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The St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois Chicago is pleased to announce Fr. Pat Marshall as the honoree for the 2026 Night of Newman, recognizing his extraordinary ministry and lasting impact on generations of UIC students. Fr. Marshall served as chaplain of the Newman Center from 1991 to 2018. Over 27 years at UIC, he accompanied students through one of the most formative seasons of their lives, watching generation after generation wrestle with faith, ask serious questions, and come to a deeper understanding of God, the Church, and their own vocations. Through retreats, Bible studies, [...]

In This Issue: From Our ChaplainLent at the Newman CenterEaster CelebrationsEucharistic ProcessionFOCUS UpdateCongratulations to the Class of 2025!Mission in Motion From Our Chaplain: Fr. Tim Coffee in the confessional is crucial. That’s a new insight I gained this spring. Around 10:55 AM, I grab a cortado from Cor Coffee and head into the confessional for an hour before Mass. What started as a small ritual quickly became a necessity—because there’s no longer any down time. Confessions have been non-stop. And it’s awesome. Students are recognizing that they can’t do it on their own—they need a Savior. The hunger [...]

Glory Story: Chris + Filip Chris and Filip, both UIC alumni, had previously spent time at the Newman Center during their time in school, but their paths never crossed. Meet Chris Chris was deeply involved in the Newman community – he was an altar server, Bible study participant, and was discipled by Daniel, a FOCUS missionary. As he began to discern his next steps after graduation, Chris considered becoming a FOCUS missionary. Chris recalled Daniel telling him,“Regardless of what you do, you’re still going to be a missionary, it’s just whether or not you’re going to be a FOCUS missionary. [...]