Northeast Missouri State University underwent a change from a regional state college to a liberal arts college, with an emphasis on preparing students with high academic achievement, and was renamed Truman State University. They began to intentionally recruit students with strong academic achievement, as well as leadership in extra-curricular activities, from private high schools in St. Louis and Kansas City. These private high schools included…
2015: Chaplain of two decades passes away
Beloved Fr. Bill Kottenstette passed away, after almost 20 years of ministry at the Newman Center. Fr. Colin Franklin was welcomed as Newman’s Chaplain the following July.
2010: Blessed John Henry Newman beatified
Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, for whom our center was named, was Beatified.
2010: Director of 21 years retires, new director named
After 21 years of ministry at the Newman Center, then Director Bettie Lescynski retired. A nation-wide search was held for her replacement, and Chris Korte was hired on as the new Director of the Catholic Newman Center.
2008: Rebuilding from the ashes
The current Newman Center building at 709 S. Davis was rebuilt, opened, and dedicated in November 2008.
2007: Catholic Newman Center building destroyed by fire.
In 2007, the Newman Center was destroyed by fire after getting hit by lightning during a storm. The Newman Community used a small blue house on Davis Street and met for Mass on campus. Lance Llewellyn was hired as Book-keeper, to manage accounting and communication for fundraising.
2000: The Newman Center expands to include room for more students.
By 1999, the Newman Center was too small. One Sunday, Father Bill Kottenstette saw students open the door to Newman and, finding standing room only, they left. The decision was made to add on. We applied for grants and began raising money from parents, alumni, and friends. We contacted an architect and builder. The addition was estimated to cost $300,000. By spring of 2000, we…
1996: Chaplain and inaugural director named
In 1996 Bettie Lescynski was made Director of the Newman Center, and Fr. Bill Kottenstette was made Chaplain.
1987-90: Newman Center relocates to Normal & Davis
Land on the SE corner of Normal and Davis Streets was purchased in August of 1987. As of February 1988, nearly $100,000 had been pledged to the project. The Bishop then pledged a matching $100,000 from the parishes of the Diocese of Jefferson City. Total budget for the project was $350,000. The yellow house on the corner was torn down under the direction of Mary…
1967: W. Dodson Facility houses the Catholic Newman Center.
After more than ten years of meeting in various locations on the NMSU campus, the Newman Club went looking for a permanent home. The two-story brick building at 414 W. Dodson was chosen for its size and location and purchased in 1967. The stucco on the outside began to fall off and the building was sided in 1978. This facility featured a large common room,…