Like many college freshmen, Miami University student Ben Breunig felt he didn’t fit in. Lonely, the Louisville native, raised Catholic, said he was about to leave when, on a whim, he attended Mass at St. Mary Church in Oxford. After that, everything in Breunig’s life changed.

“I had never prioritized my faith life, but for some reason I went to Mass that day,” Breunig said. “As I was leaving, I noticed … a men’s retreat at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and I decided to go. I met several people involved in the Newman Center, and the group was incredibly welcoming. I had such a positive experience on the retreat that I decided immediately to get involved with the campus ministry at Miami.”

Breunig formed a connection with other students that he had never experienced before. “I finally became a part of a community,” he said. “In a society where the typical college experience often revolves around going to bars and pursuing a distorted sense of purpose, I found a group that is centered on what is now most important to me: my faith.”

Now entering his sophomore year, Breunig said his community at Miami’s Newman Center is filled with people who share a deep love for God and for every person on campus. “Through the Newman Center, I’ve built strong, virtuous friendships,” he explains. “My closest friends are affiliated with the Center. These are friends with whom I can participate in the sacraments and truly live out my faith, and this is a new and meaningful experience for me.”

Newman Centers are Catholic campus ministry centers established at secular universities across the world through a movement inspired by the writings of St. John Henry Newman. He believed that campus ministry is an integral part of the Church’s mission to the world.

“The Catholic Newman Center at Miami University exists to invite every member of the Miami community to encounter, follow and share Jesus Christ and His Church,” said Father Jacob Willig, chaplain at Miami’s Newman Center for the past three years.

The Newman Center also invites students to a free meal every Tuesday evening. During Father Willig’s first year, about 40 students attended each week; now, over 70 do. “The purpose of the Tuesday Dinner is to help students feel supported and part of a community, no matter their background,” Father Willig explained. “It is a good touch point for any student.”

Additional social events are largely planned by the students, such as trivia nights, costume parties, dances and trips to local area sporting and Catholic events. “The Newman Center offers me a fantastic balance of having fun with my friends while also challenging us to live our best lives,” Breunig explained. “Without faith being a priority among the people you spend time with, it’s difficult to truly enjoy yourself and grow, but I’ve found that priority here.”

Another large part of Miami’s Newman Center are the missionaries from FOCUS, an organization that partners with universities to meet students where they are, an important part of the Center’s success according to Father Willig. “FOCUS is amazing,” he explained. “They [work hard] to bring the love of Christ to our campus by supporting our mission, [and they] really build friendships with students, welcoming them into small communities of Bible studies.”

These missionaries significantly impacted Breunig’s life at college, such that he is now part of a discipleship group and Bible studies, which have doubled the past two years. “Their dedication to the people they serve is incredible, and it truly inspires me,” he said.

This was only possible with the guidance of Father Willig, who Breunig said leads through example. “He’s always there when you need him, yet somehow manages to have a personal relationship with each and every person—which is incredibly impressive considering how many students there are here.”

Father Willig is always open to conversation and connection, explained Breunig, which makes him easy to approach, and “he is always looking for ways to bring the community together to grow in faith, such as organizing 24-hour Adoration. Father Jacob is a true inspirational leader who not only guides us but also walks with us, embodying the qualities of humility, strength and love.”

Attributing the Newman Center’s success to a group effort, Father Willig said, “It is really God who has provided so much grace and the students and missionaries who have responded and are the hands and feet working so hard to do outreach and make this place what it is.”

With Miami’s Catholic population over 34%, he added, “There are so many Catholic students on campus, and we have so much more to do. We know we are having an impact, but we know God wants so much more!” He and his students want to dream big because “souls are on the line and college is such a key time when students get into their faith or leave it. About 80% of Catholics lose the faith by age 23, and college is one of the most influential times.”

Breunig is happy to know he won’t be part of that statistic. “The Newman Center has become a safe place to call home while I’m at Miami,” he explained. “It has completely changed the trajectory of my life as I’ve learned to prioritize a faith-centered life, and this will shape my future in ways I can’t fully imagine yet.”

This article appeared in the October 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.