University of Wyoming Catholic Community

St. Paul’s Newman Center was established as a Diocesan Ministry in 1959 to serve the University of Wyoming Catholic Community and made possible by the generous donations of parishes and individuals across the state.  Today, the community continues to rely upon the generosity of many to bring quality ministry to the students, faculty and staff of the University of Wyoming. 

Throughout its history one message has remained consistent; the light of the Gospel needs to shine throughout the university community. Catholic students at UW need to be equipped with a strong understanding of faith, a community of support, excellence in liturgy, and formation in conscience and leadership development.

In 1985 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published Empowered By The Spirit: Campus Ministry Faces the Future.  This document has served as a road map for effective campus ministry throughout the country these past twenty-four years.  The Bishop’s recognize the opportunity we have as a church.  More Catholic students are attending universities and colleges than ever before and 95 percent of them are enrolled at public institutions like the University of Wyoming.  These students need the best of what our Catholic tradition offers as they navigate these intensely formative college years. 

In 2003 St. Paul’s Newman Center completed a ten year strategic plan that outlined several critical success factors necessary to achieve a goal of reaching as many UW students as possible. In order to continue to develop leaders, offer educational opportunities and retreat experiences, it became apparent that a development or institutional advancement program would be necessary to continue to impact more and more students.

Members of the staff met with representatives of PETRUS Development for the first time in 2007.  PETRUS is a consulting company that works with Catholic campus ministries in higher education throughout the country.  They have a deep love for Catholicism, a wealth of experience and have successfully guided Newman Centers across the country in developing strong, lasting relationships of support, building ministries that flourish.

The need for a Director of Development position continued to be a primary concern for the Pastoral and Finance Councils. “We understand that part of the mission of the Newman Center is serving our current UW students, faculty, and staff.  The other part reaches way beyond the current population to students and parents and alumni throughout the Diocese and maybe even out of state.  We believe redirecting resources, now, to hire a Director of Development is the best way to grow future resources.  After talking, praying, listening, interviewing PETRUS, and then talking and praying some more, we reached a unanimous decision to go ahead.  We are committed to supporting and helping Mark and Fr. Carl however we can”, explains Finance Council member, Esther McGann.  With the recent departure of Pastoral Associate, Lincoln Wood, the decision was made, after a fruitful discernment process by members of St. Paul’s Newman Center, to fill the position of Director of Development and contract with PETRUS.

In an effort to grow a flourishing campus ministry, St. Paul’s Newman Center hired Mark Pape as Director of Development. A recent graduate from the University of Wyoming in the College of Business with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Mark has been very active in campus ministry as a participant and student leader.  “I know it will be a lot of work with plenty of challenges, but I am up to the task.  I’m driven by the potential I have to help people understand the importance of developing a university Catholic experience…to create a future filled with strong Catholic leaders for the church and society,” states Mark. 

In addition, St. Paul’s made the decision to hire PETRUS to further advance the development efforts on behalf of Catholic campus ministry at the University of Wyoming. Working together with Mike Perkins, Senior Consultant of PETRUS, Mark will work towards establishing a sound development program that enables the campus ministry center to truly meet the needs of all Catholics on campus. “Since visiting with Fr. Carl and his staff two years ago, I have anticipated the day we could begin offering more people the opportunity to experience the fulfillment that comes through involvement in Catholic campus ministry at St. Paul’s Newman Center.  Every Catholic student, faculty and staff person at The University of Wyoming deserves the very best the Catholic Church can offer them.  To date, Fr. Carl has had to struggle with limitations to what he can offer and he has done remarkably well in spite of those constraints. I look forward to the growth in ministries soon to be realized at St. Paul’s Newman Center.  The students, the University, Laramie, the Catholic communities they eventually will reside in, and all Wyoming, will be the ultimate beneficiaries,” says Mr. Perkins. 

Adapted from an article written by Myra L. Belser, Communications Coordinator, St. Paul’s Newman Center at the University of Wyoming

http://www.newmancenter.org/