Tulane Catholic gets a new home

Tulane Catholic will open its new 8,400-square-foot Catholic student center at 1037 Audubon St. next month. The Fr. Val A. McInnes, O.P. Center for Catholic Life will offer daily Mass, classes, free dinners for students, lectures, retreats, Eucharistic adoration, confession and many other events.

The $2.6 million building features a social gathering hall, a 140-seat chapel, classroom space, conference room, library and office space for staff in its three floors.

“A new building is not the goal, it's only an instrument for encounter.”—the Rev. Thomas Schaefgen, O.P., director of the campus ministry

“This is only the beginning,” says the Rev. Thomas Schaefgen, O.P., director of the campus ministry and an alumnus of the Tulane School of Architecture. “A new building is not the goal, it"s only an instrument for encounter. We"re inviting students to make a step toward more profound spiritual and intellectual formation. College is the time to build a solid foundation for the rest of your life, and this new building is the place for students to start.”

Tulane Catholic is a ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres.

HMS Architects designed the new facility and F. H. Myers Construction built it. The center is named for the late Rev. Val Ambrose McInnes, O.P., the first Dominican friar to serve in campus ministry at Tulane University.

The dedication ceremony takes place Aug. 21 with addresses from Tulane President Michael Fitts and the Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond, archbishop of New Orleans, who will bless the new facility. A reception will follow.

Visit the Tulane Catholic home page for more information.