On September 12, 1982 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Newman Center was dedicated right next to the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii and the East-West Center. Newman Center’s story is one of commitment and collaboration. For many years throughout the 1960’s , Fr. Dan Dever (now “Msgr. Dever”) , a priest of the Diocese of Honolulu regularly gathered with students from the University. He saw the potential for the foundation of a Catholic campus ministry center. The Newman Apostolate at the University of Hawaii was born of his initiative, energy and dedication. Records also show that in the early 1970’s Fr. Frank Parker led a flourishing Newman Club at U.H.

The birth of the Newman Center required the collaboration of many: Jesuits who came from many nations and Assistancies, the Diocese of Honolulu, the Sisters of Saint Francis, the Maryknoll Fathers, other religious communities and many dedicated and generous lay women and men.

On the island of Truk, (present day “Chuuk”) in August 1968, at the first Missionaries Conference for Jesuits working in Micronesia it was resolved “That we make known to Father General the value of an international Jesuit apostolate at the University of Hawaii because of its influence in the whole Pacific area, including Micronesia.”

In December 1970, Fr. Thomas Sullivan, S.J. of the California Province (CAL) of the Jesuits came to Hawaii at the invitation of Bishop John J. Scanlan. He worked zealously to continue the Newman apostolate but was greatly handicapped by the distance of the “old” Center from the Manoa campus (2345 East Manoa Road). He clearly recognized the international and missionary potential of the apostolate and dreamed of a Center near the campus and a greater commitment of the Society to this work. At the request of Father General Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the Hawaii question was discussed at a meeting of the Major Superiors of Asia at Ponape (now known as “Pohnpei”) in January 1977. The superiors considered the University of Hawaii an important apostolate. Fr. Gerard Bourke, S.J. (Japan Province) was asked to go to Hawaii and make a two-year advisability/feasibility study.

On March 19, 1978, Fr. Bourke succeeded Fr. Sullivan as Director of the Newman apostolate in the Diocese of Honolulu and was appointed Superior of “the Jesuits in Hawaii.” His ability to build strong relationships, his organizational skills and his enthusiasm for this work made him ideally suited to bring all the necessary principals together to build the Newman Center. The Maryknoll Fathers who had been generous in funding the Apostolate sent Fr. Edward Flanigan, MM as a campus minister to assist him.

The Diocese and the Franciscan Sisters had been having discussions since the late 1940’s about the possibility of building a Newman Center on land owned by the Sisters of St. Francis and located right next to the University of Hawaii and the East-West Center. Thirty years later in the summer of 1978, that dream came closer to reality when the Diocese, Maryknoll Fathers, the Jesuits and the Franciscan Sisters agreed to work together toward “…building the Church…” on campus. The first step in that direction was the conversion of an old three-bedroom wooden cottage into a Newman Center on the corner of St. Francis High School property adjacent to the East-West Center and the University. For more than two years the Newman community flourished and grew from this Center.

In July of 1980, the Major Superiors of the East Asian Assistancy reaffirmed their commitment to the apostolate in Hawaii and agreed to contribute over the period of five years the sum of $34,000 toward the capital expenses. Fr. Edward Soucie was released by his major superior in Micronesia to work for a term at St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu. Many others followed in this ministry. His presence helped build up the Jesuit community. A year later, Fr. John Doherty, S.J. of the Philippines Province was assigned by his Provincial to the Newman Center, saying “He is eminently suitable for the kind of apostolate that we envisage for Jesuits here.”

This former Vice-President of the Atteneo in Manila was refused a visa to re-enter that country following the funeral of his twin brother. He is remembered here for his distinguished service to the Newman Center and the Diocese until his death.

In his Annual letter to Rome, Feb. 10, 1982 Fr. Burke wrote to Fr. Paolo Dezza, S.J. (the Delegate of Pope John Paul II) that the Newman Advisory Board had suggested that the new Center be dedicated to Bishop John Scanlan. In the same letter, he wrote that the California Provincial had approved that Jesuit House be dedicated to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. who gave tremendous support to the concept of Jesuit presence at the East-West Center and the University of Hawaii. Fr. Burke noted that the chapel itself would be known as the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Dezza replied that “your apostolate is a very important one for the Society for it will directly influence many future leaders.”

The Diocese had accepted the responsibility for the ongoing operational expenses of the Newman apostolate and throughout many years generously supported this vital work of young adult ministry. On the occasion of the launch of a Newman Fundraising Drive, Bishop Scanlan wrote in a letter that was read at all Masses in the Diocese, “The Newman apostolate at the University of Hawaii and the East-West Center is a force for evangelization among the young people of many cultures who are studying at these institutions. It is the obligation of the Diocese to support this apostolate, not only with prayers and with personal encouragement to the students of the local parishes, but with the financial means necessary to continue this unique campus ministry.”

In the meantime, the Catholic community on the Manoa campus continued to grow in numbers and in quality of participation. As Bishop Scanlan said when he first celebrated a Newman Mass at the East-West Center, “It would be difficult to find a more truly Catholic community than you have here at Newman.”

On March 25, 1985, the California Province was given the jurisdictional responsibility for and authority over this work. Fr. Frank Brennan, S.J., (Missouri Province) provided the needed leadership of the Center for four years until 1986. He is remembered for his pastoral care and his conversations on the Faith which he held regularly at the Newman Center. His associate was Fr. Roy Antunez, S.J. (Oregon Province) who often proclaimed the Gospel from memory.

John Chandler, S.J. was named Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry and Director of the Newman Center in 1986. In partnership with Frs. Doherty, Antunez and Thomas Splain, S.J. the number of participants grew. The Seder Supper began as well as the annual Christmas party, seen as an opportunity for students and faculty to get to know one another better. Community members were active in Liturgical ministries, Social Ministry, Service ministry, fund-raising and Music Ministry (under the direction of Vicki Panua McGinnis, Mike and Tess Amore and many others). Working with Fr. Chandler and the Newman community and Staff, Sr. Agnes Marie Arsenault, CSJ began a campus ministry program at Maui Community College; Fr. Frank DeRiga was in charge of campus ministry at the University campus on the Big Island/Hilo; John Havey, with several students organized campus ministry programs not only at U.H. but also at Kapiolani, Windward and Leeward Community Colleges and the Hawaii Pacific University. John organized several student retreats for these students on O’ahu and Maui. Carol Makahanaloa, Sharon Chiarucci, Peg Donegan were on the Newman Staff during these years. In 1986, Bishop Joseph Ferrario decided that ministry at Newman would benefit by being named a parish at the service of the University students, faculty and staff and others who might gravitate to the Center. The “Chapel of the Holy Spirit” became “Holy Spirit Parish.”

Fr. Randy Roche was Director/Pastor from 1993 to 2002. He brought Catharine Low on staff as the Administrator of the Newman Center. It would be difficult to exaggerate the value of her ministry from that day until the present. With his penchant for “fixing things well” he began to hold “Work Days” at Newman where the many skills of community members kept the Newman Center in top condition. Fr. Dan Sullivan succeeded Fr. Tom Splain. He and Fr. Randy began directed Ignatian retreats “for Busy Persons” that still continue at Newman. Stewardship was a prominent part of Fr. Randy’s ministry and with the help of a Stewardship Committee and a Finance Committee, contributions doubled. He also began the Annual Newman Brunches as community-building and fund-raising enterprises. It is said (and it is true) that they grew “bigger and better each year.” William Plourde was hired as the Music Director and that ministry continues to grow.

Fr. Tom Piquado, S.J. (CAL) with Fr. Jim Rude, S.J. (CAL) guided the Newman Center until Fr. Chris Cartwright, S.J. (Cal) arrived in 2003. Fr. Chris developed creative retreat programs for the University students. Through his ministry the number of students who came to the Newman Center greatly increased. Fr. Robert Ballecer, S.J. founder of the Techshop website was the “transitional” campus minister who provided continuity when Fr. Russ Roide, S.J. arrived in June 2008 as the new Director/Pastor.

Fr. Russ had been Director of Campus Ministry at Stanford University from 1984 to 1992, pastor of St. Agnes Church from 1992-1998 and pastor of St. Francis Xavier, a mega-parish in Phoenix until 2007. His experience in student ministry has brought a depth of Ignatian spirituality to the student community and to the whole Newman Center parish. In addition, he has begun training student leaders to facilitate bible studies and Christian Life Communities. And finally, he has been successful working with Foundations to fund our retreat and speaker series. In July 2008, Fr. Chandler returned to the islands as the Associate Director.

Researched and Written by Fr. John W. Chandler, S.J.