SPRING 2021
THE NEWMAN CENTER
St. Agatha - St. James
INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWMAN MINISTRY TEAM / THE NEW NORMAL / ATHLETE OUTREACH / SEEK21 / MULTICULTURAL MINISTRY / BUILDING COMMUNITY DURING COVID / ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT / NEWMAN COUPLES / NEWMAN STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
Message from our
DIRECTOR & PASTOR
behind the scenes
the newman team
Happy Easter to you all! As we come to the end of another year of Newman ministry, we've been encouraged to see how the Lord continues to be present & bless the ministry.
Meet our Third Floor Trio! New to the team in the past two years, Maryrose Richards (Development), Jule Coppa (Campus Minister), and Lillian Fallon (Communications) have been a force to reckon with at Newman!
This year we began a program that specifically reaches out to student-athletes, which has grown rapidly and is forming leaders to sustain it. Our ESTEEM program for seniors prepares students for life as Catholic Christians after college, and has brought in quite a few alumni as speakers and mentors. As in-person ministry has been limited, we have begun a monthly "Big Speakers" series on Zoom that has addressed important issues like racial justice, sexuality, democracy, and many others. Our intercultural ministry continues to become a paradigm through which we see our ministry's call to cultivate unity in diversity.
Angela Kim (our Livestream specialist!) & Alberto Villavicencio (our do-it-all assistant!) sporting the new Newman merch!
Our new leadership teams have come together with over 70 people for a virtual leadership retreat for students, young adults and adult leaders, and our ministry staff. A group of over 70 Penn & Drexel students also participated in FOCUS' SEEK21 virtual conference. All of these experiences don't hide the many challenges that 2020 brought but we are so grateful for this community which is determined to get through hardships together.
The man who keeps the Newman Center running, Chris George, our Asst. General Manager, hard at work like always!
Thank you for continuing to support our ministry!
Patrick Travers, SCV Newman Director ptravers@saintsaj.org
&
Fr. Carlos Keen, SCV Pastor of St. Agatha - St. James Parish ckeen@saintsaj.org
The Newman Team is one big family!
sweethome
home
Back in November, we ran our annual "Giving Tuesday" campaign. We reached out to students, alums, and parishioners alike to get testimonies on how the Newman Center has impacted their lives. Across the board, we heard the same sentiment from everyone: "The Newman Center is home." How beautiful that this community has become a home to so many who come from different generations, backgrounds, and walks of life. As we prepare for another ministry year, our mission is to continue providing this home away from home for our students and parishioners. No matter what this year brings, this home will always be ready with open doors.
Our Lounge got a serious makeover in 2020! We turned this black canvas of a space into a colorful, warm environment full of mini-living rooms!
See our cozy lounge in use! It has become a warm oasis for students escaping the chilly winter weather! We've added an electric fire place, comfy couches, and a library's worth of books!
The Den has been a special project we've been working on all winter! Props to Michael Gokie for creating this comfortable space for students to relax, watch the big game, and play some pool.
Our park has been waiting all winter to bloom! We're so excited to see the trees, flowers, and grass grow even more in the sunlight. Our Marian statue is also coming soon!
Fr. Carlos is hard at work in the office! Even though the Newman Center hasn't seen it's normal traffic of students this year, they can always find Fr. Carlos on the third floor!
New team members, Maryrose Richards (Development Manager) & Jule Coppa (Campus Minister) working hard in our third floor offices.
SPRING 2021
THE NEWMAN CENTER
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The New normal Juliana Wallgren
#PENNNEWMAN
Hey! Did you hear about the public speaker coming for Newman Night?
I help students meet Christ! Sometimes it means having a one-on-one personal chat with a student or leading a bible study, or helping organize Newman Nights or a speaker night. I work with students to help them in their role as a youth in the Church and as evangelizers of fellow young people.
the dating talk? Yes!
...
Yeah! I'm so excited to hear their advice!
BIG SPEAKER NIGHTS
Ministry in the COVID-era has offered new opportunities, and one of those has been the ability to bring in big speakers from across the country more easily and offer engaging talks that serve our current students and young adults, as well as reach out to a broader audience. Most talks have between 30-50 participants, and our biggest talk of the year had over 230 people!
Alejandro Bermudez
Executive Director of the Catholic News Agency
James & Suzie Pawelski Psychology & Relationship Experts
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Nelson Villamor Penn Campus Minister
Dr. Gracie Pozo Christie
Doctor, Policy Advisor for The Catholic Association, Speaker
Lillian Fallon
Creator of "Theology of Style" & Catholic Influencer
SPRING 2021
NEW NEWMAN NIGHTS
We haven't been able to have our famous "Chicken Parm" Newman Dinners, but that has allowed for some creativity, as both Penn & Drexel Newman Nights have continued on Zoom. From game nights, to interesting speakers, to discussions on engaging faith topics, each ministry has used these nights to continue fostering a sense of community while welcoming new students into the mix. ht e n ig g a m ig h t ton ! 8p m
Athlete outreach Dean Eric Furda Penn Admissions
Deacon Steve Javie Former NBA Referee
Thegoodfight This last Fall 2020, we began a new program to specifically reach out to student athletes, called Varsity Catholic. FOCUS missionary & former UCONN basketball player, Molly Bent, came to our Penn Newman ministry team, and has been working together with Fr. Remi Morales, in this athlete ministry. In addition to several Bible studies and a weekly Rosary group, they began a monthly big speaker series where they have been able to talk about the intersection of Christian values and sports.
Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck Former pro-soccer player
Sam Kelly Founder FIERCE Athlete
You wouldn’t give up practicing your sport just because you weren’t seeing immediate results. If you did, you wouldn’t be a college athlete. So don’t give up pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ just because you aren’t seeing or feeling an immediate change.
Molly Bent (left) & a couple of her student-athletes
This year, FOCUS' Seek conference looked a little different due to COVID-19! But that didn't stop our missionaries from finding a way to bring the Seek experience to our Newman Center. We streamed the conference's talks in the church and held small group sessions on Zoom! Even though we didn't travel this year, the students loved the virtual conference!
"At SEEK, I was able to develop friendships and grow closer to God over the course of just a few days. With each talk, I was challenged to look into my faith more deeply and with each group zoom, I was inspired by the students that shared." - Margaret, Penn '22 "SEEK was a wonderful experience for me. It was a very life-giving, restorative weekend, and has made me want to be transformed from living a private Christian life to becoming an active follower and missionary of Christ in this world." - Grace, Penn 22' SPRING 2021
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Multicultural ministry
a new paradigm FOR NEWMAN
Eugene Enclona Penn 21' #PENNNEWMAN
Starting the Filipino Ministry eventually led to the start of the International Ministry, and now, the community at Newman is more vibrant and diverse than ever.
We are so blessed to be truly a "community of communities." As a small portion of the kingdom of God, we feel called to foster a sense of unity and belonging for all the different individuals and groups of people who call Newman home. It does take intentional effort to allow for all to be able to share their rich and diverse gifts, and receive from the others. For the last two and half years, our multicultural ministry has been growing, and it has become a lens through which we see our ministry. Whether through our cultural Masses, small groups, or other events, we look to offer people a place where they can cultivate their spirituality and be enriched with the spiritual gifts of others. Below are a few of the many ways we have continued to build unity in our diversity.
Leadership Retreat
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Filipino, Intercultural & Korean Mass
The leadership retreat was a perfect example of how Multicultural Ministry has transformed our community. Over 75 leaders from the many different groups at the parish came together on Zoom for a day-long retreat to reflect on the common mission we share.
Every Saturday of the month, we celebrate a different cultural Mass as our Saturday vigil Mass. This is an important way to celebrate the rich Catholic culture and history of our diverse parishioners!
Intercultural Ministry Team
Multicultural Mosaic
Among the subcommittees of our student leadership teams, we are blessed to have a group that leads our Intercultural Ministry efforts. In addition to planning our monthly Intercultural Mass, they collaborate with other groups to host events and foster a culture that welcomes people of all cultural backgrounds.
We have commissioned a mosaic that will include our patrons, St. Katherine Drexel & St. John Henry Newman, as well as the venerable Augustus Tolton, the first black priest in America, St. Kateri Tekakwitha and many more! It will be installed in our newly finished park.
THE NEWMAN CENTER
SPRING 2021
building unity in diversity "A Community of Communities" Danielle Brown, USCCB "Race & Catholicism" CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
After having many small group discussions with students and parishioners this summer and fall, we were happy to welcome Danielle Brown, the Associate Director of the USCCB's Ad hoc Committee against Racism. She spoke on the topic, "Race & Catholicism." We partnered with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and were joined by 230 people who attended the talk and Q&A.
Weekly Intercultural Rosary As a way of continuing to grow our intercultural ministry, our students began a weekly online Rosary group Saturdays at 5:30pm. In addition to building community among the different groups at Newman, they pray for unity, peace, and love among God's diverse children.
Multicultural Pilgrimage Masses Some of our young adults and student leaders have been participating in monthly multicultural Masses sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that pilgrimage from one parish to another in order to build up communion among the different cultural groups in the archdiocese. We will host an upcoming Mass that you are all welcome to attend on Sunday May 9th at 11:30am.
MLK Day Prayer Service
On Martin Luther King Day, one of our parishioners, Carmen Sanchez gave a short reflection, together with our new Archbishop Nelson Perez and several other faith leaders from the Philadelphia area in an event sponsored by the Archdiocese's Office for Black Catholics. Sheila Hodges Intercultural Chair My time with the intercultural ministry has been wonderful! I've been able to see the beauty in how universal the Catholic faith is through our intercultural rosaries and Masses. I have the coolest job ever -showing how beautiful the diversity in the church is!
SPRING 2021
THE NEWMAN CENTER
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community during covid-19
combatting loneliness
AZRA GALLANO
WILL ZIMMERMAN Penn '21
Drexel '24
The Newman Center has been the center of my social life at Penn. The ministry is such a powerful part of my college experience. They've really created a family and a home. The Newman Center is one of the most powerful ministries on campus.
Newman has helped me grow a lot in my faith, friendship, and within the Newman Community throughout the entirity of my Freshman year and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I can't wait to be back on campus.
Reminder You're not alone
Okay
GABRIELLA THOMAS
ANN ABRAHAM
Penn '22
Drexel '24
Staying connected has been made easier thanks to the virtual ministry. It has been an immense blessing to continue to see so many smiling faces and to serve as a support system for each other from wherever in the world we may be.
With no access to the sacraments or Newman Center, I felt isolated. But I realized that it's the people that define Drexel Newman, not the building itself. It was everyone at Newman who encouraged me to be hopeful and to trust in God.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
WEBINAR ON LONELINESS
How do you create a strong sense of community during a global pandemic? This has been our daily question and passion for the past year. When the restrictions were put into place and students went back to their homes, we knew we had to come up with a ministry strategy to maintain the sense of community we have spent so many years cultivating. During these months of isolation and uncertainty, helping students to feel connected was more important than ever. We have felt blessed to have such a large team of brothers & FOCUS missionaries to reach out to students, and the benefit of having established small groups before the pandemic began. This helped transition into a digital ministry that has sustained our faith community and allowed us to reach out to new students and invite them into our "home away from home."
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SPRING 2021
To address the growing issue of loneliness during the pandemic, we also participated in a webinar hosted by the Archdiocese's Office for Young Adults on "Loneliness" that had over 120 participants.
building community Michael Gokie Drexel Campus Minister #DRAGONCATHOLIC
My absolute favorite part of the job is meeting and developing relationships with so many amazing people. I also love leading small groups and meeting with students who are seeking to grow in their faith.
Finn Connors
Hey, u coming to Newman Night 2nite?
...
SMALL GROUPS Mikey Gray
Virtual retreat this weekend!
MENTORSHIP Small groups are a vital part of our ministry, especially during COVID-19. Instead of gathering inperson, ZOOM small groups have become a new life source for many students and parishioners! Our Small groups can feature special speakers, games, topics, and more! Mentorship is another way our students and parishioners receive guidance and counsel from our brothers, priests, and missionaries. Students meet regularly with members of our ministry team where they are able to work through questions about life and faith as they journey through their college experience.
Angela Bacaling
...
See you at bible study!
SPRING 2021
THE NEWMAN CENTER
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a reflection by fr. carlos keen, scv
The gift of
Who doesn't want to experience peace and joy? We all seem to be looking for them, but sometimes they seem unattainable. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” (Jn 14:27). Carefully listening to these words already starts to bring them into our heart. As the chaplain at the Penn-Drexel Newman Center, my greatest joy is when little by little, someone opens themselves up to receive the Gift of a life in the Spirit. It is not easy. We all struggle with attachments to earthly concerns that are obstacles to a life in the Spiritual realm.
A
life
"Oh, Mass is boring" or "prayer is useless." These are just a few examples of the many ideas that I have seen change to: "Wow, the Mass is amazing, I never knew so much happens there!" or"I really need prayer." It is so beautiful to see someone start to immerse themselves into the life of the Spirit and begin to understand what Jesus is all about. Full immersion in the spiritual life is not easy! There are many obstacles, like confusion and ignorance, which are at the level of the mind. The more challenging obstacles occur within the heart. Many of us have too many attachments that limit the action of God in our life. For some it might be judgements and envy, for others lust or selfishness. All these barriers cling to our heart and make it more difficult to receive the graces that God wants for us. Helping someone be freed from these chains is very delicate. It requires science, experience and a lot of patience. I sometimes picture it as grabbing a wet fish with oily hands. People can get tired and frustrated of their attachments. But sometimes, and saddest of all, they become resigned to them. Discouragement is a big enemy to full union with the Spirit.
spirit The In
On top of that, we are all unique, so we all need to find our personal path to the Lord. Homilies are useful, but we need many personal interactions to overcome the obstacles that keep us from God. I am very proud to say as a team, we offer almost 200 hours of spiritual direction or mentorship each year. This is a really big deal and the fruits are glorious! To see someone free from the burdens that they carried for so many years is just absolute bliss. I can only give thanks and glory to God for the invitation into such a noble mission.
CLM busy person's retreat This Lent, we wanted to offer a unique retreat experience for our busy students and parishioners who are seeking guided prayer and spiritual direction during Lent. Based on the brother's spirituality with the Christian Life Movement, this retreat is a personal one, consisting of 1-on-1 meetings with our brothers, priests, and missionaries as well as assigned readings and prayer commitments. The positive response to this opportunity blown us away. We initially had 18 open spots for the retreat but received 31 requests! This just shows how hungry this community is to encounter Christ in an intimate way. We are hoping to continue with more spiritual direction and mentorship throughout the year.
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SPRING 2021
fresh beginnings: Jule Meet Newman's new campus minister & faith formator Coppa "I have felt God calling me to bring people together: to bond our staff together as teammates in the mission, to help create community for students who feel isolated at home, and to help unite our ministry here with the mission of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Catholic Church at large."
Jule Coppa may be the newest hire to the team, but she is certainly no stranger to mission or to our ministry here. After serving for 6 years as a FOCUS missionary, most recently as the Team Director for Drexel, Jule has come to be an integral member of our team. Her passion for our ministry and the city of Philadelphia made her an obvious addition to our staff. We can't wait to see what the future brings with Jule officially on board!
JULE'S NEWMAN STORY When I was placed at Drexel as a FOCUS missionary, I quickly realized that this was not just a run-of-the-mill campus assignment. In getting acquainted with the Newman Center and the larger parish ministry, I was so struck by the huge and diverse mission that is run out of this one place. This parish is not just serving one campus or one homogenous group; its ministry to Drexel, Penn, young professionals, neighborhood families, long time West Philadelphians, and everyone in between, makes the scope and impact of our work here truly epic. Having such a vibrant parish presence in this part of Philadelphia impacts the whole city, and helping such high achieving college students to encounter Christ can impact the future of our culture and our world in profound ways. Every day that I work here I grow more convicted that this parish Newman Center is a key hub of the New Evangelization in Philadelphia. -Jule Coppa Campus Ministry & Faith Formation
SPRING 2021
JULE'S DREXEL FOCUS TEAM (2019-20)
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ALUMNI spotlight John ‘83 Economics & Applied Science
the McInerneys John & Susan We are very grateful for the Newman Center and St. Agatha St. James parish because it helped us anchor our faith in college.
Susan ‘85/‘86 The Biological Basis of Behavior / Nursing
John's experience with the Newman Center Pastor had and invaluable impact on his life; it is where Susan became introduced to the Catholic faith, attending RCIA (twice), eventually receiving first penance, communion, confirmation. We then got married in 1987 at SASJ -- a tradition that was carried on with two of our children being married there. Our younger son, Patrick, attended Penn and was involved with the Newman Center. His faith was supported and grew during his time there. Our daughter, Catherine, is a current junior at Penn. She too is experiencing the faith, fellowship, and fun that this community offers. Our advice to current Newman students is to stay close to this community! Ask questions, soak it up and see it as a haven from the “world” where you will be tempted to live a way that is not in accord with the faith. Keep your prayer life strong and partake of the Sacraments often.
Patrick Harker Former Dean of Wharton
Fr. Charlie Zlock Former Penn Newman Chaplain
Patrick ‘19 (football) & Catherine '22 (field hockey)
newman Alums get involved ESTEEM This Fall we began our ESTEEM program with 22 rising seniors, who were paired with mentors from among our Penn & Drexel alums and who work in the field the students hope to enter after graduation. ESTEEM looks to prepare students for life as a Catholic after college.
Fr. Eric Banecker, '11 St. Francis de Sales Parish 12
John DiCamillo, '06 National Catholic Bio-Ethics Center
THE NEWMAN CENTER
Monthly sessions have included topics such as Christian leadership, Church governance, and "Connecting with the Local Catholic Community." We have been blessed to welcome back many Newman alumni and former chaplains, including Fr. Charlie Zlock, Fr. Tom Whittingham, Fr. Eric Banecker, John DiCamillo, as well as Patrick Harker, former Wharton dean and current head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. In April, we will join together with students from other ESTEEM campuses to attend the virtual capstone conference.
SPRING 2021
MESSAGES
newman couples
Fr. Carlos
We have another Newman couple engagement! Can't wait to celebrate their wedding!
One of the most beautiful fruits of our ministry can be seen in a many couples of Newman alums who discover their call to holiness in the vocation of marriage. We have had the privilege of witnessing many couples get married, especially these last few years. It has become one of the ways that we have seen the Newman family continue to grow, even after college. Fr. Carlos Keen has officiated as the main celebrant to over 15 weddings in the last 5 years of recent grads, many of whom have gone through the Pre-Cana marriage prep and gotten married at Sts. AJ's Church! Fr. Carlos has also been leading a "Nazareth Group" for young married couples that includes quite a few from Newman. Several of the couples help as mentors for our Pre-Cana program, and others are involved in our ESTEEM program.
Matt & melanie gould
Max & Ashley henderson
Joe & stephanie dembik
Matt and Melanie met during in 2012 during their work-study job! Matt, a Wharton students and Melanie was at Penn. They started dating soon after and even had their second date at Mass at St. AJs! Matt eventually proposed to Melanie on the steps of the church and later Fr. Carlos would marry them!
Both Drexel grads, Max and Ashley met while doing their graduate programs in 2012. They eventually crossed paths on an online dating app and fell in love! They were both apart of the core group of Newmanites back in 2014 when the brothers first came to St. AJs!
These two Penn grads met as freshmen on the NOVUS retreat! They quickly became friends after attending the New Student Orientation and grew to love spending time with each other. They began dating during their Junior year and were married in 2020!
Max and Ashley are still dedicated members of our parish community and have recently welcomed their first child, Harper!
As Stephanie said, "Newman was the place where our love story began. We became friends there, our faith was formed and strengthened there, we grew up there—together.
The couple have continued to be vibrant members of the community and had their first child, Henry James, who is named after the parish they call home!
SPRING 2021
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development
DONOR SPOTLIGHTS
keepingnewman going
Thank you to the Ambassador's Fund for Catholic Education and their support of our ESTEEM program for senior students as well as for our Varsity Catholic outreach program to student athletes! We also thank the Colgan Foundation for their continued support of our ministry. Normally they support our Newman Dinners, and this year have chosen to continue their support towards our virtual ministry!
$25k
Newman stewardship campaign SUCCESS THIS YEAR'S CHALLENGES We launched our Newman Stewardship Campaign last Fall, which was dedicated to helping the Newman Center address the challenges presented by COVID-19 and its effects on the ministry.
We were so thrilled to surpass our goal of $25,000 and raise a total of $31,795! Thank you to all of you who have generously supported us in these times. We know that this year which has been financially difficult for everyone, so we are ever more grateful for your support. Your contributions are making a direct impact in the lives of the many young people we serve.
YADS
This past Giving Tuesday was a day we'll never forget! Due to the financial effects of COVID-19, we decided to make an effort to make this year special. In the past, a key part of Giving Tuesday has been the student engagement. This year, we tried to find ways to engage and inspire the same sense of stewardship digitally!
INVIG
Giving tuesday 2020!
G TUE
our team came together for an all-day long variety show full of digital events
HOW WE MADE GIVING TUESDAY 2020 A SUCCESS With some careful strategizing, we put together an all-day long virtual "variety show" led by our co-hosts, Lilly & Jule. We also featured live performances, competitions, prizes, and special video spotlights from alums, students and even Archbishop Nelson Perez!
parishioners encouraged others to help support our efforts
#EVERYBODY IN
thanks to you! In the end, we were able to raise $31,848, surpassing our goal! We continue to be overwhelmed by the success of Giving Tuesday, and we are so grateful to you all for your profound generosity and support!
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SPRING 2021
Students sent in videos sharing their newman stories
development
NEWMAN spring appeal
$15k
Following the success of our Newman Stewardship Campaign last Fall 2020, we feel so blessed by the generosity of all of you, our Newman family! It hasn't been an easy year for any of us, but the Lord continues to bless our ministry and we feel especially grateful to be entrusted with a special mission.
newman.upenn.edu/give drexelnewman.com/give
your donations will help us continue....
This Spring we are launching our annual Newman Spring Appeal in order to continue to face the financial challenges the pandemic has brought. We feel called to be good stewards of the gifts the Lord gives, so we have tried to keep costs lower and find additional funding sources, as our offertory and rentals have been down. Any contribution you can make to the Newman Center has a tremendous impact on the needs of our community! Thank you all for your continued commitment and generosity to our Newman community.
Virtual Mass 500+ weekly attendees
Contact: Maryrose Richards, Development Manager, mrichards@saintsaj.org
bible studIES & Small groups
newman MERCH
150+ weekly attendees
$30 ministry videos
$15
160+ weekly attendees
Penn & Drexel Catholic Crewneck Sweatshirts & Tee shirts
$20/Month
Cover the costs for one student to attend a FOCUS Bible study for the semester
Make your monthly gift!
$30 drexelnewman.com/newman-gear newman.upenn.edu/shop
$50/Month
$100/Month
$150/Month
Cover Operational Expenses at the Newman Center & St. AJ's For One Day
Cover An RCIA Candidate's Expenses
Fund Our Newman Night Speaker Series For The Semester
THE NEWMAN CENTER AT ST. AGATHA - ST. JAMES 111 S. 38th St Philadelphia, PA 19104 newman.upenn.edu / drexelnewman.com
Design Credits Lillian Fallon (lfallon@saintsaj.org)
Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Philadelphia, PA Permit No. 175
Photography Credits John Ortega (@jortegaphoto) Sean Legg (@seanjlegg) Lillian Fallon