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THE NEWMAN CENTER AT PITTSBURG STATE |
The Center is an administrative part of Our Lady of Lourdes parish; however, its operation is supported by both students and the parish.
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In 1952 the club rented a portion of the College Inn (left: image from Diamond Jubilee Book), a favorite haunt of college students for manv years. In 1953 the club purchased that and the adjoining property foreseeing the possibility of constructing a new facility there. |
A
Newman Club was organized in 1912 at the State Manual Training
Normal (now Pittsburg State University). For many years the club
met in various halls on the campus and in the homes of Pittsburg
students. Throughout, it received encouragement from the pastors
of St. Mary's and modest financial support from parishioners
of St. Mary's.
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Living quarters for a full time chaplain adjoined the Center, but the chaplains have been, in recent years, part-time, being associated with local parishes. The living quarters now house the offices of the Catholic Charities of Southeast Kansas. |
The
club planned well. On May 5, 1968, Bishop David M. Maloney dedicated
the handsome new facility as the St. Pius X Catholic Center.
A chapel is the central feature of the structure. It is surrounded
by meeting rooms, a lounge, library and game room. The construction
costs of the Center was substantially financed by four families
from St. Mary's. (left: modern Newman Center)
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Since its founding in 1951, the Center has been served by dedicated chaplains.
(above: front entrance on Cleveland Street) |
1951-1954 Fr. Joseph G. Bartos |
The Pittsburg State University Newman Club is still active.
BRIEF NEWMAN HISTORY
The Newman Apostolate was founded in 1893 at the University of Pennsylvania to provide Catholic students in secular colleges and universities a Catholic dimension to their education. The apostolate was named after John Henry Cardinal Newman who converted from the Church of England to the Catholic Church at the age of 44. At the time, 1845, he was a prominent churchman, lecturer and author at Oxford University. He was ordained shortly after his conversion and became a Cardinal at the age of 78.
In the early years, the Newman Apostolate was opposed by the American hierarchy on the grounds that it encouraged Catholics to attend secular institutions. Later the apostolate was accepted in face of the fact that there were overwhelming locational and financial reasons for Catholics to attend secular schools.
Last Update: August 3, 2003
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