Faith on Campus

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.