The Catholic Newman Club came about from the works and teachings of the late John Henry Newman (1801-1890). Newman, an Englishman, who spent all his life in an academic setting, pursuing religious truth and understanding led him to join the Catholic Church. While many of his Anglican friends disfavored his conversion to Catholicism, Catholics also mistrusted him as well.
Nevertheless, he was honored by the Pope by being made a Cardinal later in life, and many of his theological insights helped to form the teachings of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's.
The "Newman Movement" has its roots at the University of Wisconsin over 100 years ago. But before the Newman Club was born, these students were referred to as the Melvin Club, named after the person whose house they met. Later on in 1893, students at the University of Pennsylvania decided to establish their own Catholic student club, and named it the Newman Club after the Englishman who died just 3 years earlier.
A three-fold program of religious, intellectual, and social development following the ideas and ideals of Cardinal Newman, was seen as their foundation. During the present century, the Newman movement has grown, and today Newman Clubs can be found on most college campuses throughout the United States. |