About St. Lawrence Newman Center

A Parish Serving University Students

  • Roots

    Founded in 1887, St. Lawrence Catholic Church has a long history of providing solace for those who seek the love of Christ and those who are called to share His abundant love. St. Lawrence Newman Center is comprised of residents and university students who come together as a family to support, uplift one another, and reach out through love and service to our neighbors.

  • Faith Life

    With Christ as our example, our focus is on Him. We follow His instructions to be a place where people can experience the love of Christ, grow spiritually, and encounter Christ through the Sacraments. The Eucharist and Reconciliation are prominent in how we encounter Jesus and instrumental in how we are formed into a family and live together. It is through prayer that we listen and go forth into the future as a Church community, welcoming new members.

  • Our Core Values

    OUTREACH:
    - We reach out to students and young adults on campus and at the Newman Center by creating a sense of community and relationship.

    SACRAMENTAL LIFE:
    - We invite all to a personal encounter with Christ through the true presence in the Eucharist and the sacraments.

    FORMATION OF HEART AND MIND:
    - Through community and fellowship, we aim to draw students and parishoners into a fuller relationship with Christ, his people, and his church.

    SERVANT LEADERSHIP:
    - We ignite and equip students to build up Catholic families, parishes, and communities as they go out into the world.

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

We are a Catholic church making disciples of Jesus at the University of Minnesota by building transformative relationships and raising up leaders in the faith.

Our Vision

As one spiritual family, we seek to provide a transformative environment where students, young adults, and parishioners at the University of Minnesota become lifelong disciples.

For students
Parishioner Registration

Our History

  • 1887

    St. Lawrence Church was dedicated on November 27, 1887, and was originally on the corner of 7th Street SE and 12th Avenue SE in a white clapboard building.

  • 1915

    Archbishop John Ireland, over concerns of anti-Catholicism and secularism at the University of Minnesota, invited the Paulist Fathers to take charge of the “university parish,” St. Lawrence. In particular, he wanted attention given to the Catholic Student Association which would later become the Newman Center.

  • 1921

    The cornerstone was laid for its present building at the corner of 5th St and 12th Ave SE with the school opening first in September of 1921. The first Mass was not held until February of 1922.

  • 1926

    The Paulists split the parish and campus ministries and the Newman Center was located at 1228 4th St SE. Later it would move closer to the university on University Avenue. In 1998, the Newman Center was merged back with St. Lawrence bringing the whole parish family back together again.

  • 1970

    After almost 50 years of Catholic education to the children of the parish and beyond, the St. Lawrence School closed.

  • 2013

    The archdiocese decided to return leadership of St. Lawrence-Newman back to diocesan priests and welcomed Fr. Jon Vander Ploeg in September.

  • Today

    St. Lawrence-Newman continues its great education tradition with a focus on ongoing faith formation for students attending the University of Minnesota.