About Newman Center Campus Ministry UNCW · Wilmington, North Carolina
The Newman Center Campus Ministry at UNCW (officially Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of North Carolina Wilmington) is a Roman Catholic parish and campus ministry serving the students, faculty, and staff of UNCW in Wilmington, North Carolina. It belongs to the Diocese of Raleigh and is part of the international Newman Center network of Catholic ministries serving college students. Housed at 4802 College Acres Drive — just behind the iconic UNCW water tower and across from the Cottages — the center calls its members 'Catholic Seahawks' and offers Sunday and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, catechesis, men's and women's groups, Bible study, and a student food pantry as a spiritual home for the university community.
- Patron
- St. John Henry Newman (patron of the Newman Center movement)
- Rector
- Reverend Gregory Anatuanya (Priestly Minister)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
The Newman Center at UNCW offers something rare on a public university campus: a full sacramental and spiritual life tailored to the rhythms of the college calendar. Students and parishioners can attend Sunday Mass at 10 AM in the Campus Ministry House or 3 PM in the Carolina Beach Room (Fisher University Union, Room 2106), gather for Wednesday evening Adoration (with Benediction on the first Wednesday of the month), Confession, and Mass, and pray the Rosary before Friday's noon Mass. Alongside worship, the center runs RCIA/OCIA for those becoming Catholic, men's and women's groups, Bible study, Wednesday catechesis, and a food pantry open to any UNCW student in need — a tangible expression of the community's commitment to faith, formation, and service.
Mass times at Newman Center Campus Ministry UNCW
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (during the school calendar)
- Also by appointment Tuesday through Friday
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Adoration every Wednesday; Adoration with Benediction on the first Wednesday of the month)
About Catholic Campus Ministry at UNCW
Catholic Campus Ministry at UNCW is a community of students seeking to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. The ministry strives to worship God through prayer and liturgy, serve neighbors in justice and charity, and build community through shared faith and fellowship. Located at 4802 College Acres Drive, right by the UNCW water tower, the Newman Center serves as a spiritual home on and near the UNCW campus for the university's Catholic Seahawks.
- Community mission: lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ
- Three pillars: worship, service, and community
- Located behind the UNCW water tower, across from the Cottages
Devotions & Weekly Prayer
In addition to Mass, the Newman Center gathers for ongoing devotions, including the Rosary before Friday's noon Mass and a community social after Sunday's evening Mass — building fellowship around shared prayer.
- Friday Rosary — 12:00 PM to 12:15 PM
- Sunday Community Social — 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, UNCW Campus Ministry House
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Ongoing formation is central to the life of the ministry. The center offers RCIA/OCIA for those discerning entry into the Catholic Church, weekly catechesis on Wednesdays, and Bible study to deepen Scripture knowledge among students.
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- Wednesday Catechesis — 6:30 PM
- Bible Study — Tuesday 8:00 PM
Men's & Women's Groups
Small-group discipleship is offered through gender-specific gatherings that meet during the school calendar for prayer, discussion, and mutual support.
- Women's Group — Tuesday 8:00 PM
- Men's Group — Friday 7:00 PM
- Combined Men's & Women's Group — Wednesday 7:00 PM
Service: UNCW Food Pantry
The Newman Center is the home of the UNCW Food Pantry, launched in January 2019 in partnership with UNCW's Office of Leadership and Engagement and the Food Bank of Central and East North Carolina. The pantry addresses student food insecurity and is overseen by Rosemary McNamara of the campus ministry staff.
- Drop-in hours: Thursdays 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Appointments: (910) 792-0507
- Open to any UNCW student with school ID
Staff & Clergy
The Newman Center is led by a Catholic Campus Minister and a Priestly Minister appointed through the Diocese of Raleigh, supported by additional campus ministry staff.
- Reverend Gregory Anatuanya — Priestly Minister
- Angelica Doucet — Catholic Campus Minister (theology master's student at Franciscan University of Steubenville)
- Rosemary McNamara — campus ministry staff
Contact & Location
The Newman Center is located just off the UNCW campus, easily identified by its proximity to the campus water tower. Visitors are encouraged to stop by to chat, study, or pray, and to consult the parish calendar for upcoming events.
- Address: 4802 College Acres Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
- Phone: (910) 216-4221
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.uncwccm.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Al Dash
Earlier leader of Catholic Campus Ministries at UNCW, referenced in UNCW archival materials. Provided Sunday Masses and campus programs; reachable at extension 791-7167.