About Bradley University Newman Foundation (See also St. Mark's Parish bulletin and website for additional Mass and Confession times, as well as Holy Day schedule) · Peoria, Illinois
St. Joseph Newman Center at Bradley University is the Catholic campus ministry of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, operated as a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria under the name 'Saint Joseph Newman Foundation.' Affectionately known as the Catholic Braves, it serves roughly 2,200 Catholic students across Bradley's 5,200 undergraduate and 800 graduate population and also welcomes students from Illinois Central College and the OSF Saint Francis College of Nursing. The Center exists to give students an encounter with Christ through daily prayer, the Sacraments, and small-group community, radiating 'Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament' across the Bradley campus.
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Lampitt (Chaplain of St. Joseph Newman Center; concurrently Pastor of St. Mark Parish, Peoria)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Peoria (Peoria Vicariate)
Why belong here
Students come to St. Joseph Newman Center for a real encounter with Christ and a supportive community in the middle of college life. The Center offers daily and weekly Mass, Thursday all-day Eucharistic Adoration (when classes are in session), the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, and a deep bench of student-led ministries: small faith-sharing groups, the New Renaissance discipleship movement, semesterly Koinonia retreats, pro-life witness, the Knights of Columbus Guardian of the Redeemer Council, and a Leadership Council that puts students in charge of running events. It is also tightly paired with St. Mark Parish just blocks away, which means students can plug into the wider parish's daily Mass schedule as well.
Mass times at Bradley University Newman Foundation (See also St. Mark's Parish bulletin and website for additional Mass and Confession times, as well as Holy Day schedule)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:30 PM (Newman Center)
- Thursday 7:30 PM (Newman Center)
- Also by appointment — email [email protected] or call (309) 674-0208
- Additional times are available at nearby St. Mark Church (Wednesday 7:00 PM and others — see St. Mark bulletin)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM, Eucharistic Adoration while Bradley classes are in session
- Personal prayer in the chapel: all day, every day
About the St. Joseph Newman Foundation
The Saint Joseph Newman Foundation exists to serve the Bradley University 'Catholic Braves' community and surrounding university campuses. 'Upon encountering Jesus Christ through its ministry, students will repent and believe in the Gospel, become disciples through the accountability of the community, and be formed to make new disciples.' In response to 2 Peter 1:5, the ministries offered to the students not only encourage them in their faith life through daily prayer and the Sacraments but form them in the human virtues and in an intellectual understanding of the Catholic faith.
- Serves ~2,200 Catholic students out of 6,000 total (5,200 undergraduate + 800 graduate)
- Open to students from Bradley, Illinois Central College, and the OSF Saint Francis College of Nursing
- A campus ministry program of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Our Story
The Center has been 'Serving the Catholic Braves since 1897,' growing from an early Newman-society apostolate at a small polytechnic into a fully staffed Catholic campus ministry. The current chaplain, Fr. Robert Lampitt — a Peoria native born in 1978 and ordained in 2008 — also serves as pastor of neighboring St. Mark Parish, a structure that has linked the two parishes for decades and was already in place when Msgr. Brian Brownsey held the dual role in 2020.
Student Ministries
Catholic Braves is the umbrella name for student life at the Center. Discipleship happens through small groups, large-group formation, retreats, and service.
New Renaissance
The New Renaissance is described as 'the heart of the Catholic Braves' evangelical movement.' It invites college students with strong faith and leadership into one-on-one mentor relationships with existing New Renaissance Disciples, then forms them as leaders and sends them out to spiritually multiply by forming their own small group.
- One-on-one mentoring
- Discipleship small groups
- Large-group Discipleship formation
- Frequent evangelization opportunities
St. Joseph Koinonia Retreat
Held once a semester, the Koinonia Retreat — from the Greek for 'an intimate sharing of life and love' — is centered on the Paschal Mystery. 'By going on this retreat, you will come to know that you are truly a part of the family that is the Church, the People of God.' Full and half scholarships are available, and non-Catholics are welcome.
- Talks, Sacraments, meals, bonfire
- Offered once each fall and spring semester
- Sign up via [email protected] or in person at the Center
Leadership Council
Created to meet the needs of the Catholic community and promote greater student ownership, the Leadership Council is a consultative board for the campus ministry staff. A student president leads five committee heads plus an intern, delegating responsibilities across the student body.
Pro-Life Apostolate
The spiritual facet of the Catholic Braves' pro-life efforts is most active in October (Respect Life Month) and in Lent. Many Catholic Braves are also involved in Bradley Students for Life, the broader secular student group.
Knights of Columbus — Guardian of the Redeemer Council #14870
Bradley's Knights of Columbus council is open to Catholic men 18 and older and 'promotes moral, intellectual and spiritual development among the future leaders of civil society and the Church through witness to the Gospel.' The council sponsors the Super Bowl party, the Women's Appreciation Dinner, and service projects with St. Mark Parish and the greater Peoria community.
- Council #14870 at Bradley University
- Sponsored events: Super Bowl party, Women's Appreciation Dinner
- Service with St. Mark Parish and Peoria-area ministries
Staff
The Center is led by its chaplain with two full-time lay campus ministers handling day-to-day ministry.
- Fr. Robert Lampitt — Chaplain
- Jake Kellock — Campus Minister
- Sara Petty — Campus Minister
Visit & Contact
The Center is located on the Bradley University campus at 1116 W. College Street, Peoria, IL 61606. Visitors are encouraged to drop in for Mass, Confession, Adoration, or to speak with a campus minister.
- Address: 1116 W. College St., Peoria, IL 61606
- Phone: (309) 674-0208
- Email: [email protected]
- Emergencies: (815) 290-9585
- Fax: (309) 497-3759
- Website: ncbu.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Brian Brownseythrough at least 2020
Served as chaplain and director of St. Joseph Newman Center while also pastor of St. Mark Parish; welcomed Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka for a Mass with the Newman community in October 2020.
- Rev. Robert Lampitt2024–
Current chaplain; incardinated priest of the Diocese of Peoria, born Dec. 23, 1978 in Peoria, ordained May 24, 2008.