In keeping with our mission to form the future leaders of our Church and world, the Newman Center uses a system of student leadership called “Peer Ministry”.
Each year, 4-6 students are selected from a pool of applicants to work side by side with the staff in running the ministry. Housed in an apartment with individual rooms above the Newman Center, the Peer Ministers learn to balance school, ministry, and their personal lives in service to their fellow students. It’s a demanding year of sacrifice, but an extremely rewarding experience. In the end, peer ministers and the Student Ministry Team are responsible for the majority of the programming, innovation, and activity of the ministry. At any given time during the day, chances are you’ll find a peer minister roaming the halls, hanging out at the Newman table on campus, serving a Mass, or hosting an event at Newman.
Inspired by the success of former Newman Director Fr. William Dean Dooley OP (1948-1960) to use Catholic soldiers to catechize other soldiers during WWII, the program trains students to minister to each other. After a week of intensive training at the Dominican Institute of Student Ministry, peer ministers become Newman’s primary student leaders. They’re responsible for everything from planning the massive SEARCH retreat to cleaning the bathrooms!
Often times, students have a unique credibility with each other that community members, staff, parents, and even priests, don’t have. By training students to fill positions of leadership in the ministry, they’re given greater opportunity to relate to their peers and more effectively support them through the faith transitions common to college life. This ultimately leads newer students to realize that they should take their faith seriously, that there are other students out their struggling with the same things, and that there are answers to their most intimate and troubling questions. And that you can be Catholic and cool at the same time!
Since 1989, Peer Ministers have been some of the greatest advocates of the ministry, and each has left a profound impact on the lives of the students – not to mention the ministry as a whole. We continually thank all that have served. But as any peer minister will tell you, their gifts to the community are matched, if not surpassed, by the gratitude they feel for the transformative opportunity to serve their fellow Catholic Huskies.
Contact: peerministers@uwnewman.org
Our 2022-2023 Peer Ministers
Sean curran
Hi, I’m Sean Curran, a man who wears many hats. Alongside peer ministry I also play in a local and touring rock band called Counterproductive, and I work in the event industry as a freelance audio engineer. I was born in Virginia and raised all over the US as a military kid. My family settled in Everett in 2016 and after finishing a 2 year degree in the area I moved myself down to U district to be a part of the vibrant culture. This year bodes an exciting creative endeavor for me: as I spend my time living and working in the Newman Center, I am also working on writing music and poetry, often finding myself in the chapel, scribbling ideas for my current project The Art of Sacrifice. Washington’s outdoors has my heart, and whenever possible, I can be found far from the city, climbing mountains or sitting by a campfire. It is an honor to serve the Newman Center and its friends, and I look forward to getting to know all of you very well.
Ellie Lande
Ahoy! I’m very honored to be a PM for this school year. I’ve been coming to the Newman Center since my first week of university and have greatly benefited from the fellowship, the faith building opportunities, and the access to sacraments. Now that I’m in my final year at UW, I look forward to giving back to others within this wonderful community. In particular, I hope to encourage those questioning their faith to continue asking questions and continue seeking answers. Outside of Newman, I enjoy going for walks and runs, writing short stories, working my way through my book and movie list, and talking about bears and sheep. If you have any recommendations or want to chat (about bears, sheep, UW, Catholicism, etc.), feel free to reach out! elande21@uw.edu
SHANNON O’NEILL
Becoming a peer minister is not something I would have predicted for myself a year or two ago. I feel incredibly blessed that the Lord has led me to this position and grateful for the wonderful people that have been by my side. The Newman Center has been a catalyst for my faith and it brings me so much joy to now be involved with the community here on a deeper level. As a senior microbiology student, my hobbies currently include studying for the MCAT; however, when my laptop is closed I enjoy being outdoors, playing sports, volunteering with my sorority’s philanthropy, taking day trips, hanging out with my friends, and occasionally reorganizing the PM apartment. If you ever want to talk or play some volleyball please shoot me an email! oneill20@uw.edu
tyler turman
Bio coming soon!
Interested in learning more about Peer Ministry? Contact our Campus Minister, Bayli Hochstein, or our Director, Fr. Marcin Szymanski.
Get to know them - check out our Peer Minister photo album and peer ministers past and present!