About St. John Henry Newman University Parish · Jonesboro, Arkansas
St. John Newman University Parish is a personal parish (Code of Canon Law, Can. 518) of the Diocese of Little Rock that serves the Catholic students, faculty, and staff of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Commonly known as the 'Newman Center,' it sits at 2800 E. Johnson Ave and offers Sunday and weekday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Bible studies, retreats, and a weekly community hangout. The parish is named for St. John Henry Newman, the 19th-century English convert and cardinal who was canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019.
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- St. John Henry Newman
- Rector
- Msgr. R. Scott Friend
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (North Delta Deanery, Craighead County)
Why belong here
St. John Newman University Parish exists to walk with Arkansas State University students as they grow into adults and leaders of the Church and the world. It offers the sacraments — daily and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, and OCIA for those entering the Church — alongside men's and women's Bible studies, Wednesday-night community hangouts after Mass, retreats, and service opportunities. Faculty, university staff, and adult members of the wider Jonesboro community regularly join the student body, making it a true 'home away from home' for Catholic Red Wolves.
Mass times at St. John Henry Newman University Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 4:00–5:00 p.m.
- By appointment
About the Parish
St. John Newman University Parish is the Catholic personal parish serving Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Established under Canon Law (Can. 518) specifically to minister to college students, faculty, and staff, it functions as a 'Newman Center' — a chaplaincy-style Catholic community embedded in a secular state university. The parish is part of the Diocese of Little Rock and sits in the North Delta Deanery of Craighead County. Its patron is St. John Henry Newman, the 19th-century English cardinal and convert canonized by Pope Francis in October 2019.
History of St. John Newman University Parish
The Catholic Newman Center at Arkansas State University was dedicated in its current form in 1992. It was renamed 'Blessed John Newman' at the ministry's request to Bishop Andrew J. McDonald — notably before Newman's beatification in 2010. Following Pope Francis's canonization of St. John Henry Newman on October 13, 2019, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor formally proclaimed the parish 'St. John Newman University Parish' after Mass that same day. The parish has continued to grow: weekly attendance climbed from about 140 in 2010 to roughly 338 at weekend Masses, and a major renovation of the facility was completed in 2024.
- 1992 — current building dedicated as the Catholic Newman Center
- Pre-2010 — renamed 'Blessed John Newman' at ministry's request to Bishop Andrew J. McDonald
- 2010 — St. John Henry Newman beatified
- Oct. 13, 2019 — Pope Francis canonizes St. John Henry Newman; Bishop Taylor proclaims the parish 'St. John Newman University Parish'
- 2024 — facility renovation completed
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by a pastor and associate pastors, supported by a small lay staff for campus ministry, finances, OCIA, and sacramental records. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday noon–3 p.m.
- Pastor — Msgr. R. Scott Friend
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Kiran Kishore Ingilela
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Cody Eveld
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Tuan Do
- Director of Campus Ministry — Brandon Lercher ([email protected])
- Office Manager — Nancy Tinoko ([email protected])
- OCIA and Adult Faith Formation Coordinator — Adam Long ([email protected])
- Parish Sacramental Recording and Adult Faith Formation Coordinator — Penny Toombs ([email protected])
Parish Life & Ministries
As a university parish, ministry at St. John Newman centers on forming young adults in faith and community. Parish leaders describe its role as 'providing the sacraments and community and resources to these students to live out their faith as they grow into adults and leaders of the Church and the world today and tomorrow.' A weekly Wednesday-night hangout follows the Wednesday evening Mass, and the parish has partnered with Evangelical Catholic to put students through a 14-week missionary training program.
- Men's and women's Bible studies
- Wednesday-night community hangout (after 6 p.m. Mass)
- Retreats
- Evangelical Catholic 14-week student missionary training
- Student council and student leadership
- Altar serving
- Service and outreach projects
Faith Formation & OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a cornerstone ministry at St. John Newman. The parish typically welcomes around 10 students and young adults into full communion with the Catholic Church each year. Adult Faith Formation programming is coordinated by Adam Long alongside sacramental records work handled by Penny Toombs.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (coordinator: Adam Long)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Parish Sacramental Recording (Penny Toombs)
Campus Context — Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University has roughly 14,000 students, only an estimated 200–300 of whom are Catholic — with the vast majority (around 90%) coming from Baptist backgrounds. The parish draws students from across Arkansas as well as from neighboring dioceses (Springfield–Cape Girardeau in Missouri and Memphis in Tennessee), making it a regional hub for Catholic campus ministry in the Mid-South.
- ASU enrollment ≈ 14,000 students
- Estimated 200–300 Catholic students on campus
- Draws students from the Dioceses of Little Rock, Springfield–Cape Girardeau, and Memphis
Visit, Contact & Connect
The parish office is located at 2800 E. Johnson Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401, with office hours Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday noon–3 p.m. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Campus Ministry, Brandon Lercher, at [email protected], or by phone at (870) 972-1888.
- Address — 2800 E. Johnson Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401
- Phone — (870) 972-1888
- Website — http://howlcatholic.org/ (also referenced as http://astatecnc.com/)
- Office Hours — Tues./Thurs. 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Wed./Fri. noon–3 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alex Smith
Past pastor during the 2024 renovation and through the parish's reported growth era; now assigned as Pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church, Mountain Home, AR (per DOLR.org).