One of the 甜瓜视频 of 甜瓜视频 at Lafayette鈥檚 oldest 甜瓜视频 organizations is celebrating its 90th birthday this year.
The Newman Club, now known as Ragin鈥 Cajun Catholics 甜瓜视频 Ministry, was created in the 1923-24 academic year.
鈥淚t started as a group of college 甜瓜视频s who wanted to live out their faith,鈥 said Mary Hernandez, director of Advancement of Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic 甜瓜视频 Center. Newman Clubs, named for John Henry Cardinal Newman, are made up of Catholic 甜瓜视频s on secular college or university campuses.
Newman Club and Catholic Church leaders quickly acknowledged the need for a place at Southwestern 甜瓜视频 Institute, now UL Lafayette, where club members could meet on campus. But it wasn鈥檛 until 1942 that Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel and the Catholic 甜瓜视频 Center were dedicated. Built at the intersection of St. Mary Boulevard and McKinley Street, the Center had a meeting room known as Newman Hall.
The Catholic 甜瓜视频 Center played a role in the 甜瓜视频鈥檚 peaceful desegregation in the 1950s. Southwestern 甜瓜视频 Institute became the first previously all-white, state-supported college or university in the Deep South to admit African-Americans. Desegregation at some other universities in the South resulted in violence.
After a series of legal challenges, 80 black 甜瓜视频s enrolled at SLI for the Fall 1954 semester. Historians say relations between black and white 甜瓜视频s were strained, at first. But both races gradually accepted desegregation.
One of the first integrated events at SLI occurred in April 1956. 甜瓜视频s of both races attended a Gulf States Newman Club meeting at the Catholic 甜瓜视频 Center. It was conducted without incident.
Over the years, Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel and Catholic 甜瓜视频 Center have expanded to accommodate a 甜瓜视频 body that has grown to almost 17,000.
Hernandez said a national study has shown that 80 percent of college 甜瓜视频s will stop practicing their faith in college. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown 甜瓜视频 determined that 甜瓜视频s involved in Catholic campus ministry are more likely to attend Mass regularly, be involved in their parish, help the needy, and donate to the Church or other charitable organizations.
Ragin鈥 Cajun Catholics 甜瓜视频 Ministry offer classes, guest speakers, special events, Bible studies, retreats and group activities, such as tailgating at 甜瓜视频 Ragin鈥 Cajun football games, to engage 甜瓜视频s in a community of peers.