About University of MO Newman House · Saint Louis, Missouri
The Catholic Newman Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) is a campus ministry that serves the UMSL community through liturgy, fellowship, prayer, education, service, and social opportunities. Housed in the Newman House at 8200 Natural Bridge Road in Normandy, the center welcomes students, staff, and faculty, and is supported by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. It offers a student-centered Sunday Mass, a Wednesday Mass & Soup supper, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, Bible studies, men's and women's fellowship groups, RCIA, retreats, and Service Fridays across the St. Louis metro area.
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Madden (Director)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
The UMSL Catholic Newman Center offers a complete spiritual home for college students, faculty, and staff — a student-centered Sunday Mass in its on-campus chapel, a Wednesday evening Mass & Soup supper that pairs liturgy with community, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, weekly Bible studies, men's and women's fellowship groups, RCIA for those entering the Church, an annual spring-break service trip, monthly Service Fridays around St. Louis, and the student-led Awakenings retreat at the Pallottine Renewal Center. Whether you are looking for Mass, confession, faith formation, service, or simply a place to belong on campus, the Newman Center is built around forming people for their active roles in the church and the world.
Mass times at University of MO Newman House
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays at 5:00 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Once a month — community Eucharistic Adoration in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament (varies between silent/contemplative and praise & worship styles)
About the UMSL Catholic Newman Center
The Catholic Newman Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis serves the campus community through liturgy, fellowship, prayer, and education. As a welcoming faith community, the center offers service and leadership experiences, spiritual guidance and faith development, and recreational and social opportunities — forming people for their active roles in the church and the world. The center is supported by the Archdiocese of St. Louis and by the Annual Catholic Appeal.
- Slogan / mission: 'forming people for their active roles in the church and the world.'
- Supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal
- Located at 8200 Natural Bridge Rd., St. Louis, MO 63121
- Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Louis
Staff & Leadership
The Newman Center is led by a small team of ordained and lay ministers. Fr. Mark Madden serves as Director and is also Pastor of St. Ann Parish; Angie Brown serves as Associate Campus Minister; Joe LaScala serves as Campus Minister; and Kay Dieckmann serves as Development Director and Staff Assistant. A student Servant Team / Leadership Team helps plan events and ministries throughout the year.
- Fr. Mark Madden — Director (also Pastor, St. Ann Parish). Ordained May 25, 2019; former Boeing engineer.
- Angie Brown — Associate Campus Minister. M.A. Theology (Augustine Institute, in progress).
- Joe LaScala — Campus Minister. Background in youth ministry, DRE, and faith formation; founded Fire Within Ministries.
- Kay Dieckmann — Development Director and Staff Assistant. UMSL alumna; 14+ years with the CNC.
- Fr. Nicklaus Winker — former part-time chaplain, reassigned in 2023.
- Student Servant Team / 2019 Student Leadership Team included Erin Reidel (President), Patricia Wolk (Treasurer), Kurt Keller, Matthew Klein, Rosa Macias, Katherine Geerling, Kyle McFarling, Olivia Crowell.
Mass & Sacramental Opportunities
The Newman Center celebrates Mass in its on-campus chapel on Sundays at 5:00 PM and Wednesdays at 5:30 PM (followed by a free 'Mass & Soup' supper). Students also worship at neighboring parishes: St. Ann Church (Saturdays 5 PM; Sundays 8 & 11 AM) and Our Lady of Presentation (Sundays 7 PM). The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Wednesdays at 5:00 PM. Sunday Student Mass is not held during UMSL breaks (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) or at Easter; students are directed to St. Ann during those times.
- Sunday Student Mass — 5:00 PM in the CNC Chapel
- Wednesday Mass & Soup — 5:30 PM in the Newman living room / CNC Chapel
- Reconciliation — Wednesdays at 5:00 PM
- St. Ann Church (7530 Natural Bridge Rd.) — Sat 5 PM; Sun 8 & 11 AM
- Our Lady of Presentation (8860 Tudor) — Sun 7 PM
Liturgical Ministries
Students can serve as Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at the Sunday Student Mass, either on a specific Sunday or on a recurring schedule. Liturgical Minister Training Workshops are held at the Provincial House Chapel and cover the prayers, historical foundations, and official guidelines for each role.
- Lector (reader at Mass)
- Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (Body and Blood)
- Liturgical Minister Training Workshop — contact Joe LaScala ([email protected])
- Training held in the Provincial House Chapel
Spirituality & Weekly Events
Beyond Mass, the Newman Center offers a steady rhythm of formation and fellowship: monthly Eucharistic Adoration, weekly co-ed Bible studies, a Men's Group, a Women's Group, and the year-long RCIA process for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church. Staff are also available for one-on-one faith conversations. Catechesis happens 'all the time — at Mass, through weekly prayer events and especially by spending time in community.'
- Eucharistic Adoration — once a month
- Bible Studies — co-ed, weekly; contact [email protected]
- Men's Group — fellowship and camaraderie; contact Joe
- Women's Group — monthly prayer and togetherness; contact Olivia ([email protected])
- RCIA — year-long; contact Fr. Nick Winker ([email protected])
- One-on-one conversations with staff (Fr. Mark, Joe, Angie, Kay, Lucy)
Retreats
The Newman Center runs multiple retreats throughout the academic year, ranging from a one-day Fall Retreat to the flagship student-led Awakenings weekend at the Pallottine Renewal Center, and a 'Busy Person's Retreat' for those who can't get away (30 minutes a day for a week with a spiritual director).
- Awakenings — annual student-led weekend retreat at the Pallottine Renewal Center (e.g., March 10–12, 2023). Open to ages 18–30, any faith background, including non-UMSL students.
- Busy Person's Retreat — 30 minutes a day for a week, one-on-one with a spiritual director.
- Fall Retreat — one-day retreat during the fall semester.
- Contact: [email protected]
Service & Social Justice
Outreach is woven into the life of the Newman Center through monthly 'Service Fridays' around the St. Louis metro area and an annual Spring Break Service Trip. The trip is built around Christ's call to serve the poor and in the past has partnered with A Simple House, among other organizations.
- Service Fridays — monthly local outreach; sign up by emailing [email protected]
- Spring Break Service Trip — annual; previous destination: A Simple House (2019)
- Daily Mass and frequent community prayer are built into service trips
Community & Social Life
The Newman Center cultivates a strong social fabric through campus events such as Ice Cream Outreach, Tie Dye Nights, and Adoration & Bonfire evenings. Students are encouraged to follow the Instagram feed and join the Discord channel for the latest happenings.
- Ice Cream Outreach (e.g., 8/22, New Awakening United Methodist Church)
- Tie Dye Night (in front of Oak Hall on South Campus)
- Adoration & Bonfire (Adoration at Newman, bonfire to follow)
- Discord channel — request access by emailing [email protected]
- Instagram (referenced on cncumsl.org)
Newman Center Hours & Facilities
The Newman House is open throughout the week for visits to the chapel, study room, or just to hang out with friends and staff. Posted hours include extended evening availability on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with afternoon hours most other days. The CNC Chapel and the 'Newman living room' are the principal worship and gathering spaces; the Provincial House Chapel is used for liturgical minister training.
- Sunday: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Features: chapel, study room, hangout space, living room
Contact & Directions
The Newman Center is centrally located for the UMSL community at the corner of Natural Bridge Rd. and the first stop-light after the Hanley Road intersection. Driving directions are published for I-70 (Hanley Road exit), I-170 (Natural Bridge exit), I-270 (via I-170 or I-70), and I-64/40 approaches. The UMSL South MetroLink station provides light-rail access from Lambert Airport terminals and downtown St. Louis.
- Address: 8200 Natural Bridge Rd., St. Louis, MO 63121
- Phone: (314) 385-3455
- Fax: (314) 385-1523
- Email: [email protected]
- From I-70: exit Hanley Rd, go south 1/2 mile, left onto Natural Bridge, first stop-light on the right.
- From I-170: exit Natural Bridge, turn right (east); right side of street after Hanley Rd.
- MetroLink: UMSL South station is two blocks west of St. Ann Church.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Nicklaus WinkerUntil 2023
Formerly pastor of St. Ann Parish in Normandy and part-time priest-chaplain for the Newman Center at UMSL; reassigned in 2023 to Our Lady of Lourdes (Washington) and St. John the Baptist (Gildehaus) parishes.
- Fr. Mark Madden2023–present
Ordained May 25, 2019 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson; previously Associate Pastor at St. Gabriel and St. Rachael parishes; now Pastor of St. Ann Parish in addition to serving as Director of the Newman Center.