With Baker University, a Methodist-based university, it might be surprising to learn about 25 percent of students on campus are Catholic, making them the largest denomination on campus.

Senior Libby Steele helps make up that 25 percent. But it wasn’t until last semester she  knew just how many Catholic students Baker had.

“When I came in as a freshman, I sort of felt alone,” Steele said. “Chapel was nice, but there was something missing. So, having that sense of community is important to me.”

After last year, she began praying to find a way to start a group on campus for Catholic students.

Her prayers were answered when she met Father Brandon Farrar, pastor at Annunciation Catholic Church in Baldwin City. The two began meeting weekly to brainstorm ways of starting a Catholic group on campus. Thus, the Baker Catholics group began.

“I’m grateful to be (at Baker) and I’m excited,” Farrar said.

Since beginning in late August, the group celebrates Mass at 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays in the Clarice L. Osborne Memorial Chapel. Starting next week, the group will be holding Discussion and Dinner at 6 p.m. Thursdays in the chapel as well.

Anyone in the community, Catholic or not who is interested in attending Mass or Discussion and Dinner, is invited to come.

“I’d be very happy to have whoever would like to attend,” Farrar said.

Farrar said the group’s immediate goal is to establish an identity on campus. But he hopes down the road the group might be able to do service projects or even go on mission trips.

“I’m very hopeful,” he said. “I have good reason to be hopeful.”

University Minister Ira DeSpain is happy Farrar has been willing to come and help put this campus group into motion.

“I’m really pleased with how it’s starting out,” DeSpain said. “And if it’s meeting a need for Catholic students, I’m excited.”

Students still have the opportunity to attend the non-denominational chapel service 11 a.m. every Thursday in the Clarice L. Osborne Memorial Chapel. Some students, like junior Molly Schmeidler, are excited to now have both worship options.

“It’s just really cool to celebrate Mass on Tuesdays and chapel on Thursdays,” Schmeidler said. “It just kind of shows that Baker’s just not one-dimensional.”