Building Campaign:

Yesterday...Laying the Foundation

Chartered in 1895, Eastern Illinois University, then known as the Eastern Illinois Teachers College opened it doors. For 102 years, the university has provided superior educational opportunities in both liberal arts and professional studies.

For these same 102 years, Catholic students attending Eastern Illinois University have been gathering in various settings to share their faith. Even though the beginning stages were humble, the results have always been positive.

In 1939, Father Thomas Connolly and Dorothee Coleman saw a need: A formal place for Catholic students to gather and share and nurture their faith. Joined by Dr. Rose Zeller, a faculty member from the university and first advisor of the Newman Club, the first official Catholic Study Club, made up of thirteen students met at the home of Mrs. Coleman. In 1940, after the arrival of Father Daniel Moriarty, the group became a Newman Club, embracing the ideals of their patron, Cardinal John Henry Newman.

"At the beginning of the organization she (Mrs. Coleman) had a hungry crew as her guests for supper once every two weeks. Of course there is some divided opinion as to whether once every two weeks was enough... At any rate, Mrs. Coleman proved herself most generous in turning over her house to the members. Besides eating, we Newmanites enjoyed the religious instruction or discussions that usually were included on the program for the evening. Mrs. Coleman worked hard to gather religious material for the Newman Club; so that we were assured of good topics for discussion at each meeting."

Father Dan took great interest in the students, and during the next 25 years he was the group's spiritual leader, guiding them with humor and practicality.

By the 1960s Catholic students numbered more than 2,000. The club acquired a small building at the corner of Ninth and Lincoln for worship, study and fellowship.

During the next 30 years, the Catholic population at Eastern Illinois University doubled. The Catholic Study Club of the 1940s became a thriving Newman community and a dynamic presence on campus.

Today...Building in Faith

Today, the Newman Catholic Center at Eastern Illinois University which also serves as the Office for Campus Ministry of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is a living, breathing community of people with faith and vision. More than 4,000 Catholic students, much like the students of over 100 years ago continue to gather to share and nurture their faith.

Every week, throughout the academic year, the Newman Center is used by many of the registered students. Each weekend, over 350 students participate in liturgies and Center activities.

Newman is constantly striving to serve the students and faculty, who increasingly, turn to the Church for guidance on spiritual, ethical, and moral matters. We lay the groundwork for family life, for parish involvement, and for professional responsibility.

As the presence of Catholic students on campus has grown, so has their involvement in the community and throughout the state and the Nation.

The students which make up the Newman Community have adopted the credo of Cardinal John Henry Newman, which exemplifies their purpose ... "heart speaks to heart".

This slogan is exemplified in their efforts to be Christ for one another; a sign of Christ to the people of the Charleston area and as members of the Universal Church, a sign of Christ for the entire world.

Besides participating in liturgy, prayer groups and Bible study, students put their faith into action and expand their relationship with God and their relationship with one another and their community through weekend conferences for engaged couples, liturgical music and art, faith enrichment classes, mini and weekend retreats, community service to the people of low income in the area, confirmation preparation and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.).

In addition, a number of programs of the Newman Catholic Center at Eastern Illinois University have received tremendous support and recognition such as:

The Student Volunteer Center, acts as a clearinghouse that presents volunteer opportunities for students throughout the Newman and university community. Over 250 students participate in the various volunteer programs offered. Projects include working with older adults in nursing homes, working with at-risk youth in a Big Brother-Big Sister program, working with developmentally disabled adults and assisting with collections at the local food pantry.

Youth After School Tutoring Program, which was initiated through the St. Vincent DePaul Society provides mentoring and tutoring for low-income youth in the Charleston area. Over 20 students each semester from the area are match on a one-to-one basis with a student that acts as a role model and provides educational tutoring.

The Haiti Connection is an organization that works to build bridges with Third World Countries by education and supporting a sister community in Barrasa, Haiti. Students travel to Haiti twice a year and become part of the community and help residents become empowered to live a more fuller and richer life with God.

Alternative Spring Break has grown from three sites in 1992 to 15 in 1998 and from 17 participants to over 125 students. Projects provide students the opportunity to work with a variety of socio-economic conditions while enhancing their education through a learning and living environment. Projects range from working with persons with AIDS, building homes in rural communities, working with runaway youth in New Orleans, Native American children in Pierre, South Dakota and assisting in soup kitchens in Washington, D.C.

Habitat for Humanity which is a worldwide effort established an Eastern Illinois University Chapter through the Newman Center. Students help build and refurbish homes for low income families throughout the Coles County area.

Throughout our youth, there are three primary influences which serve to guide us toward responsible leadership: home, school and church. Through the programs at Newman, young men and women are being prepared to step into adulthood in an environment where these three influences are closely interwoven. Newman is designed to feel like an extension of home while presenting students with genuine leadership opportunities.

There is a special atmosphere at the Center which encourages personal interactions with peers and with the staff of Newman. A daily exposure to Catholic/Christian values helps to perpetuate the Newman Catholic Center’s philosophy throughout a student’s life.

While few of our alumni enjoy celebrity status, many have returned to their home communities and established themselves in new communities as mature, loving Catholic Christians - competent, responsible citizens, capable and willing to serve God, their family, their parish, and the local and global communities.

Tomorrow...Sharing the Dream

Standing on the shoulders of Father Tom, Father Dan, Dorothee Coleman and others over the last 56 years, we see a need: A Newman Catholic Center on the campus of Eastern Illinois University that will permanently house the Office of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Currently, Eastern Illinois University is the only four-year public university within the State of Illinois system that does not have a permanent on-campus worship facility. Members of the University Executive Staff clearly see the need of a permanent building closer to campus and one that can more effectively serve the needs of the Catholic population on campus.

The Diocese of Springfield seeing the need for this facility has purchased the necessary land and will continue to provide financial assistance as well as leadership in the years to come.

4,000 Catholic students as well as 150 Catholic faculty/staff are on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. A total of 6,000 students will reside within ¼ mile of the new facility. The number of Catholic students qualifies the Newman Catholic Center as the 11th largest faith community within the Diocese of Springfield.

The time has come to provide a space for worship, as well as office, recreational, and academic space for Newman. The present structures are not adequate in meeting the needs of our Catholic students. We need a building that can accommodate the present while providing for the future. We need a place to call our own.

OUR NEEDS

The Newman Catholic Center will become a more visible presence on the campus of Eastern Illinois University with a new facility situated in the middle of the campus and in the heart of the residence halls and apartments for students. With its Catholic-Christian spiritual-scholastic values will be able to enter into more significant dialogue.

For just as in the 1960's people of vision strove to provide adequate facilities to carry on its mission, so to must we be people of vision moving ever forward in meeting the needs of a vibrant faith community.

Over the years, those that preceded us took time to make sure that the Catholic students of Eastern Illinois University had a facility to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is now our time to make this a facility we can all be proud of as we pass it onto the next generation.

To adequately meet the physical and financial needs of the Newman Catholic Center, the following capital improvements are being pursued through the Building In Faith Campaign.

WORSHIP SPACE

The worship space would be a place where our students would feel a sense of permanence in a very transitional time in their lives. Hence, the importance of a church structure that is sensitive to students; need for a permanent worship space, while allowing for creativity within liturgical norms and guidelines. Given the numbers on campus, the special events, and the projected increase in student participation once a permanent Church has been built, a worship space that seats 400 would be a necessity. This would not only meet the present needs but also accommodate any future worship needs.

The worship space would include the sanctuary, choir area. Baptismal area, Blessed Sacrament chapel, reconciliation room, sacristy, gathering space and storage.

FELLOWSHIP HALL

The Fellowship Hall would be a place for the students to hold dinners, socials, dances, gatherings of parents and alumni, and lectures. It would be large enough to sit 200 people for dinner. The Fellowship hall would have a kitchen, bathrooms, and storage attached to it.

CLASSROOMS, LIBRARY, LOUNGE, BOOKSTORE

An important component at every university is the need for a holistic approach to education . The integration of the intellectual emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of an individual is a life long process; but given the nature of the university environment, it occurs at a rapid pace during the four years the student is in college. The need for the church’s presence in the development of young adults as they appropriate an adult faith life is critical.

Newman is committed to shaping the whole person. This requires that significant emphasis be placed upon the study of the Catholic faith and the involvement in Newman activities. The quality of the programs, the discussion groups, and availability of space and resources determines whether or not a student chooses to be involved with Newman. It is involvement during their college years which strengthens their faith and creates alumni who are loyal to the Newman Catholic Center.

The classrooms are places where formal discussions, teaching and studying happen. The library and bookstore are places where students have access to Catholic thought and history at a public university to help with the dialogue between faith and science. Access to books and videos on such topics as spirituality, Christology, and contemporary issues regarding morality are a sure way to help a student form a Christian conscience. The lounge gives the students the opportunity to gather together informally and to create meaningful experiences of faith sharing and socializing.

ADMINISTRATION

Qualified and credible ministers doing campus ministry are vital to the life of the church on campus. They are many times the only link that the church has to the student who is exploring faith options and lifestyles. It is necessary for them to have the support they need to carry out their ministry, the privacy needed in counseling and the work space necessary for carrying on an operation of this size is important for Newman. The office area would include the office for the Director of Campus Ministry, staff offices, and clerical work space.

THE NEWMAN CATHOLIC CENTER ENDOWMENT

Just as the Newman Catholic Center’s spiritual strength is found in the Catholic faith, its financial strength is found through endowment. To ensure financial stability and to maintain the quality of the programs and personnel. The Newman Catholic Center seeks to establish a permanent endowment. These endowed funds, earning income, will ensure that our ministry will continue for generation yet to come. Proceeds from the endowment will be used for underwriting an assortment of programs including a Catholic scholarship lecture series, theology classes and a peer ministry program.

Our Challenge

In order to succeed and realize our vision, the Newman Catholic Center at Eastern Illinois University is embarking on an historic major capital campaign entitled Building In Faith. This campaign, will seek to raise a minimum of $5.1 million. It was begun only after much prayer, careful study and comprehensive consultation with our Bishop and Pastors, alumni, parents and business leaders.

Donor Recognition

All donors will be recognized on a plaque to be installed in the Gathering Space of the Newman Catholic Center. Memorials and Commemorative Opportunities are available for donors wishing to associate their names or any name of their choosing with the gift.

The Newman Catholic Center at Eastern Illinois University has a great history of ministering to all students who have come through its doors through the years. The Newman Catholic Center will continue to grow in our ministry as we move into the next millennium so long as generous individuals support us with their prayers and their gifts.

"Thanks to the favor God showed me I laid the foundation as a wise, masterbuilder might do, and now someone else is building upon it."