Building My Faith Foundation

I remember joining Ut Fidem my junior year of high school. During that time, I struggled with certain aspects of my life, but Ut Fidem was one of the things that gave me more structure and helped me through those hard times. I remember meeting with my group every week with Fr. Ryan Andrew (our school chaplain, but also our group’s Ut Fidem mentor). Our group often met in the outdoor chapel- the one right next to the track. Joining this group allowed me to ask great questions, learn from others, and grow in my faith in a team-based environment. Each one of us came from different faith backgrounds, yet we were all equal in the eyes of our mentor.

At first, I only knew Fr. Ryan Andrew as my religion teacher and as the chaplain at Dowling. I remember how much fun he was in class and how he would teach us all about the Sacraments and tell us stories about his life before joining the priesthood. Fr. Ryan Andrew was a good role model for me and he taught me that it was okay to not know everything in life, or about your faith. It was much easier for me to jump straight into Ut Fidem, knowing my mentor was educated on the faith, yet was vulnerable about his own faith journey.

Vulnerability and taking off your masks was an important realization I faced in Ut Fidem. Ut Fidem taught me to ask valuable questions, do my research, and help others. In the past seven years, my faith and knowledge of the Catholic Church have grown tremendously. Here and there, I have had hiccups or embarrassing moments when I did not know something that everyone else did, but those moments humbled me and shaped me into the person that I am today. Everyone is at a different place in their faith journey, and there is nothing wrong with that at all. All that matters is that we actively seek out ways to become a better Catholic each day.

My relationship with Christ grows every day. Though it is not always linear, I make progress with each opportunity I can. Whether it’s going to a religious retreat, getting involved at my Newman Center, or studying abroad in Austria, I always learn something and it has gotten me to where I am today. Ut Fidem taught me two things, which I embody today. First, take risks; and secondly, ask questions. For me, Ut Fidem planted the seed of curiosity. Ut Fidem helped me grow in experience and knowledge of the fundamentals of the faith, and ultimately helped form my Catholic faith foundation. From there, I found Christ, my mission, and what I am called to do to help others. While everyone will have a different experience with Ut Fidem, everyone will grow in their faith.

God Bless,

Will Melcher