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On Thanksgiving Day, 1883, the first Catholic club at a secular college was formed at the University of Wisconsin - Madison Campus. It was called the Melvin club because it met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Melvin who lived across the street from the University. One of these students eventually went to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania where he started the first “Newman Club,” modeled after his experiences in the Melvin Club.
We are very proud to be a part of such a long tradition of organized Catholic student involvement at the University of Wisconsin. Our goal is to help students to know Christ so that they may fall in love with Him and the unique vocation that He has for each one of them. From this experience it is our hope that they will serve the Lord by fully engaging the world with the fullness of the truth found in the Gospel. Not an easy task! But nothing in life worthwhile is ever easy.
Like most Newman centers, our center is full of many impressive students living the Gospel in all parts of university life. It is a very encouraging sign for the church and one that makes me very optimistic for the future of the Church and the world.
Fr. Eric Nielsen
Director of St. Paul University Catholic Center
Newman Connection Members: 5
University enrollment: 42,000
Catholic student enrollment: 14,000
Center housing: No
Center offices: Yes
Center chapel: Yes
focus: Yes
St Paul's University Catholic Center
723 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
View map
Phone: 608-258-3140
Fax: 608-258-3141
Sunday - 9:00am, 11:15am, 6:00pm, 9:00pm
Monday – Friday - 12:05pm, 5:00pm (except Wednesdays)
Wednesday - 12:05pm, 9pm Candle-lit Mass
Saturday - 12:05pm
30 minutes before every mass
Adoration
Monday – Friday - 8am to 9am, followed by Morning Prayer