Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the Newman Center be located?

A few years ago, God opened a door and allowed us to purchase the rest of the block where the current Newman Center is located, and we’re excited to expand right where we’ve been!  421 W. Saint Marie St., Duluth, MN 55811

What can you tell me about the new building?

Lots! Check out what we’re building.

Is that exactly what the building will look like? 

We’re making improvements as we go. As we’ve discerned the needs of bulldogCatholic to achieve the goals of welcome, worship, and word, we’re evolving our projects renderings to help us reach the campus of UMD …. and ultimately, the whole world!

I’ve heard of Bible in a Year and some of Fr. Mike’s other projects. How is that connected to a Newman Center in Minnesota?

I started as the chaplain at the Newman Center in 2005, and like every other campus minister, I just wanted to serve the students here–in Duluth. I wanted to help students read the entire Bible, so I created Bible in a Year, but I had no idea what would become of it. Hundreds of millions of people have been impacted by God’s Word far beyond the college town where I work and live.

I don’t live in Minnesota. Why should this matter to me?

We’ve all heard the bad news: college students are leaving the Faith like never before. At bulldogCatholic, we want to rewrite the script.

This isn’t Vegas–what happens here at UMD goes far beyond Minnesota. By God’s grace, our ministry here has reached millions of young people–the same people we hear all the bad news about. Building a new Newman Center here in Minnesota is something you should care about because it affects all of us: the future of our church. We’ve worked with thousands of college students and we want to help shape college ministry around the world with what we’re doing here in Northern Minnesota.

What’s the connection between Fr. Mike and bulldogCatholic?

BulldogCatholic is my ‘day job’ and my #1 focus as a spiritual dad. Maybe we first met because of Bible in a Year podcast or a YouTube video, but those are just things I work on when I’m not working with college students here at bulldogCatholic. Every other ministry we support directly flows from a conversation I had with a student, or something happening on campus.

It’s amazing to see the impact that the podcasts and videos have, but the reality is that my primary goal is to help students here know Christ’s love for them. Everything else is the fruit of that work.

Why does bulldogCatholic need a new Newman Center?

Believe it or not, we’ve reached millions of people from a small, 400-square-foot converted garage that’s our chapel, meeting space, recording studio, and where students gather with one another. This has and will serve us well–if we don’t want to reach more people.

It’s sad to say that there are times in the year when someone who’s curious about our Catholic faith might be turned away from Mass or an event because there’s not enough room for them. Our current space, the rectory garage, doesn’t always feel invitational. Students comment that they felt like they were trespassing at someone’s home when they first visited. We need a space where everyone can know they belong here.

So yes, we want to expand to do even greater things, but most importantly, we want to expand so that no one is turned away from encountering Jesus.

What all will be built with this project?

Our campaign has three main pillars. Check out what we’re building.

What can I do to help?

The work we’re doing on campus is not the work of human beings, it’s the work of God’s grace. Please, ask God to continue to bless our work with his grace. But here’s the thing–it costs something to build a building. We need a few people to give a lot and many many people who can give a little. Each gift makes a difference. If you’ve been blessed by what we’ve done on campus, please consider supporting our ministry out of thanksgiving to God.

Is there a scriptural theme for the campaign?

Our campaign theme is drawn from Matthew 13:31-32: “Another parable He put before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’”

Pope Benedict is credited as saying, “New evangelization means: never being satisfied with the fact that from the grain of mustard seed, the great tree of the Universal Church grew; never thinking that the fact that different birds may find place among its branches can suffice—rather, it means to dare, once again and with the humility of the small grain, to leave up to God the when and how it will grow (Mark 4:26-29).

Our Lord has taken bulldogCatholic’s small ministry and grown it into a movement touching hearts and lives across the globe. We believe firmly that with our mustard seed of faith and willingness to obey God, the Lord who has done mighty things through us will continue to do so.