After having been far from church and her faith, Lisa Weidner, an NIU alumna, encountered a spiritual leader who made a difference in her life. His name is Rev. Steve Knox.

“Father Steve brought me back to church,” Weidner said “He has been a father for all of us and an inspiration of faith.”

After nine years of service to the Newman Catholic Student Center and the community, Knox is transferring this week to St. Mary parish in Huntley.

“NIU is special,” Knox said “I have been here as a pastor for nine years, and working at Newman Center was my first time as a pastor.”

Knox graduated from NIU in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology before going to St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.

After being ordained, Knox worked as an assistant pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Cary from 1989 to 1992 and at St. John Neumann in St. Charles from 1992 to 1995. Then he began his time at NIU.

“I enjoyed working with both the university and college students,” Knox said. “Some students even call the Newman Center a home far from home.”

While at Newman, Knox worked on the temple renovation and development of a church retreat, he said.

“I am thankful that Newman Center helped me to grow,” Knox said.

St. Mary Church in Huntley will be a challenge for Knox because the church has grown from 100 families to 3,000 families in the past 10 years, he said.

The Rev. Michael Black is replacing Knox. Black has worked at the parish as a part-time minister.