The Newman Center at St. Agatha-St. James Parish is holding a three-day celebration—Friday, October 4-Sunday, October 6—consisting of a Conference, Gala and Celebration Mass to celebrate its 125th year as the first Newman club in the country, as well as the completion of its redevelopment project. The Newman Center serves Penn and Drexel students and residents of University City.

The first Newman club in the country was founded here at Penn in 1893 by a medical student named Timothy Harrington. Together with his Catholic classmates, they looked to support each other in a time in which Catholics were discouraged from studying in secular universities. The first Newman Hall on Penn’s campus was built in 1922 at 3743 Spruce St. by Rev. John W. Keogh. Later known as “Mr. Newman”, Fr. Keogh would go on to found numerous Newman clubs around the country and helped found the National Newman Federation to which he was the National Chaplain for its first 20 years of existence. Today there are over 2,000 Newman centers around the country. 

The Newman Center was moved to 3720 Chestnut St. in 1970 (Almanac December 17, 1970), where it remained until last year when it was sold by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Renovations have just been completed on the new Newman Center at 111 S. 38th St. (just behind St. Agatha-St. James Church), which served as a parish grade school as well as the Netter Center in recent years. The new building is connected to the Church, and hosts a large student lounge, a 2nd floor chapel and meeting rooms, as well as the parish offices on the 3rd floor. 

“We are so excited to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the oldest Newman club in the country, which started with a few medical students here at Penn. It is a blessing to also inaugurate our new Newman Center, as well as celebrate the canonization of our namesake, John Henry Newman. And we are honored to recognize Craig Carnaroli and John DiIulio for their service to the Catholic community and the University,” said Fr. Carlos Keen, chaplain of the Newman Center.

Pre-Celebration

Thursday, October 3: 7 p.m. panel on Why canonize Newman now?; Ryan Marr, director of the National Institute for Newman Studies and Paige Hochschild, professor at Mount St. Mary’s University.

Friday, October 4: noon lunch with Fr. Tom Hagan OSFS on Newman’s Urban Ministry and Catholic Social Thought in Haiti.

Two-Day Conference

Friday, October 4-Saturday, October 5: Join others from across the country in celebrating 125 years of Catholic campus ministry through panels, speakers, round tables and more. The conference will focus on the importance of campus ministry in today’s culture. Keynote speakers include John Garvey, president of the Catholic University of America and Jonathan Reyes of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Friday, October 4  

3 p.m.: Check-in 

4 p.m.: Panel on Campus Ministry Today; Fr. Mike Martin OFM, Duke chaplain, Fr. Shaun Mahoney, Temple chaplain, Barbara Humphrey McCrabb, USCCB

5 p.m.: Beer garden in front courtyard and tour of new Newman Center.

6 p.m.: Catered dinner in newly renovated banquet hall by the Armettas Italian Restaurant and Pub.

7 p.m.: Welcoming remarks and remarks on Why Newman Still Matters by keynote speaker Jonathan Reyes. Dr. Reyes has been a dynamic leader in the field of Catholic social teaching and charitable programs. He currently serves as the executive director of the department of justice, peace and human development at the USCCB, where he has served in this role since 2012. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Denver. Dr. Reyes was the founder of Christ In The City, a national volunteer program that does outreach to the homeless. He also helped found the Augustine Institute, a graduate program devoted to Catholic Theological studies and leadership training and served as its first president. He oversaw the creation of Regina Caeli Catholic Counseling Services and Lighthouse Women’s Care Center and led the construction of the Guadalupe Community Assistance Center in Greeley, Colorado.

Saturday, October 5: Morning and afternoon panels, round table discussions, meals included.

8:30 a.m.: Mass

9:30 a.m.: Panel on The Church Moving Forward; Matt Manion, Villanova professor, Leah Libresco, blogger and author.

11 a.m.: Panel on Former Chaplains of Newman

Noon: lunch and break

2-4 p.m.: panels/presentations on Newman Through The Ages.

Gala

The conference will culminate Saturday night at a gala at the Inn at Penn.

6-7 p.m.: Cocktail hour and silent auction.

7-8 p.m.: Dinner and program with keynote speaker President Jonathon Garvey. Both John DiIulio, founding faculty director of Penn’s Robert A. Fox Leadership Program, as well as Craig Carnaroli, the executive vice president of Penn, will be honored for their lifelong service to the University and to the Catholic community.

Celebration Conclusion

Sunday, October 6: The three-day celebration will conclude with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Celebration Mass to celebrate the new Newman Center’s inauguration, as well as student guided tours of the new facilities.

10:30 a.m.: Blessing of the Newman Center

11:30 a.m.: Celebration Mass

12:30 p.m.: Luncheon

The Newman Center is partnering with Penn’s Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought & Culture for the event. Drexel Newman, St. Agatha-St. James Parish and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are sponsors. For more details on the event, email Carolyn Shields at cshields@saintsaj.org

Participating in the Celebrations

For more info visit https://newman.upenn.edu/newmancelebration https://newman.upenn.edu/newmancelebration

Full Weekend: $185+$12.90 fee

Gala Only: $100 

Student Admission*: All other events free for students, except Gala, which costs $50; get half off with a social media message that includes #125Newman

Ticket includes all meals from Friday lunch through Sunday lunch, including the Saturday Evening Gala. *Exclusive to current undergraduate and graduate students of Penn and Drexel, and the Class of 2019 alumni.