About Catholic Student Organization at FGCU · Fort Myers, Florida
The Catholic Student Organization (CSO) at Florida Gulf Coast University is a registered student organization (also referred to as the Catholic Student Association and Catholic Newman Club) that ministers to the Catholic community on the FGCU campus in Fort Myers, Florida. It exists to give students a social and spiritual environment to encounter Jesus Christ, drawing strength from the Holy Spirit, the intercession of Mary, and the sacraments and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. The CSO is supported by the Diocese of Venice in Florida, which has partnered with FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) to invigorate Catholic identity on campus. Its full semester calendar of events and meetings is published on the FGCU Eagle Link portal.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
The CSO is the official Catholic home for FGCU students who want to grow in faith while in college. As the campus's Catholic Student Association / Newman Club, it anchors students in Christ through the Mass, the sacraments, faith formation, fellowship, and works of charity, and it connects them to a wider community supported by the Diocese of Venice and FOCUS missionaries. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic or simply curious, the CSO welcomes you to encounter Christ alongside fellow students.
Overview & Mission
The Catholic Student Organization (CSO) at Florida Gulf Coast University describes itself as a community that provides the social and spiritual environment in which students encounter the love of Jesus Christ. In its own words, 'as in the first Christian communities, we anchor ourselves in Jesus Christ, God, Son, and Savior,' and that mission is sustained by the Holy Spirit, the intercession of Mary, and the sacraments and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Encounter Christ in a community of college students
- Rooted in the sacraments and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
- Strengthened by Mary and the Holy Spirit
Names & Identities
Across different university and ministry directories, the same campus group appears under several names. On FGCU's Eagle Link (Campus Labs) it is registered as the Catholic Student Organization (CSO); on the Newman Connection directory it is listed as the Catholic Student Association at FGCU and the Catholic Newman Club. All of these refer to the same Catholic student community at Florida Gulf Coast University.
- Catholic Student Organization (CSO) – official Eagle Link listing
- Catholic Student Association – Newman Connection listing
- Catholic Newman Club – Newman Connection listing
Diocese of Venice & FOCUS Partnership
The CSO is supported by the Diocese of Venice in Florida, which has brought FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) to the FGCU campus. According to the Diocese, FOCUS missionaries are on campus to evangelize the Gospel and invigorate Catholic identity within the university. Joshua Mazrin serves as Interim Director of Youth and Young Adult Outreach for the Diocese of Venice, and Mario Martinez is the named diocesan contact for FOCUS and the Newman Center at FGCU.
- Diocese of Venice in Florida – diocesan oversight
- FOCUS missionaries stationed on the FGCU campus
- Joshua Mazrin – Interim Director of Youth and Young Adult Outreach, [email protected]
- Mario Martinez – diocesan contact for FOCUS / Newman Center at FGCU
Life on Campus
As a registered student organization at FGCU, the CSO plans and publicizes its events through the Eagle Link (Campus Labs) platform, where students can see the semester's planned activities. The organization's own description emphasizes faith and works of charity, and points students to its Eagle Link page for the full event calendar.
- Eagle Link page lists all planned events for the semester
- Student contact: [email protected]
- Connected to FGCU's Cohen Student Union student-life network
Getting Involved
Students interested in the CSO are invited to reach out through the listed eagle.fgcu.edu email, browse the Eagle Link organization page for current events, or connect via the Diocese of Venice's Young Adult Outreach. The broader university hub for student organizations, Organizations and Student Involvement (OSI), is in Cohen Student Union Room 257 and can be reached at (239) 590-7739 or [email protected].
- Email: [email protected]
- Eagle Link: fgcu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/cso
- Diocesan Young Adult Outreach: [email protected]
- FGCU OSI office: (239) 590-7739, [email protected], Cohen Student Union Room 257
Location & Campus Context
FGCU is located in southern Fort Myers, Florida. The Newman Connection directory lists the university's address at 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers, FL 33965. The CSO's campus ministry activities are coordinated in partnership with the Diocese of Venice and FOCUS missionaries who live and work on or near the campus.
- 10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers, FL 33965
- City: Fort Myers, Florida
- University: Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)