St. Paul's Newman Center - NDSU at 1141 North University Drive, Fargo, ND 58102 US - Building A Catholic Culture

For the Pastor's Appeal click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_EWfjPsGPk

The Newman Center was built in 1957 after an F-5 Tornado destroyed the original building.  We continue to care for the future with a new roof and insulation on the Chapel scheduled to start in November 2007: due in large part to a generous grant from The Catholic Extension Society: www.catholic-extension.org.  The rest of the Newman Center needs some serious attention (windows, doors, roof, insulation, heating equipment, floors, concrete work, etc.) or we can start with something new.  We are at a crossroads in the history of the Newman: either dump some serious cash into remodeling the current facilty or tear it down and put out into the deep.

Our growing and fruitful (one religious sister, several seminarians, and 14 FOCUS missionaries in less than 3 years) campus ministry has expanded a desire, on the part of the students, to live in a Catholic community as part of their college experience; this in part has been expressed and realized to some extent with the success of St. John Bosco House and vocations to the priesthood, religious life and the Catholic missionary fields. (read more about Bosco House by clicking on the button to the right on the home page).

A Catholic Dorm will enable students to pursue and develop basic leadership skills in their lives in a way secular housing does not.  For example, helping students pursue excellence in their studies, chastity and sobriety through the development of virtue: based on biblical principles.  Students involved in campus ministry programs are 30% more likely to graduate from college and have a higher GPA.  A Catholic Dorm would be a parent's first choice for their son or daughter entering the college experience in a secular setting.

Therefore, we have begun the process of working towards building a Catholic dorm that would incorporate the current Chapel.  The dorm, and its facilities, would replace and extend existing Newman Center structure.  The facility will include a social hall, a student center with offices for full time staff and student leaders, a classroom, and dorm rooms for the students.

Our study group could not get the $13 -15 million dollar facility to cash flow so we could bond the project.  However, if we raise $7 million it will cash flow and we'll be able to bond the project.  We are asking you to join us in charting new territory by making a donation to help us build this dorm.

Donations can be made in a number of differnt ways: pledges, a monthly donation, gifts of cash, life insurance policies, and other assests.  A gift can be made as commitment and then paid over time.

Donations can be sent to the following address:

Please note in the memo: Newman Catholic Dorm Fund.

Thanks for your consideration.