What did your Newman Center look like?  Your "home away from home” is still hosting young Catholics eager to grow in their knowledge and love of God together.  
 

Contact the Parish office to inquire about room rentals, alumni events, NIK reunions, and to learn how you can help current students.
 815-787-7770 or [email protected]
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Shared Memories from Our Alumni!

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My wife and I (both alumni of NIU) were married at Christ The Teacher fifty years ago August 5.  Following the wedding, we road from the church to the Kishwaukee Country Club for the reception in a red carpeted manure spreader my buddies surprised us with. We recently celebrated our 50th anniversary and re-enacted the spreader ride for our family and friends.  My wife Helen wore her original wedding dress while I wore a tuxedo (not the original) one of our granddaughters wore the original flower girl dress.

I enjoyed reading this historical account of the Newman Center at NIU. I remember the first Newman (house) Center from when my older sister attended NIU from 1958 - ‘60. By the time I arrived in 1962, the new center had been built. It quickly became the center of my spiritual and social life. Studying in the library, eating and working in the basement Snack Bar, participating in the first Spaghetti Dinner benefit, going on a civil rights related trip to New Orleans, and joining a summer mission trip led by Newman’s Fr. McKitrick to Eastern Kentucky where we lived and worked in a VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) program for two months are a few of my wonderful memories. A group of Newman friends from various parts of the country still get together on ZOOM once a month.

I met a young girl (Sue Whitton) at a dance in the Newman Center on February 18th, 1966. After the dance I walked her to her dorm (Neptune) and we began dating. Sue was raised Catholic and I converted just prior to our marriage on July 6th, 1968. We've raised 4 kids and have 8 grandchildren and one great grandson. We moved to Arizona in 1984 and have been attending St. James in Glendale Glendale AZ for over 35 years.
We have fond memories of NIU and the Newman Center and today marks the 57th Anniversary of our meeting at that dance.
Best wishes and prayers for everyone involved with the Newman Center.

My husband and I were married in the Newman Center chapel in 1969.  He graduated form NIU in 1969.  I attended from 1965-1967.  We came from St. Francis High School and felt like the Center was a home away from home.  We often attended daily Mass together.

I always felt comforted when attending Mass during exam week and other stressful times during my time at NIU.

I liked going to daily Mass at, I believe, Noon in the small worship area behind the main worship area at that time.  Also, my nephew lost his Mother, my sister, while at NIU.  I don't know what would have happened to him if not for the Newman Center.  For that I am deeply grateful.

​Please pray for all those at the Newman Center.  Twenty years ago I attended NIU and felt lost.  Through the mercy of God, I was led to the open doors of the Newman Center.  I sat in a pew and cried to God.  Cried for peace in my heart and that He would lead me to my path in life.  I honestly do not know where I would be if the doors had not been open that day.  I often reflect upon that experience and am forever grateful that the open doors of the Newman Center helped reopen my heart to God's word.  While at NIU I met my husband, whom I later married in the Catholic Church in his small hometown.  We baptized our three children in the Catholic Church in my small hometown.  And as God often does, He led me to restart my teaching career in the Catholic School in the small town where my husband grew up.  God is good, and the Newman Church rekindled the love of Christ in me.  Thank you and God bless.