History
For more than half a century, the Catholic Campus Ministry for Rutgers students has been a source of faith, service, and community — a home away from home.
Origins and Ministry
While Saint Peter’s Parish has served the residents and students of New Brunswick since 1829, a distinct campus ministry presence has been at work at Rutgers since 1968 when the first full-time priest chaplain was assigned to Rutgers. In the early 1980s, Dominican fathers with the Province of St. Joseph served as campus ministers and led the operations of the Catholic Center. Following the Dominicans, in the early 2000s, the Priests of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri were assigned to St. Peter’s Parish and the Catholic Center to serve the parish and students. The Oratorians remained at St. Peter’s and the Catholic Center through 2018, serving in both the parish and campus ministry.
The Brotherhood of Hope began serving at the Catholic Center in 2005 and have been integral in serving and forming the mission since.
Sisters from the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope began serving at the Catholic Center in 2008 which provided much-needed additional support for those involved with the Catholic Center.
The Catholic Center at Rutgers University
The original Catholic Center was located on Mine Street and remained there until 2010 when the Diocese of Metuchen undertook a capital campaign to renovate the convent adjacent to St. Peter’s Parish to better support the mission of the Catholic Center. The convent was built in 1867, though three significant renovations occurred in the following decades. It was formerly occupied by the Sisters of Christian Charity until 2004 who had taught at St. Peter’s High School.
Ministry & Student Organizations
The Catholic Student Association and Rutgers Catholic are each familiar names to students who were involved in the Catholic Center at different points in time.
In 2005, the campus ministry became known as the Catholic Student Association (CSA). The group was an official student organization at Rutgers University and was supported by the leadership at the Catholic Center including Oratorian Priests, the Brotherhood of Hope, and Sisters of Jesus our Hope, and various Diocesan priests. Around 2015, the Catholic Center officially began a partnership with Saint Paul’s Outreach (SPO) who send full-time missionaries to serve the mission and students at Rutgers. Through retreats, household communities, and one-on-one discipleship, SPO helps students live their Catholic faith boldly and joyfully.
Today, the ministry is knows as Rutgers Catholic. Rutgers Catholic is currently served by the missionaries of Saint Paul’s Outreach, the Brotherhood of Hope, the Sisters of Jesus our Hope, and priests of the Diocese of Metuchen. Rutgers Catholic continues to bring to life the same mission that has been at the heart of the Catholic Center since its founding — being authentic witnesses to the hope and joy of the Gospel, being a light in the darkness, and being bold ambassadors for Christ at Rutgers University.
