Guide Going To College Pt 2: Newman Centers

In Part 1 (which can be read here), I discuss the need to understand the culture before sending your kid (or yourself) off to a university. Here, in part 2, I'll continue this ongoing series with a brief look at Newman Centers and the role they play in not only preserving your child's Catholic faith but in helping them to grow in their faith, to meet new Catholic friends, and to help them understand the role the faith plays in an increasingly hostile culture.

A Newman Center must be a prerequisite to attending a secular university or college. For those who don't know about them, Newman Centers are ministry houses with the specific mission of evangelizing to college students in public schools. Often they're located a short distance from campus. At my university, ours is located a block south from campus. Newman Centers can be diocesan or operated by a religious order on behalf of the diocese. The typical Newman Center is a safety net for Catholic college students at secular schools, which is desperately needed in an increasingly hostile environment.

Not all Newman Centers are created equal, so the quality of the Newman Center at any given university should be checked out. This can easily be done when you make a site-visit to the university you plan to send your kid to. Signs of a good Newman Center include:

• Faith formation: Does your Newman Center offer the students the real opportunity to go deeper in their faith in a way appropriate to their place in life?

• Mass: The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass should be offered regularly

• A parish presence: a parish should be reasonably close to the Newman Center, or the NC itself should be a parish. Pastoral support for a Newman Center is critical.

• Quiet study space: I mean, this is college, right?

• An opportunity for students to make friends and form lasting relationships. I know of one friend who recently was married to someone they met through the Newman Center, and another couple that I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up married. Both are in my small circle of friends at the Newman Center.

• Good Catholic books and media! Our Newman Center has a decent library plus movies, music, Lighthouse talks and other great resources.

• Events: Newman Centers need to be vibrant places that foster a strong faith life. Events should include parties, ministry, works of mercy, and prayer meetings, among a few options.

I can't over estimate the value Newman Centers offer to the spiritual growth and preservation of a young person in college. As a convert I can attest that the Newman Center played an important role in my formation during RCIA and after. During moments of spiritual dryness the spiritual direction I've received at our Newman Center was beyond valuable. The friendships I've made with like-minded students (I hope) will last a lifetime. In short, I wouldn't want to send a child of mine to a public school without a Newman Center nearby to counteract the toxic and intolerant culture of secular public schools. Plus, Newman Centers are great ways to combat boredom!