Newman Spring 2024 Magazine

“AChurchThatGoesOut”

Many blessings to you all this Spring! Here at Newman it has been a blessedyearofgrowthinmanyways.

IntheFallwelaunchedour5-YearStrategicPlan,“AChurchthatGoes out,” looking to build on the growth that has happened over the last severalyears

We continue to be amazed at the number of young people who are findingmeaningfortheirlivesintheChristianfaith

A number of new groups have begun this year on many of the athleticteamsatPenn&Drexel.

We welcomed 14 new people into the Catholic Church this year in ourRCIAprogram!!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: See how our strategic plan is coming to life through the stories of our students!

Over1,400youngpeoplecametoourAshWednesdayMasses

More and more of our students leave college and begin leading theirpeersincitiesandjobsallaroundthecountry!

In this Spring newsletter, we tell some of the stories behind the numbers of students, whose lives have been impacted by Newman, andthemanygreatthingstheybegintodo!

A Church full of young people gives much hope for the future, and we areblessedtosharewithyouallthejoyofEaster

MayGodblessyouall,

IncreaseSundayMass attendanceby20% (currently600)& dailyMass attendanceby50% (currently50)by 2028

Increaseparticipation inweeklyprayer& adorationby100%by 2028(currently40 people)

Increasenumberof RCIAparticipantsby 50%by2028 (currently25people)

Increaseparticipation insmallgroups/Bible studiesby50%by 2028(currently300 people)

Increasethenumber ofpeoplewhoare activeinour discipleshipprogram by100%by2028 (currently30people)

Increasethenumber ofpeoplewho participateinannual retreats,conferences &missiontripsby 50%by2028 (currently400 people)

Increasethenumber ofpeopleleading theirownsmallgroup by100%by2028 (currently10people)

Increaseour responsestohowwell peoplefeelequipped tosharetheir personalfaithstory& thestoryofJesusby 50%by2028

Increaseweekly participationin servicetothepoorby 100%by2028 (currently20people) S E R V E

PATRICK TRAVERS, SCV Newman Director

GOAL1:OFFERALLPEOPLEA MEANINGFULENCOUNTER WITHTHELORD

GOAL2:HELPCHRISTIANS GROWASAUTHENTIC DISCIPLES

GOAL3:EQUIPOUR MISSIONARYDISCIPLESTO SHARETHEGOSPEL

FR. REMI MORALES, SCV Pastor

ENCOUNTER

DEVYN DEMCHAK

Drexel Softball

BTeforecollege,myrelationshipwithGodwasnotacentralpartofmylife,but thispastOctoberIexperiencedaprofoundencounterwithJesusonthe DrexelFallretreat Iwasoverwhelmedwithafeelingofbelonging,andforthe firsttimeIknewthatmymainidentitywasasabelovedchildofGod.Upon returninghome,IwasembracedwithopenarmsattheNewmanCenter.In themonthssince,theNewmancommunityhasprovidedconstantsupportfor myjourney,andasafeplacetonurtureandstrengthenmyrelationshipwith theLord Newmanhasquicklybecomeahometome,andthepeoplethatI havemethavetransformedmylifeinwaysthatInevercouldhaveexpected NotonlyhaveIbeenblessedwithvirtuousrolemodelsthroughAthlete Group,BibleStudy,andDiscipleship,butalongthewayIhavefoundloving andencouragingfriendshipsthatIcherish.Myheartisoverflowingwith gratitudeforthiscommunityHehasgiftedme.Iamblessedtowakeupeach morning knowingIhavetheopportunitytoloveandbelovedeachday”

TheStudentImpact:BecomingCatholic

hroughmyjourneyinconvertingtoCatholicism,theNewmanCenterhasnot onlybeenaplaceofjustgoingtoMass,butaneveryday“goto”spot Theamount ofresources,events,andstaffhavemadetheNewmanCenteracomfortableplace tobeandgrowinmyfaith.Asachild,Igrewupexposedtobothsidesof Christianity.IwenttoCatholicschoolallofmyacademiccareerandattendedan evangelicalfreechurchinmyhometown.Duringmyjunioryearinhighschool,I startedtotakemyfaithmoreseriously Iwouldreadthebibleeverydayandstart tobeginmyprayerlife Whenreading,Ibegantodevelopanunderstandingofthe dissonancebetweentheChristianandworldlyviewoflife Itbecameextremely evidenttomethatthiswasnotacoincidence,butGodworkinginmylife Having aCatholiceducationbackgroundIunderstoodcertaincoredoctrinesthatthe Churchtaught.This,inturn,sparkedacuriosityinmetolearnmoreaboutit. AftergettingovercertainProtestant“speedbumps,”itwasonlyamatteroftime untilIwasadamantonconverting

WhenfirstcomingtouniversityIfoundmyselflookingforachurchwhereIcould gotoMass,butalsoonewithagreatcommunity.IeventuallyfoundtheNewman Center,anditchangedmylifeandmadebecomingCatholicsomuchmoreeasier. Allofthestaffandstudentswelcomedmeandmademefeelhome Thisbecame aninspirationtome,especiallyseeingalltheyoungstudentswithamazingfaith EventuallyIstartedtoexplorethedifferentministriesofferedatNewman Discipleship,Athlete’sGroup,andtheCLMactivitiesareallthingsImadesureto do.TheseministriescontinuetokeepGodatthecenterofmylifewhichissucha blessing.TheNewmanCenterisindeedasecondhometome,especiallybeingfar awayforschool.Itisaplaceforpeopleofallagestocomeintocommunityhaving Godatthecenterofitall Justasironsharpensiron,thecommunityatNewman surelysharpensmyloveforotherpeopleandaboveall,fortheLord”

STOKELY PALMER Drexel Student & RCIA Candidate

OUR GROWING CHURCH:

Along with Stokely, we had 14 people become Catholic this Easter! 6 were Baptized at the Easter Vigil, and 8 Confirmed on Divine Mercy Sunday

GROW

Growth,Faith,andFellowship

“ItiswithoutadoubtthattheNewmanCenterandSts.AJ’scommunity havebeenthebiggestblessingduringmytimeatPenn.

Thestaff,smallgroups,andcommunityhavebeenessentialinmyfaith journey MyfirstencounterwiththeNewmanCenterwasthroughaclose friend,whoinvitedmetotheAthleteMariangrouponThursdaynights. Whilemyhometownparishhasaspecialplaceinmyheart,thiswasone ofthefirsttimesIwassurroundedbyyoungpeerswhowereactively livingouttheirfaithandseekingwaystogrow Myperspectiveofwhatit meanttobeCatholicwassuddenlyaglowwithawholenewlight!Since my initial encounter, I have made countless friends, memories, and stridestobecomingmymostauthenticself.Newmanhasexposedmeto thedifferentwaysthatlivingmyfaithcanlooklike–servicetoothers, rest,personaltimewiththeLord,sharingmealswithfriends,orsmiling atastrangeronthestreet Thecontinuousthreadthatspansallofthese isthedeepandpersonallovethattheLordhasforallofus.Imaynot havelearnedthislessonbynowifnotfortheAthleteMariangroup,CLM Massandbrunch,Adoration,andthegenuinefriendsIhavemadehere atNewman

IamfortunatetolookbackatmytimeatPennandclearlyseehowthe Lordhasworkedinmylife.WhileIammovingtoanewchapterinthe coming months, I know that the Newman family will be here for me always,justastheyarealwaysinmyprayers Tothosereadingthis,I encourageyoutotaketheleapoffaith(andmyword!)thatjoiningthe Newmancommunityinanycapacityisagiftthatkeepsgiving!”

"It’s crazy, who could imagine that I came to Penn for business & football and ended up finding a relationship with Jesus. ”

INCREASED DEVOTION TO MASS

Not only have we seen 18% increase in Sunday Mass attendance, but we see a full chapel every day at our two daily Masses

A Eucharistic Community

WEEKLY ADORATION

In addition to our other Adoration opportunities, this year we implemented all-day adoration every Wednesday, with 30 prayer slots being filled by students and parishioners

SARAH LAVERY

Penn Senior Track & Field

JOSH CASILLI

Penn Senior Football Player

SERVE

B“PlantingSeedsofFaithwithAthletes”

eforecomingtocollege,IwasonthevergeofleavingmyCatholicfaith.Ithadalwaysbeen partofmylife,butIwasnotfindingfulfillmentorgenuinecommunityatmyCatholicchurch, comparedtotheotherChristianchurchIhadstartedattendingathome WhenIarrivedat Drexel,ImetaFOCUSmissionaryduringFallOutreachHebeganpersistentlyinvitingmeto Newmanactivities,andalthoughIwaswaryatfirst,IstartedtorealizethatNewmanhadthe richcommunitylifethatIhadbeenmissing,andthatmaybeIdidnothavetoventureoutside ofCatholicismtofindafullandvibrantlife.

AsthemanagerfortheDrexelmen’sbasketballteam,IgravitatedtowardtheNewmanAthlete Group.Inthebeginning,IwastheonlyDrexelstudentinattendance.Atfirst,Iwasonly attendingformyownbenefit,butasImetwiththemissionariesandbrotherswhorunthe group,myunderstandingofmyfaithdeepenedandmyzealtoshareitwithothersgrew I beganinvitingmyathletefriendstothegroup;theydidn’talwayscome,butIlearnedtopray forthemandcontinuetoinvitethem Eventually,oneofmyfriendsstartedconsistently comingeachweek.Thensheinvitedherteammate,whoalsobegancomingregularly.After oneyear,wehadnineDrexelathletescomingtotheAthleteGroup,andIpraythatthegrowth continues!MyfaithhascontinuedtogrowsincewalkingwiththeAthleteGroup,brothers, and missionaries, and since attending Spring Retreat my freshman year My drive to evangelizehasalsogrown,andIendeduptakingaroleontheDrexelNewmanServiceTeam inordertoservethecommunityhereIalsostartedaweeklysmallgroupwithmembersofthe men ’sbasketballteam,whichhasbeenagreattimeforprayer,fellowship,andgrowing together.ThebrothersandmissionariesatNewmanhaveequippedmetoencounterothers andtoplanttheseedsoftheGospelamongmyfriendsandclassmates;Iwanttomakethat missionawayoflife,andIcan’twaittoseeGodcontinuetobringfruitfromthoseseeds.”

Drexel 3rd Year

As our students take ownership of their faith and begin to share it, we see growth in small groups and Mass attendance across the parish!

We currently have 23 students leading their own Bible Studies, with 330 students attending Bible Study overall. Weekly Mass attendance steadily increases, and on Ash Wednesday we had over 1,400 people at Mass!

Max serves on the Drexel Newman Leadership Team, and leads a Bible study with men from the Drexel basketball team

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553

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Patrick McInerney Penn Class of 2020

Since moving to New York for his job with ZRG Partners, Pat helps lead several young adult initiatives at his parish, including homeless outreach

Alumni on Mission:

SHARING THE GOSPEL ON WALL STREET

“WelovebecauseHefirstlovedus”-1John4:19.

MytimeatSt AJ’sandtheNewmanCenterturnedthefaithIborrowed from my parents into my own FOCUS gave me a glimpse of a thriving Christian community. St. Agatha-St. James is where I learned about the relationship between Confession and the Eucharist. The Newman Center is where I learned to be fully alive and have fun as a Catholic I felt truly seen and known by this community, and it was ultimately whereIwastoldofmycalltobeasaint.

This community is where I genuinely encountered the love of God My faithwasinitiallycenteredondutyanddiscipline,butthroughmyyears at Newman I learned that the core of mission is love--I have to let God loveme,sothatthislovecanflowouttoothers

It is from this love I’ve experienced where I find my zeal. I recently moved to New York City, where there is an abundance of opportunities to encounter others and show them God’s love. I came to the city telling God I would be available to Him and His people, and He’s filled both my calendar and my heart After leaving Newman, finding a Catholic community was my mainprioritysothatIcouldcontinuetogrowinloveandevangelizewithjoy Thankfully,Godhelpedmefinditfast

SPRING2024

THENEWMANCENTER 7

A few introductions and a little bit of consistency has led to me leading weekly homeless outreach for my parish every Friday, organizing numerous liturgical celebrations, partaking in Exodus 90 (a spiritual, ascetical program) with 16 other men pursuing the Lord, attending the Leonine Forum (a Catholic social teaching curriculum), and committing to a scheduled weekly holy hour All while feeling more present to my family, friends, and colleagues at work I’m on an adventureandonamissionwithGodeachday,whichcouldnotbemorepeacefulormoreexciting.

TheLordistrulygenerouswithwhateverwegiveHim,andIamridingawaveofgrace.Mylifehadbeentransformedforthe better by praying and being attentive to the present moments then talking to God about them I am excited for whatever is nextand,ifyou’rereadingthis,pleasepraythatIamcontinuouslysurrenderingtoJesuseveryfaithfulstepoftheway

ON THE HORIZON at Newman

INTRODUCING OUR NEW CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER!

SPRING RETREAT MISSION TRIP ESTEEM CONFERENCE

Spring Retreat is our biggest joint event of the year between Penn and Drexel It’s a time when 100+ of us come together to pray, hear talks, and enjoy a getaway Please pray for this year’s retreat on April 19-21!

In May, Father Remi will be taking a group of athletes on a mission trip to serve in the shanty towns of Peru. This will be a great opportunity to step out of our comfort zones and to encounter God in the poor

All year our Penn and Drexel seniors have been participating in a group called ESTEEM, which is equipping them for life after college At the end of April, our group of seniors will attend the ESTEEM conference in DC!

RAUL ESPERICUETA

Raul is a long-time associate of the Newman Community. He has provided professional consulting to our community in multiple areas and comes to us with a rich background in nonprofit management, education, and fundraising. Over the past ten years he has assisted Newman Centers throughout the country in developing their capacity in ministry and best organizational practices, including fund development. We are pleased to have Raul on board as our full time Chief Development Officer!

You can reach Raul at raul@saintsaj org

ServingtheFutureofNewman:

THE NEWMAN ADVISORY COUNCIL

Last year we began work on our five year strategic plan to usher Newman into an era of thriving and growth. As part of our pursuit of this plan, a group of talented alumni and consultants was formed to guideusonourway:TheNewmanAdvisoryCouncil.ChairedbyBrian McCarthy, this team serves as a task force of feedback and visionbuildingasweshepherdNewmanintoitsnextchapter

It’s

beenanhonortogetbackinvolvedwiththeNewmanCenterandtoleadournewly-formed NewmanAdvisoryCouncil Newmanhasalwayshadaspecialplaceformywife,AnneMarie,andIsincewe metthereandwereveryactiveduringourtimeatPenn.

It'samazingtoseethegoodworkbeingdonebytheSCVbrothers&priestssincetheyarrived10yearsago. What'shappeningatNewmanbucksthemanytrendswetypicallyreadaboutrelatedtotheChurchbeingin decline Newmanisopen,growing,andformingstudentsthat'sattractingmanymorestudentsthaneven whenIwasastudent20yearsago. Whatchurchesarehavingasmanyas20peoplebecomeCatholiceach year? Comingfrombeinganentrepreneurintherenewableenergyspace,Iwasalwaysorientingmy organizationtogrowandtodowell. Newmanisonthepathofgrowthandisabrightlightoncampus. EvenasNewmanhasgrownandchangedoverthepast20years,itisstillhomeforus.Ifyouhaven'tbeen backlately,pleasecomeseewhatishappening. ForNewmanparents,alumniandfriends,youarealways welcomehometoo WiththelaunchofNewman'sstrategicfive-yearplan,wehopetobea“Churchthatgoes out”tocollegestudentsaswellasallofyou.MyhopeisyouwillbeinspiredlikeIhaveandwilljoininhelping tofurthertheNewmanmissioninanywaythatyoucan