June 30, 2015, marked the ground breaking in Omaha for construction of the St. John Paul II Newman center. Students from around the Omaha are were there to help with the ground breaking, and one student who has been involved with FOCUS this past year was chosen to give a speech at the event. We are all very excited for this, as a home base is exactly what the students in Omaha need. Please visit the website for more updated information, and enjoy the pictures below!
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| Samantha, UNO Junior, giving a speech at the groundbreaking. |
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| Students spoke with the local media about what this Newman center means to them! |
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| The UNO students during the ceremonial ground breaking |
What exactly is a Newman center?
Named in honor of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, Newman Centers are residence and Catholic ministry centers at non-Catholic universities throughout the world. Hartwell de la Garde Grissell founded the first Newman Club in 1888 at Oxford University. Newman Centers welcome Christians of other denominations to participate in meetings and social events as well.
Cardinal Newman was a prodigy in theology, philosophy and education. John Henry Newman did not convert to Roman Catholicism until the age of 44, when he founded the first English-speaking Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham, England. In 1879, he was appointed a cardinal of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Newman’s influential writings and scholarly works significantly shaped religious theories not only during his time, but also throughout the 20th century, and into studies across the world today. (Source: Wikipedia)
