Католик студенттік орталықтары және олардың тарихы

Catholic ministry at educational institution

Newman Centers, Newman Houses, Newman Clubs, or Newman Communities are Catholic campus ministry centers at secular universities. The movement was inspired by the writings of Cardinal John Henry Newman encouraging societies for Catholic students attending secular universities. These centers may include residential living space or may be actual houses close to the campus with or without a chapel. Activities vary among centers but usually include both spiritual worship like Sunday Mass and Eucharistic adoration, social get togethers (like movies or coffee socials), and group outings (like apple picking, March for Life events, and amusement park visits).

The first Newman club was established at Oxford University by Hartwell de la Garde Grissell in 1878 as Oxford University Catholic Club, which was renamed in 1888 the Oxford University Newman Society. The “Newman Movement” in the United States began in 1883 at the University of Wisconsin when Catholic students joined to form the Melvin Club, named after their hosts, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Melvin. The first Newman Club in America was established in 1893 at the University of Pennsylvania by Timothy Harrington, a graduate medical student and former member of the Wisconsin group, together with John Gilbride, James and Joseph Walsh with assistance of Father P. J. Garvey, pastor of the local St. James Catholic Church. The club provided social activities, discussions on the faith, and mutual support for Catholic students in a sometimes hostile academic environment. The meetings were occasions to experience Catholic culture in a secular environment. In 1950, the National Newman Chaplains Association was established for ordained chaplains at non Catholic colleges and universities. According to The Newman Connection, a US Catholic Church Campus Ministries non profit organization, there are over 2,000 Newman Centers in the United States.

The centers provide pastoral services and ministries to their Catholic communities, in particular to the Roman Catholic student population within the universities. However, since these centers are located on university campuses, those of other Christian denominations often come and participate as well. A variety of university and parish related meetings and social events take place at the centers, as well as personal events including Catholic weddings, anniversary celebrations, baptisms, masses and funeral receptions.

Newman Centre, Toronto is housed in the historical W. D. Matthews House. It is under the direction of the Archdiocese of Toronto and is associated with the neighbouring St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The Newman Centre in Montreal, which serves McGill University and the Archdiocese of Montreal goes back to the Columbian Club (est. 1897) and the Newman Club (est. 1929). In 1941, the Rev. Gerald Emmett Carter (later Cardinal Archbishop of Toronto) was appointed director. In 1949, under his leadership, the club acquired a new home, "Newman House," located centrally on McGill College Avenue, one block south of the Roddick Gates. In 1951, the Newman Association of Montreal was created (incorporated under the Bighops' Act). The association's purpose would be to support the Catholic community at McGill University. In 1954 the Newman Association purchased the La Fleur mansion located at 3484 Peel Street, which remains the centre's Montreal address to this day. In 1998 the Newman Institute of Catholic Studies was established under the direction of Dr. Daniel Cere. The Newman Institute of Catholic Studies was federally incorporated in 2000, when the Catholic Studies minor concentration was established at McGill University, along with the Kennedy Smith Chair in Catholic Studies.

University of Queensland and Charles Sturt University are both house Newman Centres.

A Newman Society, along the lines of the one at Oxford University, was first set up at the New Zealand University in 1909.