St. John University Parish

Who We Are — St. John University Parish

St. John University Parish, known as 'Mountaineer Catholic,' is a Roman Catholic parish on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. Dedicated to Christ and His Church through campus ministry, the parish uses its Newman Hall as a home for students to study, socialize, and grow in faith. St. John's welcomes WVU students alongside local young people, elderly, and families — anyone seeking to take the Catholic faith seriously in their earthly pilgrimage toward heaven. All are invited to worship and adore the Lord with the parish.

Patron — St. John Henry Newman

The parish is named after St. John Henry Newman, the 19th-century's most important English-speaking Catholic theologian, who spent the first half of his life as an Anglican and the second half as a Catholic. As he later wrote, 'To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant.' A priest, popular preacher, writer, and eminent theologian, Newman was named a cardinal in 1879 and took as his motto 'Cor ad cor loquitur' — 'Heart speaks to heart.' His feast day is October 9, and his motto is inscribed in a stained glass window in the church's choir loft.

• Newman Clubs began at U.S. universities shortly after his death, linking his name to Catholic campus ministry
• He is venerated as patron of Catholic students
• Feast Day: October 9

History of the Parish

The parish's story begins with the first Catholic church in Morgantown, St. Francis de Sales, established in the Sunnyside neighborhood in 1898 near McLane Avenue. As the Catholic population grew, the small church could no longer accommodate the congregation, and in 1924 the parish moved to 44 Beechurst Avenue and was renamed St. Theresa's. For 70 years St. Theresa's served Morgantown, and the Ursuline sisters founded the nonprofit Christian Help out of the parish to assist those in need. In 1998, St. Theresa's was reorganized as St. John University Parish, with Benedictine Monks placed in charge. The welcoming culture of service has carried forward through today.

• 1898: St. Francis de Sales established in Sunnyside, Morgantown
• 1924: Parish relocates to 44 Beechurst Avenue and becomes St. Theresa's
• Outreach legacy: founding of Christian Help by Ursuline sisters
• 1998: Reorganized as St. John University Parish; Benedictine Monks assigned
• Sarah's Table and Campus Ministry trace origins to St. Theresa's era

Devotionals

The parish maintains a rich weekly devotional life outside of the Mass schedule. These communal prayers offer parishioners and students regular opportunities for spiritual growth and intercession.

• Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament — Wednesdays at 5:00 pm
• Litany of St. Joseph — Wednesdays after the 5:15 pm Mass
• Divine Mercy Chaplet — Fridays after the 5:15 pm Mass
• Holy Rosary — 30 minutes before Sunday Masses and after the 9:00 am Mass on First Saturdays
• Stations of the Cross — Fridays in Lent at 7:00 pm

Campus Ministry — Mountaineer Catholic

Campus Ministry is at the heart of St. John University Parish's identity, serving WVU students through fellowship, formation, and outreach. The ministry is led by Sammy Lopez, Director of Programs and Development. Activities range from Bible studies and Eucharistic Adoration to retreats, mission trips, and recreational events. The community meets regularly in Newman Hall and gathers for 'Dinner for a Dollar' on Thursdays during the fall and spring semester in the Parish Center.

• FOCUS Missionaries and FOCUS Bible Studies
• SEEK Conference and March for Life
• Dinner for a Dollar — Thursdays 6:00 pm (fall/spring)
• Fall and Spring Retreats
• Pizza Parties, hikes, dances, game nights, jam sessions, movie nights
• Newman Lounge and Library (fellowship and study)
• Joan and Joe's Coffee Shop (bottom level of Newman Hall)

Faith Formation & OCIA

The parish partners with parents in raising their children in the Catholic faith and offers programs for all ages. The K-8 Faith Formation program is coordinated by Erin Stuvek, Director of Religious Education and Coordinator of Homeschool Family Life. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church, including non-baptized adults, baptized Christians of other traditions, and Catholics seeking First Communion and Confirmation.

• K-8 Faith Formation (contact: [email protected])
• OCIA — Sundays 9:30 am – 10:40 am in St. Philomena Chapel Library (academic year)
• OCIA typically lasts one academic year (September–May)
• Sacramental preparation for First Confession, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation

Sacraments and Marriage Preparation

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments instituted by Christ: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Couples preparing for marriage through St. John's participate in a weekend marriage preparation retreat, a Natural Family Planning introductory course, and several meetings with a priest or deacon, in accordance with the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston's requirements.

• Daily Confession available
• Daily Mass offered
• Weekly Eucharistic Adoration
• Weekend marriage preparation retreat
• NFP introductory course and several meetings with priest/deacon

Parish Outreach — Sarah's Table & Christian Help

St. John University Parish continues a long tradition of serving the broader Morgantown community through two flagship outreach ministries. Sarah's Table is a community feeding program that provides food to the homeless in Morgantown. Christian Help, the nonprofit founded by the Ursuline sisters out of the parish's predecessor St. Theresa's, supplies food and basic necessities to those in need, and fills the pantry at St. John's for Sarah's Table. Campus Ministry students also organize clothing drives donating to the Christian Help closet.

• Sarah's Table — feeding the homeless in Morgantown
• Christian Help — food and clothing assistance partnership
• Clothing drives to support Christian Help closet
• Ministry of Care — home and hospital visits coordinated through the parish office

Contact & Visit

Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and the parish is centrally located at 1481 University Avenue in downtown Morgantown, adjacent to the WVU campus.

• Address: 1481 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Phone: (304) 296-8231
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://mountaineercatholic.com