About

We seek to foster the Catholic faith of students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the University of West Florida. We are dedicated to promoting the rich contributions Catholicism has, and continues to make in the world of higher education. 

Founded in 1963, the University of West Florida is a vibrant, distinctive institute of higher learning with undergraduate, graduate and targeted research programs. The University serves a student population of more than 12,000.

Catholic outreach to the campus began with the establishment of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church on property adjacent to the University in 1972. The parish, however, was not built with the intention of being a "campus parish."

For many years students and faculty have found a spiritual home at Nativity of Our Lord. In the 1990s, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee began asking the Assistant Pastors of the parish to provide leadership and direction for the growing University community.

In response to the increased needs of Catholic students, faculty, staff, and alumni a vibrant commitment was made to this ministry in 2012 by both the diocese and the parish. This commitment included the development of a pastoral plan to grow and sustain the faith of the entire University community.

Our programming consists of four equal areas, or pillars, of focus: 1) Prayer 2) Community 3) Catechesis/Teaching and 4) Service. We believe these pillars build a strong and comprehensive foundation upon which to build our ministry. 

     PRAYER:     The absolute heart of our mission is to draw people to a fruitful
                           encounter with Christ. Above all else we must be a people of prayer. 

     COMMUNITY:     Giving our students, faculty, staff and alumni a sense of
                                    belonging and a common identity is crucial to creating long-term
                                    personal investment. Catholic Argos seeks to provide  
                                    opportunities to experience our Catholic faith as a Church - the
                                    Body of Christ.

      CATECHESIS:     We are committed to a faith experience rooted in the teachings of 
                                    the Catholic Church contained in Revelation and Sacrament. We 
                                    affirm the call of higher education to form the intellect and strive
                                    eagerly in the pursuit of knowledge. 

     SERVICE:     Following the example of Christ who poured out His life for others 
                           while hanging upon the Cross, we recognize that we must pour forth 
                           the blessings of this community upon others. 

Ultimately, our ministry is provided by the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Our Director is appointed to this office by the local bishop. But as with anything in life, it takes a strong network of support to be successful.

We are thankful for the generosity and cooperation of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church which has agreed to host our offices and events. 

Catholic Argos receives an annual budget alotment from the diocese in order to execute our mission. These funds come from the contributions of Catholics throughout our local diocese who contribute to the annual Catholic Sharing Appeal of our bishop.