About Newman Catholic Student Center · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Newman Catholic Student Center Parish is the Catholic parish and campus ministry serving the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Run by Conventual Franciscan friars (OFM Conv.) from Our Lady of the Angels Province, Newman combines a traditional parish for residents with a full campus ministry for UNC undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Located at 218 Pittsboro Street just blocks from campus, it offers daily Mass, weekly confession, a Wednesday-evening Carolina Catholic Night with dinner, small faith groups, service opportunities, and sacramental preparation — all grounded in a Franciscan charism and a thriving intergenerational community.
- Established
- 1971 (parish); 1954 (Newman Club); 1949 (Aquinas Club); 1968 (Center built)
- Patron
- St. John Henry Newman (main hall in the Activity Center rededicated in his honor in 2024)
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (Friar Tim)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
Newman is built for both UNC students and permanent parishioners, which means a worshipper can find a robust campus ministry (Carolina Catholic Nights, small faith groups, retreats, service trips) alongside traditional parish life (daily Mass, confession, adoration, RCIA/Order of Christian Initiation, and high-school faith formation). The community is led by Conventual Franciscan friars who bring a warm, charitable pastoral style — described by Provincial leadership as sharing the 'Franciscan charism with all who visit.' Members are active in Orange County Justice United and Habitat for Humanity's Building Hope partnership, and the parish has just completed major accessibility and gathering-space upgrades to better serve growing numbers of students and families.
Mass times at Newman Catholic Student Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 5:00–6:00 PM (during the academic year, Church Reconciliation Room)
- Saturdays 4:00–5:00 PM (Church Reconciliation Room)
Adoration times
- Holy Hour — Fridays 5:00–6:00 PM (during the academic year)
About Newman Catholic Student Center Parish
Newman Catholic Student Center Parish serves both as the Catholic parish in central Chapel Hill and as the official Catholic campus ministry of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Run by Conventual Franciscan friars, the parish welcomes UNC undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and permanent local parishioners into one worshipping community on Pittsboro Street.
History
Catholic student life on campus began with the Aquinas Club in 1949, which became the Newman Club in 1954. The Center was built on Pittsboro Street in 1968, and it was formally established as a parish in 1971. In 2012 the parish purchased the adjacent building to serve as its Activity Center, and a multi-phase renovation project led by Pastor Friar Tim Kulbicki has modernized both the church and the Activity Center for ADA accessibility, livestreaming, and expanded gathering space.
- 1949 — Aquinas Club founded
- 1954 — Aquinas Club becomes Newman Club
- 1968 — Newman Catholic Student Center built
- 1971 — Established as a parish
- 2012 — Activity Center at 214 Pittsboro St. purchased
- September 28, 2024 — St. John Henry Newman Hall rededicated
- Spring 2026 — Pews installed; church capacity grows from 315 to 350
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Conventual Franciscan friars and supported by a pastoral and campus-ministry staff. The pastor serves simultaneously as Director of Campus Ministry, reflecting the parish's dual role as a student center and a worshipping parish.
- Rev. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. (Friar Tim) — Pastor and Director of Campus Ministry
- Rev. Bryan Hajovsky, OFM Conv. — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jon David Henz
- Deacon Kevin M. Sullivan
- Liz Riegel — Associate Director of Campus Ministry
- Karen Ille — Pastoral Associate for Community Support
- Therese Taxis — Pastoral Associate for Development
- Megan Green — Service & Justice contact
Campus Ministry & Student Life
Campus Ministry at Newman is built around large community gatherings and small faith-sharing groups. Carolina Catholic Night is the parish's signature weekly event, drawing more than 100 students on Wednesday evenings for a speaker, a live band, and a student-cooked meal. Small faith groups meet weekly around the upcoming Sunday Gospel.
- Carolina Catholic Night — Wednesdays, 6:15 PM (speaker, live band, free meal)
- Weekly small faith groups
- Newman Retreats
- Parent/Alumni newsletter ("Telecoms" from Friar Tim)
- Newman Realm online community database
Faith Formation & Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments through the Order of Christian Initiation (for adults), high-school faith formation sessions held in the Activity Center, and sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, marriage, and baptism arranged through the parish office.
- Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA / RCIA)
- High-school faith formation
- Confession schedule
- Marriage and baptism inquiries via parish office
Service & Justice
Newman carries out its Franciscan mission of charity and justice through a Fall Service Day and active partnerships with local nonprofits. The parish is a charter member of Orange County Justice United, a coalition of 17 congregations and 7 affiliated agencies working on local economic and social needs, and a regular volunteer and donor partner with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.
- Orange County Justice United (charter member)
- Habitat for Humanity — Building Hope partnership
- Fall Service Day
- Service & Justice coordinator: Megan Green
Facilities: Church & Activity Center
The parish campus sits along Pittsboro Street in central Chapel Hill. The church (218 Pittsboro St.) currently seats 315 and will grow to 350 when pews replace chairs in Spring 2026. The Activity Center next door at 214 Pittsboro St. — purchased by the parish in 2012 and originally built in the 1960s — houses the parish offices, the St. John Henry Newman Hall (rededicated 2024), and an outdoor patio used for student faith-sharing groups, all now ADA-accessible with upgraded sound, AV, and streaming.
- Church — 218 Pittsboro St.
- Activity Center / Parish Office — 214 Pittsboro St.
- St. John Henry Newman Hall (rededicated 2024)
- Outdoor patio for faith-sharing groups
- ADA upgrades and new window wall (2024)
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 11:00 AM–2:00 PM (closed Friday)
Getting Involved & Contact
Newman invites new students, UNC faculty and staff, Chapel Hill residents, those curious about the Catholic faith, and those simply 'spiritually searching' to reach out. The parish encourages connecting through Carolina Catholic Nights, small groups, or simply stopping by the office — a 'conversation, a walk, hearing your story, or just a connection' is how the staff describes the welcome.
- Address: 218 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
- Phone: (919) 929-3730
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://uncnewman.org
- YouTube: youtube.com/c/NewmanCommunity (livestream of Sunday 11:00 AM Mass)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor John Wall
Former pastor honored by a $1 million pledge from a benefactor during the 2024 renovation campaign; reported as pastor in earlier years of the parish.
- Rev. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv. ("Friar Tim")
Current pastor and Director of Campus Ministry; oversaw the multi-phase renovation project and the rededication of the St. John Henry Newman Hall in September 2024.