Detroit — #TriggerWarnings is a movement on college campuses across the country to warn students of material that might be controversial or challenging.

During the Sept. 29 rededication of the newly renovated Newman Catholic Center on the campus of Wayne State University, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron issued his own “trigger warning” to the Wayne State faithful.

“I’m told that I might have to give a ‘trigger warning’ about this, but the university is a sacred space,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “God brought us together to give thanks and praise, not only for us and this space, but for all the people who are outside this community and the ones to come here in the years ahead.”

Archbishop Vigneron joined other clergy from the archdiocese and Wayne State University president M. Roy Wilson for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing of the Newman Center, located on the seventh floor of the Wayne State Student Center.

“After churches and cemeteries, universities are the most holy places in the church,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Here we live out our commitment to Christ, studying the many truths he has revealed to us. May this space be a place for truth.”

The redesigned Newman Center updates the older facility, which is still at the same location. The layout features new amenities in the kitchen, an expanded chapel and a more open-floor design for study groups and public events.

“We’ve been planning (the blessing of the Newman Center) for months,” said Phoebe Atwood, president of the Wayne State Catholic Group. “We have big desires on what to do with this center. We’re here to show God’s love, to show we have a presence on campus. We’re hoping to start study groups at the center. We want to grow in our faith, that’s why we’re here.”

Wilson, the school’s president, cut the ceremonial ribbon with Archbishop Vigneron, addressing students and clergy about the Newman Center’s contribution to campus life at the public university.

“The mission of the Newman Center is very much in line with the strategic plan at the university,” Wilson said. “First, it’s shown that students do better when they’re part of a community, when they feel included in something. Second, the core values of the Newman Center embrace our core values of diversity and inclusion. Third, the impact on the local community: engagement at the Newman Center makes a difference.”

Wilson issued a challenge to the Newman Center group, telling them he was researching Newman Centers across the country and found a “Top 50 Newman Centers in the U.S.” list, of which Wayne State was not featured.

“There were four Michigan schools represented on the list, but not Wayne State,” Wilson said. “So my challenge to you is, do something about that.”

The eight-month project was part of a larger renovation of the student center building on campus. Fr. John Fletcher, CC, a chaplain for the Newman Catholic Center, said the university was accommodating with the center’s needs during the remodeling.

The Newman Catholic Center has around 40 to 50 active members, Atwood said, and the group has study groups and courses on Catholicism offered through Catholic-Christian Outreach, a college Catholic ministry based in Ottawa, Ontario. Wayne State is the first American college to offer CCO courses.

“What this renovation does is show we have an active interest in Catholic ministry on campus; this shows we’re an active community,” Atwood said. “We have priests who can talk to people, give talks, offering a place for intercessory prayers. We want this to be a place where everyone can learn about the Catholic faith.”