About St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center · Normal, Illinois
St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center is the Catholic campus ministry serving the students of Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Located across the street from the ISU campus at 501 S. Main Street in Normal, the center offers daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Reconciliation in a chapel that can seat 350. Although its mission is rooted in student discipleship, the parish welcomes the wider community to all of its liturgies and sacramental celebrations. It is part of the Diocese of Peoria and is currently led by Father Kyle Lucas, director and chaplain, alongside a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary team and a weDignify pro-life mission.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. John Paul II (the center also honors St. Robert Bellarmine and St. John Henry Newman as patrons)
- Rector
- Father Kyle Lucas (Director and Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Whether you are a current or prospective college student, a parent, or simply a Catholic in Bloomington-Normal looking for daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, or Reconciliation, the Newman Center welcomes you. The community offers two Sunday Masses (10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.), a full schedule of weekday Masses, daily adoration and confession from 4:00–5:00 p.m., small-group Bible studies, a student-led retreat called Koinonia, and lively programs like Wednesday-night Source & Summit praise and worship, Thursday-night Duc in Altum formation, men's and women's groups, and pro-life events led by weDignify missionaries.
Mass times at St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:00–10:30 am
- Sunday 4:00–5:00 pm
- Monday–Friday 4:00–5:00 pm
Adoration times
- Monday–Thursday 4:00–5:00 pm
- Friday 12:00–5:00 pm
History of the Newman Center
Catholic students have been gathering at Illinois State for well over a century. A Newman Club was founded on campus in the 1920s and initially met in a small house, with members walking to Holy Trinity Parish for Mass. In 1967, a permanent (though originally intended as temporary) warehouse-style building was constructed on South Main Street. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky's 'Rooted in Faith' capital campaign in the early 2000s funded a major front addition including the Chapel of St. Robert Bellarmine, which was dedicated on November 7, 2010. At that Mass, Bishop Jenky surprised the assembly by renaming the center the John Paul II Catholic Newman Center. In 2022, Father Kyle Lucas became its first full-time priest since 2009, and a $1.5 million renovation blessed by Bishop Louis Tylka in October 2023 transformed both wings of the building.
- 1920s — Newman Club founded at ISU
- 1967 — Original Newman Center built (warehouse style, intended as temporary)
- 2008 — Construction begins on Rooted in Faith-funded addition
- August 22, 2010 — First Mass in the new chapel
- November 7, 2010 — Bishop Jenky dedicates St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel and renames the center after Blessed John Paul II
- 2010s — Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SCTJM) staff the center for over a decade
- 2022 — Father Kyle Lucas assigned as first full-time priest since 2009
- Fall 2023 — FOCUS missionaries join the staff
- October 29, 2023 — Bishop Tylka blesses the completed $1.5 million renovation
Liturgy & Sacraments
The Newman Center celebrates two Sunday Masses (10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and a full schedule of weekday Masses in the Chapel of St. Robert Bellarmine, which seats about 350 and includes a separate adoration chapel and choir loft. While the community is rooted in campus ministry, all Masses, adoration, and confessions are open to the public; the schedule adjusts during ISU academic breaks and over the summer (summer hours began May 10, 2026 with Sunday Mass at 5:00 p.m. and daily Mass on Monday and Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.).
- Sunday Mass — 10:30 am & 5:00 pm
- Weekday Masses — Mon 5 pm, Tue 12:15 pm, Wed 5 pm, Thu 12:15 pm, Fri 5 pm
- Confession — Sun 10–10:30 am & 4–5 pm; Mon–Fri 4–5 pm
- Eucharistic Adoration — Mon–Thu 4–5 pm; Fri 12–5 pm
Music & Liturgical Ministry
Students form the backbone of the liturgies at the Newman Center. Liturgical Ministry invites students to serve as altar servers, lectors, sacristans, and ushers at both Sunday and weekday Masses — no prior experience is required, and training is provided. Music Ministry includes Sunday choirs for the 5 p.m. Mass and the Wednesday-night Source & Summit praise and worship gathering, where musicians share their gifts in a contemporary setting.
- Altar servers, lectors, sacristans, ushers
- Sunday choirs (5 pm Mass)
- Source & Summit — Wednesday-night praise and worship
Faith Formation & Student Life
Beyond the sacraments, the Newman Center runs a robust calendar of formation, retreat, and community programs for students of Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College. Thursday-night Duc in Altum offers ongoing formation, while small-group Bible studies are led both by students and by FOCUS missionaries. The student-led Koinonia retreat is offered each semester, alongside men's and women's groups, hiking trips, social events, and pro-life events coordinated with weDignify missionaries.
- Duc in Altum — Thursday-night formation
- Koinonia — student-led retreat each semester
- Small-group Bible studies (student-led and FOCUS-led)
- Men's and women's groups
- Hiking trips and social events
FOCUS & weDignify Missionaries
In fall 2023 the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) placed a team of missionaries on the ISU campus. They lead Bible studies, offer discipleship, and provide a daily witness of living the Catholic faith. weDignify, a separate mission, mentors college students into skilled, virtuous, pro-life leaders so they can build a culture of life on campus and beyond.
- FOCUS Team Director — Ashley Miller
- FOCUS Missionaries — Hyoung Min Cho, Mia Marchiori
- weDignify Missionaries — Dominic Lesiak, Savannah Tucker
Staff & Leadership
Father Kyle Lucas serves as Director and Chaplain and is the first full-time priest assigned to the Newman Center since 2009. The lay staff includes Paden Wicks (Office Manager), Lauren Foster (Director of Advancement), and Logan Berryman (Campus Minister). Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, Diocese of Peoria Vocations Director, also serves with the community, and the center partners closely with FOCUS and weDignify missionary teams.
- Father Kyle Lucas — Director & Chaplain
- Paden Wicks — Office Manager
- Lauren Foster — Director of Advancement
- Logan Berryman — Campus Minister
- Father Chase Hilgenbrinck — Diocese of Peoria Vocations Director
Building, Hours & Visiting
The Newman Center occupies 501 S. Main Street in Normal, directly across from the ISU campus. A six-month, $1.5 million renovation completed in October 2023 added a commercial kitchen, a coffee bar area, a soundproofed quiet study room, new conference rooms, and dedicated offices for FOCUS missionaries, while updating bathrooms, flooring, and lighting throughout. Building hours are Sunday–Friday 9 am–8 pm and closed Saturday (hours vary during school breaks — see the online calendar).
- Address — 501 S. Main Street, Normal, IL 61761
- Phone — (309) 452-5046
- Fax — (309) 452-3845
- Email — [email protected]
- Building hours — Sun–Fri 9 am–8 pm; Sat closed (summer and break schedules vary)
Getting Involved
The Newman Center is always looking for new students and community members to join its liturgical, musical, formation, and outreach ministries. Whether you want to serve at Mass, lead or join a small group, help run a retreat, mentor in pro-life leadership, or simply come to a Source & Summit night, the staff invites you to fill out their online connection form or email [email protected] to get plugged in. Alumni and benefactors are also invited to support the building fund as the center looks to expand its impact on the three campuses it serves.
- Serve at Mass (Liturgical Ministry)
- Join a choir or Source & Summit praise band
- Lead or join a small-group Bible study
- Volunteer with Koinonia retreat or pro-life events
- Support the building fund as an alumnus or benefactor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sisters of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SCTJM)2010s–2022
Several SCTJM sisters staffed the center for over a decade following the 2010 dedication, including Sister Silvia Tarafa, SCTJM, as director.
- Father Kyle Lucas2022–present
Assigned by Bishop Louis Tylka in 2022 as director and chaplain; the first full-time priest to serve the Newman Center since 2009.