Posted
May
13, 2006
Stevens Point Journal
Newman parish celebrates
90 years
at UW-Stevens Point
Organization formed as Loyola Club in 1916
By
Carlos Gieseken
Journal staff 
Like
many of the 500 or so students registered with the Newman University
Catholic Parish, Autumn Hensel
made the building at 2108 Fourth Ave. one of her first stops after arriving
on campus as a freshman.
The senior psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point grew up in St. Cloud, Minn., where her family were members of the Newman Parish at St. Cloud State University.
"It's a
place where students can go and they can spend time with other students with
the same values and ideals," she said. "We
can
kind of grow together."
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Loyola Club, a Catholic student organization formed to "promote a religious spirit among its members and to hold social gatherings where the young people may become acquainted," according to the 1917 UWSP yearbook.
The Rev. Tom Lindner, pastor of the Newman parish, said the college years are very important because for most students, it's their first taste of independence.
"In many ways, this is the first time for young people to establish themselves in the church on their own," he said. "Now it's clearly of their own choosing and their own priority."
Students like Hensel said the parish has been instrumental in providing support in times of need and creating a social awareness of the rest of the world through mission trips to Haiti, Mississippi and other locations.
The Loyola Club was founded in 1916 when UWSP was known as the Normal School. In 1938, the Newman Club was founded, when the school was known as Central State Teachers College. In 1970, the parish was established within the Diocese of La Crosse.
Although the meeting places and names have changed, the present Catholic entity continues traditions that have carried through the years. Wednesdays, for example, continue to be filled with activities such as the student supper, speakers, social opportunities and mass.
The social aspect of the club is a component every bit as important as the spiritual one, according to senior forestry and political science major Adam James.
"That's where most of my friendship network has come from," he said. "Outside of the actual activities sponsored by the Newman parish, we extend that friendship outside of those activities."
The 1917 yearbook entry for the Loyola Club describes a "fancy dress dancing party" that served as a "pre-Lenten social event," and a reception given by the Knights of Columbus.
Before there was
Newman
"Closer relationships"
was the purpose of a new
organization established 90 years ago at what was then called Stevens
Point Normal School.
An article in the 1 Feb. 1916 issue of The Pointer is titled "A NEW CLUB." It begins, "The Loyola Club is a Roman Catholic society that has been organized in this school for the primary purpose of bringing the students of that fath into closer relationships." The story doesn’t elaborate as to whom or with whom closer "relationships" were desired, although a later item will speak of maintaining "a religious spirit" among club members while also providing social activities.
A 1937 historical account states, "In 1916 a group of Catholic students with the approval and encouragement of President Sims organized a Catholic student club for the purpose of intellectual study and social activities." There were 180 Catholic students on campus.
The new organization took its name from the city in Spain where St. Ignatius was born in 1491. The 1937 account quotes a freshman who remarked, "That’s a funny name for a club." The history published in The Pointer explains that Ignatius attended three universities and earned a master of arts degree. "His life was a colorful one, embodying the career of a gentleman of fortune, a soldier of adventure, founder of a great teaching order (the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits), and saint of the church," The Pointer states. It also mentions that "our neighboring university," Marquette University, is a Jesuit institution.
According to the 1937 history, the Loyola Club was one of the oldest organizations on campus, which by that time was called Central State Teachers College. Several articles over the years speak of the strong participation in the club’s bi-monthly Wednesday meetings, as well as Loyola Club involvement in campus life — The organization took first place for best float in the 1925 Homecoming Parade!
The club’s founding is attributed to Father W.J. Rice, pastor of St. Stephen Parish. He would be the club’s "spiritual adviser," and Eleanor Flanagan, "supervisor of art," was the first faculty adviser. Harold P. Brady was the first president and Mary Brady was sent that first year as a delegate to the convention of the National Catholic Students’ Association in Lafayette, Ind. Mae Roach would be an adviser through much of the 20s and 30s. As the 1937 history observes, "The Loyola (club) is particularly fortunate in having peppy, sincere and interested faculty advisers to guide its members."
1938 would bring the end of the Loyola Club upon affiliation with a national Newman Club organization.
While the name and structure have changed and the focus has broadened over the years, there are still clear similarities: Wednesday remains a key meeting day, "appetizing refreshments" are still served, and the "advisers" at least try to be peppy.