Living the Mission Together

My time at the Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City has been filled with so much hope and joy. Again and again, I have watched students arrive on campus intending only to attend Sunday Mass—and then, through friendships and opportunities here, they discover a deeper faith. They grow in their relationship with God and one another, and they carry that faith into every part of their lives. Being part of their journey has not only inspired me but has deepened my own faith as I live out my vocation through this work.


At the heart of the Newman Center is a mission that is both timeless and urgent: to make disciples for the Church and the world. Every program, liturgy, retreat, and gathering is rooted in this call to draw students into a closer relationship with Christ and to send them forth as witnesses of the Gospel.

College is a defining season of life—a time when young men and women discern their paths, wrestle with big questions, and make choices that shape the rest of their lives. In the midst of this, the Newman Center provides a spiritual home, guiding students not only to live their faith on campus but also to carry it with them well beyond graduation.

A student I had the privilege of walking alongside, Avery Nelson (now Sims), reflects on her call to mission:

“My time at the Newman Center has been filled with abundant blessing, and the virtuous friendships I have found have inspired me to live a life of radical devotion to our Lord. I felt called to serve with FOCUS because I know firsthand that college students are experiencing a reality of their freedom for the first time. I want to share how that freedom is God-given and offer an invitation to the relationship we were made for. He tells us He came so we may have life and have it more abundantly!”

Avery and her husband, Levi, who entered the Church in 2024, are now serving as FOCUS missionaries on the University of Toledo campus in Ohio. They were married in July 2025, embracing both the vocation of marriage and the call to missionary life. Their witness has been a gift to me, showing that discipleship bears fruit long after students leave our campus.


These stories remind me daily that discipleship is not a single moment, but a lifelong journey. Our mission does not end when students receive their diploma; in many ways, it is just beginning. Alumni of the Newman Center are now in parishes, workplaces, and communities across the country—and even across the globe—bringing Christ to those around them.

One of those alumni, Renee Thomas, shared with me:

“After graduating (from UI) in December 2023, I worked the following spring as a substitute teacher in the Iowa City Community School District. I loved being a part of the Newman Center’s Graduate/Young Professionals group during that time. After graduation, I discerned becoming a missionary and ultimately gave that up to teach, but I know God holds that part of my heart close and has more in store for me, and there are many aspects of teaching that are fulfilling. My first year as a teacher was lots of fun, and also one of the hardest years of my life. Through everything, Jesus has really shown me the Father, His goodness, and His heart for me, and I am excited to keep growing in the freedom to love and share the Gospel!”

Renee now teaches music at St. Matthew Catholic School in Cedar Rapids. During her college years, she served faithfully at the Newman Center as a student fellow, and her continued witness has strengthened my own confidence in God’s providence.


This mission is only possible because of the generous spiritual and financial support of parishioners throughout the Diocese. I am deeply grateful for the prayers, encouragement, and gifts that sustain this ministry. Your support provides the foundation for all we do—helping students encounter Christ, grow in faith, and carry that faith into the world. Because of your generosity, the Newman Center remains both spiritually vibrant and financially healthy, ensuring that our mission continues to thrive for years to come.

Even our business office—development, accounting, human resources, and facilities—is considered a ministry. Every aspect of our work is rooted in the same mission: to serve students and the wider Church. We take our call to be Bold, Loving, and Unstoppable to heart, knowing that every effort, whether visible or behind the scenes, helps advance the Gospel on campus and beyond.

I am continually humbled by students like Matt King, who shared:

“My Newman experience had changed my life. If it were not for the student community, the missionaries, and the staff, my faith life would not be on fire! This place has facilitated encounters with Jesus in my life, and this has inspired me to make a gift of myself and serve others by being a FOCUS missionary.”

Matt, a senior at the University of Iowa, serves as part of our FOCUS team. His decision to give back as a missionary, after years of involvement at Newman, reflects the powerful transformation that happens when students are welcomed into a vibrant community centered on Christ.

This ripple effect—one life touched by Christ, influencing countless others—is what it means to be a disciple for the Church and the world. Each new story I hear from our students and alumni strengthens my own faith and renews my commitment to this mission.

Together, we continue to build a culture where students encounter Christ, grow in faith, and are sent forth as missionary disciples. In doing so, we fulfill the Church’s great commission—and ensure that the mission of making disciples will carry on from generation to generation.

Kristie Wert is the current Director of Operations at the Newman Center and oversees the development and operations staff as well as manages the areas of accounting, human resources, and facilities for the Newman Center.