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Community Corner

Newman Center Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Celebrations

New Eucharistic chapel, a gift from the Claire Rastetter Family, dedicated during first of several events.

The has kicked off its year-long celebration of “50 years of worship, learning, community and service” at its Horning Road location.

One of the most-anticipated events will be held in September, when the home of Catholic Campus Ministry at will hold a mass with Bishop George V. Murray of the Diocese of Youngstown.

Mary Lynn Delfino, pastoral associate for campus ministry at Newman Center, said a 50th Anniversary Committee is planning a variety of events for this year. The first event, held the weekend of Jan. 7-8, marked the 50th anniversary of the first mass celebrated in the chapel.

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“On Jan. 6, 1962, Rev. John J. Daum, Newman Club chaplain, celebrated the first Sunday liturgy in the new Immaculate Heart of Mary chapel,” Delfino explained.

The 2012 commemoration featured the dedication of a new Eucharistic chapel by the Rev. Steven J. Agostino during the 9 a.m. mass on Jan. 8.

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“We had a donor come forward, the Claire Rastetter Family, to donate funds for a chapel in memory of Claire’s late husband, Alfred. It’s a significant gift to the parish of the new space, the new tabernacle and all the furnishings that went in it,” Delfino said.

Receptions featuring a display of archival materials in the social hall followed each of the four weekend liturgies.

“The weekend was about marking the 50th anniversary of the first mass celebrated here and to remember the people that were here 50 years ago – especially Father Daum, who was such a dreamer, such a visionary, to raise the funds, to mobilize people, to build the chapel,” Delfino said.

“This place has been holy ground for 50 years. People have made lifelong friendships here, maybe met their spouse here, and have done service projects together. All of that really ties us together through the ages,” she added.

Delfino said when Daum was appointed chaplain of the Newman Club in 1953, it was housed at 312 N. Depeyster St. (now a vacant lot), near .

She said Daum dreamed of building a center that would serve the growing Catholic population at Kent State. He spearheaded a campaign to secure the land on Horning Road and raise the necessary funds for construction.

“It took nine years for him to realize that dream. He started right away and acquired the land – a prime piece of real estate right next to campus,” Delfino said. “He had a real gift for connecting with people and helping them to buy into the need for a Catholic campus ministry at Kent State and a home for Catholic students to worship and have a sense of community.”

Designed by the Canton architectural firm Motter and Firestone, the A-frame chapel and adjoining student center were built at a cost of $300,000. Bishop Emmet Walsh of the Youngstown Diocese officially dedicated the chapel in May 1962.

Delfino said the University Parish Newman Center continues to serve as a strong Catholic presence at Kent State University by ministering to students, faculty and staff by providing opportunities for worship, learning and service.

“We’re a unique parish in the sense that we’re a university parish with both students and non-students. We currently have 225 registered non-student parishioners representing a very diverse population. We also have about 200 registered Kent State students, but on the average weekend we get closer to 400 students attending mass,” Delfino said.

The Newman Center is also home to the Catholic Student Association, a student organization dedicated to promoting worship, social justice, faith development, and social activities for Kent State students.

In October, the KSU Catholic Student Association celebrated 75 years as a student organization, hearkening back to its establishment as the Newman Club in 1936.

For more information on the Newman Center’s 50th Anniversary events, visit the church's website, call Delfino at 330-678-0240 or e-mail her at mdelfino@kent.edu.

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