Long a dream of Diocesan Campus Ministry, the project picked up momentum in early 2015 when the Diocese acquired property at 2564 Kendall Drive in San Bernardino, about a mile from the CSUSB campus.
Recently the City of San Bernardino approved a conditional use permit (CUP) which allows the diocese to build a facility on the site and to begin a three month long process of designing a two part plan that will include site improvements and architectural drawings of the building.
“It was a challenge to find the property,” said David Meier, Director of the Diocesan Office of Construction and Real Estate. “We must’ve looked at ten different properties that were either too far away or too small or they wouldn’t allow building a facility. This property was suitable to build on and it was close to the campus. It’s a good piece of property to develop for a Newman Center.”
The $2.3 million project will provide students and faculty with office spaces, several meeting rooms, a library, music room, kitchen and a prayer garden. Currently, the students of the Newman Club meet in various conference rooms around the CSUSB campus for Mass, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and Confirmation classes, Confessions, club meetings and social functions. The club’s largest event is the Ash Wednesday Service, which typically draws over 400 students and faculty members.
Diana Chapero, president of the CSUSB Newman Club, looks forward to having a central location to call a home away from home for her and other members.
“Having this Newman Center is like saying ‘here we are, welcome’ to everyone who wants to join and get to know our faith and God and our members as well.”
“The center will be a symbol of love, sacrifice and hope the Church has for her sons and daughters,” said Sister Pesio Iosefo, SMSM, Campus Minister for CSUSB.
Mary Jansen, Director of the Diocesan Ministry of Educational Services and Office of Campus Ministry, added: “Having the space where they could really pray together as well as learn and celebrate together is really important for the students.”
The facility has been a goal for the Diocese for quite some time.
“Bishop Barnes had a lot of input on this project,” said Meier. “He had a lot of input on how he wanted the layout of the building. He also wanted an area for a library to be able to put theology books for students to read.”
The Diocese has raised about $800,000 and continues to work on a capital campaign to generate more funding for the project.
Malie Hudson is a freelance writer based in Riverside.