Kevin Keller, Undergrad

Over the summer break wandering through the John Paul II Newman Center, I stepped into the office of Fr. Steven Bauer. We spoke for about two minutes and I knew he was more than just another priest. He was instantly our Fr. Steven. At our next meeting we delved further in to the life and times of Fr. Bauer.

Currently the associate pastor at the John Paul II Newman Center, Fr. Steven was ordained in May of 2004. He spent five years at St. Benedict’s on the Northside. After his term there, he was assigned to UIC in part because of his great experiences at the U of I Newman Center as a student. Although other parishes were hoping to have him placed as their pastor, we are fortunate enough to have gained his presence at our Newman Center.

At U of I, Fr. Bauer studied Bio-Chemistry for about three semesters and ended up earning his degree in Rhetoric. Jokingly he stated, “Just like a rhetorical question doesn’t have an answer, a Rhetoric major doesn’t really have an occupation.” However, he does occupy his time well. After college graduation, Fr. Steven taught himself how to use a few programs well enough to earn an occupation, and he entered the graphic design field working most creatively with ‘ad design.’ As a priest his personal occupation outside of ministry is actively training to become a marathon runner.

Like many priests, during college the thought occurred to him briefly to enter the priesthood; at the time he laughed it off. But, he continued to remain plugged into the Newman Center to grow and expand his faith by his own choice, ‘Not forced into it by his parents.’ He noted that for us students, living the faith is just that--living. “We are not one hour Catholics; it’s a way of life.” Catholicism excites Fr. Steven, especially as he sees us students grow in community both spiritually and in social community. “In living out our friendships, our friends give us strength and courage to live out our faith.” He also enjoys traveling both in Germany and Rome, as well as to any location that serves Italian Ice.

So, next time you step into the faith filled halls and rooms of the John Paul II Newman Center, try to step into the life of the great man Fr. Steven Bauer. Know that he looks forward to helping us grow in our lives and assist in faith formation. Before meeting him at the Newman Center, I suggest you attend the Chicago Marathon in October to cheer him on.