The Catholic Center at NYU has as its particular task to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Catholic students, faculty, and staff at NYU. It seeks to witness to and communicate the enduring truth of the Catholic faith here in New York City. The mission is accomplished first of all through celebrating the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession. In addition to the sacramental life, the Center provides opportunities for students to grow in knowledge of the faith. The chaplain also guides the activities of the various Catholic student groups on campus. The Catholic Center welcomes any and all who wish to know more about God and the Catholic Church.
Father Sebastian White, O.P., S.T.L.
Chaplain
Chaplain
Our chaplain, Fr. Sebastian White, O.P. is a Dominican friar, in residence at St. Joseph's Church, in the community of Dominicans. Fr. Sebastian grew up in Maine and went to Gordon College in Massachusetts. After college, he lived and studied for four years in Austria at the International Theological Institute. During his time there he met the Order of Preachers in Vienna. He is very happy to be in New York and be working at the Catholic Center at NYU.
(212) 995-3991; chaplain@catholiccenternyu.org
Administration
Maria graduated from Fordham University in 2002 with a B.A. in Philosophy, Ethics and Italian. She taught Italian and the History of Art for three years at The Montfort Academy in New York. From 2003 to 2016 she served as Director of Development for the World Youth Alliance. Born in Munich and raised in Rome, Maria travels extensively with her family and her husband, Christopher. She writes for Incarnation and Modernity, a journal of theological reflection that she launched in 2013, and is currently pursuing studies in theology and French. Maria joined the staff of the Catholic Center in March 2016. (212) 995-3990; mgrizzetti@catholiccenternyu.org
(FOCUS)
The Catholic Center at NYU is also blessed to have four full-time FOCUS missionaries serving the students. They are (L-R): Ryan Noll (team director), Will Clerx, Angela Bacaling, and Nicole Michell.
Angela is from Chicago, IL and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where she majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in teaching English as a second language. While at Vanderbilt, she met a FOCUS missionary who inspired her to live out her Catholic faith more intentionally on the college campus. Through prayer and discipleship, she encountered the Lord's love and mercy in a deep and personal way and is now inspired to share it with others. Angela also has a great love for dancing, singing, traveling, and all things coffee.
Ryan, this year's team director, is a graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a degree in Graphic Design. After going to college thinking he would come out with just a degree and some good friends, he had a deep encounter with Jesus along the way. This is his third year serving with FOCUS as a full-time missionary, and he is really excited to share this encounter with students at NYU. Ryan comes from a family of 6 children and loves all things art: from theatre, to music, to graphics.
ryan.noll@focus.org
Will hails from the capital of Red Sox Nation, Boston, MA, but is nonetheless excited to explore Yankee Territory and serve at NYU. Will graduated from Harvard in 2014 with a degree in molecular and cellular biology, a minor in global health and health policy, and a pre-medical focus. Will enjoys running, hiking, the outdoors, music, and theater. He also has experience in scientific research, National Geographic documentaries, startups, and insect collecting. He thinks the Catholic faith is Epic, and he loves Big Questions and Big Answers, but he also deeply appreciates quiet time and the joy of the little thing.
Nicole is from Birmingham, AL and graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2015 with degrees Psychology and Theology. Her faith life took off at Franciscan, but it wasn't until one of the FOCUS missionaries deeply invested in her that she really learned what it meant to not only have authentic relationships with those around her, but to have an authentic relationship with the Lord. She is in her 2nd year with FOCUS and couldn't be more excited to serve the students at NYU! She is easily excitable and loves many, many things but at the top of that list would have to be petting dogs, climbing trees, and anything to do with St. Faustina!
Angela is from Chicago, IL and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where she majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in teaching English as a second language. While at Vanderbilt, she met a FOCUS missionary who inspired her to live out her Catholic faith more intentionally on the college campus. Through prayer and discipleship, she encountered the Lord's love and mercy in a deep and personal way and is now inspired to share it with others. Angela also has a great love for dancing, singing, traveling, and all things coffee.
ryan.noll@focus.org
Margie Rodriguez
Volunteer Office Assistant
After a number of years working for the administration of New York University, Margie generously volunteers at the Catholic Center to assist us with our bookkeeping, answering the phones, and staffing the front desk a few days a week. She frequently bakes cookies for the students.
(212) 995-3990
(212) 995-3990
