An Introduction to the Newman Center

An active ministry on the TU campus, the Newman Center provides weekly liturgies, as well as, educational, social, and service opportunities for students of all faiths. Students enrolled at other colleges and universities in the Tulsa area are encouraged to participate too.

History of the St. Philip Neri Newman Center

1946
Catholic students on campus formed the Catholic Discussion Club. The first meeting was held on February 20, 1946. Robert D. “Bob” Mannix was elected president.

The Newman Club was established by members of the former Catholic Discussion Club.  The first meeting was held October 2, 1946, at Marquette Hall of Christ the King Parish.  Rev. John J. Sullivan, assistant pastor at Holy Family Cathedral, was the first chaplain. Bob Mannix was the first president. (Fr. Sullivan retired on August 8, 1993, as Bishop of Kansas City – St. Joseph, Missouri).

1955
A house with two lots, at 3112 E. 5th Street, was purchased for the first permanent meeting place. Bishop McGuinness dedicated it in December 1955. Rev. William J. McCarthy, assistant at Holy Family was the chaplain.

1959
The Newman House was remodeled and a chapel was installed. Bishop Reed blessed the chapel in April. Rev. Michael E Keatinge, pastor of Claremore, was chaplain.

1964

1965
Rev. Robert T. “Bob” Schlitt was appointed the first full-time resident Catholic chaplain at T.U.

1977
Sisters Rose Mary Elsbernd and Rosemary Hemesath, F.S.P.A. (Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, of La Crosse Wisconsin) were asked by Bishop Ganter to assume responsibilities as campus ministers in the Tulsa area. The name of the Newman Center was changed to Metropolitan Tulsa Catholic Campus Ministry.

1985
The Newman Center building was traded to the University of Tulsa for land at the present site of the St. Philip Neri Newman Center. The original house was torn down for the construction of the Allen Chapman Activity Center. The center moved temporarily to a small house at 3205 E. 5th Place.

1987
A building committee, headed by Rev. Paul E. Eichoff, was formed to plan a new center.

1989
Rev. Timothy Davison was assigned as chaplain by Bishop Beltran, while continuing as chaplain at Bishop Kelley High School. He replaced Fr. Bob Schlitt, who completed his second assignment at T.U., having served previously from 1965-1973.

1990
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new center was held on May 22 at 4th Place and Florence. Construction began in August. The first board of trustees was appointed by Bishop Beltran.

1991
The new St. Philip Neri Newman Center was dedicated on April 21, 1991 by Bishop Beltran. Rev. Timothy Davison was appointed full-time resident chaplain at the new center. Soon after, he was appointed as diocesan vocation director.

1995
Stuart Crevcoure entered the seminary, the first T.U. student associated with the Newman Center to do so.
St. Philip Neri House, a satellite residence for young men planning to enter the seminary, was established at 3rd Street and Florence. It was dedicated by Bishop Slattery on August 15.

1996
Construction began on a new addition to the center, a game room named in honor of Bishop Sullivan.
The Newman Society celebrates its 50th Anniversary on the T.U. campus with a Mass and dedication of the new game room on September 19.

1998
Rev. Daniel Mueggenborg was named chaplain. The Newman Choir, under the direction of student Brian Gonzales was organized. The first ERiS Youth Rally for junior high school students was presented by Newman Center students.

1999
The first education/immersion program sponsored by the Newman Center was held. A course in Marian theology was completed with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City in December.
Annual high school confirmation retreats for area high school students began.

2000
The Catholic Faith Series immersion program began with a year-long study of early church history and Catholic doctrine. The course ended with a two-week immersion 
pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Florence, and Milan.

The Social Justice/Guatemala immersion program also began. After an overview course in the Church’s teaching on social justice, student and staff of the Newman Center traveled to Catholic Mission of Oklahoma in Santiago Atitlan Guatemala. The construction of two homes for area families was begun.

The Catholic Faith Series was recognized by the Catholic Campus Ministry Association as one of the six exemplary programs nationwide.

2001
Fr. Jack Gleason, pastor of the Church of the Madalene and the diocese’s vocation director, was named chaplain of the Newman Center. Fr. Stuart Crevcoure, a Newman Center alumnus, was named as assistant chaplain.

2002
Fr. Joe Townsend, pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Church was named chaplain. Fr. Stuart Crevcoure continued as assistant chaplain and was also named parish administrator for Sacred Heart Church in Sapulpa Oklahoma.

2003
Fr. Stuart Crevcoure, was named chaplain of the Newman Center. 

The Social Justice/Guatemala Immersion program was recognized by the Catholic Campus Ministry Association as one of six exemplary programs nationwide.

2005
The Newman Center library receives an important collection of books from the estate of Dr. Robert Tompkins.  Included in this collection are several rare volumes from the personal library of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

2006
The Newman Scholars Program is inaugurated.  Five scholarships for Catholic students at the University of Tulsa are now endowed through the university. 

Chaplains
1946-1947 Rev. John J. Sullivan
1947-1948 Msgr. Victor J. Reed
1948-1950 Rev. John L. Seary
1950-1951 Rev. Elmer F. Ernst
1951-1955 Rev. Peter S. Brickner
1955-1958 Rev. William J. McCarthy
1958-1961 Rev. Michael J. Keatinge
1961-1962 Rev. James A Kastner
1962-1965 Rev. Francis V. Manning, Assistant
1965-1973 Rev. Robert T. Schlitt
1973-1974 Rev. George J. Lutjen
1974-1975 Rev. John J. McNamee
1975-1976 Msgr. Cecil E. Finn
1976-1977 Rev. Jake A. Males
1977-1978 Rev. Neal E. Brogan
1978-1980 Rev. Christopher P. Daigle
1980-1983 Rev. Thomas M. Hildebrand
1983-1987 Rev. J. Richard Bradley
1987-1989 Rev. Robert T. Schlitt
1989-1996 Rev. Timothy Davison
1996-1997 Rev. John Jangem
1997-1998 Rev. Steve Bonian
1998-2001 Rev. Daniel Mueggenborg
2001-2002 Rev. Jack Gleason
2002-2003 Rev. Joseph Townsend
2003-2007 Rev. Stuart W. Crevcoure
2007-2008 Rev. Jovita Okonkwo
2007-2008 Rev. Gary Kastl, Assistant
2008-Present  Rev. Matthew Gerlach

Campus Ministers
1977-1981 Sister Rose Mary Elsbernd, F.S.P.A
1977-1978 Sister Rosemary Hemesath, F.S.P.A.
1978-1979 Sister Cecilia Corcoran, F.S.P.A.
1980-1984 Sister Joyce Moeller, F.S.P.A.
1984-1985 Paula Vella
1985-1988 Sister Mary Jo Brockman, F.S.P.A
1988-1989 Lynn Martin
1989-1990 Sister Patricia Keating, F.S.P.A.
1990-1993 Sharron Deax (Hanish)
1993-1995 Cindy Boland
1995-1997 Dee Barlow
1997-1998 Patrick Martin
1998-1999 Maria Swindell
1999-2000 Steve Wojcikiewicz
2000-2008 Steve Nelson

For current news about the Newman Center, please visit our news page.