About St. John Paul II Oratory. JPII Newman Center Housing. · Omaha, Nebraska
St. John Paul II Oratory is the chapel at the heart of the JPII Newman Center, a Catholic campus ministry and student-housing community located at 1221 S. 71st St. in Omaha, Nebraska, just minutes from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). The center serves college students from across the Omaha area with daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, small-group Bible studies, FOCUS missionary outreach, Catholic 101 lectures, and apartment-style residence life for up to 158 students. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Omaha and is led by Pastor/Director Father Dan Andrews, with Father Scott Schilmoeller serving as Director of Vocations and Priest-in-Residence and Deacon Omar Gutierrez assisting with the Catholic 101 seminar series.
- Established
- 2016
- Patron
- St. John Paul II
- Rector
- Father Dan Andrews
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
The JPII Newman Center exists to share the transformative love of Jesus Christ with every college student in Omaha. Whether you live in residence or commute in, you can join daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, more than 30 weekly FOCUS-led small-group Bible studies, Catholic 101 lectures with Deacon Omar Gutierrez, and a tight-knit community of students striving to live their faith together — all just a short walk or shuttle ride from UNO's Dodge and Scott campuses.
Mass times at St. John Paul II Oratory. JPII Newman Center Housing.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
- Sunday school-year schedule: 10:00 a.m. (Confession/Mass); no Sunday evening Confession/Mass
- Monday–Thursday school-year: 8:00 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Mass); Friday: 11:30 a.m.–noon
Adoration times
- Monday–Thursday (school year): Holy Hour with Eucharistic Exposition one hour before the 5:30 p.m. Mass (4:30–5:30 p.m.)
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: one-hour Holy Hour before the 5:30 p.m. Mass (summer schedule)
- Most weekdays during the school year — see jpiiomaha.org for the current week
About the JPII Newman Center
Newman Centers are places for Catholic college ministries, located on campuses around the world. The St. John Paul II Newman Center exists to share the transformative love of Jesus Christ with every college student in Omaha. Our community began as a movement on UNO's campus known as MavCatholic. In 2016, the JPII Newman Center was built as the new home for MavCatholic and a dedicated space for any college student in Omaha to hang out, meet lifelong friends, study, and grow closer to Jesus. The Archdiocese of Omaha describes the center as offering modern, apartment-style housing; common spaces for study, community, and reflection; an ideal location along the scenic Keystone Trail; a serene space in the St. John Paul II Oratory; and a community of students striving to live life to the fullest.
- Mission: To share the transformative love of Jesus Christ with every college student in Omaha.
- Vision: A community of students striving to live life to the fullest, supported by housing, study, prayer, and chapel spaces.
- Primary audience: College students and staff/faculty from any university in the Omaha area; occasional visitors, health-care workers, and the Aksarben Senior Living Community are also welcome.
Our Staff
The center is staffed by priests, a deacon, and lay professionals in campus ministry, residence life, and advancement. Together they shepherd the spiritual, residential, and outreach life of the community.
- Father Dan Andrews — Director/Pastor ([email protected])
- Father Scott Schilmoeller — Director of Vocations and Priest-in-Residence ([email protected])
- Johnny Murray ([email protected])
- Katie Winkler — Director of Campus Ministry ([email protected])
- Deacon Omar Gutierrez — Coordinator of Campus Outreach & Men's Ministry ([email protected]); teaches the Catholic 101 seminar series
- Susan — Director of Advancement
- Beth Carlson — Director of Residence Life ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Small Groups
Faith formation is the heart of the Newman Center's mission. The community offers more than 30 weekly FOCUS-led small-group Bible studies, Catholic 101 lectures, and men's ministry, all designed to help students encounter Jesus Christ in friendship and study.
- FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) — over 30 weekly Bible studies that work with your schedule
- Small groups — a primary way to grow in faith and friendship
- Catholic 101 — every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Newman Leadership Center with Deacon Omar Gutierrez
- Men's Ministry
- Vocations discernment support with Father Scott Schilmoeller
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
The center welcomes adults who want to learn more about the Catholic faith, are unbaptized, or are baptized but not yet confirmed. OCIA is described as 'the fancy name for the process of inquiry and learning that takes place on the road to joining the Church' — a personal journey the staff is honored to walk alongside you on.
- Open to anyone exploring the Catholic faith
- Inquiry and formation for unbaptized adults and for baptized adults preparing for Confirmation
Marriage
Weddings at the JPII Newman Center are reserved for registered student parishioners, alumni, and staff. The Archdiocese of Omaha requires couples to contact a priest at least six months before the proposed wedding date. To begin, couples complete a Wedding Request Form on the website; a priest or staff member will then follow up to schedule an initial meeting.
- Eligibility: registered student parishioners, alumni, and staff
- Requirement: contact a priest at least six months in advance
- Start: submit the Wedding Request Form on jpiiomaha.org
Residence Life and Community Spaces
Newman Hall is the four-story residential wing of the center, accommodating up to 158 residents in fully furnished two- and four-bedroom suite apartments. On-site parking, WiFi, cable, and laundry are all included. The building also offers a commons, several study rooms, and prayer rooms, all within walking distance of UNO's Dodge and Scott campuses. The UNO shuttle stops a short walk away on Scott Campus, and the building is located along the scenic Keystone Trail.
- Suite-style apartments (two- and four-bedroom) for up to 158 residents
- On-site parking, WiFi, cable, and laundry included
- Commons, study rooms, and prayer rooms
- Steps from the Keystone Trail and UNO shuttle
Getting Involved and Vocations
The JPII Newman Center encourages every student to get connected — to a small group, the men's or women's ministry, service trips, or discernment of a vocation. Father Scott Schilmoeller, the Archdiocese of Omaha's Director of Vocations, is in residence at the center and can help students take the next step. The Omaha Vocations website also offers discernment resources and guidance.
- Join a small group (Bible studies, men's, women's)
- Talk to Father Scott Schilmoeller about vocations
- Visit the Archdiocese of Omaha Vocations website for discernment resources
History and Identity
Catholic students at UNO had gathered as a club for generations before they had a home. For years the campus ministry operated out of St. Margaret Mary Parish under the name MavCatholic. Around the late 2000s, Fr. Joe Taphorn, Archbishop George Lucas, and a circle of donors began turning the long-held dream of a UNO Newman Center into a building plan. The St. John Paul II Newman Center opened in fall 2016 as a four-story complex combining the Oratory, common spaces, and apartment-style housing — one of the few Newman Centers in the country with integrated student housing. The Oratory is named for Pope St. John Paul II, patron saint of youth, while a painting of young St. John Henry Newman, the namesake of the wider Newman Center movement, was dedicated in October 2021 in memory of a student who had died of cancer.
- Pre-2016: Catholic student ministry based at St. Margaret Mary Parish as MavCatholic
- Late 2000s: Fr. Joe Taphorn, Archbishop George Lucas, and donors launch the project
- Fall 2016: JPII Newman Center opens with Oratory, common spaces, and four floors of housing
- October 2021: Painting of St. John Henry Newman dedicated in memory of a student
- 2019–present: Fr. Dan Andrews serves as pastor and director
Contact and Visit
The St. John Paul II Oratory and JPII Newman Center are located at 1221 S. 71st St., Omaha, NE 68106. For general inquiries, email [email protected] or call (402) 558-3100.
- Address: 1221 S. 71st St., Omaha, NE 68106
- Phone: (402) 558-3100
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.jpiiomaha.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joe Taphorn
Pastoral leader involved in the visioning and creation of the Newman Center before it opened
- Father Dan AndrewsJune 2019–present
Current Pastor/Director; previously served at the center; known for his outreach including a distinctive 1985 Volkswagen bus used to promote MavCatholic
- Father Andrew Roza2016–
Associate pastor from opening; worked with Catholic students during planning and construction