Although I have been attending the Newman House since my Sophomore year, all the memories I have made and people I have met makes me wish I found it sooner. With the aftermath of the pandemic continuing to weigh on the college lifestyle, the Newman House served as a beacon for finding other college students who shared my faith and were learning to balance it within our newfound freedom. It is so empowering and promising to see so many other young Catholics gathered together. It’s a large reason why I continue to choose the Newman House even though my home parish is here in the Binghamton area. Throughout my time at the Newman House I have especially loved the social aspects of the organization. Whether it was simply Eat Pray Love nights with dinner and socializing, or picking apples in the Fall Semester, there were constant events for us to get to know each other outside of the church setting. The Newman House has created an environment within the college ecosystem, in which we can all grow as people, as students, and as friends. I know that I would not be the person I am today without the people I met and connections I have made at the Newman House! I am so thankful to Sister Rose and everyone I have met along the way!
Matthew Lyon ’24
Being part of the Newman House throughout my four years at Binghamton was probably the greatest blessing I have ever received. At the start of my freshman year, I was struggling to find friends and a community where I felt safe. I started going to Newman House by simply attending Mass every Sunday. One Sunday, as I was praying during Communion, I remember feeling such a strong desire to belong somewhere… but not knowing where exactly. That same day something told me that I needed to introduce myself to the music ministry team. In doing this, I was met with the sweetest and warmest invitation to join their team and that’s where everything changed for me. I slowly started to become more and more friends with other students in the community and before I knew it I was serving as the music director and later, as president of our E-Board. Throughout every conversation and every moment I lived at Newman House, I see God’s presence and love. He knew I was struggling. He knew I needed this community. He knew I needed these friendships that were going to bring me closer to Him. He knew! And I am forever grateful for Newman House and all that it has done for me.
Leticia Fabene ’23
Navigating the many opportunities available to me during my freshman year was overwhelming and left me wanting a space where I could get away for a short time every now and then. I was lucky to be introduced to the Newman House community during my second college semester, where I not only found a place to get away, but also a community where I felt seen. I met incredible people that I have been lucky enough to call my closest friends.
Events like Eat Pray Love, weekly mass, mission trips, soup kitchens, and faith sharing I saw hospitality lived out, which Sister Rose has always been a proponent of. I learned the importance of a simple welcome and its incredible impact. I will always remember the love extended by those who I first met at the Newman House. Through them my 4 years in college were beyond what I could have imagined as a freshman.
There is always a welcoming hand ready at the Newman House for those thinking about being a part of the community. Being a part of the community was a decision that led to amazing friendships and experiences that I will never forget. If you are curious about joining, I encourage you to join the many events available.
Rafael Cabahug ’21
“When I first went to college, I did not have any particular intentions to seek out a place like the Newman House. At first I had decided that I just wanted to go to a local parish for Mass and to work on my faith journey on my own. However, as the first Sunday of college rolled around, I decided that the Mass time offered at the Newman House would work best for my schedule. I did not know that this decision would lead me to the place where I would meet many of my closest friends in college and the space where I would spend much of my time. One of the biggest lessons that I learned throughout my college experience is the importance of community. For so much of my life, my faith had been mainly just kept between me and God. While having a personal relationship with God is very important, this is not the only important thing. Through being involved with the Newman House, I was able to grow my faith through community. I learned so much from the other students involved in this club and I am grateful for the ways my faith has been able to grow because I have known them. The Newman House provided me a space to reflect when I needed to be somewhere quiet, a place to study when I needed to focus and a place to socialize when I was longing for community. I am so grateful for the role that the Newman House played in my college experience and for the people who will be a part of my life forever due to my involvement with the club. “
Hannah Bronson ’21
“The Newman House at Binghamton University provides students a place that they can call home. It is a place that gets harder and harder to leave but even better to return to. The Newman House community welcomes an eclectic group of people and personalities. Throughout my time at Binghamton University this community was the one place I knew I could turn to whenever I felt I needed a boost either spiritually or socially. With the guidance of the director Sister Rose, this student run community welcomes all members with open arms.
Every year all the of freshman go on a trip to a ropes course. This trip is centered around team and community building. When I went my freshman year, I met some of the best friends I would meet in college. These friendships I made at the Newman House are ones that will last a life time.
One of my favorite events at The Neman House is Eat Pray Love, which is every Friday. This weekly event starts off with prayer and reflection and then transitions into a social community dinner. Eat Pray Love allowed me to escape the crazy hectic parts of college by allowing me to take a step back and be grateful for the life that God has given to me.
Many people go to college and never get the opportunity to connect and give back to the community where they spend four years of their lives. Thanks to the Newman House I was able to volunteer at local soup kitchens and food banks, sing in the local church’s Christmas concert, and share my experiences of being a Catholic at college with students at the local high schools.
The hardest part my freshman year in college was finding a place where I felt I belonged. Its scary to think that you will be going to a place where you do not know anyone. Thanks to the Newman House I found a place that felt like home, where everyone is happy to see you and cares about how you are doing. Joining the Newman House was one of the greatest decisions I made in college and I strongly encourage all to join the Newman House family!! ”
John Cunningham’ 20
“It is difficult to articulate the profound impact the Newman House has had on my time at Binghamton and my life as whole. Entering into college, I was nervous about maintaining and practicing my faith in this new environment. However, my worries were soon put to rest. Sister Rose and the Newman House community make Mass, social events, and educational opportunities so accessible and welcoming. Whether a student is a lifelong Catholic, new to the faith, or exploring the possibility of Catholicism, the Newman House welcomes them with open arms. I soon felt like a part of this community, and found myself making friends, taking on leadership roles, and considering the Newman House a new home. I found that my faith was not only maintained here, but strengthened, particularly because I could look to my friends and fellow students as examples. The incredible people at the Newman House taught me what it looks like to truly live out one’s faith, and I am grateful to them and to Sister Rose for helping me learn what real leadership, faith, and empathy look like. The Newman House gave me countless opportunities to live out my faith, and it gave me a place where I felt welcome, loved, and valued. ”
Olivia Maynard’ 20
“During the past four years during my time as a student at Binghamton University, I have had the pleasure of being involved as a member of the Newman Association and to work as part of the Service Committee. I am incredibly fortunate to have had this opportunity and my college experience would not have been the same otherwise. Attending weekly Mass and Eat Pray Love allowed me to foster relationships that I hope will continue long after graduation. I have been blessed to be surrounded by incredibly kind-hearted and compassionate individuals with whom I have made memories with that will last a lifetime. The Newman House has helped me to grow as a person in many ways and taught me a great deal about my faith. I have had the opportunity to participate in and plan impactful service opportunities to benefit the community such as mission trips to help those whose homes have been impacted by flood damage and teaching Sunday School at a local parish. The Newman House has become like a second home for me and for many others as well. Our director Sister Rose has done an incredible job of growing our organization into what it has become today and fostering a sense of community. I will be forever grateful to her and everyone I have gotten to know through this Catholic Community on campus.”
Sara Sutton ’19
“Starting college can be a stressful and challenging time. The first time being away from home, far from familiar places, people, and experiences can understandably leave a person feeling a longing for a community to belong to and people to call their friends. I know that it did for me. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate that I discovered the Newman House when I did. I first got involved in the Fall of 2014 as a Freshman just starting at Binghamton University, and I quickly realized that this community was exactly what I was looking for. I became fast friends with the other people there, people from a diverse selection of majors and backgrounds, all brought together seeking to grow in faith and zeal for Christ. I still count some of those people among my closest friends. I remained involved throughout my whole time at Binghamton, holding positions, running events, attending talks, going on retreats, praying, eating, and just loving life with a community of wonderful people. The Newman house was really a home for me, a place that no matter how I was feeling I could go and have a good time with people who cared about me and that I cared about.”
James Zwilling ’18
“I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunities I have had to continue being a faithful Catholic and to share my experience with others.”
Paty Acipreste ’18
“These connections, that make up the community of the Newman House, will be unbreakable and share a special bond in my soul that will stay with me forever even after I leave.”
Rhonda Drewes ’16
“I have been an active member of the Newman House at Binghamton University for four years and I can truly say that it has become a home away from home
Every time I walk through the doors of the Newman House I am overcome with feelings of comfort, love and friendship. Sister Rose has wholeheartedly created this unique environment that allows us to feel part of a second family, when our immediate families are far away… I have learned to embrace a life where I cherish every moment. The Newman House holds a special place in my heart and my experience here stands as an unforgettable highlight in my undergraduate education at Binghamton University. ”