Encounter. Grow. Serve.
Our mission: We are an apostolic Catholic community, entrusted to Mary, that works with the university community and families to live a full Christian Life as “missionary disciples”, helping them encounter Christ, grow in their faith and their reconciliation with God and themselves, and sending them to serve, from one heart to another.
Heart Speaks To Heart
Authentic community is an essential aspect of the "Heart to Heart" spirituality inspired by John Henry Newman. We all look for true love and long-lasting friendship. Far from being a mere club or group of people with common interests, the Newman Community strives to be an example, a shining light on Penn's campus, of the true communion and inter-personal unity which has its foundation not in us, but in God himself.
It is in community that our love finds its unique and proper expression.
"Thus community becomes "Schola Amoris," a School of Love, for young people and for adults -- a school in which all learn to love God, to love the brothers and sisters with whom they live, and to love humanity, which is in great need of God's mercy and of fraternal solidarity." Fraternal Life In Community, 25
If you are looking for opportunities to meet young men and women who form part of this community, we have a number of activities for you to attend!
The Big Five
So how do we do this? We emphasize our Big Five:
Sunday Mass
The heart of the Christian Community is the Eucharist, and we are blessed to have four Masses each Sunday with various socials following all of them.
Small Groups
Offering a space of encounter where we can grow in the faith, open up about our daily struggles, and build community is so important at Penn. We’ve tripled the amount of our small groups this past year, largely through the work of our FOCUS missionaries. Praise God!
Newman Dinners/Nights
Newman Dinners are held each Thursday night at 6pm in the lower level of St. Agatha-St. James. A FREE all-you-can-eat meal fills the house. Join us for our famous chicken parm! On Tuesdays, we hold Newman Nights, following 7pm mass. The programming begins at 8pm and ranges from speakers, faith based discussions, panels, and more!
Retreats
Sometimes we need to get away from the daily grind of life for a moment of peace and intimate communion with the Lord. It can take a lot of bravery to take a weekend off at Penn, but the fruits are so worth it. We offer several retreats each year to do just this.
Service
From pitching in at Newman Dinner to hitting the streets with Christ in the City, service is what we strive for.
