About St. Lawrence Newman Center
Our Mission
We are a Catholic church making disciples of Jesus at the U of M by building transformative relationships and raising up leaders in the faith.
Our Vision
As one spiritual family, to provide a transformative environment where students, young adults, and parishioners at the University of Minnesota become lifelong disciples.
Our Core Values
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We reach out to students and young adults on campus and at the Newman Center by creating a sense of community and relationship.
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We invite students and young adults to a personal encounter with Christ through the true presence in the Eucharist and the sacraments.
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Through community and fellowship, we aim to draw students and young adults into a fuller relationship with Christ, his people, and his church.
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We ignite and equip students to build up Catholic families, parishes, and communities as they go out into the world.
Prayer Intentions
Please pray for the prayer intentions of our parishioners and students.
For my Mother and brothers to see the fullness of truth and join the Catholic Faith, and for my Father to return to the Church
For the repose of the soul of Pope Francis
For our country and our leaders, that the Lord would guide them
For a deeper surrender of our vocation to the Lord, and for peace in the waiting
For my father Tom Deming who was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer
For young adults, that they would grow in their relationships with the Lord and continue going to Mass on Sundays
For my grandfather Robert who entered a memory care facility
For my grandpa Ernie Dold who is battling cancer
For the soul of Sienna, and her family as they grieve her loss
For the 3 children who passed away in a fire in Da Lat, Viet Nam: Vong Minh Anh, Anthony Vong Dang Khoa, Maria Vong Ngoc Bao Anh
For the repose of the soul of Josephine Anna Schmidt
For continued healing from traumatic brain injury accident
For the recovery of Joe Anderson from a near-fatal work incident
Pray for financial help to keep our business. We also pray for the strengthing of our marriage
That the Christian Engineering group may be a source of fellowship, consolation, and light
Pray for my studies. I'm a student at Liberty University in Worship Studies and Commercial Music
For me and my family's move to Minnesota
For Mother Mary to protect and guide my family
For faithfulness, love, and fidelity in marriages
About Fr. Jake Anderson
A Wisconsin native (and unfortunately a Green Bay Packer fan), Fr. Jake received his B.S. in business and economics from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio before moving to the Twin Cities. While working in the fields of banking and management IT consulting in Minneapolis in his 20’s, Fr. Jake started discovering anew the life of Jesus, especially through the Gospels. This eventually moved him to begin discerning priesthood.
He received his priestly formation and M.Div from St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and was ordained a priest in May of 2015.
He is an avid outdoorsman and fell in love with fly fishing on a warm June day at age 11 after watching the movie, A River Runs Through It. He enjoys reading on different topics and is a devotee of St. Paul the Apostle and many other saints. Fr. Jake lives in community in a household of the Companions of Christ, a community of diocesan priests who seek to live a life of priestly fraternity, accountability, and support.
A Parish Serving University Students
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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, support, and uplift one another, and reach out through love and service to our neighbors.
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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.
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Parishioners
We are made up of resident parishioners who live, work, and raise their families in the area, and the University of Minnesota community. Our resident and student parishioners all have a unique opportunity to make disciples of Jesus as a university Catholic church. They offer an example of the blessing that comes from living the faith, raising a family in faith, and growing spiritually through a personal relationship with Christ.
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Putting It All Together
Do you desire to be seen as a person made in God’s image? To be challenged by the Gospel? To truly belong? Whether you are young or old, there is a place for you here. Consider becoming a parishioner! We invite all our parishioners:
To Belong: especially within a small group
To Give: particularly through prayer and financial support
To Serve: in some capacity to glorify God and to build up the whole body of believers
Our History
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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1970
After almost 50 years of Catholic education to the children of the parish and beyond, the St. Lawrence School closed.
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2013
The archdiocese decided to return leadership of St. Lawrence-Newman back to diocesan priests and welcomed Fr. Jon Vander Ploeg in September.
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Today
St. Lawrence-Newman continues its great education tradition with a focus on ongoing faith formation for students attending the University of Minnesota.
Get Involved
Weekly Bible Study
Each Sunday, Dr. Robert Brenneman leads a Bible study in the upper level of the Newman Center for grad students, young adults, and parishioners from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Come and check us out!
Our Ministry Partners
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Brotherhood of Hope
The Brotherhood of Hope serves as head of campus ministry.
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Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO)
SPO builds mission oriented community on campus and beyond, forming lifelong disciples.
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Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus
The Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus serve as pastoral, formational, and spiritual leaders in campus ministry.