Each new school year is a fresh start for students at UW-Madison, and a completely new experience for the freshmen who arrive on campus. Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center, located on UW-Madison’s campus, attempts to encounter as many freshmen as possible at the outset of their time on campus, hoping to provide a home for them amid the changes in their life.
Saint Paul’s has a ministry devoted specifically to freshmen during their first year on campus. FYGs, Freshman Year Groups, are co-ed groups of 10-20 freshmen that are led by two sophomores. They cover topics of the Faith and are an opportunity for students to get to know each other in a smaller setting. Currently, there are 200 students in 13 FYGs. One involved freshman, Gianna, explains how being a part of a FYG has impacted her time at UW-Madison thus far, “My freshman year group immediately welcomed me into the Saint Paul’s community and gave me the Christ-like friendships I have always desired! Having strong leaders to look up to, attending weekly meetings, and learning more about my Catholic faith has brought me closer to our Lord in so many ways.”
Along with the Freshman Year Groups, Saint Paul’s freshman ministry coordinates activities to help students cultivate friendships and make wholesome memories together. From free pizza to tennis and Culver’s, the students are provided a fun, vibrant community that is centered on Christ. To give the freshmen a change of scenery, Saint Paul’s hosted a Freshman Getaway retreat in September off-campus. 40 students were able to attend and grow deeper in community.
“My first few weeks here at UW Madison have been very fun and filled with memories, many of which have been created at Saint Paul’s. From time spent drinking coffee after morning prayer, to freshman pizza, to FYG meetings every week. My FYG has already been so much fun and we are only a few weeks in,” explains Justin, a freshman involved at Saint Paul’s.In a time of so many changes, Saint Paul’s hopes to provide a home away from home, both spiritually and socially, where students make lifelong friendships with their peers and with Christ. “I would highly recommend any new freshman coming to UW-Madison to at least check out Saint Paul’s and see what the community here has to offer them.”
