About St. John Henry Newman Center · Youngstown, Ohio
The St. John Henry Newman Center, popularly known as 'Catholic Penguins,' is the official Catholic campus ministry of the Diocese of Youngstown serving Youngstown State University (YSU) in Youngstown, Ohio. Housed at 254 Madison Avenue just off the YSU campus and historically connected to the university's Catholic Student Association (CSA), the Center provides worship, evangelization, education, and service opportunities to form students into mature disciples of Christ. The Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph administer the ministry, drawing on the Dominican tradition's emphasis on the unity of faith and reason to equip students for a lifelong Catholic life in modern society.
- Patron
- St. John Henry Newman
- Rector
- Rev. John Rovnak (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
The Newman Center offers a vibrant Catholic community right at YSU, with daily Mass celebrated during the academic semester and a full calendar of faith formation, Bible studies, prayer experiences, and outreach. Run by the Dominican Friars and the Diocese of Youngstown, the Center welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ while pursuing their studies. With programs spanning liturgy and sacraments, faith study, and volunteer service, it is both a spiritual home and a social hub for the YSU community.
Mass times at St. John Henry Newman Center
Weekly Mass schedule
About Catholic Penguins & the Newman Center
Housed at the St. John Henry Newman Center, Catholic Penguins is the official Catholic ministry of the Diocese of Youngstown at YSU. Through worship, evangelization, education, and service, the Center forms students to be mature disciples of Christ. The Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph administer Catholic Penguins, drawing on the Dominican emphasis on the unity of faith and reason to equip students to be life-long Catholics in the complexity of modern society. Catholic Penguins is open to people of all backgrounds and interests, and welcomes all YSU students, faculty, and staff.
- Official Catholic campus ministry of the Diocese of Youngstown at YSU
- Administered by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph
- Spiritual home of the YSU Catholic Student Association (CSA)
Mission
Catholic Penguins describes itself as a community of faith whose mission is to build up the kingdom of God by engaging students in the practice of their faith. It provides a spiritual home for those seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a social hub for students seeking to grow their faith while pursuing their courses of study.
- Worship
- Evangelization
- Education
- Service
What We Offer
The Center organizes its offerings around three main pillars: faith formation and study, liturgy and sacraments, and outreach and volunteer service.
Faith Formation & Study Sessions
Bible studies and faith education are core programs for students who want to deepen their understanding of the Catholic tradition in a welcoming, peer environment.
- Bible studies
- Faith education sessions
Liturgy & Sacraments
Vibrant liturgies and prayer experiences are offered throughout the YSU academic year, with Sunday Mass celebrated on campus during the fall and spring semesters.
- Daily Mass during YSU semester
- Sunday evening Mass
- Holy Day Masses (at Kilcawley Center and the Newman Center)
Outreach & Volunteer
Service to the needy and hospitality to the broader YSU community are integral to the Center's mission, allowing students to put their faith into action.
- Volunteer service opportunities
- Hospitality to the university community
Staff & Leadership
The Center is staffed by a Dominican chaplain, a lay Director of Campus Ministry, a faculty advisor, and elected student officers from the Catholic Student Association.
- Rev. John Rovnak — Chaplain
- Bernadette (Sartor) Mashonga — Director of Campus Ministry
- Jozsi Jalics — Faculty Advisor
- Nicholas McGoogan — President (student officer)
- Joe Carlini — Communications Chair (student officer)
Mass & Devotion Schedule
Mass is celebrated during the YSU fall and spring semesters, with no Mass in the summer. The Sunday evening Mass is the weekly liturgical anchor of the community, supplemented by daily Masses during the semester and special Holy Day liturgies.
- Sunday Mass: 6:00 PM (during YSU semester)
- Holy Days: 12:05 PM at Kilcawley Center and 7:00 PM at the Newman Center
- Daily Mass: see catholicpenguins.org/hours for the full weekly schedule