NIU’s Newman Center has a new man in charge.

The Rev. Michael Black took the position of Newman’s head pastor this year after Bishop Thomas Doran transferred the Rev. Steve Knox to St. Mary’s Church in Huntley this summer.

Black was ordained in 2000, and before coming to NIU, he served as Associate Pastor at St. Mary’s in Woodstock.

Later he taught high school, served the Hispanic population at St. Patrick’s in Rockford and taught ethics at the St. Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford.

Black spent the last year and a half working at the Newman Center as an associate pastor, and now he is the pastor in charge of the center.

“There are more responsibilities and a lot to do,” Black said.

Black said his mission here is to motivate and strengthen students in their faith.

University culture tends to make students highly critical of God, Black said. He said this is his main challenge here on campus.

He said the dominant culture is more powerful in leading adolescents and young adults away from their faith at college.

“We challenge students to live their faith integrally, regardless of its unpopularity,” Black said.

When a student’s faith is attacked or misrepresented, Black said he teaches students to defend their faith.

“We ask them to share their faith with others and we invite them to serve in parish ministries and reach out to the marginalized of our community,” he said.

The Newman Center asks students to think not only in terms of career, but of character, and to think not only of themselves, but of others, Black said. He said the center also asks students to consider not only financial success, but true self-fulfillment.

The participation of NIU students at the Newman Center is something Black appreciates, he said.

There are usually 250 to 300 people at masses on Sundays, and most of them are NIU students, Black said.

About 35 students are involved at the Newman Center, he said, and lead many church activities.

One of the things Black enjoys about NIU is the chance to hang out with students and play basketball at the Rec Center, he said.

Black said he has been following his divine call by working in the church.

“I felt the Holy Spirit convincing me that I should be a priest. It is like falling in love with someone; there is not an explanation,” Black said.