A North Carolina Catholic leader visited Elon University on Saturday to lead a special Mass as part of Family Weekend and to formally bless the Newman Center in the Holland House on South Campus, which serves as the new home for Catholic Campus Ministry.
Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh led dozens of students, parents and university administrators in prayer moments prior to walking through the building to sprinkle each room with holy water.
“After much work, prayer and generosity of time and talent, we gather now to bless and dedicate this Newman Center,” he said in the blessing. “Here the Catholic students of Elon University will continue to learn their Catholic faith and deepen their commitment to living as Christ has taught us. We pray that the word of God may always echo from its walls.”
The Holland House, a 4,000-square-foot brick building that once served as the official residence of two Elon presidents, offers students a library, meeting space and a new kitchen and dining area for weekly Newman Center programs and dinners. Living quarters for three Catholic students, as well as a newly hired peer ministry coordinator, are on the second floor of the building.
The building was moved nearly a half mile in June from its original location on Haggard Avenue.
Several university leaders attended the Sept. 26 ceremony, including Elon President Leo M. Lambert, who lauded the Rev. Gerry Waterman, the university’s Catholic Campus Minister, for his work in helping to make the Newman Center a reality.
“Our goal at Elon is for every student to develop spiritually while they’re here,” Lambert said. “The visionary, the champion for this, who swept us all into believing this could happen and that it could happen more quickly than any of us thought, was Father Gerry.”
The Newman Center at Elon is the sixth such facility supported by the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. Newman Centers already exist at UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, East Carolina University, UNC Wilmington and N.C. State University. Centers are named for John Henry Newman, an influential 19th century British priest and cardinal.
Twenty-two percent of Elon University students are Catholic, with about 180 students regularly taking part in Catholic Campus Ministry programs.
“A few years ago this Newman Center was just a dream in the minds of many students, some of whom have graduated and moved away, some of whom graduated and stayed,” Waterman said before thanking the many supporters gathered for the blessing. “This Newman Center at the historic Holland House for the Catholic community at Elon is now a reality on South Campus.
“We pray that we will continue to be worthy of such a home for many years to come.”
