By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
July 17, 2003

WEST BEND - A parishioner at Sts. Peter and Paul gives his time and talents to help in his community and throughout the Diocese of Sioux City.

Mike Steil contributes to Camp CAYOCA, his parish and surrounding communities.

"Some local people asked me, said they had some boys that wanted to go to camp, and they needed someone to go with them as a leader," said Steil. "I hemmed and hawed and didn't know what I was getting into and was scared to death. No one else was going so I agreed to go."

At Camp CAYOCA, Steil volunteered for six years and brought many different things to the camp. He was a leader for the first couple of years, a CAYOCA contact person and introduced skating to the children.

"I loved it," said Steil. "I loved the kids. I loved being there. I loved the atmosphere, something which is unexplainable until you experience it."

Steil liked being there and helping with different activities, but thought there was something missing.

"I began to see that some other things might fit in," said Steil. "I like to skate, whether it is ice skating or in-line skating and a small portion of people also like to do that. I thought I could maybe fill a void. Maybe if I could make just one person's experience at camp good because he or she had something they liked to do, it would be worthwhile."

The first couple of years they skated outside on a basketball court.

"While that worked pretty well, we were away from a lot of the activities and people had to find out about us by accident sometimes," said Steil. "It was also very hot some days."

Then came Harvest Hall which is a multi-purpose complex where several things can be going on at the same time. There was a sport floor installed which reduced the chance of injury.

In this facility, he was able to teach the children tricks on skates. The children were required to wear protective helmets when doing the tricks.

"We started to do more aggressive games," said Steil. "Instead of going under the limbo stick all the time, if they wore a helmet and other protective gear, they tried jumping over the limbo stick. That was very popular."

If there were other things that needed to be done, Steil would find a way to help the camp get those things done.

"Things progressed as I saw a need," said Steil. "Not only for roller skating, I saw a need for someone to make the sound systems work for them. I also saw that they needed some sort of communications. I came up with some hand held two-way radios to make things run more efficiently."

Not only did he help as a leader, he helped in guiding children and the younger camp counselors and program assistants (high school age) when they had problems or just needed to talk.

He enjoyed spending time with the campers and usually was sorry to see camp to a close.

"Occasionally, someone might even come with a problem. Most of which got referred higher up, but it was something where you could share an experience with someone," he said.

Due to his cable business, Steil was unable to help at camp this year. He hopes to go back in the future.

"It was kind of decided for me," said Steil. "I just simply felt that I didn't have the time. I wanted to be there. I thought about them everyday and prayed that they were having a good turn out. I would hope that I could get back in it again, but it's not looking that way. We are having to get more involved in our business than what we thought we were. I am so thankful for the years that I could do it. I wouldn't give up those years for anything."

As a parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul in West Bend, Steil commented that he also helps there as much as possible. Steil and another parishioner are currently assisting with vacation Bible school by planning the games for the children.

He also took over making Sunday morning Mass available live on the cable system in about six communities in the area. This allows parishioners to participate from home if they are not able to get to Mass.

"I became involved six or seven years ago and wound up being the person who keeps it going now," said Steil. "I get feed back from people who watch it. They have comments sometimes. They like the way that this turned out or maybe 'you shouldn't do it this way.'"

As a parishioner at Sts. Peter and Paul and Camp CAYOCA supporter, Steil shares his faith and talents in different ways and touches many lives.