A Place for Everyone

  A Place for Everyone

      “The purpose of the Newman House club is to be a hospitable community for all university students. Rooted in a faith centered love for Jesus and others.” Father Andrew, the priest in charge of the Newman house club stated as he wiped his black framed glasses on his shirt. 

Study room in Newman House 

     Newman House is a little red brick house right down main street. As you pass by, the sounds of hastening cars fill the air. However, Newman house is just the location, the club that takes place at Newman is Caritas which means ‘love’ or charity’. The Caritas club has been around since the 90s and the actual house was built in 1830.

Outside of Newman House 

The outside of the house has a light red brick and the windows surrounding the house are framed by a muted green. As you pass by you see a deep red sign with golden text that say ‘Newman House: Home of Catholic Campus Ministry. The sign is perched in a light green bush just to the right of the stairs, leading up to the house. As you walk up the stairs you see many different types of greenery including rose bushes. In the center of the rose bushes rests a statue of the holy family.

    There are no requirements or obligations required when visiting. Any student is free to come and go as they please. All you need to do is show up! One of the students who regularly goes to Newman said, “...I come here to feel like I'm at home. Good socialization, good food, good company.”

Many different kinds of events take place at Newman house. Newman is open everyday from 10 AM to 10 PM as a place of study or rest for any student who wants to utilize it. Every Tuesday and Thursday they have mass, prayers, and coffee social hour. On Mondays, Newman hosts a faith sharing event called 'The Upper Room.' Every Sunday they have mass and free dinner for any University student. Newman also does random group outings with university students. For example community service events, bowling, mini golf, etc… One of the biggest events they do is something called Open Bite Night. 

Chapel in Newman

“It’s definitely our biggest weekly event.” Father Andrew stated with a smile clearly excited. Open Bite Night is an event that takes place at Newman house every Wednesday evening at 5:30. All it entails is free dinner for any Bloomsburg student who wants it. 

On one Wednesday night,  excited chatter filled with laughter and multiple conversations filled the air. A cool breeze swept through the warm Wednesday night. The meal was held on the deck right outside the back door. The rough, wooden tables were painted a brown that was worn down after years of use. The aroma of the warm sloppy joes seeped out the door. All the students sat down with their plates filled with warm homemade foods. Pasta salad, vegetables, chips, etc…. 

“Ah, Gwen, you missed it. Julia and I were watching professional foosball competitions.” One of the students, Matt, exclaimed as he took a bite of his warm sloppy joes. 

“Yes! Yes, we did!” Julia, a sophomore student, expressed excitedly as she dropped her food to put all her focus on the conversation. 

“Whe-” Gwen, the third student, tried to get out, obviously mad she missed out. 

“Gwen, they were so serious it was so funny,” Matt, the first student to speak, eagerly interrupted. 

“I missed this?” Gwen passionately spat while she covered her mouth trying to swallow her food. 

“The ball can move so fast it's crazy.” Julia remarked, excited to see Gwen's face light up. 

“I thought of you when I saw it. I know how much you love that game.” Matt giggled as the Sun shone onto his face forcing him to squint a bit. 

“You know if college doesn’t work out for you there’s always that.” Julia said sarcastically while twirling the golden ring on her finger, as her black wavy hair fell slightly into her face. 

“Hey don’t tempt me.” Gwen winked as she took a quick sip of her coke zero. 

Father Andrew walked outside and waved at all the students as he took his place at one of the tables. A smile crept up his face as he sat listening to all the animated voices, taking it all in. 

Students eating dinner at Open Bite Night

    

     “This club is for students who want to carry out their faith while living at school and become a part of a good, loving community. We are here for any university student and the beautiful thing about this organization is that it really is a large tent in that we provide opportunities for those who have no religious background and maybe are even agnostic. There are some students who are agnostic but come here because they feel like there's a good sense of community and people care for each other. So we have those opportunities but then we also have opportunities for those who are religious, and who are spiritual. Not even necessarily religious but just spiritual. Who kind of want to ask deeper spiritual questions.” Father Andrew explained while moving his hands as if to add emphasis. This is Father Andrew's third year running the Newman House. "I guess you could just call me a junior," he chucked as he clapped his hands together, pleased with his joke. He has short spikey brown hair and was wearing all black, except for a little white collar.

    "Just being able to see the growth of an individual in the span of a year or two is so rewarding. And see how they are growing into the adult that they are made and meant to be. It is really neat and beautiful to be able to see that happen. Its almost like watching a plant grow. You are rooting for it and excited to see all the little changes that take place." Father Andrew explained as he looked into the distance with an almost reminiscent smile on his face. His glasses slid slightly off his nose and he rubbed his hands together. Many students who go to Newman stay at Newman. They end up meeting life-long friends and memories.

  

  "I honestly don't really know how to explain it. It just feels like I'm meant to be here." Markus, a Bloomsburg student, sighed as he looked at all the laughter and joyful students all gathered together. "It just feels right."