About The Newman Parish · Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Newman Parish (also styled Newman Catholic Parish) is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of La Crosse located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with a unique mission of providing campus ministry to the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (about 8,795 undergraduates) and Chippewa Valley Technical College. The parish is housed at the Ecumenical Religious Center (ERC), a shared Christian ministry building near UWEC's lower campus next to Hibbard Hall, alongside University Lutheran Church. It serves roughly 275–300 registered households from the greater Eau Claire area plus a large, rotating population of college students, describing itself as a Catholic Eucharistic community of prayer, learning, service, and hospitality.
- Established
- 1969
- Patron
- St. John Henry Newman (implied; parishes with the 'Newman' name in Catholic campus ministry are traditionally placed under his patronage)
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel E. (Fr. Dan) Oudenhoven — outgoing pastor (assigned 2015; departing July 1, 2026). Incoming pastor effective July 1, 2026: Rev. Michael E. Klos. Incoming associate pastor: Rev. Kyle E. Lang (upon ordination June 27, 2026).
- Diocese
- Diocese of La Crosse (Deanery: Eau Claire)
Why belong here
Newman Parish exists for one clear reason — to walk with college students and Eau Claire families in Catholic faith — and its calendar reflects that. You can worship at a 5:00 pm Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses, and daily noon Mass during the school year, pray in Eucharistic Adoration several days a week, and go to confession before almost any Mass. Small groups, OCIA for inquirers, a student-led music ministry, FOCUS missionaries, a student-org (Newman Catholic UWEC), mission trips such as Casa Hogar, and weekly student suppers make it easy to belong whether you are a UWEC or CVTC student, a faculty or staff member, or a stationary parish household.
Mass times at The Newman Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 pm (before 5:00 pm Vigil)
- Sunday 6:30–7:00 pm (before 7:30 pm Mass, when UWEC is in session)
- Monday 11:30–11:45 am (when UWEC is in session)
- Tuesday 11:30–11:45 am
- Wednesday 11:30–11:45 am
- Thursday 5:05–5:35 pm (when UWEC is in session)
- Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 11:30–11:45 am (Jan / Spring Break / Summer)
Adoration times
- Monday 11:00 am – Noon (when UWEC is in session)
- Tuesday 11:00 am – Noon (when UWEC is in session)
- Wednesday 11:00 am – Noon (when UWEC is in session)
- Thursday 5:00–6:00 pm (when UWEC is in session)
- Sunday 6:15–7:15 pm (when UWEC is in session)
About Newman Parish
Newman Parish is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of La Crosse serving about 275–300 households from the Eau Claire area, plus the students, faculty, and staff of UW–Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley Technical College. It is the only Catholic parish in Eau Claire with a dedicated campus-ministry mission. The parish describes itself as a Catholic Eucharistic community of prayer, learning, service, and hospitality, and it welcomes visitors to the Ecumenical Religious Center (ERC) at 110 Garfield Avenue for worship, study, and fellowship.
History
Bishop Frederick W. Freking, the sixth Bishop of La Crosse, established Newman Parish in 1969 to serve the UW–Eau Claire campus community. Just two years later, in 1971, the parish helped create the Ecumenical Religious Center (ERC), a shared ministry building on the lower UWEC campus next to Hibbard Hall that also houses University Lutheran Church. The ERC provides multiple chapels, study spaces, parish offices, and gathering areas for Christian ministry on campus, and Newman Parish has continued to be the Catholic presence there for more than fifty years.
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
Fr. Daniel E. Oudenhoven has been pastor since the summer of 2015 and is being reassigned by the diocese as pastor of Holy Spirit, St. Stephen, and St. Joseph Parishes in Stevens Point, effective July 1, 2026. The Reverend Michael E. Klos (currently pastor of Sacred Heart–St. Patrick, Eau Claire) is appointed incoming pastor of Newman Parish the same day; Deacon Kyle E. Lang, upon his June 27, 2026 priestly ordination, will serve as associate pastor and chaplain to University Ministry.
- Fr. Dan Oudenhoven — Pastor (2015–2026); [email protected]
- Rev. Michael E. Klos — Pastor-designate (effective July 1, 2026)
- Deacon Kyle E. Lang — Associate Pastor-designate (effective July 1, 2026; ordained priest June 27, 2026)
- JoAnn Vruwink — Director of Parish Ministry; [email protected]
- Kay Magadance — Director of Meal Ministry (student suppers and special-occasion meals); [email protected]
- Mary Richmond — Parish Accountant
- Emmett McMorrow — Director of Liturgical Ministry; [email protected]
- Lizzy Gruenloh — Campus Ministry Intern; [email protected]
- Sean Coyle — incoming Director of Campus Mission (starts June 1, 2026)
Becoming Catholic — OCIA (formerly RCIA)
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Two paths are offered: the Catechumenate for the unbaptized, and the Candidate path for those already baptized in a Catholic or other Christian tradition who still need Eucharist and/or Confirmation. Classes run from September through the Easter season, with the Sacraments of Initiation celebrated at Easter. Inquiries go to Fr. Dan at [email protected].
Small Groups
Newman Parish Small Groups are gatherings of 6–10 people, led by a trained facilitator, who meet about every other week for a six-week study series in fall or winter, with socials before and after each series. Sessions follow a simple 75-minute format: check-in, religious-education reflection on a provided study guide, and shared prayer intentions. Contact JoAnn Vruwink at [email protected] to join or learn more.
Liturgical Ministries & Music
The parish invites both college students and stationary members to serve as ushers, readers, and Eucharistic ministers, with training provided before any first assignment. The music ministry is largely student-led and welcomes new voices; parish members typically join for the Christmas and Holy Week choirs. Training and scheduling are coordinated by Director of Liturgical Ministry Emmett McMorrow ([email protected]).
Parish Councils & Committees
A Pastoral Council and a Finance Council assist the pastor with spiritual life and stewardship. Four standing committees follow the La Crosse diocesan structure: Sacred Worship (liturgy, music, devotional life), Education (adult education, OCIA, catechesis, ecumenism), Peace and Justice (human life, care of the needy and imprisoned, migrants and refugees, stewardship, social-justice teaching), and Family Life (marriage, hospitality, care of the sick and homebound, youth, vocations, pre-marriage preparation and marriage enrichment).
Campus Ministry & Student Life
Newman Parish is the Catholic campus-ministry parish for UW–Eau Claire (about 8,795 undergraduates) and Chippewa Valley Technical College. It partners with FOCUS missionaries, advises the Newman Catholic student organization (which elects its own officers for roles like President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Service Chair, Men's Chair, Women's Chair), and hosts fall and spring student retreats, monthly student dinners, Thursday dinners, and the Casa Hogar January Mission Trip. A Director of Campus Mission oversees the OCIA program for college students, organizes mission work, and supervises building and hospitality supplies.
Membership
Newman Parish has two categories of members. College Student Members are Catholic students at UW–Eau Claire or CVTC who register through a short form and receive weekly email news and event updates. Stationary Members are registered households from the Eau Claire area who actively support the parish's mission of campus ministry. Prospective members of either kind are invited to contact Fr. Dan at [email protected].
Contact
Parish office: 715-834-3399 / [email protected]. Pastor (Fr. Dan Oudenhoven): [email protected]. Liturgy: [email protected]. Campus ministry intern: [email protected]. Meal Ministry (Kay Magadance): [email protected]. Mailing address: 110 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701-4042.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dan OudenhovenSummer 2015 – July 1, 2026
Eleven years of pastoring Newman Parish; reassigned by the Diocese of La Crosse as pastor of Holy Spirit, St. Stephen, and St. Joseph Parishes in Stevens Point.