For nearly 100 years St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been a national model for Catholic campus ministry, equipping young men and women to live their faith through the triumphs and challenges of campus life - and beyond. St. John’s Catholic Newman Center has been a beacon for students who find themselves at a crossroads, inviting them to encounter the beauty of their faith, and welcoming them into a community of fellow students striving to embrace their identity as beloved sons and daughters, discover the meaning and purpose of their lives, and equip themselves for life after college with intellectual and spiritual formation led by the dedicated religious staff.
In the course of its history, St. John’s Catholic Newman Center has been the source of innumerable life-changing encounters and the catalyst for tens of thousands of vocations to marriage and family life, and to the priesthood and religious life. The encounters, experiences, and relationships begun in the pews and halls of SJCNC continue to echo through generations.
As one of the largest and most active Newman Centers in the nation, St. John’s Catholic Newman Center is the spiritual home to the 10-12,000 Catholic Illini on campus. Comprised of St. John's Catholic Chapel and Newman Hall, a co-ed private certified student housing facility, SJCNC is also a physical home to 586 students, located just steps from the University of Illinois Main Quad.
There’s a place for everyone at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center. No matter where you are in your faith journey, SJCNC’s student ministries and social communities are there to help you along with friendship, learning, and support. From communities of friendship to communities of prayer, from lectures and discussions to hands-on service, there are dozens of ways to get involved. Offering daily Masses, Adoration, and Confessions, SJCNC also hosts a diverse set of ministry programs – ranging from Bible studies and retreats focused on the needs of college students to social events like Intramural Athletics and more.
At SJCNC, Catholic Illini find:
- A place for hearts to grow,
- Weekly social and spiritual events,
- Dozens of student-led ministry and social groups
- Twice-daily Mass plus daily Adoration and Confession
- Prayer, spiritual direction, and support for your faith journey – wherever you find yourself along the way
- A private certified student housing offering traditional- and suite-style living just steps from the U of I Main Quad
