Live Your Catholic Faith
Heading off to college is thrilling, but it comes with its share of anxiety. When seeking a new home base and support system, your university’s Catholic student group is an ideal place to grow intellectually and find fulfilling friendships while being fed spiritually. Below is a list of events and opportunities offered by Catholic centers at some major regional universities to get you started on your way.
St. Gemma Galgani, patron saint of students, pray for us!
PURDUE UNIVERSITY (St. Thomas Aquinas) -- Info from Purdue Catholic Students (PCS) president Sarah Huber
Beginning-of-the-year events
- Events during Blockbuster Weekend, Aug. 27-30:
o Thursday night: Matt Maher concert
o Friday night: “Jurassic World” showing
o Saturday night: Pig roast with live music
o Sunday: Parish picnic, Mass on the Grass and ministry fair
- Sept.11-12:New Student Overnighter
Throughout year
- Every Sunday: Sunday Night Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Homemade dinner for $2 before 7 p.m. Mass (most popular student Mass)
- Every Wednesday: Mass at 9 p.m. (followed by free ice cream!)
- Ignite small groups meet weekly in every residence hall, as well as locations for Greek and off-campus students.
- Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Boiler Awakening retreat
-
For more info: www.boilercatholics.org, or email PCS officers at pcs@sttoms-purdue.org.
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY (St. Thomas Aquinas) --info from campus minister Father Mike Williams
Beginning-of-the-year events
- Events during M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, Aug. 16-20:
o Wednesday evening: Lawn party in Centennial Mall
o Thursday: St. Thomas will have a booth at the information fair at the Preston Center
o Friday evening: Cookout at St. Thomas, beginning at 6 p.m.
Throughout year
- Retreats each semester, including a freshman retreat planned for Fall semester
- About 20 small groups meet weekly throughout campus and serve about 100 students
- Every Sunday and Wednesday evening: free meal at St. Thomas
For more info: www.wkucatholiccenter.com
INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON (St. Paul Catholic Center) – info from St. Paul Associate Pastor Father Jude McPeak
Beginning-of-the-year events:
- Events during Welcome Week, August 19-23:
o Thursday evening: St. Paul will have a table at Culture Fest
o Friday evening: Freshman hangout at St. Paul
o August 23: Freshman fellowship night at St. Paul
- Aug.30: Freshman cookout
- Sept. 25-26: Freshman Escape retreat
Throughout year
- Every Wednesday: Wednesday Night Live, a large group event beginning at 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul
- Every Sunday: Dinner after 5:30 p.m. Mass (the most popular student Mass)
- Socials many Friday nights
- Small groups meet weekly in every neighborhood of campus
- Oct. 23-25: Hoosier Awakening retreat
For more info: Contact Father Jude at frjude@hoosiercatholic.org. . . or email me at kklingler@evdio.org!
UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE (Newman Club)– info from campus minister Kristel Riffert and Newman Club leaders Nicolette Fonseca and Jon Robson
Beginning-of-the-year events
- Aug. 22: Newman Club members are helping with move-in—look for them in bright blue shirts!
- Aug. 23: Mass at 1 p.m. at Neu chapel, the ecumenical chapel on campus
- Aug. 26: Open house from 4-6 p.m. Mass at Neu chapel that night at 9:30 p.m.
- Aug. 30: Outdoor Mass on Neu chapel lawn at 1 p.m.
- Aug. 31: Newman Club cookout, 5-7 p.m.
- Sept. 5: Newman Center will have a table at the Student Organization Fair
- Sept. 5: Catholic campus ministry picnic
Throughout year
- Every Sunday: Mass at 1 p.m. at Neu chapel
- Every Monday: Free homemade dinner and discussion at Newman Center
- Every Wednesday: St. Meinrad seminarians chat with students at Jazzman’s, the campus coffee shop, until dinner on campus; they then go to the Newman Center for discussion
- Social events throughout the semester
- Oct. 2-3: Joint retreat with the University of Southern Indiana in Maple Mount, Ky.
For more info: Contact Kristel Riffert at kriffert@evdio.org, or call or text her at (812) 760-8610.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA (Newman Catholic Community, or NCC)– info from campus minister Christine Hoehn
Beginning-of-the-year events
- August 20: Newman Center students helping with move-in
- August 21: Pancake breakfast
- August 23: Mass at 4 p.m. in Liberal Arts 0101; sundaes afterwards
- September 3: Newman Center will have table at the Involvement Fair on the quad
- Small group signups during all beginning-of-year events
Throughout year
- Every Sunday: Mass at 4 p.m. in LA 0101
- Every Wednesday: Chat with seminarians in Starbucks, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday night: dinner and discussion in Rice Library 0018 starting at 6:30 p.m.; adoration 8:00-10:00 p.m.
- Oct. 2-3: Joint retreat with UE in Maple Mount, Ky.
- Social events and service projects throughout year
- 6 small groups (hopefully more this year!) meet weekly throughout campus
For more info: Contact NCC president Joe Paul Hayden at jphayden1@eagles.usi.edu
