About Millikin Newman Catholic · Decatur, Illinois
Millikin Newman Catholic is the Catholic campus ministry serving Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. It operates as a thriving Newman Community within the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, offering weekly Sunday Mass, faith formation, small groups, retreats, justice and service programs, and more than 40 campus-wide events each year. The 2026-27 school year marks the ministry's 11th year with a full-time campus minister (Tom Prior), supported by two chaplains from the Decatur area. It won Co-Sponsored Event of the Year in 2020 and set a Mass attendance record in 2026.
- Established
- 2015
- Rector
- Fr. Christopher Trummer (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Millikin Newman Catholic offers Catholic Millikin students a full campus ministry experience: a weekly Sunday Mass in Pilling Chapel, student-led Small Groups rooted in Scripture, retreats and Eucharistic Adoration, Justice and Service opportunities including Spring Break service trips, and more than 40 social and faith events each year. The community is small enough that students quickly form real friendships while being supported by an experienced full-time campus minister (Tom Prior) and two chaplains from the Decatur area, making it easy to get involved, deepen your faith, and continue practicing the Catholic faith throughout college.
Mass times at Millikin Newman Catholic
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered as part of the 'Deepen Your Faith' opportunities (specific schedule not posted online)
About Millikin Newman Catholic
Millikin University's Newman Catholic Community is a thriving campus ministry that enhances students' relationship with Christ through faith formation, service, justice, and social events. The 2026-27 school year is the 11th year of the ministry having a full-time campus minister, supported by two chaplains from the Decatur area. The community offers weekly Mass, hosts various Small Groups, provides faith formation, and hosts more than 40 campus-wide events each year.
- Full-time campus ministry since 2015
- Weekly Sunday Mass in Pilling Chapel
- Small Groups, retreats, service trips, and social events
- Won Co-Sponsored Event of the Year in 2020
- Set a Mass attendance record in 2026
History of the Ministry
Sunday Mass has been celebrated in Pilling Chapel on Millikin's campus for many years. The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has provided a full-time campus minister since 2015, beginning with Quinn Hussey (2015-16) and continuing under Tom Prior from 2016 onward. A succession of chaplains and associate chaplains — drawn from parishes in the Decatur area — has supported the ministry's growth.
- Campus Ministers: Quinn Hussey (2015-16), Tom Prior (2016-Present)
- Chaplains: Fr. John Burnette (2011-20), Fr. Michael Friedel (2020-24), Fr. Peter Chineke (2022-24), Fr. Braden Maher (2024-25), Fr. Christopher Trummer (2025-Present)
- Associate Chaplains: Fr. Steve Arisman (2017-20), Fr. Michael Trummer (2020-22), Fr. Wayne Stock (2024-Present)
Our Ministry Staff
The ministry is led by a full-time Campus Minister and supported by two chaplains from the Decatur area, plus a student leadership council. Tom Prior has served as Campus Minister since 2016 and is also the Director of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. He earned a Master's of Organizational Leadership from St. Ambrose University in 2016 and studied Journalism, Radio/TV Production, and Theology as an undergraduate.
- Tom Prior — Campus Minister (2016-Present); [email protected]; (309) 846-3949
- Fr. Christopher Trummer — Chaplain (since Dec 2025); [email protected]; also at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
- Fr. Wayne Stock — Associate Chaplain (since 2024); [email protected]; also parochial vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes and associate chaplain of St. Teresa High School
- Student officers: President Peyton Collette, Vice President Abby Salgado, Secretary Arianna Morales, Treasurer Ashton Walker, Hospitality Gavin Dobson, Social Media Summer Wynn, Outreach Amanda Matos D'Lacoste, Music Minister Lucas Finley
Mass and Worship
Sunday Mass is celebrated in Pilling Chapel on the Millikin University campus during the school year. The ministry also offers Eucharistic Adoration, Prayer Around the Cross, Group Rosaries, and other devotional opportunities as part of its 'Deepen Your Faith' programming.
- Sunday Mass at Noon (12:00 PM) in Pilling Chapel during the school year
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Prayer Around the Cross
- Group Rosaries
Small Groups
Small Groups are an opportunity to grow both a relationship with Christ and friendship with other students. Discussions are rooted in Scripture so participants can learn more about Christ's ministry, and students share tangible ways to incorporate the life of Christ on campus. The ministry considers Small Groups its most effective ministry because they promote student friendships rooted in love of Christ and one another.
- Student-led Small Groups meet weekly
- Each group consists of 6-10 students
- Nights available include Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Deepen Your Faith
The ministry's mission is to strengthen the student's relationship with Christ so that he or she will continue growing in faith after graduation, and to prepare seniors to be faithful leaders of the parishes they join after leaving Millikin. A range of opportunities for spiritual growth are offered throughout the year.
- Retreats
- Small Groups
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Prayer Around the Cross
- Spiritual Direction
- Group Rosaries
- Discussions on Church History, the Sacraments, the Creed, and other topics
Justice and Service
Service and striving for social justice are two important themes of the Catholic faith because Christ taught us to 'Do to others whatever you would have them do to you' (Matthew 7:12). The community honors this core belief through formation and hands-on service.
- Social justice documentary screenings
- Clothes and canned food drives
- Local service in the Decatur area
- Social justice discussions
- Spring Break Service Trips
Social Events
Students love Newman Catholic social events because they can meet fellow students and create friendships that last a lifetime. The community aims to feel like a big family, and welcomes new students to join in.
- Complimentary cookouts
- Pumpkin patch outing
- Ice cream social
- Mini golf
- Christmas caroling
- Volleyball
- Bulletin postings for upcoming events
Support the Mission — Living Faith Society
The ministry sustains its work through the Living Faith Society, an online monthly giving program that allows supporters to set up recurring donations to help fund faith, service, justice, and social programming for Millikin students.
- Online monthly donation option
- Supports faith formation, service, justice, and social events
Visit and Contact
All are welcome to join the community for Mass, events, and fellowship. The mailing address is 742 E. Clay St., Decatur, IL 62521, while Sunday Mass is celebrated in Pilling Chapel at 1184 W. Main St., in the center of the Millikin campus, with parking available in front of the University Commons on the north side of W. Main St.
- Mailing address: 742 E. Clay St., Decatur, IL 62521
- Sunday Mass location: Pilling Chapel, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522
- Phone: (309) 846-3949
- Email: [email protected]
Pilling Chapel
Pilling Chapel is Millikin University's first free-standing chapel, constructed and dedicated in 1997. It sits at the heart of the campus and serves as a space for faith services, recitals, performances, meetings, and weddings, and is the regular home of Millikin Newman Catholic's Sunday Mass.
- Built and dedicated in 1997
- Millikin's first free-standing chapel
- Located at the center of campus at 1184 W. Main St.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Christopher Trummer2025-Present
Current chaplain; also serves at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Decatur. Previously parochial vicar of St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville and associate chaplain of Fr. McGivney High School in Glen Carbon.
- Fr. Braden Maher2024-2025
Chaplain
- Fr. Peter Chineke2022-2024
Chaplain
- Fr. Michael Friedel2020-2024
Chaplain
- Fr. John Burnette2011-2020
Chaplain
- Fr. Wayne Stock2024-Present
Associate Chaplain; also parochial vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and associate chaplain of St. Teresa High School.
- Fr. Michael Trummer2020-2022
Associate Chaplain
- Fr. Steve Arisman2017-2020
Associate Chaplain
- Tom Prior2016-Present
Campus Minister; also Director of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
- Quinn Hussey2015-2016
First full-time campus minister (Diocese of Springfield began providing a full-time campus minister in 2015).