January 4, 2022

Construction continues on new Newman Catholic Center at UMass

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

(Photo from Catholic Communications video by Jeffrey Sullivano)

AMHERST – Six months into the construction of a new Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), the foundation work is complete.

“The construction of the new building progresses,” said Father Gary Dailey, director of the Newman Center, in a Jan. 3 interview with Catholic Communications. “The big event recently was the pouring of the cement slab flooring.”

The Newman Catholic Center has been located in the heart of the UMass campus in a 58,000- square-foot facility constructed in 1963. It has provided opportunities for students of the university and Five College Consortium to worship, study, gather, and socialize. Over the last several years, the center’s board of directors had studied the possibility of constructing a new Newman Center on campus and plans to do so were finalized in 2021, with groundbreaking ceremonies held in May.

Since work on the new $9 million Newman Center began last June, the site work was completed and footings and foundation walls were erected, as well as all underground piping.

“We await a portion of the steel to begin putting up the walls,” said Father Dailey.

With little snow and mild temperatures through the early winter months, construction workers from Northampton-based DA Sullivan and Sons have been able to stay on schedule.

“The weather has been very cooperative and we hope it will continue to be,” said Father Dailey. “By the end of January and into February you will see a very fast movement of putting up walls and sealing in the building to begin work inside.”

Father Gary Dailey speaks about the construction progress on the new Newman Catholic Center in Amherst. (Photo from Catholic Communications video by Jeffrey Sullivano)

During the pouring of the chapel foundation, Father Dailey buried five religious medals of St. John Paul II, the Blessed Mother, St. Michael, and St. Benedict, along with a crucifix, calling on these saints, Mary, and Jesus to bless the chapel and the entire construction process.

The 19,000-square-foot building will include a chapel, research area with study rooms, lounges, a café, offices, a conference room, outdoor gathering and dining areas, and gardens.

While construction continues, Newman’s capital campaign “Miracles Happen: When Heart Speaks to Heart” continues toward a $2 million goal.

“We trust that the friends of Newman, not only in this area but throughout the country, will come forward and generously give so that we cannot only make that goal but go over our goal so that we can make this a reality for our students for many decades to come,” said Father Dailey.

Folks anywhere in the world can monitor the construction process in real time by logging onto www.newmanumass.org and follow the directions to access the “Eagle’s Eye” live camera from the roof of the current Newman Center. The camera is live, 24/7.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.