FLUSHING — As the campus minister at Queens College, Omar Cortez can’t help but smile when he thinks about the rapid growth of the Newman Center, the Catholic meeting space in the campus’ Student Union building.
In just one year, the center has grown from attracting a small handful of undergrads for prayer and quiet time to drawing upwards of 30 students daily for afternoon Mass.
Cortez attributes the growth to those early students, who he said have not only spread the word about the center across campus but have made a concerted effort to create a welcoming environment for all who come through its doors.
“Last year, it looked like a scrappy organization. It wasn’t the prettiest of organizations, but the students saw the effort,” said Cortez, a parishioner of St. Leo Church in Corona, who noted the daily Mass is the center’s biggest weekly gathering.
In the latest sign of prosperity, the center has added a chapel where students can find some quiet and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop Robert Brennan blessed the Chapel of the Sacred Heart and celebrated an afternoon Mass on Monday, Sept. 16. He encouraged students “just to try to stop and take a moment with the Lord” when looking for strength in the middle of a busy day.
The center has become so favored that the dedication Mass couldn’t be held in the chapel — which holds 16-18 people — because there were too many people to fit in the small space. Instead, the service took place in the center’s meeting room to accommodate the larger crowd of 50-60 attendees.
“This has been a long time coming,” Queens College chaplain, Father Jose Diaz, said of the chapel. “From start to finish, we have come a long way.”
The chapel was renovated for free by experts at C&G A-Plus Interior Modeling, a firm headed by Guillermo Franco, a parishioner of St. Leo. Another Sr. Leo parishioner, Anthony Rodriguez, an architecture student at the New York Institute of Technology, designed the altar.
“For me, I think the greatest thing is using my talents for something that’s for God’s glory,” Rodriguez said.
The growth of Queens College’s Newman Center is unique compared to recent trends. Queens College has so far succeeded in attracting students to actively participate in the faith, while other institutions nationwide are still discerning ways to do so.
According to the Pew Research Center, 79% of former Catholics say they left the church before age 23, and another survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that 90% of people who fall into the category of “nones” — meaning those who have no religion — left before age 29.
Students at the Newman Center know they’re part of something special and look at the new chapel as a sign of good things to come.
“I just hope it continues to grow,” senior Nina Palces said.
Named after Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890), who believed that religion should be a major part of university life, the many Newman Centers on college campuses nationwide serve as Catholic ministries on non-Catholic campuses.
Bishop Brennan sees the Newman Center at Queens College as important in bringing young people on college campuses to the faith.
“It’s a pivotal time. One of our key challenges is to make people know that we’re here,” Bishop Brennan said. “And when we meet the young people here … we have the chance to draw them into a closer relationship with the Lord.”
It is a task Cortez said he would gladly take on.
“I know the impact that my faith has had on my life,” Cortez said. “And I knew that as campus minister here at Queens College, I wanted to help other people — if I can — get closer to our faith so that it could have a positive impact on them too.”
