UTEP’s Newman Center Catholic Campus Ministry, led by Friar Mario Serrano, OFM. Conv., has a “new” name. What was once the Newman Club, Newman Center, and UTEP Catholic Campus Ministry is now the San Romero University Ministry Student Center.

In January 2005, the Diocese of El Paso remodeled the Newman Center’s small two-bedroom house located at 2230 N. Oregon and converted the car garage into a chapel. Before the Catholic Campus Ministry was located on N. Oregon across from the UTEP campus, a smaller building known as the Romero Center, named in honor of the now Saint Oscar Romero, on East Robinson Avenue, was used by the Newman Club.

University Ministry Centers, also known as Newman or Campus Ministry Centers, are dedicated to the faith life of university students, staff and faculty are located near non-Catholic universities throughout the world. The establishment of this movement was inspired by the writings of Cardinal John Henry Newman who encouraged societies and clubs to be established for Catholic students attending secular universities. The first Newman club was established in 1888 at Oxford and the first Newman Center in 1893. The first one in the Unites States was established at the University of Pennsylvania.

University students established the Newman Club in 1927 on the UTEP campus. The Newman Club was founded at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy, the predecessor of University of Texas at El Paso. The San Romero University Ministry Center is recognized as a student organization.

The Foundation’s Progress Annual Appeal helps support our Newman Centers at UTEP and Sul Ross in Alpine. You can support Catholic Campus Ministry with your contribution to Progress today. Make your donation online or call us at 915.872.8412.