OMAHA, Neb. (CNS) – Erin Moore hopes to move in when the St. John Paul II Newman Center opens near the University of Nebraska at Omaha in fall 2016.

“It will be nice to become a community, helping each other grow,” said Moore, a junior at the state university who is already involved in campus ministry through the local MAVCatholic community and the Colorado-based Fellowship of Catholic University Students, known as FOCUS.

Moore was among more than a dozen students who participated in the center’s June 30 groundbreaking, along with Omaha Archbishop George J. Lucas; Lt. Gov. Mike Foley of Nebraska; the university’s chancellor, John Christensen; and Chris Jerram, a member of the Omaha City Council.

Archbishop Lucas blessed the grounds and the people involved with making a dream come to fruition – a student center for Catholic worship, study and service. He also joined the students and others in turning shovels of dirt to ceremonially begin the work of building the $22 million center.

The center will include apartment-style dorm rooms for 164 students of all faiths, an outdoor courtyard, library, commons area and chapel.

The center will encourage students to explore and develop their faith; invite a personal relationship with Christ, leading to discipleship, and a love of the sacraments; discernment of vocations to the priesthood, religious or married life; and pursuit of authentic love as the foundation for relationships, archdiocesan officials have said.

It will provide a faith-based community to help encourage Catholic students and others to develop to their full potential, Archbishop Lucas said.

“We hope many students will be able to discern God’s love and plan for them,” he added.