About Newman Centers (Catholic Campus Ministry)
Newman Centers are Catholic campus ministry centers, houses, clubs, and communities that serve Catholic students attending secular (non-Catholic) public and private universities. Named after the 19th-century theologian and now Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, they provide Mass, the sacraments, faith formation, retreats, fellowship, service, and pastoral care for college students. In the United States there are roughly 2,000+ such ministries; the movement began at the University of Wisconsin in 1883 and the first club formally named after Cardinal Newman was founded at the University of Pennsylvania in 1893. Two national umbrella bodies support this work: the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA), the professional association for campus ministers established in 1969 and operating under the 1985 U.S. Bishops' pastoral letter Empowered by the Spirit, and Newman Ministry (formerly Newman Connection), a 501(c)(3) founded in 2009 that links incoming Catholic students from high school to a Newman Center on their college campus.
Mission
To be the voice and promote the mission of the Church among students in higher education by empowering campus ministers through formation, networking and resources (Catholic Campus Ministry Association). Newman Ministry's stated mission is to ensure every Catholic student is connected to their Catholic community, bridging the most critical gap in the Catholic lifecycle by linking students to campus ministries, parishes, and leaders who welcome them by name.
- Founded
- 1883 (Newman Movement in the U.S.); 1893 (first club formally named after Cardinal Newman, at the University of Pennsylvania); 1969 (Catholic Campus Ministry Association); 2009 (Newman Connection / Newman Ministry)
- Founder
- Timothy Harrington (first Newman Club, University of Pennsylvania, 1893). Bill and Matt Zerrusen (Newman Connection / Newman Ministry, 2009). Hartwell de la Garde Grissell (Oxford University Catholic Club, 1878). The movement is patroned after Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman.
- Leader
- Matt Zerrusen, founder, president and CEO of Newman Ministry. Bill Zerrusen, co-founder and Executive Director / Chief Blessings Officer of Newman Ministry (based in Teutopolis, IL). The Catholic Campus Ministry Association is led by an executive director and governed by a board; its episcopal liaison is Auxiliary Bishop Fernand Cheri of the Archdiocese of New Orleans (per the USCC-commissioned National Study).
- Reach
- Roughly 2,000+ Newman Centers, Newman Houses, Newman Clubs and Newman Communities in the United States across all 50 states (the CCMA 'Empowered by the Spirit' history refers to over 2,000 Newman Centers established over the past 125+ years). Newman Ministry (formerly Newman Connection) reports a national network of 426 campus ministry partnerships serving 585 college campuses, 2,000 parishes, and 116 dioceses, with 600,000+ Catholic students connected since 2009. CCMA reports nearly 700 campus ministers serving students on more than 955 college campuses and 119 dioceses in all 50 states plus D.C. The Oxford University Newman Society (1878/1888) is the original.
- Serves
- Catholic undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff at secular (non-Catholic) public and private universities and colleges, along with the broader university community that gravitates toward a Catholic faith presence on campus. High-school seniors transitioning to college are also a primary audience for outreach. CCMA serves the campus ministers themselves — approximately 2,200 Catholic campus ministers across the United States.
What Is a Newman Center?
A Newman Center (also called a Newman House, Newman Club, Newman Community, or University Catholic Center) is the Catholic campus ministry presence at a secular — that is, non-Catholic — public or private university or college. Its mission is to gather the Catholics on campus for prayer, worship, learning, fellowship and service so that, in the words of the 1985 U.S. Bishops' pastoral, they might 'bring the light of the Gospel to illumine the concerns and hopes of the academic community.' Newman Centers provide Sunday and weekday Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation (confession), Eucharistic adoration, retreats, catechesis, Bible studies, service projects, and sacramental preparation — and serve not just students but also Catholic faculty, staff, and the wider campus community.
- Catholic campus ministry center at a secular college or university
- Named after Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801–1890)
- Provides Mass, confession, adoration, formation, retreats, fellowship and service
- Often serves multiple campuses in one city (e.g., St. Thomas More Center at Mizzou also serves Stephens College and Columbia College)
History of the Newman Movement
The 'Newman Movement' is the oldest continuous Catholic campus ministry effort in the United States. It began in 1883 at the University of Wisconsin when Catholic students formed the lay-led Melvin Club to keep Catholics connected to their religious heritage in what they perceived as a sometimes hostile academic climate. A decade later, in 1893, Timothy Harrington, a graduate medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, together with John J. Gilbride, James J. Walsh and his brother Joseph, met with Father P. J. Garvey, pastor of St. James Parish in Philadelphia, and founded the first club explicitly named after Cardinal John Henry Newman. Cardinal Newman had died in 1890; Pope Leo XIII had elevated him to cardinal in 1879. Inspired by his Idea of a University — 'Religious Truth is not only a portion, but a condition of general knowledge' — these early clubs offered social activities, discussions on the faith, and mutual support for Catholic students in a secular environment.
- 1883 — University of Wisconsin: lay-founded Melvin Club, the seed of the movement
- 1893 — University of Pennsylvania: Timothy Harrington founds the first 'Newman Club'
- 1908 — Clubs form a national body that becomes the National Newman Club Federation
- 1950 — National Newman Chaplains Association founded for ordained chaplains
- 1969 — Chaplains' association reorganizes as the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA)
- 1985 — NCCB/USCC publishes 'Empowered by the Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces the Future'
- 2010 — John Henry Newman beatified by Pope Benedict XVI
- 2019 — John Henry Newman canonized by Pope Francis on 13 October
Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman
Saint John Henry Newman (1801–1890) was a 19th-century English theologian, author and Church of England clergyman whose writings on the relationship between faith and reason and between theology and the university inspired the Catholic campus ministry movement that bears his name. Originally ordained in the Church of England, he was a leading figure of the Oxford Movement, which sought to restore Catholic elements to Anglicanism. Convinced that the Catholic Church was the true Church, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1845, ordained a Catholic priest in 1847, and created cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879. His Idea of a University — in which he argued that theology must hold a central place alongside the liberal arts — is the intellectual foundation of Newman Centers. He was declared Venerable in 1991, beatified in 2010, and canonized on 13 October 2019 by Pope Francis. Newman Centers are sometimes informally called 'Newman Clubs' and many carry a relic or image of him; the Newman Center at the University of Washington, for instance, received a gift of an original letter written by Cardinal Newman on the occasion of his beatification.
- Born 1801, died 1890
- Converted to Catholicism 1845; ordained priest 1847; cardinal 1879
- Beatified 2010; canonized 13 October 2019
- Author of The Idea of a University, the theological root of the movement
Founding at Oxford (the Original Newman Society)
The first Catholic student society explicitly inspired by Cardinal Newman was not American but English. In 1878, Hartwell de la Garde Grissell founded the Oxford University Catholic Club to support Catholic undergraduates at the University of Oxford. It was renamed the Oxford University Newman Society in 1888, after the Cardinal himself. This Oxford society is the prototype from which the entire global Newman Movement eventually took its inspiration.
- 1878 — Oxford University Catholic Club founded by Hartwell de la Garde Grissell
- 1888 — Renamed the Oxford University Newman Society
Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA)
The Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA) is the national professional organization for Catholic campus ministers in the United States. It was formed in 1969 when the National Newman Chaplains Association reorganized under the name Catholic Campus Ministry Association, and it is dedicated to the comprehensive vision of campus ministry outlined in the 1985 U.S. Bishops' pastoral letter Empowered by the Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces the Future. CCMA's stated mission is 'to be the voice and promote the mission of the Church among students in higher education by empowering campus ministers through formation, networking and resources.' CCMA members minister in a variety of settings — campus ministry departments at Catholic colleges and universities, Newman Centers at public and non-Catholic institutions, and Catholic chaplaincies at private secular schools. Roughly 30 percent of the nation's approximately 2,200 Catholic campus ministers are CCMA members.
- Formed 1969 from the National Newman Chaplains Association
- Dedicated to the 1985 USCCB pastoral 'Empowered by the Spirit'
- Nearly 700 campus ministers serving 955+ campuses in all 50 states + D.C.
- Episcopal liaison: Auxiliary Bishop Fernand Cheri, Archdiocese of New Orleans
- Regular membership $130/year; CCMA Certification through USCCB Subcommittee on Certification
CCMA Programs, Formation & Resources
CCMA supports campus ministers with formation, networking, advocacy, and standards of care. Its LEAD, LINK, LEVERAGE initiative links professionals across hundreds of campuses and organizations. Key programs include the CCMA Certification Program, the CCMA Development Institute, the CCMA New Campus Minister Support Network, the CCMA National Convention, collaboration with the USCCB's Frank J. Lewis Institute for new campus ministers and the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute, the CCMA Leadership Podcast, and monthly webinars. CCMA advocates that 'campus ministry is an integral part of the Church's mission to the world' and works to elevate the profession so that more students are led to Christ.
- CCMA Certification Program
- CCMA Development Institute
- CCMA National Convention
- New Campus Minister Support Network
- Frank J. Lewis Institute (with USCCB)
- Campus Ministry Leadership Institute (with USCCB)
- CCMA Leadership Podcast
- Monthly webinars
Newman Ministry (formerly Newman Connection)
Newman Ministry is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit headquartered at 920 W Main St, Teutopolis, Illinois. It was co-founded in 2009 by Bill Zerrusen and his son Matt Zerrusen, inspired by the work of St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois. The organization was originally called Newman Connection and rebranded to Newman Ministry as the unified force behind three initiatives: Newman Connection (connecting high-school seniors to campus ministries), Called / Called+ (a secure discipleship and communication platform for campus ministers), and Newman Student Housing (faith-centered residences on college campuses). Its stated mission is to 'ensure every Catholic student is connected to their Catholic community' by bridging what it calls 'the most critical gap in the Catholic lifecycle' — the transition from high school into college, work, or military life.
- Founded 2009, Teutopolis, Illinois
- Co-founders: Bill and Matt Zerrusen
- DBA: Newman Connection, Inc. / Newman Ministry
- Three initiatives: Newman Connection, Called+, Newman Student Housing
Newman Connection — High School Outreach & Faith Forward
Newman Connection's flagship program is High School Outreach (HSO), which it assumed from Serra USA in July 2012 with the approval of Bishop Peter Christensen of the Diocese of Superior. Parishes gather the names of graduating Catholic high-school seniors after Mass or another event; a volunteer or youth minister enters the names into the Newman Connection database, and the information is instantly routed to the campus minister at the student's chosen college. That campus minister can then personally reach out before the student ever arrives on campus — through email, social media, or invitation to a fall welcome event. Newman Connection has grown this annual collection from roughly 4,000 names (under Serra) to as many as 12,000 per year, and now reports connecting 600,000+ students to campus ministries since 2009. The HSO program is endorsed by bishops in 107 Roman Catholic dioceses and is part of Newman Ministry's 'Faith Forward' movement to make sure no Catholic student faces the college transition alone.
- Took over Serra USA's College Connection for Catholics in 2012
- Endorsed by bishops in 107 dioceses
- 600,000+ Catholic students connected since 2009
- Funnels student names from parishes directly to campus ministers
Called and Called+ Discipleship Platform
Called and its campus-ministry partner edition Called+ is a secure community and communication platform built specifically for Catholic campus ministry leaders to track engagement, lead small groups, and build a vibrant Catholic community. It is offered free to Newman Connection's campus ministry partners and is intended to help ministers identify, reach, and personally invite Catholic freshmen before they even arrive on campus.
- Free for Newman Connection partner ministries
- Tracks student engagement and small-group participation
- Supports personalized outreach to incoming freshmen
Newman Student Housing
Newman Student Housing is the faith-centered student-housing initiative of Newman Ministry. Inspired by St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois, it develops faith-based student residences on or near college campuses where students can find belonging, purpose and spiritual growth. To date the company operates 5 properties in 3 states and has housed more than 5,000 students.
- Modeled on St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois
- 5 properties in 3 states
- 5,000+ students housed
National Campus Ministry Scorecard & Faith Forward Movement
Newman Ministry also runs the National Campus Ministry Scorecard Report, which collects simple activity data (how many students a ministry contacted or welcomed) and returns a personalized dashboard plus insights from ministries nationwide. This data helps ministries report outcomes to donors and diocesan leaders. Faith Forward is the movement's public face — ensuring that every Catholic student is personally connected, by name, to a welcoming Catholic community, mentor, and access to Mass, confession, and faith formation as they step into college, work, or military life.
- National Campus Ministry Scorecard Report
- Faith Forward Movement
- 426 campus ministry partnerships, 585 college campuses, 2,000 parishes, 116 dioceses
Empowered by the Spirit — the 1985 U.S. Bishops' Pastoral
The foundational document for Catholic campus ministry in the United States is Empowered by the Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces the Future, the 1985 pastoral letter of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. It defined campus ministry as 'the public presence and service through which properly prepared baptized persons are empowered by the Spirit to use their talents and gifts on behalf of the Church in order to be sign and instrument of the kingdom in the academic world.' It called for the professional training of campus ministers, diocesan directors of campus ministry as bishop's liaison, and a holistic approach serving students, faculty and staff. The 2016 USCCB-commissioned National Study of Catholic Campus Ministry, led by Dr. Brian Starks of Kennesaw State University under Barbara Humphrey McCrabb (Assistant Director for Higher Education, USCCB Secretariat of Catholic Education), updated this vision and reaffirmed the bishops' commitment to campus ministry as 'one of the important ways the Church exercises her mission in higher education.'
- Issued 1985 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Defines campus ministry as a public ecclesial presence on campus
- Calls for professional campus ministers and a diocesan director in each diocese
- Updated by USCCB 2016 National Study of Catholic Campus Ministry
What Happens at a Newman Center
While each Newman Center reflects its own university and diocese, most offer a similar core set of programs and sacramental opportunities. Sunday Mass is the weekly gathering point, often followed by hospitality — coffee, doughnuts, and fellowship. Weekday Mass, confession, and Eucharistic adoration are regularly scheduled, and many centers publish their schedules online (via their own site or the Newman Connection directory) so that students and parents can find Mass times, confession times, and adoration times. Retreats — from a 'Search' weekend in the first semester to silent retreats and Steubenville conferences in upperclass years — are a hallmark. Small groups, Bible studies, Catholic fraternity/sorority chapters (e.g., Catholic sororities on secular campuses), service spring-break trips, March for Life pilgrimages, theology-on-tap talks, and vocations discernment all fit under the same umbrella. Many Newman Centers also host FOCUS missionaries (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and partner with a Catholic religious order or diocesan priest-chaplain for sacramental care.
- Sunday and weekday Mass
- Reconciliation / confession
- Eucharistic adoration
- Bible studies and small groups
- Weekend and silent retreats
- Service and justice trips
- Catholic fraternity / sorority life
- Vocations discernment and seminary dinners
- FOCUS missionaries and student leadership councils
Find a Newman Center Near You
Because every secular college and university is different, Newman Centers go by many names: 'Newman Center,' 'Newman House,' 'Newman Club,' 'Newman Community,' or simply 'Catholic Campus Ministry' or 'University Catholic Center.' Newman Connection maintains a searchable 'Find a Campus' directory at connection.newmanministry.com/find-a-campus where students, parents, and alumni can look up their school and find Mass times, confession schedules, contact info, and a link to the local Newman Center. The directory includes ministries such as Catholic Campus Ministry of North Alabama (Huntsville, AL), the University Catholic Center at Emory University (Atlanta, GA), and Adelphi Catholic Campus Ministry and Catholic Newman Club (Garden City, NY), among hundreds of others across the country.
- Search by university at connection.newmanministry.com/find-a-campus
- Hundreds of ministries listed with Mass, confession, adoration times and events
- Examples: Catholic Campus Ministry of North Alabama, University Catholic Center at Emory, Adelphi Catholic Campus Ministry
Get Involved — Students, Parents, Donors, and Ministers
Students can get involved by simply showing up to Sunday Mass or a weekly dinner at their local Newman Center; joining a small group, retreat, choir, or service project; or signing up for a leadership role on the student council. Parents and parishes can submit the names of graduating Catholic high-school seniors through Newman Connection so the local campus ministry can welcome their student personally before classes begin. Donations to Newman Ministry / Newman Connection are tax-deductible and fund the free programs offered to partner ministries. Campus ministers can apply to CCMA (regular membership $130/year) to access certification, the CCMA National Convention, the New Campus Minister Support Network, and the CCMA Leadership Podcast. Alumni and benefactors can volunteer, mentor students, or support a specific Newman Center's building or scholarship fund.
- Students: attend Mass, join a small group, go on a retreat, serve on student council
- Parents / parishes: submit graduating senior names via Newman Connection
- Donors: tax-deductible gifts to Newman Ministry, a 501(c)(3)
- Campus ministers: CCMA membership ($130/year) with certification and convention access
