CSC Basics

The Catholic Student Center Newman Community, affectionately known around the Washington University campus as the CSC, offers a host of opportunities to all students, Catholic and non-Catholic alike to grow intellectually, morally, socially, and spiritually according to the wisdom of the Catholic Church. Masses at the CSC are always full of energy and spirit, and there are many ways to become more involved in that atmosphere. Many community members embrace the Word of God in a physical form during the Mass by serving as liturgical ministers - as greeters, lectors, communion ministers, sacristan, and ministers of hospitality, or as participants in music ministry as singers and instrumentalists.

A Fun, Vibrant Community

The sense of community at the CSC is what truly sets it apart. The atmosphere around the CSC is fun and lively because of the energetic staff and the vibrant community of students that calls the CSC their Home away from home. A strong graduate student and young professional group exists at the CSC, having monthly Happy Hours, a yearly retreat, and a host of other activities. In addition to undergraduates, graduate students, and young professionals, there are many non-students who are involved in helping to kindle the dream for our young adults. These non-students add to the great diversity of the members of the CSC community. Over the past years, many programs, including the highly praised Catholicism 101 series, have spoken to both our student and non-student communities. Furthermore, the CSC is devoted to being a part of the larger religious diversity of Washington University, co-sponsoring and participating in inter-faith activities around the campus.

Throughout the year, the CSC sponsors many social programs for all community members, including coffeehouses, dances, dollar dinner (all you can eat pasta for a dollar, the week before finals), a potluck picnic during the summer, and many other events. Community members also take advantage of the ping pong, pool, and air hockey tables in the basement and the hammock outside for fun and relaxing times.

Faith Development

The CSC offers a large variety of faith development opportunities. The CSC plans several retreats each academic year including the Awakening and Growth retreats that are planned and run by student volunteers under the supervision of a CSC intern. In 2003, the first graduate student retreat was held. Also, a twilight retreat is held about once a semester on a Friday evening beginning with a simple dinner and proceeding to a reflective evening. In the same way, Spirituality on Tap and the Busy-Person's Retreat also seek to connect faith with everyday life. Finally, a silent retreat is held once a year for those who want a more meditative experience.

For those who are interested in becoming Catholic or merely have questions about the Catholic faith, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a group that pairs those seeking answers with sponsors who help guide the person through Catholic teaching. To contact Sr. Linda with questions, click here.

The CSC is also home to a scripture study, Praise and Adoration, and Small Church Communities. Praise and Adoration gives community members the opportunity to pray with the Blessed Sacrament in an environment that involves music and prayer every Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. Small Church Communities gives individuals a chance to break open faith with an intimate group once a week. The CSC library provides a range of Catholic resources and spiritual reading, in addition to being a quiet study space.

Finally, the CSC offers guidance to those who are leaving the university setting or moving into a new stage in life. Through marriage preparation, discernment in career or vocation, MOMS (Ministry of Moms Sharing), or programs focused at transitioning from the CSC to a parish, the CSC attempts to make life transitions easier. For more information on marriage preparation, contact Deacon Phil. For more information on vocations, contact Sr. Linda.

Social Justice

The CSC is host to many options for following Christ’s call to social justice. Pax Christi is a group committed to responding in faith to the Gospel challenge of peace and justice. The group is committed to learning about oppression and raising awareness of injustice. In conjunction with and addition to Pax Christi, the CSC has sponsored many speakers and discussions about poverty and other social justice issues.

The CSC sponsors several service opportunities through the school year. Urban Plunge is 24 hours dedicated to providing opportunities to explore issues of poverty and serve those in need. Also, the CSC Student Council provides opportunities throughout the year for service in the St. Louis area. STONE Soup prepares food at the CSC on Sunday afternoons and feeds the hungry and often homeless downtown.

Each year many students participate in alternative break programs. In most years during Winter Break, a group has gone to an international site for as long as three weeks to service the neediest in the world. Past locations have included India, Ghana, Guatemala, and many others. In addition to the international service trip, two or three domestic service trips are planned each year for Spring Break and the first weeks of Summer Break. Past locations have included Denver, New Mexico, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Each service trip is led by a CSC Intern and a student leader and all of the planning is done by those going on the trips.

Leadership Opportunities

The CSC provides students with the possibility of developing leadership skills through many of the groups and organizations within the CSC. Two of the most pronounced opportunities for leadership development are the CSC Student Council (Galleros) and the Awakening retreat. The CSC Student Council plans service, spiritual, and social events for the CSC community, including many of those mentioned above. Both of these groups are overseen by a staff member, but the vast majority of the work is done by students. Members of both of these groups have used the skills that they have learned outside of the Catholic Student Center community. Students have applied the skills they learned at the CSC in leadership roles including Student Union President, Class Council representatives, Resident Advisors, Field Director of EST (Emergency Services Team), presidents and executive members of fraternities and sororities, Head of the Pre-Law Society, executive members of the Society of Women Engineers, organizers of the first annual Relay for Life, and many others.

The History of the Center

The beautiful edifice that now houses the Catholic Student Center was originally built in 1910 as a private residence for George W. Taylor. The house has many distinctive features - the legacy of European craftsmen who remained in St. Louis after the World's Fair of 1904. Monsignor Glynn had become Chaplain for the Washington University Newman Community in 1950. It was he, along with a group of patrons, who were extremely instrumental in acquiring and developing the facilities as the Center for Catholic Students of the University. In 1964 construction was completed on a wing adjoining the southwest corner of the residence. This wing extended over the spacious gardens, some of which remain on the south side of the present chapel. Monsignor Glynn continued his Newman ministry there until 1989 and was briefly replaced by Father Larch Fiedler. Since 1991 Father Gary Braun has been the director of the vibrant, active community.