About St. Stephen Catholic Student Center · Cedar Falls, Iowa
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center is the Catholic campus ministry serving the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Founded in 1897 by Ms. Anna E. McGovern, it is the oldest student organization on the UNI campus and operates today under the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Its mission is to inspire lifelong disciples of Christ who pray, serve, and belong, expressed through Sunday and weekday Masses, the student-focused Primetime Mass, small-group Bible study, retreats, and a strong service and hospitality culture. With a chaplain, professional staff, FOCUS missionaries, and student peer ministers, the Center is a hub of Catholic student life just steps from campus at 1019 W 23rd Street.
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 6–7)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Murphy (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Stephen the Witness is more than a Sunday Mass — it is a complete Catholic community built around college life at UNI. Students can grow in prayer through Sunday and weekday Masses, the Wednesday-night Primetime Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, and small-group Bible studies; serve the Cedar Valley through community meals, Thanksgiving food baskets, and service trips; and belong through Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Homecoming, and socials after Primetime. With a chaplain, FOCUS missionaries, and student peer ministers walking alongside, it is a place to form lifelong friendships, go deeper in faith, and be sent out as a witness of Christ.
Mass times at St. Stephen Catholic Student Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 AM (before 10:30 AM Mass)
- Monday 8:15 PM
- Wednesday 8:15 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:00 PM (before Primetime Mass)
- Second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM in the chapel
About St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
St. Stephen the Witness is the Catholic Student Center serving the University of Northern Iowa. Its mission is 'to inspire lifelong disciples of Christ who pray, serve, and belong,' organized around three pillars — Prayer, Service, and Belonging. The Center is staffed by a chaplain, professional staff, FOCUS missionaries, and a team of student peer ministers, and is identified by the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a campus ministry for the UNI community.
- Mission: inspire lifelong disciples of Christ who pray, serve, and belong
- Affiliated with the Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Serves the University of Northern Iowa
- Chaplain: Fr. Mark Murphy
History of the Parish
The ministry was founded in 1897 by Ms. Anna E. McGovern, who organized the first Catholic student gathering on campus. It began as weekly study groups and fellowship, eventually becoming the Newman Catholic Association and then the Newman Club from the 1940s through 1966, when it was renamed St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center. The current building was dedicated in 1991 after three houses on 23rd Street were combined to make room for it.
- 1897: Founded by Ms. Anna E. McGovern
- Pre-1966: Newman Catholic Association, then Newman Club
- 1966: Renamed St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
- 1948: First chapel — a two-story house at College and 23rd Street, seating about 150
- 1990: Groundbreaking and cornerstone laid at the current site
- April 7, 1991: Dedication and first Mass in the present church
Why the Name 'St. Stephen the Witness'?
St. Stephen is described in Acts 6:3–5 as one of seven men 'filled with faith and the Holy Spirit' chosen to assist in distributing alms, and in Acts 7 as the first Christian martyr, stoned for his witness to Christ. The Greek word 'martus,' from which 'martyr' derives, originally meant 'witness' in a legal sense. The community adopted the title 'Witness' to remind students and the wider Cedar Falls community of its call to bear witness to the faith in Christ.
- Patron: St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr
- Scriptural reference: Acts 6–7
- Symbolic link: Greek 'martus' = witness
Primetime — The Student Mass
Primetime is the signature weekly gathering of the Center, drawing more than 100 students on Wednesday nights during the academic year. The Mass or prayer service begins in the evening and is followed by a social with food and fellowship in the parish hall, making it a low-pressure entry point for newcomers who can be paired with a student companion for their first visit.
- Wednesday nights during the school year
- Followed by a social in the parish hall
- Open to all students; companions available for first-time visitors
Small Groups and Faith Formation
Small groups are student-led Bible studies organized by the Center and facilitated by trained students and full-time FOCUS missionaries. They are described as the primary on-campus way for students to form friendships while growing through the Gospel, sharing, and prayer. RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) meets on Wednesday evenings for those inquiring about Catholicism.
- Small Groups (Bible study)
- RCIA (Wednesdays 7:00 PM)
- Witness Choir (Tuesdays 6:00 PM)
- Liturgical Ministry
Retreats and Conferences
The Center runs a robust retreat program for students throughout the year. Antioch, the fall retreat, is student-led and held at a residential camp. A spring retreat challenges students to go deeper in their faith and to share it boldly with others. Over winter break, the Center organizes travel and helps with fundraising for students to attend the FOCUS SEEK conference, which gathers more than 15,000 Catholic college students from around the world.
- Antioch (fall retreat)
- Spring Retreat
- SEEK Conference (FOCUS, winter break)
- Additional partner retreats promoted through the Center
Service and Outreach
Service is one of the three pillars of the Center's mission. Students regularly volunteer at local community-meal sites, prepare Thanksgiving Food Baskets for families in need (delivering more than 200 meals across the Cedar Valley in recent years), and participate in seasonal Advent and Lent giving projects. Service Trips extend this work beyond Cedar Falls, offering hands-on experiences of solidarity and service.
- Community-meal volunteering
- Thanksgiving Food Basket drive
- Advent and Lent giving projects
- Service Trips
Belong — Community Life
Hospitality and community life are organized by student leaders and supported by a Hospitality Associate. The Center welcomes new students during Welcome Week, hosts social events, and offers a Sunday-morning coffee-and-donuts gathering after the 10:30 AM Mass. Special celebrations mark Family Weekend and Homecoming Weekend, creating a warm, inviting environment for visiting families, alumni, and students alike.
- Welcome Week
- Social events and parties after Primetime
- Coffee and Donuts after Sunday 10:30 AM Mass
- Family Weekend and Homecoming Weekend
Our Team
The Center is led by a chaplain and supported by professional staff, FOCUS missionaries, and student peer ministers. The chaplain is Fr. Mark Murphy; the broader team includes staff for liturgy, hospitality, music, bookkeeping, and maintenance, alongside peer ministers focused on community life, service, liturgical life, marketing/outreach, and Catholic life.
- Chaplain: Fr. Mark Murphy
- Bookkeeper: Julie Feldhake
- First Impressions: Mary Murphy
- Liturgical Music Associate: Grace O'Keefe
- Hospitality Associate: Owen Tew
- Student Receptionist: Rheanne Feilmeier
- Maintenance: Joe Shatek
- FOCUS Missionaries: Jake & Hannah Freitas, Emma Currans, Emily Curlett, Rosie Lang, Eric & Teressa Macsay
- Peer Ministers: Treyton Hulbert (Community Life), Ella Tew (Service), Ethan Stalzer (Liturgical Life), Aubree Sellers (Marketing/Outreach), Danny Mulherin (Catholic Life)
Visit, Connect, and Support
Visitors and students can connect by phone, email, or in person at the Center on W 23rd Street. The Center publishes an e-bulletin and offers a mobile app on the Google Play and Apple App stores for up-to-date schedules, events, and announcements. The parish also lists a 'Text to Give' number for donations and shares publications online.
- Phone: (319) 266-9863
- Email: [email protected]
- E-bulletin subscription available on the website
- Mobile app on Google Play and Apple App Store
- Text to Give: 304-244-1973