by Rebecca Esparza, Correspondent and Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic
Bishop Mulvey blesses grounds for Newman Center in Beeville.
Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic
Mariah Sauceda recalls being a freshman at Texas State University at San Marcos and feeling terribly alone. As a first-generation college student who was raised in Beeville, the culture shock was intense.
“Having a Catholic student center on campus helped me feel closer to my faith during a crazy period in my life,” she said. “Getting through those transition years from high school to attending university or college are tough. Knowing God is on your side every step of the way makes all the difference in the world.”
A new Young Adult and Catholic Campus ministry building in Beeville will soon meet the spiritual needs of Coastal Bend College students. Enrollment at the school is more than 1,000.
While plans are still being developed for staffing the center, initially priests from area parishes, including three in Beeville, will take turns in celebrating Mass and bringing the sacraments, including confession and Eucharist. Father Richard Gonzalez, pastor at St. Joseph in Beeville, said there are a lot of things that can be done for the students, who oftentimes do not have transportation and cannot make it to local parishes for Mass.
In addition to serving as a Newman Center, the facility will also serve high school and junior high school students with retreats, such as confimation and youth spectacular events. Adults will also benefit from the center, where Pre Cana engagement retreats and other services will be offered.
Located across the street from the main campus, the 4,000 square-foot Newman Catholic Center was made possible by the Legacy of Faith - Future of Hope capital and special endowment campaign of the Diocese of Corpus Christi and a grant from the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation. The building will accommodate 180 people with a large community room, chapel, two meeting rooms and a kitchen.
“The young people are our future. This center is a special service to them, to serve the needs of their deepening faith,” Bishop Michael Mulvey said. “It will be a place where we can come together to seek the truth, to seek the beauty of love and the beauty of God together.”
Bishop Mulvey also noted the center could be used by local parishes for various events and programs.
“I’d like to see it serve as a center of dialogue. We hope this is an opportunity to work together with Coastal Bend College on making our community a better place to live and worship. Across the street, students will develop their minds and here at the Newman Center, they will nourish the spirit,” he said.
At the groundbreaking ceremony in September, officials announced construction would start immediately, with an expected completion date in the fall of 2016.
Estevan Vasquez, athletic director at Coastal Bend College, said the Newman Center will be a valuable recruiting tool for the college.
“We recruit many student athletes from out of town, even out of state. One of the first things parents ask about is where the students can attend religious services. Having this center so close to the school allows us to strengthen our recruiting tool and make our campus even more attractive to prospective students,” he said.
The center will not only be a resource to the college, the college will offer its facilities for use to the center. Vasquez said that college gymnasiums and athletic fields would be available to the Newman Center when they hold retreats.
“Any time we can bring additional resources—especially faith-based community resources—to our students, it is so supportive for them to continue their education…to know they’re not alone in this process, in their journey,” Coastal Bend College President Dr. Beatriz Espinoza said. “We are seeing how we can participate and bring resources together to interest all students.”
San Antonio native Hannah Gamez, a second year student at Coastal Bend College studying special education, said she is looking forward to utilizing the new center.
“I think it’s important to have a place of our own to worship, something closer to school,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sauceda, a Dual Enrollment Specialist at the College added her faith was strengthened at a school-based center during her university years. She hopes the Newman Center in Beeville will provide the same for current and future students alike.
“There is nothing like reinforcing your faith during troubling times,” she said. “When you are in transition, away from home, family and friends, it is easy to stray away from your faith. Every school needs to have a center like this, on-site, to keep young people close to God.