Preserving Faith
Through the Cross

In our 108th year, this is the Oldest of Illinois' Charities

Newman Chairman

Sam Trauernicht

2024-2025 Fundraising Goal 

 $210,145

Council Goal to Qualify for Charity Awards - $5.00 per active member

Progress

Our College Students Need Us Now!

The 2025 Postcard is Out!

Watch your mailbox for the Newman Postcard.  We mailed out Newman Postcards on January 5th, 2024.  The cards were sent to 1) New members that have joined in the last 5 years. 2) Knights who have donated any amount in the last 5 years. 3) Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries.  If you did not receive a postcard, you can still donate by using the QR code or “Click here to donate to Newman”, link above.

Missing a Newman Pin?

If you made a century donation and did not receive your Newman Pin, please fill out this form so that we can get that error corrected and get your pin sent to you.

Need a Plaque

The State Council will no longer automatically send out Newman Plaques to first time Century Donors or when a previous plaque has been filled.   The State Council does have plaques available to order.  Please contact the State Office to order your plaque.

The State Council will continue to send out pins and year plates to each Century donor each year they donate a minimum of $100.

Newman Center Student Testimonials 

KofC Newman Fund Video.mp4
SIUE Guy.3gp
SIUE Girl.3gp
Video 1.mov
Video 2.mov

Former State Warden, Don Niebrugge from Effingham Council 665 presenting a $2420 check to State Officers at a recent meeting. Has your council met it's goal?

Newman's History and Purpose

Named in Honor of John Henry Cardinal Newman, the Newman Centers are Catholic residence and ministry centers at non-Catholic universities throughout the world.  They were inspired by Newman's writings encouraging societies for catholic students attending secular universities.

The first Newman Center was established in 1893 at the University of Pennsylvania by Timothy Harrington, a graduate medical student, together with John Gilbride, James and Joseph Walsh with the assistance of Fr. P.J. Garvey, pastor of the local St. James Catholic Church.

The centers provide pastoral services and ministries to their Catholic Communities, in particular to the Roman Catholic student population within the universities.  However, Christians of other denominations often come, participate and are welcomed as well.  In addition to weekend and weekday Masses, a variety of university and parish related meetings and social events take place at the centers.  The full Sacramental life of the Church exists in a Newman Center just as it would in any parish.  Baptism, Reconciliation, Marriage, special Masses, and even funerals are part of the Newman Community.  It is truly a student's "parish away from home".

The Illinois Knights of Columbus dedicated themselves to the support of the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry in 1917 when they began supporting the Newman Foundation at the Univeristy of Illinois.  In 1959, the Illinois State Council allocated funds for other schools throughout the state and today, we as Knights in Illinois, support more than 800,000 students enrolled in Illinois Colleges and Universities.  

If we are to continue to evangelize our Catholic faith on the campuses of Illinois, and provide faith-based places and resources for colleges students, we need your help.  Please download the Donation Card on the left and send in your donation today!

  

Newman Apostolate Fundraising Events

If your Council is sponsoring a fundraising event for Newman, please let me know so that we can publish the details here.