About EWU Catholic Newman Center · Cheney, Washington
The St. John Paul II Newman Center is the Catholic campus ministry serving students at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. Tucked into a modest house on Elm Street just blocks from the EWU campus, the Newman Center offers daily and Sunday Mass, Wednesday all-day Eucharistic Adoration, weekly Newman Nights with dinner and a talk, and a warm community of students, missionaries, religious sisters, and the chaplain, Fr. David Kuttner. It belongs to the Diocese of Spokane and shares liturgical life with neighboring St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, where the Sunday evening student Mass is celebrated.
- Established
- 1930s
- Patron
- St. John Paul II
- Rector
- Fr. David Kuttner
- Diocese
- Diocese of Spokane
Why belong here
The St. John Paul II Newman Center is the Catholic home for EWU students — and anyone nearby — seeking Christ and community. Daily and Sunday Mass are offered alongside weekly Wednesday Adoration that runs from morning to night, and Tuesday Newman Nights combine Mass with a shared dinner and a formation talk. Students are welcomed by chaplains, missionaries, and religious sisters, with the chaplain (Fr. David) personally available for confession by appointment and spiritual guidance.
Mass times at EWU Catholic Newman Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment only — text Fr. David at 509-720-1460
Adoration times
- Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, in the St. JPII Chapel
About the St. John Paul II Newman Center
The St. John Paul II Newman Center is the Catholic campus ministry for Eastern Washington University, located at 837 Elm Street in Cheney, Washington. Its published mission states: 'We are a community of disciples committed to growing in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. From this vital relationship, we seek to invite others, especially those at EWU, into knowing Him and His love through the truth, beauty, and goodness found in His Church.' The center is part of the Diocese of Spokane and is staffed by a chaplain and student missionaries who welcome any EWU student — Catholic or curious — to stop by anytime.
History
Catholic campus ministry in Cheney dates to the 1930s, when Father John Blake founded a Newman Club at St. Rose of Lima Parish to serve Catholic students at what was then Eastern Washington College of Education. The club remained at the parish for decades until, in 1975, it moved to the house at 837 Elm Street that still serves as the Newman Center today. In October 2022, Bishop Thomas Daly dedicated a renovated chapel and blessed a new altar stone at the center, concelebrated by Fr. Kyle Ratuiste (Diocesan Director of Vocations) and the chaplain, Fr. David Kuttner.
- 1930s — Newman Club founded at St. Rose of Lima Parish by Father John Blake
- 1975 — Center moves to its current home at 837 Elm Street, Cheney
- October 3, 2022 — Bishop Thomas Daly blesses and dedicates the renovated chapel and new altar
The Chapel and Building
The Newman Center is a small converted house on Elm Street whose chapel space was originally a garage. Despite its modest footprint, the chapel has been the site of countless encounters with Christ over the decades. The 2022 renovation added a new altar stone, presider's chair, and ambo hand-crafted by Fr. Joseph Terra, FSSP, a priest-woodworker from St. Joan of Arc parish, and the entire project was funded by a generous community member.
- Chapel originally a residential garage
- New altar, presider's chair, and ambo crafted by Fr. Joseph Terra, FSSP
- Dedicated by Bishop Thomas Daly on October 3, 2022
Ministries and Community Life
The center's signature weekly gathering is Newman Night on Tuesdays, which combines the 5:30 PM Mass with a shared dinner and a formation talk — a rhythm that has long been central to EWU Catholic community life. The center also gathers regularly for meals after the Sunday Mass at St. Rose of Lima, and welcomes student involvement as altar servers, lectors, and small-group leaders. The diocesan Directory lists Fr. David Kuttner as chaplain of the local Knights of Columbus council (St. Rose of Lima Council #9145), linking the Newman Center to broader Catholic fraternity and service in Cheney.
- Newman Nights — Tuesday weekly formation, dinner, and fellowship
- Sunday dinner community after Mass at St. Rose of Lima
- Student altar servers and lectors
- Campus outreach and evangelization at EWU
Clergy and Staff
The chaplain and priest in residence is Fr. David Kuttner, who is the primary contact for Mass, confession, and parish life, and who also serves as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus' St. Rose of Lima Council #9145. Fr. Kyle Ratuiste, the Diocese of Spokane's Director of Vocations, has concelebrated key liturgies at the center, including the 2022 altar dedication. Fr. Joseph Terra, FSSP, of the parish of St. Joan of Arc, contributed the hand-crafted altar furniture.
- Fr. David Kuttner — Chaplain
- Fr. Kyle Ratuiste — Diocese of Spokane Director of Vocations; concelebrant at 2022 altar dedication
- Fr. Joseph Terra, FSSP — crafted the altar, presider's chair, and ambo
Contact and Visit
The Newman Center invites students to 'stop by anytime' to meet the missionaries and chaplain. The best way to reach the staff is by email, and Fr. David can be reached directly by phone or text for confession appointments and pastoral needs.
- Address: 837 Elm Street, Cheney, WA 99004
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (509) 720-1460
- Website: https://ewucatholics.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Blake1930s
Founded the Newman Club at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Cheney, the seed of what is now the EWU Catholic Newman Center.