Steve Bye actively lives out his Christian faith on the UW Campus By Joan Lawlor
nstead of joining the thousands of college students in binge watching Netflix
on Sundays, Steve Bye, Badger Catholic President, spent his extra time at church, which naturally lead him down a path of leadership within his Catholic community. In amazement to many, Bye still manages to carve out time for prayer and charity throughout his day while working towards his electrical engineering and math degrees, as well as his two certificate programs in physics and engineering for energy sustainability. Before beginning the interview, Bye bowed his head and started with a prayer, asking God to work through him. Pope Francis said Contemplation is enriched through action. So I try to emulate that kind of mentality and that kind of ignatian spirituality through the things Im involved in said Bye. Clearly a spiritual and faithful man, Bye says he tries to spend about 30 minutes each day in mental prayer. Badger Catholic is a student organization here on campus that is affiliated with St.
Photo Provided by Steve Bye
Pauls Catholic Church on State
Street. Bye explains that rather than directly providing this spiritual development, Badger Catholic is meant to be an arm into the university by facilitating spiritual development through its campus-wide discussions of faith and other programs and services. Despite many students drifting away from their faith because of the freedoms college provides and Photo Credit: Google Images Creative Commons the struggle to manage time, Bye explains how his faith has been very Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ enriching to him and how it has brought a because everyone is around the same age lot of joy to the college experience. When and holds many of the same experiences. things that are unexpected come up, or He explains that this gives him a greater things that are undesirabwle come up, I opportunity to see Christ as a pure within know I can maintain peace though prayer them. He knows that he is part of a comand my relationship with God Bye said. munity of people that share the same beliefs and love for God and finds this inspirBye speculates that students may leave the ing and supportive. faith due to the new independence they are granted upon entering college. Often Particularly on a university setting, Bye has time faith and religion are associated with found many different resources and opsome type of obligation parents impose. portunities to live out his faith. Some of He also considers that a lot of people want these opportunities include the service he perpetual consolation has done for Badger Catholic, as well as the and for each religious different Badger Catholic groups including experience to be im- Alpha Omega and his Catholic Fraternity, mediately uplifting. Phi Kappa Theta, where he is dubbed the Bye admits that even scribe, which may be better known as the he does not experi- secretary. He explains that it is nice to do ence this enlightened this work in a setting that is low risk and mentality every time when he has a lot of time. he comes to mass, but he still attends be- When asked if he had anything left to cause he believes it is add, Bye continued to serve in the best something good and way he knew by pouring out his love for true. others and pointing them towards his God. For anybody who reads this, or for Within the campus any student out there: I would just say community, Bye per- that Christ is passing by and make sure sonally feels that it is youre listening and looking for him, Bye easier to see his fellow said.