Jacksonville, Fla. – Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine and officials with the Dallas-based Newman Student Housing Fund will officiate at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new faith-based, student housing community that will be located near the University of North Florida campus. The ceremony is Tuesday, August 26, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., at the Catholic Student Center, 11277 Alumni Way in Jacksonville.

The diocese and Newman Student Housing have collaborated to provide apartment units for students of all faiths who want the option to live in an environment aligned with faith-based principles and moral values.

“Renewing God in the lives of young adults is vital in today’s society,” said Bishop Estévez. “We need to educate the whole person: mind, body and spirit – it’s the foundation of our faith and very important for our students. The new student housing community will provide them a place where they’ll live spiritual as well as academic lives,” he said.

The multi-phase project will begin construction in mid-September and is expected to be completed next fall.

Phase one of the housing project will include a 204-bed, three-story housing facility, which will provide 69 apartment units for students and three residential assistant units. Phase two will include an additional 158 beds.

The Newman Student Housing community will complement the new Catholic Student Center located on the same property, which is owned by the diocese. The diocese purchased the former Jacksonville Fireman’s Credit Union in 2013 for use as a Campus Ministry Student Center. 

The Diocese of St. Augustine plans to renovate the interior of the existing Catholic Student Center structure, adding a 576-square foot chapel that will seat 60 people.

A light reception will follow the groundbreaking at the Catholic Student Center.

Officials and students will be available for interviews after the groundbreaking.