Ourmissiondoesn’tstopatgraduation.It’samazingtoseethe impactofourNewmangradslivingmissionaftercollege And we’regratefultothemanyAlumni&Parentswhogetinvolvedas mentorstoourstudents&ambassadorstonewfamilies.
“From the moment I stepped into the Newman center I was greeted with open arms The NOVUS retreat was the perfect start to college, I was able to grow in faith while meeting several of my Catholic brothers and sisters along with the priests and FOCUS missionaries ”
Gonzalo Vela, Penn Freshman
“As I’ve started this new chapter of college, the Newman Center has been a place where I can feel grounded and supported as I continue to grow in my faith There is a deep sense of care and fellowship here, and God's Joy is very evident. I always feel welcome here, and have gotten involved in the choir and in a Bible study group led by two of my peers. It's clear to me how the Newman Center will be a nourishing resource these next four years, and I feel fortunate to be in its care!” —Thomas Dierkes, Penn Freshman
thomasdierkes&gonzalovela
50+ociaparticipants:our biggest class yet!
With over 50 participants in OCIA this year, we are amazed at the incredible work God is doing in the hearts of these young people! This class size isn’t just an empty number each person has a beautiful story of encounter with Christ and His church.
“The Catholic Church was always painted in a negative light by those around me, but it wasn’t until the last year that I realized I never truly understood it. This curiosity allowed me to come to the church with an open heart and mind so that I could learn more about the arguments for conversion. The Eucharist and early Church history were two big catalysts for my interest as I started to compare Seventh Day Adventism to Catholicism Along this journey, I began attending Mass and have now started the OCIA process It has been an incredibly life-changing experience being able to create a community (especially with other Hispanics!) and being exposed to the greater truth. I feel myself forming a stronger relationship with the Lord everyday, and have begun putting Him at the center of my life Studying engineering at Penn can be quite stressful, but knowing God is right by my side every step of the way has helped me through it! I’ve even brought along other non-Catholics to join me at OCIA and this greater journey towards Christ I am excited for what the next few months hold and am beyond grateful for being led to such an amazing place.”
MarcusMitchie PennSophomore
“I started asking myself those age-old questions of ‘Who am I?’ and ‘How did I get here?’ Coming from an irreligious background, I started with philosophy, from Socrates to Sartre While I admired much of what I read, I wasn’t satisfied, so I changed course toward religion Countless questions and answers later, I was convinced of the overwhelming case for Christ Reflecting, I share Pope Benedict’s sentiment: ‘Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction ’ If it weren’t for Jesus, I strongly doubt I’d believe in God Since coming to the faith, by the grace of God I've found myself in the cradle of the community at Newman Just as Christ didn’t leave us orphans, he did not leave us as single children, but as brothers and sisters in His Church The Newman Center has become the cornerstone uniting my faith and my college experience. With each day, I grow in my love for God and neighbor, eager to enter the Catholic Church ”
VictoriaValdivia PennSophomore
“growth
is the only evidence of life”
st. john henry newman
We are witnessing exciting growth at the Newman Center as this school year has gotten underway! From large flagship events like Sunday Mass and Newman Dinners, to more intentional spaces like OCIA and small groups, we are seeing more participation, and more young people wanting to take a step to deepen their faith journey
Athlete Ministry is Thriving
Over the last several years, our Athlete Ministry at Newman has been one of our greatest areas of growth. What began as a fledgling group of a few athletes has grown into a flourishing community of more than 120 Penn and Drexel students from over 20 different teams! In addition to our weekly large group meeting, many athletes now lead small groups with their teammates.
“My involvement at Newman has profoundly deepened my relationship with God. I began going to the Thursday night Athlete Group my freshman year, where I found a community of people who have helped me grow in my relationship with Christ These experiences drove me to want to share this love with those closest to me What started with me inviting a few teammates to come with me has now grown into a group of over 15 baseball players meeting weekly to pursue Christ Witnessing their faith has been one of the most rewarding parts of my college journey. Newman has given me a sense of family, even though I’m 9 hours away from my home in Michigan it’s a place to reset, be encouraged, and grow through honest conversation and fellowship It’s where I’ve learned that faith isn’t just for Sundays it’s about loving others daily with intentionality and grace.”
My freshman year, I was blessed to be guided by Titus Bretzke a good friend, teammate, and devout Catholic who has since transferred to Notre Dame and plans to enter the seminary I’ve had the privilege of leading the Track and Field Bible Study that Titus once led in the lounge of the Newman Center. The Newman Center has been transformative in my faith journey, giving me the tools and resources to lead my teammates toward Christ, to be discipled by Tim Broderick, and to deepen my pursuit of Catholicism through OCIA Through the opportunities the Newman Center has provided, I’ve developed a more intimate relationship with God and His Church and have met lifelong brothers and sisters in Christ I'm very excited to see what the next two years have in store!
AnthonyKiafoulis PennBaseball,Junior
st john paul ii
students taking the lead
form leaders
who not only cultivate their own faith lives, h beyond the comfort of the Newman Center. The missionaries dents, and invest in them deeply, and gradually they learn to do t we currently have over 40 student-led small groups!
never imagined leading a Bible study or s a lifelong missionary disciple Through open discussions, Newman has pushed me yes to God with a deeper understanding of sformation in other students, from those didn’t believe slowly opening their hearts. a friend who identified as atheist told me and friendship, and she thought that this at even a small invitation can plant a seed omeone who not only grows in faith but lives.”
Newman Center, I got to surround myself with young Catholics who that’s not something I saw a lot in my church back home It in my head that “being catholic is only for old people” And of nded by so many amazing people who love God, I couldn’t help but ng a disciple and learning to lead others in growing the faith has most because I feel called to be a better Catholic not just for eople that I’m leading When I was younger, I would have never ying daily, let alone leading a Bible study “
JacquelineFlores PennSophomore
the newman effect: stories of impact
“My time at the Newman Center was truly pivotal in shaping who I am today Through Newman and the FOCUS missionaries, I learned what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and gained the confidence to live my faith boldly beyond college. Now working full-time as an engineer, I see God at work in my life every day. I’m motivated to share the Gospel because of how deeply I encountered Jesus through the Newman community and I want others to experience that same joy. Now I run a young adult group at my home parish, which has gotten me involved with many exciting things in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, such as serving on the Young Adult Council for the Archbishop. I also am in my second year of being an ESTEEM mentor! “
-meghanwickersham,drexelclassof‘22
“When we sent our son to Penn we hoped he might occasionally make it to Mass, knowing how busy life can be for a Penn student Four years later, his Catholic faith is stronger than ever a transformation my wife and I attribute to St Agatha–St James and the Newman Center Fr Remi, Fr Carlos, and the brothers have built a loving, supportive community that welcomes everyone Catholic and non-Catholic alike. We’ve attended Mass there ourselves, and seeing the church filled with young people is deeply moving. Mass attendance is up 60% in the last three years, with nearly 900 students worshiping together each Sunday. The Newman Center is alive with Bible studies, retreats, and social events that draw students closer to Christ and to one another Many are rediscovering or even joining the Catholic faith for the first time This is truly a special place, and I encourage every Penn & Drexel family to experience it firsthand“
-johnjennings,pennparent
We recently said good bye to our faithful Newman friend, Bear. For ten years Bear lived in the rectory and brought joy to the Newman Center. He was a companion to Fr. Carlos and the brothers, a dear friend to the students and parishioners, and a well-loved fixture at all of our events. Whether sitting in the chapel doorway during Mass, playing and snuggling with his student friends, or walking through campus with Father or Marcela, it was always good to see Bear’s friendly face We will miss you so much, Bear!
“As each one has received a gift, let us use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
- 1 peter 4:1
comingsoon:thenewmanlegacywall
This Fall we are installing a new Legacy Wall in the downstairs area of St. Agatha-St. James! This is a touchscreen display designed to honor individuals who have made a significant impact to our Newman Ministry at St. Agatha and St. James. It will be unveiled at our Penn Homecoming Happy Hour on November 7 , 4-6pm th
Giving Tuesday is an important day for our ministry, and helps to fuel so much of what we do here year-round. We’re hoping to make this year our biggest fundraiser yet! We’ve received multiple matching gifts in anticipation of Giving Tuesday, and there will be prizes and special incentives throughout the day. Stay tuned for more info!
