Entryway to the Catholic Center

General Information

The Catholic Center at UVM exists to deepen the spiritual, intellectual and social development of students, faculty and staff at the University of Vermont and Champlain College.  Dedicated on May 8, 1966 and located at the highest point on UVM’s campus, our Eucharistic Lord, the source of grace and inspiration, watches over the campus and calls all people to Himself.

Directions

Located near the water tower on Redstone Campus. Accessible from South Prospect Street

Parking

Parking is available for Mass on Saturdays and Sundays at the Patrick Gymnasium Parking Garage which is reached from Spear Street or Main Street. Please do not parking in any lots marked for uvm residential parking or in the christ church parking lot.

Staff

  • Father Jon Schnobrich, Director of The Catholic Center
  • Kim Serino Allbee, Campus Ministry
  • Katie Martinson, Campus Ministry / Director of Giving Clubs
  • Stephanie Hahn Nolan, Director of Music
  • FOCUS Missionaries

More About the Staff

Kim Allbee
Graduated from the University of Vermont in 1996 with a degree in Political Science. She and her husband, David (’98), met at the Catholic Center and are proud parents of two children. KimAllbee ‘at’ uvmcatholic ‘dot’ com

Katie Martinson
Graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN in 2006 with a degree in Catholic Studies.

FOCUS

Founded in 1998 by Curtis Martin, FOCUS, The Fellowship of Catholic University Students, is a national outreach to college campuses.  Through small group Bible studies, large group leadership training, and one-on-one discipleship, FOCUS brings the fullness of life and truth in the Catholic Church to college students and gives the tools to help them share this good news with their friends.  FOCUS is working to play a vital role in the new evangelization called for by Pope John Paul II.

More About Focus

Brenda
Brenda spent the first 22 years of her life in the beautiful state of Minnesota.  She graduated with a degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s University of Winona, MN.  It was there that she first felt a desire to serve God and His Church and thus joined staff with FOCUS in the fall of 2006.  She served her first year at the University of Missouri-Kansas City before moving East.  She is starting her third year here at UVM, second as Team Director of the campus team.  Brenda can be found engaging in a multitude of activities, including trying out new recipes in the kitchen or spending time outdoors hiking or down by the lake.
bmaurer ‘at’ focusonline ‘dot’ org

Christina
Christina was born into the world of diplomacy and spent her childhood overseas. She returned home to the United States for college where she received a BA in Government and International Politics and a minor in legal studies from George Mason University in May 2008.  There, Christina was involved with FOCUS for three years as a student and is excited to return to the University of Vermont as a second year missionary.  An athlete at heart, Christina enjoys playing sports- especially volleyball and softball and as a socialite, she loves being around people.
chudson ‘at’ focusonline ‘dot’ org

Chinh
Chinh comes from a background in the business world selling educational resources door-to-door with the Southwestern Company:

I met many people who were not at all interested in what I was doing.  I would knock on the door, introduce myself, and they would say “that’s nice what you’re doing but we’re okay, so no thanks,” and they’d slowly close the door so you can’t respond. It’s funny when I find out that their kids are C students.  As I thought about that at Mass one Sunday, I thought about how ever since the dawn of man, God has been knocking on the doors of our hearts, and how many people tell Him “that’s nice what you’re doing but I’m okay, so no thanks,” and they slowly close the door.  It’s not so funny when I can see through the façade at the wounded hearts and empty lives people are living.

Chinh grew up in a traditional Vietnamese Catholic family with his parents and three younger sisters.  Building on a foundation of family rosary every night and Mass plus other parish events every Sunday, Chinh learned theology through Catholic CD’s, pursued the priesthood with the Franciscans, and eventually joined FOCUS in his quest to become sanctified.  In the process he hopes to help others find a rich, meaningful life, only to be found in Christ Jesus.

For more information, watch this video clip:  http://www.facebook.com/v/544544631284

Jonathan Teixeira
Leaving behind the “Factory Tour Capitol of the World,” York, Pennsylvania, for Burlington, Jonathan Teixeira is in his second year of missionary work with FOCUS. He graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2008 with a degree in Childhood Education with a concentration in English. He enjoys poetry, anagrams, and the Chicago Cubs. Jonathan loves spicy food and fresh lemonade. You might find him dancing bhangra, singing Sacred Harp, or telling jokes.
jteixeria ‘at’ focusonline ‘dot’ org

Following our Patrons

John Henry Cardinal Newman

cardinal-newman.jpgFor over 100 years, special centers have emerged on secular college and university campuses to serve the spiritual needs of Catholic students, faculty and staff. These centers are named after John Henry Cardinal Newman, an English educator, convert, faithful priest, and holy soul in the 19th Century. Among Cardinal Newman’s extensive theological writings was a series of essays called “The Idea of the University” where he observed that the university and Church are driven by the same quest: the search for universal truth.

St. Augustine

augustine1.jpgOur chapel is named after St. Augustine who tirelessly sought the answers to life’s most fundamental questions. Unbaptized and burning for knowledge, he left Africa blinded by pride and stubbornness. Despite his intellectual accomplishments, he quickly fell into a life of immorality, yet the young Augustine still recognized an emptiness in his life. In a moment of grace, he came to realize that every human heart is created with this great abyss which cannot be filled by worldly pleasures. He proclaimed to God, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”