Catholic Newman Club

The Newman Club is a Catholic organization of students based in the Newman Center (also called the Oratory) and committed to growing in the Catholic faith.  Borrowing the spirituality of St. Philip Neri, the founder of the first Oratory, and the vision of John Cardinal Newman, we offer a home where students can meet like-minded people and build lasting friendships rooted in the Gospel truth.

As a young man during the Reformation, St. Philip Neri used to walk the streets of Rome talking to anyone who would listen about God.  Because he had no money and nowhere to stay, a customs official whom he befriended allowed him to stay in his attic.  Philip often hosted informal prayer and discussion groups in his room.  When the group became too large to fit in the attic, they moved elsewhere to a larger room that they called the Oratory.  The group grew in popularity until Philip founded the Congregation of the Oratory in 1575.  The Oratory was dedicated to community prayer and helping deepen others’ spirituality.  The Oratory was willing to accept any person who gave an honest effort to grow spiritually.  Our Newman Center is run by St. Philip’s Congregation of the Oratory and the Newman Club functions under his emphasis on community and spiritual growth.

John Cardinal Newman was an Anglican convert to Catholicism.  After his conversion in 1845, he went to Rome in 1846 and selected the Oratory of St. Philip Neri as best adapted for his future work of fostering community and spiritual growth.  In 1847 he founded the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England and began this work to spread St. Philip’s spirituality abroad.  It is from him that the Newman Center and takes its name.

Focusing the spirituality of St. Philip Neri and the vision of Cardinal Newman on college life, the Newman Club offers a community of friends in which students can grow closer to God.  The Newman Center is open for studying (with free internet access) to provide the opportunity for informal discussion among friends that was characteristic of St. Philip’s Oratory.