News Releases, Resources
About bulldogCatholic
bulldogCatholic is the Catholic campus ministry at the University of Minnesota Duluth, serving students through vibrant liturgy, evangelization, community, and pastoral care. Led by Chaplain Fr. Mike Schmitz—one of the most recognized voices in the Catholic Church today—the Newman Center supports hundreds of students seeking to grow in faith, navigate college life with purpose, and live out the Gospel.
Though known globally through podcasts and online videos that have reached hundreds of millions, bulldogCatholic is first and foremost a local ministry with a national impact. Every homily, podcast, and YouTube video begins in a simple chapel in Duluth, where students encounter Christ and are sent out to be his witnesses. With rapidly growing student engagement and national support, bulldogCatholic is building a new church and evangelization center to continue forming the next generation of Catholic leaders.
About the Seeds of Faith Campaign
The Seeds of Faith Campaign is a $30 million initiative to build a permanent chapel and evangelization center for bulldogCatholic, the Catholic campus ministry at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Spearheaded by Fr. Mike Schmitz, the campaign will provide a lasting home for a growing student community and a mission that has reached the world through Fr. Mike’s preaching and digital content.
The current Newman Center—a small 1950s house and garage-turned-chapel—has long been outgrown. Sunday Masses regularly exceed 800 people, requiring off-site space that many students can’t easily access. The new center will feature a church to seat hundreds of students, inviting gathering areas, and a professional-grade recording studio—offering students a spiritual home on campus and a hub for evangelization beyond it.
In addition to building a beautiful and functional space, the campaign will establish a $20 million endowment fund to ensure that bulldogCatholic continues to serve students, the diocese, and the global Church for generations. The goal is not just to build, but to build faithfully—with integrity, sustainability, and stewardship at the heart of every decision.