What is Newman Ministry?
Catholic ministry on secular college campuses started over a hundred years ago in Pennsylvania and took as its patron and name-sake the 19th century English convert who became a Cardinal of the Catholic Church -- John Henry Cardinal Newman who was known for his work on University campuses.
Newman Centers exist to radiate Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament to the entire community of the University -- the students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We hope to be a presence of Catholic doctrine and a witness to the power of the Sacraments in the lives of all to whom we minister.
While being a secular, non-sectarian private university, we believe that Bradley University is a center of Catholic life and study because of the Saint Joseph Student Newman Foundation.
Our Director
Father Brian Brownsey, born and raised in Streator, IL was ordained a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria on May 25, 1996. He has served throughout the diocese including Sacred Heart Church in Molin, Alleman High School in Rock Island, St. Mary's in Utica, Marquette High School in Ottawa, and St. Peter's in Peoria. He also served as the rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. In 2008 he became the Director of the St. Joseph Newman Center, and remains Director of Vocations for the diocese. He can be reached at frbrownsey@cdop.org.
Our Assistant Chaplain
Father Kevin Lucas was born and raised in Peoria, IL. he was involved at the Newman Center at the University of Illinois as a student before entering seminary and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria in 2008, serving as parochial vicar at Holy Trinity, Bloomington for two years and then as chaplain of the John Paul II Newman Center at ISU last year. He is excited to now be involved with the St. Joseph Newman Center at Bradley, while at teh same time being the parochial vicar for St. Mark's parish. He can be reached at frkevinlucas@gmail.com.
Our Campus Minister
Mike Schaefer was born and raised in Freeburg, Illinois, southeast of St. Louis. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 2011 with a degree in Crop Science and minor in Spanish. Throughout his time as a student at the U of I he was involved as a Resident Advisor at Newman Hall, FOCUS student leader, Communion & Liberation University, and Koinonia. He also co-founded the pro-life organization Biking for Babies with now FOCUS missionary Jimmy Becker. He now brings his many talents to the St. Joseph Newman Center and can be reached at mike.schaefer@bradleynewman.org.
