Newman Centers, named in honor of the 19th century British theologian John Henry Cardinal Newman, are ministries that serve as the Catholic presence at secular and non-Catholic private institutions of higher education throughout the United States and Canada . The Kent Newman Center also invites members of the community not directly associated with the university into its ministry and their numbers are significant.

The "Newman Club of Kent State University" formally came into existence with an organizational meeting October 1, 1936. Father F. A. Hartmann, the associate pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Kent , was the moving force behind the meeting. Father Hartmann stated that the Newman Club would be religious and spiritual while also acknowledging its social and intellectual aspects. The Newman Center has been faithful to this goal throughout its history and it remains our primary reason for existence.

Our involvement with both religion and Kent State University began almost as soon the Newman Club came to the university. Father Hartmann, for example, gave a weekly lecture on Catholic doctrine at Kent State . The Newman Club advisory board named one of the vice presidents to serve on the central committee of the student council. Dean Raymond Manchester was particularly involved in promoting the club and directed a letter to the 300 Catholic students on campus to attend a lecture series by Father James O'Brien, the director of youth organizations for the Youngstown diocese which included Kent . By the late 1940's and early 1950's, the Newman Club had established a Catholic library in Stopher Hall for the use of all students on campus.

In 1953, Father John Daum became the first full-time chaplain of the Newman Club and joined the staff of the university's Religious Office. As part of that office, the Newman Center , then located on DePeyster Street , offered theology classes that were open to all Kent State students and Father Daum inaugurated a Basic Catholicism course for all university students. He also heard confessions in his office. The rosary was said in Merrill Hall at 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, and Masses on Holy Days were celebrated either in the Student Union or in the University Auditorium.

On May 19, 1959, the Daily Kent Stater reported that the Newman Club would celebrate Kent State 's semi-centennial by erecting a Catholic chapel on campus. That event, which was to become the single most important event in the history of the Newman Center, began to take shape early in the 1960's when Father Daum spearheaded a drive to fund and construct a chapel and a Newman Center complex of offices and meeting rooms. Father Daum raised approximately two-thirds of the $275,000-$300,000 cost of the building which was called the Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission of St. Patrick Church. The facility was completed in late 1961. On January 3, 1962, Bishop Walsh celebrated the first Mass in the new center. An organ was donated to the chapel by Dr. Leslie W. Garnett, International Student Advisor and member of the English Department. The first wedding of Kent State alumni took place on February 4, 1962. The chapel was dedicated on May 13, 1962.

In October and November of 1963, the Newman Center sponsored an eight-week series of lectures on "Has Science Annihilated Religion?" Anyone from Kent State with an interest in religion was invited to attend. The presenters were Kent State faculty members from the departments of Biology, History, Physics, and Geology. In the fall of 1964, the Newman Club participated in Freshman Open House of all religious organizations and the university mixer. Later in the year, theology classes were offered and some 250 students participated.

The Newman Center was an early supporter of the ecumenical movement at Kent State . During a series of Ecumenical Sundays in the 1970’s and 1980’s, other campus ministers were invited to participate in our liturgy by delivering reflections to our congregation. The local Lutheran and United Church of Christ ministers took part. An Ecumenical Committee associated with Kent State was formed. Members, in addition to the Newman Center , were the Wesley Foundation, Lutheran Student Association, Gamma Delta, and the United Christian Fellowship (a large umbrella group of Protestant denominations). In 1967 the Campus Conference on Religion was sponsored by the Newman Center . More recently, the Newman Center community has participated in the Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Museum Experience in our nation’s capitol, joining Hillel, Lutheran Campus Ministry, and United Christian Ministries on pilgrimage to Washington , D.C.

The greater community benefits from the presence of the Newman Center in many ways, and the Newman Center has a long history of service and philanthropic ministry to its own community, to Kent State University , and to the world beyond. We have always been happy to share our resources and talents in such a ministry. For example, in 1968, Newman students collected approximately $500 for the Biafra ( Nigeria ) food project. In 1990-1991 Newman Club members went "homeless" for twenty-four hours and raised more than $200 for the Akron homeless shelter.

During the 1990's and early 2000's, Newman Center students have traditionally used their Spring break recess to conduct Alternative Experiences in which they have helped in soup kitchens and with construction and rehabilitation projects. These projects have involved travel to such places as Detroit , Washington , DC, Chicago , and Camden , New Jersey . In recent years, students have participated in the Thirty-Hour Famine, part of a national event sponsored by World Vision in an effort to understand the problems of starvation and malnourishment in the third world and to raise money to combat these problems. As part of this event, they served at the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Youngstown , cooking and serving food, and sorting clothes and household items, and the Rescue Mission in the Mahoning Valley , cleaning sleeping areas and bathrooms.

In the fall of 2008, our Newman Center team took first place on campus for its “CANstruction” project. Sponsored by the Society for Design Administration (SDA), the competition features sculptures made entirely of food cans. The cans were then distributed to local food banks and charities. Indeed, "one can make a difference."

Our El Salvador ministry, which started when the Newman Center partnered with a sister parish in El Salvador in 1998, has been one of the most challenging and satisfying service ministries. Every few years since that time, the pastor, some adults, and several students have flown to El Salvador during the winter recess to minister and to learn about the culture there. This ministry has raised some $30,000 through monthly breakfasts, specialty dinners, and other fund-raising activities. As a result, Newman Center was able to assist in the rebuilding of Our Lady of Remedy Church in the village of Tremedal that was destroyed during the Salvadoran Civil War. The largest undertaking of the parish to date was the collection of medical supplies, clothing, computer equipment, toys, educational supplies, and other everyday goods that were shipped to El Salvador in 2007 in a 2200 cubic foot container. This "container project" was a most positive act of social action and also a wonderfully integrating activity, bringing together students and adults of the parish. In 2010 we reprised the “container project” organizing the collection of enough goods from throughout the diocese to send two containers.

Closer to home we have a variety of social action activities. We have developed a relationship with the Hattie Larlham Center in Mantua, Ohio, celebrating Mass with the residents, staff and their families monthly at the center. Several times during the year, the Newman Center assists local social service organizations. During Advent, a "giving tree" project solicits gifts that have been requested by various social service agencies. At Christmas and other times during the year, Newman is also a contributor to Catholic Charities of Portage County. Funds for some of these various services and other ministries at the Newman Center have also been raised through events such as Trivial Pursuit tournaments, the sale of meatballs prepared by the "holy rollers", bowling, garage sales, and phone-a-thons.

The Newman Center frequently brings guest speakers to campus, often those with a national reputation. In the early 1990’s Father Andrew Greeley, a prominent sociologist, activist, and author, lectured and answered questions about religion, politics, and his popular romance novels. Shortly after September 11, 2001, we sponsored a discussion with the Honorable Thomas Sawyer, a Member of Congress from the district which includes the city of Kent . Mr. Sawyer shared his understanding and the implications of the terrorist attacks on the United States and fielded a variety of questions. On October 23, 2006, we featured Rev. Charles Currie, SJ, President of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and faculty member at Georgetown University , who lectured on "Voting for the Common Good." Father Currie said that voters must consider issues of migration and poverty at the ballot box. Father Currie reminded students that they serve the common good through their immersion experiences in poverty-stricken areas.

In addition to the programs already noted, specific educational programs at the Newman Center are directed toward both learners and teachers. For example, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program is a religious program for parish children from preschool through grade 8. Like all of our program offerings at the Newman Center , CCD is an integral part of our vision of Campus Ministry. We staff our program with a combination of student and non-student parishioners providing an integrated ministry for both our college students and our children. In compliance with the Diocese of Youngstown child protection policy, all catechists undergo a background check and must adhere to diocesan policies.

Catholicism 101, similar to a traditional college offering, was introduced at the Newman Center in the 2000's, with both fall and spring classes. Open to both student and adult learners, the series has focused on topics of faith, history, the liturgy, and other religions, and has been taught by the Newman Center pastoral staff. The series has credit for individuals involved in diocesan religious education and has attracted participants from off-campus.

"Why Do Catholic Believe That?" is a series of discussions led by members of the Newman Staff open to all students who may have questions about or an interest in Catholicism. It also provides a deeper understanding of the traditions of the faith for Catholic students. This ministry has been conducted on campus in the Eastway Lounge.

Social interaction with other campus ministries has been an important hallmark of the Newman Center from its beginning. There have been many events open to everyone as we have maintained visibility in the university community.

In the early history of the Newman Center , when it was known as the Newman Club, the group was especially active in promoting campus-wide formal dances. The Pilgrims’ Prom was held at the University Club in Akron , and the Mardi Gras Ball was held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Kent . Other popular dances sponsored by Newman were held at the Mayflower Hotel in Akron , the semi-formal Pilgrim dance in the fall at the Aurora Country Club and the Spring Daffodil Twirl held in the Student Union. Interestingly, women dormitory residents were given 1:30 AM permits in order to attend such events.

Other examples of Newman's social life include entering floats for Campus Day for several years. Newman Club constructed a manger scene on front campus in December, 1956. In the Pork Barrel, a campus entertainment program, Newman Club won top spot in the independent men's division in 1957 with a presentation called "Wagnerian of William Tell". "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was presented in 1959. In the fall of 1965, the Newman Center , Wesley Foundation, and the Congregational Church hosted weekend films in their buildings, and all other religious groups on campus were involved in the effort. The Newman Center has participated in many Homecoming Parades as well as in the Black Squirrel Festivals at the Student Center Plaza .

A local fraternity for Catholic men, the Friars, all of whom were members of the Newman Club, existed at Kent State University in the 1940's. Following a successful sponsorship of the Spike Jones show for the KSU Memorial Stadium Fund, they were recognized by the university and the Interfraternity Council as a local fraternity. The Friars formed a new chapter of the Theta Kappa Phi fraternity on October 3, 1949, after Kent State President George Bowman invited the national fraternity to campus. This chapter became the fifth national chapter of a fraternity on campus. (Theta Kappa Phi later merged with Phi Kappa and became the current Phi Kappa Theta national fraternity.) Following the founding of the new national chapter, the 28 active and 16 alumni members of the fraternity made their home at 225 East College Avenue . As late as 1963, Phi Kappa Theta fraternity maintained a chapter at Kent State . The importance of these social events was recently noted by a Newman member from the 1960's: members in the area still get together for monthly card playing and many marriages took place from the group in those days.

The Greeks recognized that a sound body was an essential part of a person's total fitness and complemented a sound mind. The Newman Center has provided opportunities for and participated in programs that recognized such philosophy throughout its history, especially in organized sports competitions.

Competing in the Independent League, the Newman Club captured the 1938 All-University wrestling tournament and moved into first place among all sports teams in the league. Our involvement in such activities was so great in the late 1940's and early 1950's that the club appointed an athletic director for its intramural sports programs.

Participation continued through the 1950's with a men's basketball team and in the Rowboat Regatta. Newman Club won the independent men's division in intramurals. We also participated in football and softball, with the women winning the softball championship in 1959. In recent years, "Team Newman" has successfully fielded teams in flag football, softball, and soccer. Most teams are now coed, and foreign students on Newman teams have greatly contributed to our success.

As a campus ministry, the Newman Center has greatly benefited from the generous contributions of Kent State over the years. For many years, Kent State faculty and staff members served as members of a Faculty Advisory Board that advised Newman chaplains. In recent years, Kent State faculty and staff have served as members of our Parish Council and in other positions of leadership. The Newman Center gratefully acknowledges their support. In 2001, the University permitted the Newman Center to use university property to provide access for a circular driveway in front of our facility to enable accessibility and parking for the handicapped.

From our beginning as the Newman Club to today's Newman Center , our ministry has strived to play an integral role in the religious and spiritual development of Catholic students at Kent State University . With a potential Catholic student body of twenty-five percent or more of Kent State 's enrollment, we accept our mission as a responsibility and a challenge and believe that our efforts have borne fruit. Our success has been measured by the many students who return to visit, who remain in the area after graduation and become permanent members of our Center, or who maintain contact with members of the community in other ways. We are pleased to be a member of the Campus Ministry Organization and to work with the other faith ministries on campus in addressing the religious needs of our students.

Compiled by Mary and David Reith