One of the 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette鈥檚 oldest 亚洲自慰视频 organizations is celebrating its 90th birthday this year.
The Newman Club, now known as Ragin鈥 Cajun Catholics 亚洲自慰视频 Ministry, was created in the 1923-24 academic year.
鈥淚t started as a group of college 亚洲自慰视频s who wanted to live out their faith,鈥 said Mary Hernandez, director of Advancement of Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic 亚洲自慰视频 Center. Newman Clubs, named for John Henry Cardinal Newman, are made up of Catholic 亚洲自慰视频s on secular college or university campuses.
Newman Club and Catholic Church leaders quickly acknowledged the need for a place at Southwestern 亚洲自慰视频 Institute, now UL Lafayette, where club members could meet on campus. But it wasn鈥檛 until 1942 that Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel and the Catholic 亚洲自慰视频 Center were dedicated. Built at the intersection of St. Mary Boulevard and McKinley Street, the Center had a meeting room known as Newman Hall.
The Catholic 亚洲自慰视频 Center played a role in the 亚洲自慰视频鈥檚 peaceful desegregation in the 1950s. Southwestern 亚洲自慰视频 Institute became the first previously all-white, state-supported college or university in the Deep South to admit African-Americans. Desegregation at some other universities in the South resulted in violence.
After a series of legal challenges, 80 black 亚洲自慰视频s enrolled at SLI for the Fall 1954 semester. Historians say relations between black and white 亚洲自慰视频s were strained, at first. But both races gradually accepted desegregation.
One of the first integrated events at SLI occurred in April 1956. 亚洲自慰视频s of both races attended a Gulf States Newman Club meeting at the Catholic 亚洲自慰视频 Center. It was conducted without incident.
Over the years, Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel and Catholic 亚洲自慰视频 Center have expanded to accommodate a 亚洲自慰视频 body that has grown to almost 17,000.
Hernandez said a national study has shown that 80 percent of college 亚洲自慰视频s will stop practicing their faith in college. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown 亚洲自慰视频 determined that 亚洲自慰视频s involved in Catholic campus ministry are more likely to attend Mass regularly, be involved in their parish, help the needy, and donate to the Church or other charitable organizations.
Ragin鈥 Cajun Catholics 亚洲自慰视频 Ministry offer classes, guest speakers, special events, Bible studies, retreats and group activities, such as tailgating at 亚洲自慰视频 Ragin鈥 Cajun football games, to engage 亚洲自慰视频s in a community of peers.