Nicholls State University St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center is ranked number 10 among university Catholic centers in the nation, by an independent journal “Best College Reviews.”

This ranking puts Nicholls ahead of any other university in Louisiana and hundreds of other top universities in the nation. Each Newman Center on the list is nominated based on how often each center conducts regular Mass during the week, Eucharistic Adoration, confession, other opportunities for spiritual growth, the amount of community service done by each center, a Catholic population of over 100, the percentage of Catholic students, relationship with the local parish and specific site amenities. “I have been a part of many Catholic organizations growing up, but St. Thomas offers so much more,” freshman Amanda Gianelloni, business administration major, said. “Every day there is something different going on, and they are constantly reminding us of events we as students can participate in and invite other people to.”

The St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center is home to over 250 active Nicholls State University “Colonel Catholics.” St. Thomas Aquinas is the oldest faith-based organization on campus that provides service to the community, academic lectures, concerts at Aquinas Nights, the Mass and Sacraments, faith formation and retreats. The Awakening retreat highlights and renews the Colonel Catholics commitment to God. They also take part in the March for Life in Washington and a mission trip to Jamaica every December.
“I enjoy going to St. Thomas because they make the sacraments available and very convenient to college students like myself that have very busy schedules,” freshman Megan Landry, secondary education major said.

The Awakening Retreat happens once a semester, involving around 150 students. The Fire Retreat center, where Eucharist prayer takes place, and the Silent Retreat also occur at the end of each spring semester.
“St. Thomas Aquinas is a holy place we have for students to gather as a home away from home,” Reverend André Melancon, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at Nicholls, said. “Students come and support each other when they are struggling, as well as a place to celebrate when people have victories; it’s just a great place to be.”

Melancon said a lot of universities base their Newman Centers off the same overall principles, but believes the edge that Nicholls has is the amount of prayer opportunities available, scheduled mass times and times of sacraments of reconciliation puts Nicholls ahead of other universites.
“A lot of students use it as a safe place to come and pray and we house a lot of social nights here, as well as community outreach projects,” Melancon said.