As a ministry of the Archdiocese of New York, we strive to maintain an atmosphere that reflects our mission. We invite you to explore our space at the Center, each room intentionally crafted to support your journey as you develop your intellectual, professional, and spiritual life in New York City.
The St. John Henry Newman Chapel provides a quiet space to pray and meditate in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The chapel includes a statue of St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of students, and an image of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers. The prominent Romanesque crucifix that overlooks Washington Square Park was hand-carved by nuns in France. The chaplains hear confessions and offer Mass on weekdays.
The Common Room is located down the hallway from the main entrance to the Catholic Center. This space offers a comfortable place for personal study, reading, chess, and soft conversations. Throughout the semester, the Catholic Center or one of the associated clubs will hold events for students in the Common Room.
By entering the main entrance and walking to the left, you will find yourself in the Game Room. Here, we invite students to relax and unwind by socializing with other students, competing in ping pong or foosball, or playing the baby grand piano. The Game Room also provides tables and couches for group study that is too loud for the Common Room. The Catholic Center or one of the associated clubs will often hold events for students in the Game Room.
Cooking spaces are hard to find for students in New York City. Attached to the Common Room, you’ll find a spacious kitchen with stoves, ovens, and dishwashers. The coffee station provides drip, pour-over, and expresso coffee.
The Catholic Center also provides three meeting spaces for the associated clubs and other initiatives of the Catholic Center. The meetings spaces are located in the hallway between the main entrance and the Common Room.
On the north side of the Catholic Center, you will find the Auditorium. This space is used for special events, such as lectures, dinners, or galleries.
Come visit us and check out our space! Undergrad and Grad Students welcome!
The Catholic Center follows the New York University calendar. We are closed for the summer and winter breaks, as well as for any holiday New York University observes when school is in session.
Monday-Friday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 1 – 9 PM
The Catholic Center at NYU welcomes undergraduate and graduate students from the schools we serve in New York City. For students visiting the Catholic Center for the first time, we ask that you introduce yourself to one of the directors.
Our space—the ground floor of 238 Thompson Street—is owned by the Archdiocese of New York. Therefore, we reserve the right to enforce rules and regulations according to the purpose and mission of the Catholic Center at NYU.
Any activity that is contrary to the faith and morals of the Catholic Church is not permitted in any space of the Catholic Center at NYU, especially the St. John Henry Newman Chapel.
Smoking is prohibited in the Catholic Center at NYU.
Alcohol is prohibited in the Catholic Center at NYU except by the permission of the directors. Underage drinking is strictly prohibited.
Camping is not permitted in any space of the Catholic Center. Personal items may not be left at the center overnight without the permission of the directors.
Appropriate dress is required in the Catholic Center.
We ask that students refrain from resting their heads on tables, lying down on couches, or putting their feet up on chairs.
The Common Room is reserved for private study and quiet conversation. If you need a group study group or louder conversation, we ask that you move to the Game Room or entrance area.
Students are permitted to use the kitchen facilities but must clean up after themselves immediately. Anyone who is not a student from one of the schools served by the Catholic Center is not permitted to use the kitchen. Food storage in the pantry must be marked with the student’s name. The directors reserve the right to forbid individual students from using the kitchen.
The washer, dryer, and supplies in the Butler’s Pantry are for Catholic Center use only.
The meeting rooms are for intentional use, which requires the permission of the directors. Catholic Center staff will ask anyone using the meeting rooms without permission to move.
