About Lafayette College · Easton, Pennsylvania
The Newman Catholic Association is the Catholic campus ministry at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, a student-run organization established in 1978 by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Although primarily Catholic, the Newman Association welcomes students of all religious backgrounds and offers a regular schedule of Sunday and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, Bible study, service opportunities, social outings, and Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) classes — all celebrated in the historic Colton Chapel, the College's 1916 Beaux-Arts landmark on the Quad. The ministry is currently led by Father Alexander Brown as chaplain and Zelenda Hodgskin as campus minister, under the Diocese of Allentown. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 5 p.m. and Friday daily Mass at 4:30 p.m., with all services open to the public when classes are in session.
- Established
- 1978
- Rector
- Father Alexander T. Brown (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
The Newman Catholic Association offers Lafayette students a true on-campus Catholic home — daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and Sunday Confessions, all celebrated in the architecturally distinguished Colton Chapel and open to the public. Students who want to grow in faith find a full rhythm of life here: OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those entering the Church, Bible study, music ministry, student lectors, candle-lit Masses, Newman meetings, social outings, and 'Sunday Supper' fellowship after Mass. Because the ministry is student-run but chaplain-led by a priest of the Diocese of Allentown, it combines authentic Catholic sacramental life with peer community — a welcoming space both for cradle Catholics and for anyone, of any background, exploring the faith.
Mass times at Lafayette College
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (Colton Chapel, with Father Brown)
- During Tuesday Adoration (every other week, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
- By appointment during the week
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (every other week, Colton Chapel)
- Friday: 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM (Colton Chapel)
- Stations of the Cross during Lent: Fridays 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Feb 20 – Mar 27, 2026)
Newman Catholic Association at Lafayette College
The Newman Catholic Association is the student-run Catholic campus ministry of Lafayette College, founded in 1978 by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Although it is primarily Catholic, the Association explicitly welcomes members of all religious backgrounds, and all of its Masses, Adoration sessions, and Confessions are open to the public. It is housed administratively under the College's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, while pastorally belonging to the Diocese of Allentown.
- Founded 1978 by the Salesian Oblates
- Student-led, chaplain-supported
- Part of Lafayette's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
- Diocese of Allentown campus ministry
Worship Schedule (Colton Chapel, when classes are in session)
All worship is celebrated in Colton Chapel, Lafayette's 1916 Beaux-Arts chapel on the south side of the Quad. The Association publishes a recurring weekly schedule and posts changes on the Lafayette College calendar and its Instagram account.
- Sunday Mass: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday Confessions: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (Father Brown)
- Sunday OCIA / Catechism: 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday Adoration (every other week): 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday Newman Meeting: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (not open to public)
- Friday Daily Mass: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Friday Adoration: 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM
- Stations of the Cross (Lent, Fridays): 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Sacraments
The chaplain provides the normal range of Sacramental Ministry to students, faculty, and staff, with Reconciliation offered every Sunday before Mass and by appointment during the week. Adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church journey through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — the Association's Sunday evening catechetical program — alongside the Sunday Mass.
- Eucharist (Sunday and weekday Mass)
- Reconciliation (Sundays 4:00 PM and by appointment)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Catechism of the Catholic Church classes
Student Ministries & Programs
Beyond liturgy, the Association runs a wide range of student-led programs designed to weave faith into ordinary college life. These include Bible Study, Music Ministry, student lectors at Mass, candle-lit Masses, 'Sunday Supper' fellowship after the 5 p.m. Mass, service opportunities and community outreach, social outings, and bi-weekly Newman Meetings. The Association also sits on Lafayette's Interfaith Council alongside Hillel, the Muslim Students Association, Young Life, and DiscipleMakers.
- Bible Study
- Music Ministry
- Student Lectors
- Candle-lit Mass
- Sunday Supper after Mass
- Service and outreach opportunities
- Social outings
- Newman Association meetings
- Interfaith Council collaboration
Colton Chapel — The Spiritual Home
Although the Newman Association dates only to 1978, its home chapel is one of the architectural jewels of College Hill. Built in 1916 in white Indiana limestone by Carrère and Hastings, Colton Chapel is a domed Beaux-Arts rotunda with Palladian windows inspired by Palladio's Palazzo della Ragione in Vicenza and a four-stage steeple in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren's London steeples. It was the gift of Mary R. Colton in memory of her husband, and replaced the campus observatory 'Star Barn.' Its interior was destroyed by fire in 1965, rededicated after renovation in 1967, and renovated again in 2016.
- Built 1916 — gift of Mary R. Colton in memory of John Milton Colton
- Architects: Carrère and Hastings (New York Public Library)
- Beaux-Arts domed rotunda in Indiana limestone
- Palladian windows; Wren-inspired four-stage steeple
- Interior fire 1965; rededicated 1967; renovated 2016
- Sculpture of the Marquis de Lafayette (Daniel Chester French) installed in front, 1921
History of the Newman House
The Association's residential heart has moved three times. Its first house was at 612 Monroe Street (1981), where the Oblate chaplain Father Gene Lyster moved in alongside students. It relocated to 520 Clinton Terrace in fall 1985 and to its current home at 119 McCartney Street in fall 1989. That house, used as both a residence for the chaplain (in earlier years) and a community space for students, has been the Catholic community's home on College Hill for more than three decades.
- 612 Monroe Street — first Newman house (1981)
- 520 Clinton Terrace — second house (fall 1985)
- 119 McCartney Street — current house (fall 1989)
- Documented in The Lafayette student newspaper, 2013 retrospective
Staff & Student Leadership
The ministry is led by a diocesan priest appointed by the Bishop of Allentown, supported by a lay Campus Minister, and governed day-to-day by an elected student president and e-board. Office hours and contact details are published on the Association's website.
- Chaplain: Father Alexander T. Brown — office hours Friday 3–4 PM, Marquis Office 006
- Campus Minister: Zelenda Hodgskin — office hours Wednesday 9 AM–2 PM, Marquis Office 006
- Newman Association President: Catherine McCarron
- All under the Diocese of Allentown
Chaplain Succession (since founding)
The chaplaincy is staffed by diocesan priests of the Diocese of Allentown, reassigned by the Bishop. The succession below is drawn from the College's newspaper The Lafayette, the diocesan newspaper AD Today, and The Morning Call.
- Father Gene Lyster, O.S.F.S. — Oblate chaplain, 1981
- Father Thomas Hagan — chaplain c. 1983–1991
- Father George R. Winne — chaplain, before 2016
- Father Kevin J. Bobbin — chaplain, 2016 reassignment
- Father Guency Isaac — Sacramental Ministry / chaplaincy
- Father Alexander T. Brown — current chaplain
Visiting the Association
Visitors are warmly welcomed at every Newman liturgy. Public parking is available below Colton Chapel on South College Drive, and Sunday Mass is preceded by Confessions at 4 p.m. The Association publishes any schedule changes — including snow cancellations, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week adjustments — on the Lafayette College calendar and its Instagram account.
- All Masses, Adoration, and Confessions open to the public
- Parking: below Colton Chapel on South College Drive
- Services only when classes are in session
- Schedule changes posted on Lafayette calendar and Instagram
Getting Involved & Donations
The Association invites students of all backgrounds to participate in any of its programs, and publishes a donation link on its official page for alumni, parents, and friends who wish to support the Catholic campus ministry.
- Join via Sunday Mass, OCIA, or Newman Meetings
- Volunteer for music ministry, lectors, service trips
- Donate online via the link on the Newman Association page
- Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gene Lyster1981–
Oblate of St. Francis de Sales; first resident chaplain at 612 Monroe St. house; told The Lafayette he was 'quite excited' to occupy his 'quasi-residence.'
- Father Thomas Hagan1983–1991
Long-serving Catholic chaplain who departed for Princeton University in May 1991; described in The Morning Call as 'a bleeding heart liberal, a troublemaker' and central figure in campus controversies.
- Father George R. Winnebefore 2016
Served simultaneously as Chaplain of Lafayette College and Chaplain of Notre Dame High School, Easton; reassigned in 2016 to Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Conception parishes in Allentown.
- Father Kevin J. Bobbin2016–
Reassigned in June 2016 from Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring, to Chaplain of Lafayette College and Bethlehem Catholic High School, with residence at Newman House, 119 McCartney St.
- Father Guency Isaacafter 2016
Served as Chaplain of Notre Dame High School, Easton and Sacramental Ministry, Lafayette College, before being named Parochial Administrator of Saint Charles Borromeo, Ashland, and Saint Joseph the Worker, Frackville.
- Father Alexander T. Browncurrent
Current Chaplain of Lafayette College (and Notre Dame High School, Easton), residing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Rectory, Bethlehem; reassigned from Saint Anne Parish, Bethlehem.