How Catholic Bearcat helped one student discover Christ and a welcoming community

by Lisa Fletcher

She arrived on campus searching for something she couldn’t yet name.

The University of Cincinnati buzzed around her with the usual flurry of classes, sports, and social events, but for Zeta Washington, a California native, a quiet restlessness had begun to take hold. She hadn’t grown up Catholic and had never been baptized. Faith, she admits, had never been a central part of her life. “I often tried to find fulfillment in other things,” she recalled, “like sports, my social life, partying, and just making as many friends as possible.”

Beneath the surface, something was stirring. By the end of her freshman year, that restlessness had deepened into a longing for something more—a sense of peace and purpose that she couldn’t yet put into words. She began attending a non-denominational church, where, for the first time, she encountered Christ in a personal and tangible way. “I learned that all He wants from us is a true relationship with Him,” she said. “That was life changing.”

Still, something was missing.

As Zeta continued to grow in her relationship with Christ, deeper questions emerged—about truth, faith, and what it truly meant to follow Him. Those questions eventually led her to Catholic Bearcat, the campus ministry serving students at UC.

Catholic Bearcat exists to meet students exactly where they are, said John David Kimes, Campus Minister. “I am continually in awe of how the Lord is at work at the University of Cincinnati—through our priests, our St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO) and FOCUS missionaries, and, most importantly, through our students.”

Zeta first encountered Catholic Bearcat through student Mass and the welcoming presence of students outside the church. “I was the kind of person who sat in the back pew and just took it all in,” she said. Over time, she joined a small-group Bible study through FOCUS, one of the missionary organizations serving on campus.

It was here, in the intimacy of a small group led by Catholic peers, that Zeta began to explore the faith deeply, asking questions and discovering answers in the Bible that pointed her to the Church. She recalled how her prior experience with non-denominational Bible studies emphasized the New Testament, but as she began reading the Old Testament, she saw the continuity of God’s plan—a plan the Catholic Church had preserved for centuries.

“A large part of our efforts is centered on small groups and Bible studies,” Kimes explained. “They provide an intimate and personal setting for students to grow in their faith and in relationship with one another. We consistently reinforce to our students that they are on mission—called to encounter others intentionally and invite them closer to the Lord.”

For Zeta, that invitation changed everything. “The teachings of the Catholic Church didn’t simply answer my questions,” she said, “they pointed me to Jesus in ways I had never experienced before.”

Though Mass initially felt unfamiliar—the standing, kneeling, and reverence for the Eucharist—she felt a tug she couldn’t ignore. “Eventually, I stopped pushing off God’s call, and I joined OCIA to start the process of becoming Catholic,” she said.

Her journey into the Church coincided with a profound personal loss: stepping away from collegiate volleyball, which had long defined her identity. “What was at the time the most important thing in my life, He completely took away,” she said. “But at the same time, His love and mercy completely flooded my mind, heart, and soul.”

In April 2025, Zeta was baptized and received into the Catholic Church. “Despite the loss and emptiness I felt at the time, I also never felt so whole,” she said. “Worldly things come and go, but the Lord will always be there as long as you let Him in.”

Stories like Zeta’s are not uncommon at Catholic Bearcat. In 2025, as many as 280 students participated in small groups, more than 400 attended Sunday Mass, and 222 students went on retreats—with another 130 participating early this year. Twenty-five students are currently part of the OCIA process, and dozens more are actively discerning their faith.

“Testimonies are powerful because they make what is invisible visible,” said Kimes. “Zeta’s story is a compelling witness to how many of our students have experienced a shift in how they view the world and what truly matters, moving toward a focus on the One who is everything.”

The success of UC’s campus ministry program—as well as campus ministry at Miami University and Wright State University—relies not only on the dedication of staff and student leaders, but also on the financial support from the Catholic Ministries Appeal.

The ministry’s essential needs include the costs to operate the Catholic Center, host evangelization and formation events, and support student participation in retreats and conferences, Kimes said. “Our financial need is real, and CMA’s support has been instrumental in making this ministry possible.”

In 2025 alone, Catholic Bearcat reached hundreds of students through small groups, Sunday Mass, retreats, and leadership programs. “Students experience authentic freedom and radical joy,” said Kimes. “The Holy Spirit is clearly at work here.”

For Zeta, Catholic Bearcat has provided more than spiritual formation, it has built lasting friendships and mentorship. “I have met some of the most important and influential people in my life,” she said. “The strong Catholic men and women I consistently surround myself with truly push me to become a better person. Fr. Tim (Fahey) and Fr. Jeff (Stephens) have also been incredibly helpful. They’re not just priests, but friends and spiritual guides.”

Zeta now helps lead Bible studies herself, walking with students who are just beginning to ask the same questions she once did. “If you feel that tug in your heart, just don’t ignore God,” she said. “He’s waiting to welcome you—just like He welcomed me.”

Stories like this are only possible by the generous, sacrificial gifts made throughout the archdiocese to support the ministries of the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). Visit CatholicAOC.org/CMA for more information.

This article appeared in the March 2026 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.