Living Hope Newsletter – November 2025
Our Youth, Our Future
At the campus of Fresno State University, college students find a Claretian parish tailored to their specific—and special—needs. As young people enjoy their college years and prepare to launch into adulthood, their journey of faith is just as important.
St. Paul Catholic Newman Center here is one among 2,000 such centers nationwide, welcoming students to a Catholic center designed just for them. The goal is to help them embrace their faith in college and beyond. The Newman Center movement started in the United States in the early 20th century as a response to the growing need for Catholic student associations at public universities. The Center at Fresno State has been a vibrant, magnetic place since its founding in 1964. The Claretians took over St. Paul’s in 2017. Over the years, the Center has evolved in positive ways, guided by the Claretian Missionaries. Known for their commitment to evangelization and social issues, the Claretians have helped shape the center’s mission and outreach methodologies.
As St. Paul’s chaplain Fr. Rubiston Peter, cmf, says, “St. Paul Catholic Newman Center is a church where people seek both community and spiritual growth.” Fr. Rubiston brings a fresh perspective to the Center, together with his director of religious education, newly ordained Claretian Fr. David Gutierrez. Both Claretians were placed in the ministry over the last couple of years and emphasize working with lay leaders to get the job done. That job includes all facets of parish life, with its foundation being the sacraments.
Mission and Vision
At the core of St. Paul Catholic Newman Center’s mission is a commitment to foster a deep personal and communal relationship with Jesus Christ among young adults. Through this mission, the Claretians help empower students to integrate their faith with their academic and social lives, nurturing them to make a positive impact in the world.
In his first year at the Center, Fr. Gutierrez has been inspired by the enthusiasm—and tremendous engagement—of the community. “This community is active and hungry for Christ! There are so many groups that meet to discuss faith and formation,” he says.
The Claretians emphasize five core areas: spiritual growth, community building, social justice, education, and pastoral care. Each area reflects their dedication to holistic development so that students not only grow in their faith but also become active and informed citizens.
While the emphasis of Newman Centers is on college students and academia through campus ministry, as a full-service parish with many ministries, St. Paul’s is home to people of all ages and stations in life. Many Catholics are drawn to this Center and other Newman
Centers for the vitality, youthfulness, and renewal they offer. “My favorite part of working in ministry here is that I get to work with people of all ages—from children to seniors,” says Fr. Rubiston. “We have to find meaningful ways to engage each group.”
Fr. Rubiston considers the Claretian Youth Ministry “especially close to my heart.” This youth group serves local teens who are still in high school. It provides a space where young people can grow spiritually and live out their faith amid popular culture.
Building a Strong Community
Community is at the heart of a Newman Center. Recognizing the challenges students face in transitioning to university life, and then onward into the future, the Claretians focus on creating a welcoming environment that feels like a second home.
“Anyone who wants to be a part of this university parish is embraced and valued,” says Fr. Rubiston. Social events, community service projects, and collaboration with other campus organizations foster that sense of belonging and connectedness.
This year, community-building programs have included the Jubilee of Young People, with students making a pilgrimage to Rome; International Food and Craft Festival, celebrating the many cultures in the community through food, creativity, and fellowship; and the Community Garden, with 60 raised beds to engage low-income residents in growing fruits and vegetables.
As the community grows and thrives, and its Claretian and other leadership grows, the parish rectory is undergoing a renovation to fit these needs as well.
Advocating for Social Justice
In keeping with the Claretian commitment to serving the most urgent needs in their communities, St. Paul Catholic Newman Center creates educational and volunteer opportunities to raise awareness and encourage participation in addressing poverty, homelessness, and environmental sustainability. Students are encouraged to discern their role in promoting social justice and peace in their communities, fostering a generation of socially conscious leaders. “Our community doesn’t just meet to discuss the faith!” says Fr. Gutierrez. “Groups actively serve the community, giving of their time and effort to feed those in need and looking for other ways to champion social justice.”
Pursuing Academic Excellence
Understanding the pivotal role of education, the Center collaborates with the Fresno State academic community to promote intellectual growth. The Claretians and their team encourage students to excel in their studies, offering tutoring and workshops on effective study habits and time management. Special lectures and discussions bring faith and reason together, exploring how Catholic teaching intersects with various fields of study.
Pastoral Care and Support
Given that the Center is very much a parish, comprehensive pastoral care is a priority, recognizing the varied challenges students face during their university years. Whether it’s personal counseling, vocation discernment, or guidance on ethical dilemmas, the Claretians provide support tailored to these needs. The Center keeps an open-door policy so students have access to spiritual advisors who are ready to listen and help them navigate their lives.
The Claretians look to a future where their Center continues to draw all to the sacraments to inspire and nurture young minds and hearts and all who make up the parish Center.
“Working with the college students at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my ministry,” says Fr. Rubiston. “Many of them are first-generation college students, and their deep longing for God, their search for meaning, and their genuine desire to grow in faith foster my own vocation.
More than anything, I’m grateful to be part of their faith journey,” he says. “Young people are not simply the future of the Church—they are the present. They are the Church.”
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