The Newman Movement, named for John Henry Cardinal Newman, prominent nineteenth-century educator, began to organize clubs on college campuses in 1893. In 1933 a Newman Club for UT was organized at Immaculate Conception Church. Meeting places moved from the UT cafeteria, to classrooms in Ayres Hall, to the Annie McGee Dancing Studio, to several rented houses on Fifteenth and Seventeenth Streets. In 1958 the house at 315 Fifteenth Street was purchased and remodeled by the Newman Foundation, but its distance from the center of the campus made it inconvenient for students. In 1962 the Newman Club moved to 1710 Melrose, to the house of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ashe, which had been acquired through a gift-purchase arrangement. Associate pastors from Immaculate Conception Church served as chaplains for the Newman Club. In 1966 a worshipping community was established in the former Fort Sanders Presbyterian Church (now the Laurel Theater).
In June of 1967, the board of the local Newman Foundation sought permission to establish a parish at the University of Tennessee and to proceed with construction of a church and center. The Ashe House was razed in late spring 1968. Ground was broken October 25–27, 1968, for the facility, and the parish of John XXIII was established. The new center was opened in October 1969. In August 1973 the Paulist Fathers joined the community for the ministry at John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center.