About Newman Hall / Holy Spirit Parish · Berkeley, California
Newman Hall–Holy Spirit Parish is the Catholic community serving the University of California, Berkeley, as well as students from nearby campuses and local adults and families from the wider Berkeley area. A ministry of the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus since July 2024, the parish traces its roots to the founding of the Newman Club on December 8, 1899, and was formally established as Holy Spirit Parish in 1967. It is named for St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, canonized in 2019, whose motto 'Cor ad cor loquitur' — Heart speaks to heart — captures the parish's spirit of intellectual and spiritual formation. Today it is both a campus ministry hub and a parish in the Diocese of Oakland, known for its long tradition of faith-justice engagement, weekly outreach to the unhoused, and a vibrant student and resident community gathered around the Eucharist.
- Established
- 1899 (Newman Club); 1967 (as Holy Spirit Parish)
- Patron
- St. John Henry Cardinal Newman
- Rector
- Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
Newman Hall–Holy Spirit Parish is a rare place where UC Berkeley students, graduate students, faculty, and Berkeley-area adults and families worship, study, and serve side by side. Daily and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a full schedule of Confessions make the sacraments the heart of parish life. The parish is deeply committed to justice: Loaves & Fishes serves community dinners and supports the unhoused; ministries partner with Catholic Worker, BOCA, and the Refugee Welcome Network. A rich program of small groups, retreats, Bible studies, faith formation for children and adults, OCIA (RCIA), and student organizations like FOCUS, Thomistic Institute, and Berkeley Students for Life means there is a real place for every age and stage — from a first-year Cal student to a longtime Berkeley resident.
Mass times at Newman Hall / Holy Spirit Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 noon
- Thursday: 7:00 – 8:00 PM (during Cal's Fall & Winter semesters)
- By appointment (contact Fr. Xavier or Fr. Pius)
Adoration times
- Monday–Wednesday: 9:00 AM (when classes are in session)
- Thursday: 8:00 PM (when classes are in session)
Welcome to Newman Hall–Holy Spirit Parish
Newman Hall–Holy Spirit Parish is a Catholic community rooted in UC Berkeley and the wider Berkeley area. Whether you are a new student, a longtime Berkeley resident, a graduate or undergraduate at Cal or a nearby campus, or a visiting friend, all are welcome to join the parish for Mass, the sacraments, and community life. The parish brings together UC Berkeley students, students from nearby campuses, and local adults and families, forming a vibrant and unique faith community that is especially committed to supporting UC Berkeley students as they grow into ownership of their faith. Students are invited to connect via newmanvillage.slack.com.
Our History
The parish's history stretches back more than 125 years. Catholic students at UC Berkeley began meeting informally in the 1890s and formally founded the Newman Club on December 8, 1899. In 1907, Archbishop Riordan placed the ministry in the care of the Paulist Fathers, beginning 117 continuous years of Paulist leadership. The Archdiocese built a permanent home on Ridge Road in 1910, designed by Bernard Maybeck, and a new modern hall on Dwight Way — designed by Mario Ciampi — was dedicated on May 13, 1967, the same day the community was formally established as Holy Spirit Parish. In July 2024, after a period of discernment, the Paulists returned the parish to the local diocese and the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus assumed pastoral care.
- 1899 – Newman Club founded on December 8 by Cal faculty and students, including Dean of Agriculture Eugene Hilgard
- 1904 – Fr. John J. Cantwell (later Archbishop of Los Angeles) is the first priest-chaplain
- 1907 – Fr. Thomas Verner Moore, CSP, becomes the first resident Paulist chaplain
- 1910 – Original Newman Hall on Ridge Road, designed by Bernard Maybeck, dedicated March 13
- 1967 – Current Dwight Way building, designed by Mario Ciampi, dedicated May 13; Newman Hall–Holy Spirit Parish is established
- 2013 – FOCUS missionaries welcomed to strengthen campus outreach
- July 2024 – Transition from the Paulist Fathers to the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus; Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, becomes pastor
A Tradition of Faith, Justice, and Engagement
From its earliest days, Newman linked faith with action. A 1908 program already featured lectures on ethics, social reform, and public life. Through the 20th century the parish was active in the Catholic Interracial Council, the civil rights movement, the Free Speech Movement, and the Sanctuary movement. It built partnerships with the United Farm Workers, the Catholic Worker, and BOCA. Today that legacy continues through Loaves & Fishes, ongoing outreach to the unhoused, racial justice work, and ministries that accompany people on the margins, along with continued involvement in the Ecumenical Peace Institute, JustFaith, and the Bread for the World Racial Wealth Gap Simulation.
- Alumnus William Wagoner, one of the 1961 Freedom Riders
- Sanctuary for Vietnam War resisters
- Partnership with the United Farm Workers, Catholic Worker, and BOCA (Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action)
- Weekly meals and showers for the unhoused
Our Patron: St. John Henry Cardinal Newman
St. John Henry Newman (1801–1890) was a distinguished English scholar, pastor, and spiritual guide. His journey — from evangelical to Anglicanism to the Catholic Church — reflected a lifelong search for truth, often at personal cost. Canonized in 2019, Newman is honored as a patron for seekers, students, and all who strive to unite intellectual life with spiritual wisdom. Three of his lasting themes shape the parish: 'Cor ad cor loquitur' — Heart speaks to heart — meeting God in the quiet truth of the heart; learning as soul formation, in which university life is also a time to grow in wisdom, faith, and self-understanding; and the development of doctrine, in which the Church's understanding of truth deepens over time. The parish celebrates his feast day on October 9.
Sacraments at Newman
The parish celebrates all the sacraments and accompanies parishioners through every stage of sacramental preparation. Baptisms for infants are celebrated throughout the year except during Lent; older children and adults enter the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults). Children prepare for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Teen Confirmation through the Sunday Religious Education program. Adult Confirmation classes begin in the spring. Couples preparing for marriage take part in the Marriage Preparation Couple's Workshop. The parish also visits and brings Communion to the homebound.
- Baptism (infants and through OCIA for older children and adults)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion (children)
- Teen Confirmation
- Adult Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the Homebound
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), with baptisms and reception at the Easter Vigil
Our Priests and Staff
Newman Hall is pastored by the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, with a small staff and team of FOCUS missionaries supporting student ministry. Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, came to Newman in July 2024, after serving as pastor of the Catholic Community at Stanford and as pastor of St. Dominic's parish in San Francisco; before becoming a Dominican he served as a Christian Brother, high school teacher and counselor, and director of the Cal Poly Newman Center. Fr. Pius Youn, OP, the associate pastor, guides the student ministry; he was ordained in 2018, did his seminary studies at the Dominican School in Berkeley, and previously served in campus ministry at the University of Arizona and in parish communities in and around Anchorage, Alaska.
- Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP — Pastor ([email protected], 650-291-4590)
- Fr. Pius Youn, OP — Associate Pastor ([email protected], 520-222-8844)
- Ana Perez-Guimaraes — Business Development Manager (510-848-7812 x1005)
- Adriana Parcero — Building & Website (510-619-8776)
- Marilyn Catterton — Head Sacristan
- Colleen Lenord — Music Director (510-848-7812 x1003)
- Rob Grant — Sunday 9 PM Mass Guitarist
- Peter & Eva Nico — Religious Education Coordinators
- Greg Lyon — FOCUS Missionary Lead
- Henry Frobom, Gabriela Dogue, Jessica Castro — FOCUS Missionaries
Our Building
Newman Hall's distinctive structure stands at College Avenue and Dwight Way, a modern mix of strength, simplicity, and light. Its massive concrete walls and floating roof suggest shelter and peace, while interior glass corridors reveal the movement of a community rooted in prayer, study, and service. Four free-standing concrete walls overlap like folded planes, and a massive engineered concrete roof rests on four stainless-steel pins designed for seismic movement. The congregation gathers closely around a gently raised sanctuary that emphasizes unity in worship. The building is currently running a Critical Needs Campaign to address urgent infrastructure issues, with a fundraising goal of $600,000 and a call for 100% participation from students, staff, and the wider parish community.
Campus Ministry and Young Adults
Newman's campus ministry is the heart of student life at the parish. The Student Ministry Team and FOCUS missionaries walk with students through their years at Cal and beyond, with retreats, small groups, Bible studies, social events, and faith formation. Newman Grads gathers graduate students and young adults in their 20s and 30s for community and prayer.
- Student Ministry Team and FOCUS Missionaries
- Newman Grads (graduate students and young adults)
- Small Group Bible Studies
- Chun Jin Ahm (Korean Student Group)
- Catholic Bible Life Movement
- Thomistic Institute student chapter
- Rosary Group
- Berkeley Students for Life
- Catholics at Berkeley Law
- Student Retreats: Fall, Spring, Twilight, 2nd-Year, 3rd-Year, and Graduating Seniors
Faith Development for All Ages
From toddlers through adults, Newman offers ongoing faith formation. Little Church is a children's liturgy of the word during the 10 AM Mass, and Children's Religious Education prepares kids and teens for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Teen Confirmation. For adults, the parish runs OCIA, Marriage Preparation, Sunday Scripture Reflection (Emmaus), Chinese Bible Study, Catholicism WOW!, the Newman Discernment Group, and Tuesday Theology — a regular evening lecture and discussion series for adults who want to go deeper in the intellectual and spiritual life of the Church.
- Little Church (children's liturgy of the word)
- Children's Religious Education
- Newman Forum (lectures and discussion)
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- Marriage Preparation Couple's Workshop
- Emmaus (Sunday Scripture Reflection)
- Chinese Bible Study
- Catholicism WOW!
- Newman Discernment Group
- Tuesday Theology
Social Justice and Outreach
Newman's outreach continues more than a century of faith-and-action ministry. Loaves & Fishes is the parish's signature direct-service program, providing community dinners and meals to unhoused and low-income neighbors in the Berkeley-Oakland area. The parish also partners with the Catholic Worker for Sunday breakfasts and holiday dinners, and active groups include the Nonviolent Peacemaking Group and the Refugee Welcome Ministry.
- Loaves & Fishes — 1st Saturday community dinner, hospitality at the men's and women's shelters, take-away meals (contact Joe Burns at [email protected])
- Nonviolent Peacemaking Group
- Refugee Welcome Ministry
- Catholic Worker Sunday Breakfast & Holiday Dinners
- Ongoing racial-justice, housing, and peace initiatives through BOCA, JustFaith, the Ecumenical Peace Institute, and the Bread for the World Racial Wealth Gap Simulation
Community Life
Parish life at Newman is built around hospitality and intergenerational friendships. Adopt-A-Student pairs parish families with students far from home. Coffee and donuts after Sunday Mass, Women in Conversation, the Newman Elders group, and a parish Writing Group help weave the wider community together.
- Adopt-A-Student
- Sunday Coffee & Donuts
- Women in Conversation
- Newman Elders
- Writing Group
Liturgical Ministries
The Mass is supported by a large and welcoming group of liturgical ministers. Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, the Music Ministry, the Liturgical Movement (greeters and ushers), the Chapel Cleaning Team, the Worship Environment team, and the Sacristans all help the parish pray well. The Music Director, Colleen Lenord, leads the parish's sung worship, with Rob Grant accompanying the candlelight 9 PM Sunday Mass on guitar.
- Eucharistic Ministry
- Lector Ministry
- Music Ministry
- Liturgical Movement Ministry (greeters, ushers)
- Chapel Cleaning Team
- Worship Environment
- Sacristan Ministry
- Communion to the Homebound
Serving Our Community
Parishioners can also serve the parish itself, from council membership to building and grounds, gardening, maintenance, and secretarial help. The parish also celebrates alumni who dedicated a year or more to service, and alumni who went on to become priests.
- Parish Council
- Parish Finance Council
- Building & Grounds Committee
- Gardening, Maintenance, and Secretarial support
- Habitat for Newmanity
- Alumni who dedicated a year or more to serve others
- Alumni who became priests
Getting Involved and Visiting
Newman Hall–Holy Spirit Parish warmly welcomes visitors, students, and new parishioners. The office is open during the week; the best way to begin is to attend a Sunday or weekday Mass, introduce yourself to one of the priests, and sign up for parish registration. Students are encouraged to join newmanvillage.slack.com for the latest news. To make an appointment with Fr. Xavier, email [email protected] or call (650) 291-4590; to reach Fr. Pius, email [email protected] or leave a message at (520) 222-8844. For general inquiries call (510) 848-7812 or email [email protected].
- Office phone: (510) 848-7812
- Fax: (510) 848-0179
- Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation: [email protected]
- Student Slack: newmanvillage.slack.com
- Loaves & Fishes: [email protected] (Joe Burns)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John J. Cantwellc. 1899–1904
First priest-chaplain of the Newman Club; later Archbishop of Los Angeles
- Fr. Thomas Verner Moore, CSP1907–
First resident Paulist chaplain; oversaw move to Ridge Road and the building of the 1910 Maybeck-designed Newman Hall
- Fr. Ivan Tou, CSPuntil 2024
Last Paulist pastor before the 2024 transition to the Dominicans
- Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OPJuly 1, 2024–
First Dominican pastor; previously directed Catholic campus ministry at Stanford and served as pastor of St. Dominic's, San Francisco