Q's & A's About the Newman Center

How do I find the Newman Center?
We’ll start with an easy one.  The Newman Center is a cream colored brick, stone, and glass building on the South edge of the UW-L campus, right across State Street from Main Hall and the Cartwright Center.  If you are new in town, of course, that might not be much help.  Our address is 1732 State Street. 

But what if I'm not Catholic?
For the sake of leaving no stone unturned, we are having this propaganda sheet delivered to every room on campus.  If you are not Roman Catholic, we urge you to fully investigate your own religious heritage (we are not in the practice of being “out to get you”), but if you choose to participate with us to stay in touch with Christ, we are pleased.  Plug in as you feel comfortable.

So, what does Newman have to offer students?
Everything your home parish offered and more.  A balanced Christian needs to grow on four fronts: (1) strengthening your friendship with God, (2) learning more about God's design, (3) giving of your time and energy in response to the needs around you, and (4) finding support and encouragement with like-minded folks.  Everything we do here at the Roncalli Newman Center is related to one of these four:  prayer and worship ... "growing up" in your faith ... the work of charity and justice ... and Christian fellowship

Do you have Sunday morning worship?
Indeed we do.  It is very important to us.  We offer four opportunities for Lord’s Day Worship. On Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 9:00am (for early risers – with coffee and donuts following); 11:15am (with time to get home for “the game”); and 7pm (a student favorite).  All liturgies are in the Newman Center Chapel.  There is also a daily liturgy at noon, Monday through Friday.  In addition to Mass, we have other prayer experiences during the week.  After Hours Prayer, 9pm every Wednesday, will include Taizé Prayer, a sung prayer before the crucifix, evening Mass or Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction. In the same vein, we offer a variety of opportunities for small group prayer during the week, including special seasonal events during Advent and Lent.  Lastly, there are retreats offered in the Fall and Spring.

Will church here be like home?
Well, yes and no.  Yes, in that, if you are of that persuasion of Christians who call them­selves Roman Catholic, you will find our outlook and worship style very familiar.  But it probably won't be exactly like home.  After all, you are not the person you were at home.  You may be on your own for the first time.  Your choice to come to worship will be your own decision... that will surely make it different (and we think better) for you.  

So, I see I have options for prayer… but you don’t think I would actually choose to attend another class, do you?
Well, lots of folks do.  Many of whom you will meet on campus are grown-up in lots of ways, but may still live out of half-baked ideas from seventh grade when it comes to God.  The big surprise is that acquiring a grown-up faith can be fun.  We will offer something like this most every night of the week.  For example, in addition to Monday Night Football, Mondays are about Bible Study.  At 7:pm, we host a Sunday Scripture Study, (a sneak preview of the readings for the following Sunday), and at 8:pm a study of one of the books of the bible. A lot of folks peddle this stuff on campus… not all of them in a way that Catholics find very wholesome and complete.  If this whole idea of reading the Bible is new to you, perhaps you might want to get in on our four-week “Bible for Beginners” mini-course on Monday evening.  Find out what this international best seller is really about.  On Tuesdays we run our Choosing to be Catholic series. This is a look at faith in general, and the Catholic faith in particular, but through adult eyes.  It also serves as our RCIA program for students who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation and are now looking to do so. Choosing to be Catholic begins in September as soon as you are settled in.

Does anything purely social ever go on?
Once you visit, you will see that there is a little bit of social in everything we do.  Each Sunday, we've got coffee and donuts after the early Sunday service, and jon's pretty-good-home-made-store pizza after the 7:pm liturgy.  The parish hosts potluck dinners on special occasions, and all you have to bring is your appetite!  Two items of special interest with a fellowship focus are our Student Suppers of Substance, free Wednesday evening meals with real nutrition - home-cooked by members of the parish and followed by a little food for thought.  Watch and listen for announcements after Mass and in the bulletin for fun things like res hall parties, ski trips or picnics on the bluffs.

Can I get involved in other ways?
We would welcome your involvement.  Newman hosts opportunities both “on the inside” and addressing the world’s bigger issues.  We believe a balanced life involves both.  For starters, there is a place for you at our worship as a greeter, a reader, a choir member, musician or a Eucharistic minister.  Or, you might plug in by teaching in our Sunday morning religious education programs for our parish youth.  If social justice or liturgy is your thing, there is room for you on one of the parish committees.  On the outside, you can invest a few hours working on a house with Habitat for Humanity, or serving meals at the local Catholic Worker House or the Salvation Army.  We have parish chapters of Bread for the World and Amnesty International where you can help raise awareness of the world’s hungry or the fate of those suffering from human rights abuse.  Causeway is about neighbors helping neighbors.  And if you like to think big, start making plans to join us for one of our alternative spring break trips in Appalachian Kentucky, the Crow Reservation in Montana or Chicago's south side.  How’s that for starters.

How can I get connected with any of this?
In the first few weeks of the semester, we will be handing every student who comes through our doors a green student parishioner card inviting you to leave your name and contact info.  How else can we shower you with good things, like our newsletter during the school year or a card on your birthday?  On the bottom of the card you can check any number of interesting things you might want to get involved in – we will follow up with you. 

Be an Adopt-a-Student Student
Can it get any better? Well, if you like a family atmosphere, check out the adopt-a-student program where you’ll be welcomed into a parish family home and treated like one of the kids and get to know the larger community. No, it doesn’t mean you get an allowance or the car on Friday night, but you will be invited into a parish family home for meals, holidays and other special occasions. It’s a great way to get to know others in the parish. All you need do is check the box on your student parishioner card when you get here.

If all this seems just too much and too complicated,
give us a call at (608)784-4994 or email jon and we’ll get the wheels turning.