet.

They also hold Mass, three times a week: Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. in the Provencial House Chapel, Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the living room of the Newman Center, and Fridays at 12:05 p.m., also in the Newman Center living room.

The masses held at the center are followed by a meal of soup and bread. The most important aspect of the center lies in their ministry to students.

"Campus ministry exists to help students find the God within themselves and the God in their world around them," said Detwiler. "We help them become an active participant in their church and their world. We want to bring their best into fruition, to be the best that you are meant to be. That's why we're here."

According to Van de Riet, the center is "here to assist the university with anything they need. We're here to serve the campus."

Van de Riet said that when students graduate and leave, "We want them to be ready: healthy, active adults who are open minded and socially minded."