Since 2019, St. John Newman University parish has seen lots of changes — renovations to the property as well as new staff and clergy. As a result, campus ministry at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro has started to flourish.
The Red Campaign started in 2019 to help with renovations and repairs needed to the university parish chapel. This summer, St. John Newman received diocesan approval for major renovations, including new front doors, gutters, flooring, paint, baseboards and a covered outdoor area.
Father Alex Smith, who has led St. Anthony Church in Weiner and St. John Newman University Parish since 2023, wrote in a letter to students and parishioners that the project cost around $150,000.
Father Smith told Arkansas Catholic that “making it a welcoming environment for students to gather” was his first priority.
“Our building was in need of many interior renovations with flooring, plumbing, lights and security,” Father Smith said. “In 2019, there was a campaign that helped renovate the chapel but the rest of the building had remained the same since it was built in 1992. … I am grateful for our past donors, families and alumni who have supported Newman for many years. We still appreciate the help and encourage anyone who wants to donate and help grow the Catholic campus ministry here at Arkansas State.”
Father Smith was joined July 1 by new campus minister, Mary-Alice Gabe.
The 23-year-old member of Blessed Sacrament Church remembered how campus ministry at her university had been lacking, and that motivated her to make sure that Catholic students at ASU had a better experience.
Gabe knew the renovations were needed to accommodate more students.
“The renovation of our center was very much needed not only from a structural standpoint but from a personal position as well,” Gabe told Arkansas Catholic. “We are now a space where our students can come and have a large Sunday dinner and feel comfortable to hang out with their friends. We are also able to host weekends for visiting Catholic Campus Ministries and events with other organizations on campus. This expansion allows us to cater to a wide variety of people who want to join or visit our parish.”
The hard work put in by the staff has paid off. Father Smith and Gabe are seeing more students involved in campus ministry than they’ve seen in years.
“It has expanded from just a couple of students to now seeing an immense growth in student support and participation at the parish,” he said. “It has also been great to see how many student leaders have stepped up for the community gathered and how they are creating a foundation for the future. The arrival of new Catholic students from a number of locations to come to school at Arkansas State has encouraged more active participation in campus life.”
After just a few months of being the new campus minister, Gabe has also seen a notable increase in students.
“So far, we have been able to do a tailgate for games, compete in several of our Homecoming week competitions, have a member of our center voted onto the Homecoming court, and we have been able to partner with other ministries and campus organizations to put on really fun events for all of our students,” she said. “The more known we are on campus, the more students we have that see what an amazing place this is and feel called to come and join us.”
Father Smith also added a second weekend Mass to the schedule once school beginning in August. In addition to the 5 p.m. Sunday Mass, Mass is also held at 11 a.m. Sundays.
“We currently serve about 200 Catholic students on campus,” Father Smith said. “We see about 80 to 90 of them on the weekend and 30 to 40 of them throughout the week. Many of our students attend Bible study and fellowship activities. We hope for more evangelization and to reach more of the masses in the future as there are many bordering state students who receive in-state tuition and are coming to school here.”
For Gabe and Father Smith, this is only the beginning. Gabe hopes to “grow and immerse” the University Parish in the campus community.
“… It’s been amazing to see the response our parish has gotten from the campus and how excited people are that we are now so involved,” Gabe said. “I want to make sure any prospective students can find a home at St. John Newman and feel like they are part of a fun active organization. We have a really great group of young Catholics who inspire me daily so I hope that is something that we can continue to attract and promote in the coming years.”
For Father Smith, the goal is to “help these students become active Catholics at every stage of life following their time in college.”
“The goal for me is to continue intentional discipleship and to create a foundation that goes beyond myself and truly is the work of the Lord,” he said. “We also want to continue to encourage and invite our parish families and alumni to become involved and join us in our support of the campus ministry. We want to encourage Christian leaders in the Church of today and tomorrow.”






