Our History

Ever since farsighted Church leaders named a young and ambitious Father John O’Brien the first official University of Illinois Chaplain in the 1920s, St. John’s Chapel and Newman Hall together have complemented, influenced, and enriched the Catholic landscape on this campus. Known for having consistently strong leadership — highlighted by the 54 year Chaplaincy of Monsignor Edward Duncan from 1943 to 1997 — what started as a Catholic Chapel for worship and a dormitory for housing nearly 200 Catholic young men has grown beyond the comprehension of those original Church leaders.

In addition to St. John’s Chapel offering 15-plus weekly Masses and over 50 individual ministry and faith groups, Newman Hall is the nation’s only student residence hall on a secular campus that offers a faith-based dormitory. Newman Hall is now a co-ed facility, home to nearly 600 students with 85 percent of the residents being Catholic.

OUR OUTREACH

Countless Catholic students over the years have experienced dramatically defining moments through the ministries offered inside SJCNC.

We have always welcomed those who arrived strong and steadfast in their Catholic faith. We also continue to take great pride in providing opportunities for those Catholic students who have found themselves at a spiritual crossroads.

Additionally, the outreach efforts manage to search out and welcome those Catholic students who are spiritually bankrupt and have lost touch with their faith altogether.

SJCNC is mindful of the fact that each fall semester, a number of UI freshmen, including Newman Hall residents, wake up to the reality of no parental supervision, questions regarding their faith and spirituality, few limits on their freedoms, and academic and social challenges beyond their preparation.

The thoughts that go through a young person’s mind as a result of these new challenges have been known to put a young Catholic student into a state of fear, confusion, loneliness, disarray, and sometimes desperation or sadness. Within the SJCNC setting, students find support from priests, nuns, lay staff, and fellow students - who help them overcome these
challenges as they recover and grow their spirituality and become renewed in their faith.

OUR STUDENTS

We are committed to serving Catholic students in the same fashion as our patron, Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman.

Many students initially find themselves attending Mass at St John’s Chapel or living at Newman Hall because they have a friend or family member who experienced SJCNC in years past.

Some of the more than 10,000 students living within walking distance arrive because they find SJCNC a convenient location for worship.

Some stop by Newman Dining Room for a hot, freshly cooked meal because it has the feel of home away from home. Here they make new friendships, which grow into lasting relationships.

Finally, some arrive because they see SJCNC as a beacon of hope, and feel it is a safe and welcoming environment in a campus community that can be difficult to navigate, often intimidating, and at times overwhelming.

THE SALESIAN SPIRIT

Seeing Christ in the young and the young in Christ

This is how the five Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, who now call SJCNC their home, live out each day.

It’s a simple, yet deep, youth-oriented spirituality that cares for the whole person: physical, spiritual, moral, social, and intellectual.

In the way they live and minister, the Sisters remind us of the enduring value of educating the young, today’s students - tomorrow’s leaders. With the characteristic Salesian joyfulness that springs from a heart rooted in God, they augment the atmosphere of abiding kindness that already exists at SJCNC. Working in harmony with the goals of SJCNC and true to the spirit and life mission of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello, they, like their founding Saints, journey daily with the students in order to help them be prepared for their responsibilities as “good Christians and honest citizens”.

OUR MINISTRIES

Continuing Blessed Cardinal Newman’s legacy of service to Catholic students, SJCNC offers diversified ministries and a number of faith-filled educational and social programs, services and special events in an ever-expanding effort to complement the University’s secular education. Our ministry programs encourage students to learn, to pray, to
strengthen their faith and to grow in holiness.

A few of the ministries being offered at SJCNC include: Koinonia (Community/Fellowship Retreat), FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), SJO (Service & Justice Outreach), The Institute of Catholic Thought, Knights of Columbus, an outstanding music program that includes five different choirs (one for each of the four weekend Masses and one for Tuesday evening Latin Mass), Vocations Discernment for both male and female students, and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

OUR RESULTS

We have witnessed firsthand and have proven that a strong sense of Catholic community and participation in campus  ministry increases a student’s likelihood of viewing their faith as important.

Over 1,500 students participated in the ministries last year.

Almost 3,000 students attend weekly mass.

Religious vocations over the past five years stand at 17
young men and five young women.

St. John’s Catholic Newman Center is labeled the Crown Jewel of Newman Centers by Bishop Daniel R Jenky, Bishop of Peoria, and is categorically recognized nationally as a Top 10 Newman Center.

Our invitation to you

"What would you like to accomplish with your money that would be meaningful to you?"

If you feel it is important that SJCNC remain open and vibrant and you are someone who wants to make a difference, consider partnering with SJCNC.

Tthe future of SJCNC absolutely rests on ou rability to raise funds while remaining good stewards of all gifts, reaching out ot connect and re-connect our SJCNC family, and revealing the excellence of St. John's Catholic Newman Center to the world.

We invite you to share in our misssion by investing the resources that God has given you in this work to which God has called us. 

Be assured that today's students of St. John's Catholic Newman Center and those of the future indeed Thank You for you prayerful consideration.

Join our Chaplain's Fund