St. Paul's Newman Center - NDSU Campus Fargo

History of St. Paul's Newman Center

St. Paul's traces its roots to 1928, when thirty-six students formed the Catholic Students Club at North Dakota Agricultural College — the first religious organization on what would become the NDSU campus. Its chaplain-founder, Fr. Leo Dworschak, would go on to become the fourth Bishop of Fargo. After years meeting in an old white house on the present site, the Club got its first permanent home in 1948 when Fr. Edward Arth built a 200-seat Quonset-hut chapel, which the F-5 tornado of June 1957 destroyed. Bishop Dwarschak and the first resident chaplain, Fr. William Durkin, broke ground in 1958 on a $250,000 stone-and-brick complex — chapel, lounge, social hall, offices, conference rooms, and priest apartments — and the chapel was enlarged and re-dedicated in 1976. That 1958 building was demolished in 2019 to make way for the current facility, completed in summer 2021, which integrates the chapel with faith-based student housing.

• 1928 — Catholic Students Club founded by Fr. Leo Dworschak
• 1948 — Quonset-hut chapel built under Fr. Edward Arth
• June 1957 — F-5 tornado destroys the Quonset chapel
• 1958 — $250,000 stone-and-brick complex opened under Fr. William Durkin
• 1976 — Chapel enlarged and re-dedicated
• 2019 — Old building demolished; expansion groundbreaking
• Summer 2021 — Current facility completed
• Fr. James Cheney is the 14th director in the line of succession

Patrons and Name

The Center is named for two patrons: the Apostle St. Paul, one of the greatest of all saints, and Cardinal John Henry Newman, the 19th-century English convert and theologian who championed the religious development of young Catholics at secular universities ("The Idea of a University"). The parish itself describes these as "no two better patrons… for modern-day university students striving to live holy lives in the reality of Christ Jesus."

Staff and Leadership

The Newman Center is staffed by a pastor, a spiritual director, and a full lay team in campus ministry, development, communications, finance, property, and facilities. Fr. James Cheney is the pastor; Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann serves in spiritual direction and formation. The staff also includes a Director of Campus Ministry (Nathan Carr), Director of Development (Joe Hendrickx), Development Officer (Tom Plant), Development Coordinator (Julia Pearson), Director of Communications (Maria Brien), Music Coordinator (Benton), Director of Finance and Administration (Kevin Torgerson), Newman Living Property Manager (Andrew Nielsen), Facilities Manager (Brian Walker), a maintenance technician (Nick), the Chef/Coffee lead (Aaron Bates), Events lead (Grace Uselman), and custodian (Cody Hamilton). Student leadership includes Peer Ministers, Newman Housing Ministers, and a Parish Council.

• Fr. James Cheney — Pastor ([email protected], 701-793-5645)
• Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann — Spiritual Direction & Formation ([email protected], 701-365-3101)
• Nathan Carr — Director of Campus Ministry ([email protected], 701-365-3107)
• Joe Hendrickx — Director of Development ([email protected], 701-365-3104)
• Tom Plant — Development Officer ([email protected], 701-365-3103)
• Julia Pearson — Development Coordinator ([email protected], 701-365-3105)
• Maria Brien — Director of Communications ([email protected], 701-365-3108)
• Kevin Torgerson — Director of Finance and Administration ([email protected], 701-365-3102)
• Andrew Nielsen — Newman Living Property Manager ([email protected], 701-365-3111)
• Brian Walker — Newman Facilities Manager ([email protected], 701-365-3109)
• Aaron Bates — Chef/Coffee ([email protected])
• Grace Uselman — Events ([email protected])
• Benton — Music Coordinator ([email protected])
• Cody Hamilton — Newman Custodian
• Peer Ministers, Newman Housing Ministers, Parish Council

Campus Ministry and FOCUS

St. Paul's partners with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), whose recent-college-graduate missionaries have served the NDSU campus for twenty years. The team is led by team director Aaron Filzen with new missionaries Benedict Gallagher, Liz Mozan, and Alexa Brinks. Peer Ministers and Newman Housing Ministers extend this work into Bible studies, outreach to new and returning students, and faith-based residence life.

• FOCUS missionaries at NDSU for 20 years
• Team director Aaron Filzen
• Missionaries Benedict Gallagher, Liz Mozan, Alexa Brinks
• Peer Ministers
• Newman Housing Ministers
• Bible studies (parish-wide sign-ups)

Newman Living — Faith-Based Student Housing

Newman Living is the faith-based student-housing ministry of St. Paul's Newman Center, operated across the street from the NDSU campus. Residents share access to two fitness studios, community and study rooms, and 24-hour access to the chapel inside the Center. Newman Living Townhomes, located across the street from campus, are offered as a ministry of the Center and include all utilities (electricity, gas, water, garbage, internet, snow removal, lawn care). Pricing is listed as $2,400–$3,200 per month, or $775–$850 per bedroom.

• Newman Living (original building)
• Newman Living Expansion
• Newman Living Townhomes (across from campus)
• Amenities: 2 fitness studios, community & study rooms, 24-hour chapel access
• $775–$850 per bedroom / $2,400–$3,200 per month; all utilities included

Parish Life and Events

Parish life at bisonCatholic mixes the sacramental rhythm of the chapel with a busy calendar of social and outreach events designed to help Catholic students build friendships. Recurring events include the Newman Center Open House & Bible Study Launch Night, the Freshman & Transfer Student Camping Trip, Ultimate Frisbee, Watermelon Volleyball, the First Buckluck of the School Year, and the Dance & Root Beer Keg. The Center also publishes a weekly bulletin, podcasts, and a "This Week at Newman" email, and offers a free parish subscription to the Hallow prayer app.

• Newman Center Open House & Bible Study Launch Night
• Freshman & Transfer Student Camping Trip
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Watermelon Volleyball
• First Buckluck of the School Year
• Dance & Root Beer Keg
• Weekly bulletin, podcasts, and This Week at Newman email
• Free Hallow prayer-app subscription through the parish

Counseling, Sacramental Prep, and Outreach

The Center partners with Redeeming Grace Counseling to make Catholic counseling accessible to students. It also points students to "How to become Catholic?" (RCIA inquiry) and supports sacramental life through daily Mass, frequent confession, and Eucharistic Adoration. Mission support (tithing) is collected through an e-giving portal linked from the parish site.

• Redeeming Grace Counseling partnership
• RCIA / "How to become Catholic?" inquiry link
• E-giving through the parish website
• Support-the-Mission / development giving