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An Inside Look at The University of South Florida Catholic Student Union Partnership
College is a time of discernment. For some students, this is the first time they’ve been off on their own. It may also be the first time a parent isn’t around to get them up for Sunday Mass. When Fr. Drew Woodke learned that the University of South Florida Catholic Student Center — also known as the Catholic Student Union (CSU) — needed support, he wanted to do something. He knew that St. Timothy’s is in a position to help beyond our community. Fr. Drew took a request to the Stewardship Council, and they agreed to a formal pledge to the CSU of $5,000 per quarter for three years.
This is the first time that St. Timothy’s has made a formal commitment to the CSU. Fr. Drew is so thankful for parishioners’ great support of the parish, which also funds needs like those of the CSU.
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As a ministry of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, the University of South Florida CSU supports college students and helps them explore Catholicism while “building friendships and growing in their faith. Campus ministry includes retreats, Bible studies, faith formation, and recreational activities based on worship, evangelization, discipleship, service, and student leadership.”
A mix of full-time ministers and college missionaries lead the work of the CSU with Fr. Kyle Bell there as a fulltime priest.
One of the reasons Fr. Drew is so passionate about the CSU is that one of his classmates in the seminary, Fr. Joshua Bertrand, had his vocation nurtured at the CSU.
“It taught me to pray,” Fr. Joshua says. “Without the Catholic Student Center, hearing the voice of the Lord would have been more difficult. It was a blessed time in my life that I can’t say enough about.”
To bring men and women closer to Christ at such a crucial time is at the heart of the CSU, and it’s equally important to Fr. Drew.
“This organization is benefitting the growth and maturity of young adults,” Fr. Drew says. “Students are discerning religious life and other vocations at the CSU. Stay tuned because there is a deep love of the Lord here.”
Several times per year, the CSU leads off-campus retreats, which are very fruitful. The men’s and women’s groups and Catholic Bulls Nights are a big part of their outreach work. The gatherings are meant to be fun, formative, and communitybuilding. The CSU also offers daily and weekend Masses.
“Formation — we use that word a lot here,” Fr. Kyle says. “Here, we are forming the whole person. Students are getting academic formation from the university and spiritual formation here at the CSU. We are forming the whole person — forming them to be good Catholics, in relationship with the Lord for the rest of their lives.”
There are currently about 100 active students with the CSU. The attendance continues to grow.
April Kirk, Director of Development and Communications at the CSU, says the love for the Lord nurtured at the CSU isn’t exclusive to the college years. Many of these students will go back to their home parishes or move to another parish and become leaders to take the church into the next generation.
“We want these students to be strong, formed Catholics, on fire and in love with the Lord,” April says.
Fr. Kyle and Fr. Drew both want to share their appreciation for the support of St. Timothy’s parishioners. This support is funding work that will last a generation.
“In the grand scheme of the church, there is a tendency to turn in on itself and ask what’s best for the parish, and that is important,” Fr. Drew says, “but there’s an even greater call to look beyond ourselves and serve those around us. This is the mission ground. This is a demographic that is falling away and needs to be invested in.”
A gathering of the Catholic Student Center Bulls group
A Men’s Group gathering for the Catholic Student Center
The Catholic Student Center Women’s Group
Fr. Drew presenting a check to Fr. Kyle as a donation to the Catholic Student Center
