History

 

Three years after the death of John Henry Cardinal Newman in 1893 a small group of students at the University of Pennsylvania joined together to minister to their fellow students.  This goal was inspired by Cardinal Newman and his devotion to the service of Catholic University students who were enrolled in secular colleges.  Thus, the first Newman Club.

 

In 1929, on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a similar group of students formed a Newman Club.  This was a place where Catholic students, faculty, and staff could go for both spiritual and intellectual growth.  In 1963, the Newman Catholic Center was built at UMass.  Opening its doors on April 1st, Newman has now grown to be a "home away from home" for thousands of UMass and Five College area students.

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In 2020 the Newman Center building and property were sold to the University for $12.5M.  This sale opened the way for a new Center to be located on Thatcher Rd. and the construction of this new Center will be completed in early spring of 2022.

parking lot.jpg

A photo of the site of the new Newman Catholic Center on the corner of Thatcher Rd. & North Pleasant St.

The Newman Catholic Center, located on the UMass Amherst campus, serves the students, faculty, and staff
of the University and the Five College area through events, worship, prayer, community service, and special happenings.

Newman Catholic Center

472 N. Pleasant St.

Amherst, MA 01002

413.549.0300

newmansecretary@diospringfield.org

Mission Statement: Empowered by the Spirit and inspired by John Henry Newman's motto: "Heart speaks to Heart" we explore, believe and reach out inclusively to make Jesus Christ present to all who share their journey with us.