In 2009, we had five seminarians studying for the parish. In the summer of 2010, Fr. Damien Wee interviewed each. Their conversations are below:

John Norman  ::  Patrick Cooley  ::  Chaz Zurcher  ::  Jacob Stein  ::  Daniel Szalewski

John Norman
spent last year studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy.

September 28, 2011, I am now back at school, beginning my third year of theological studies at the North American College in Rome. This past week we have been preparing and giving practice homilies as we move forward in formation. God willing, next year on October 4, 2012, I will be ordained a transitional deacon here at St. Peter’s Basilica. Please continue to pray for me in this year of preparation for Holy Orders.

Some people have asked me how it would be possible to join me in Rome for this joyous event. If you would like to come, Fr. Paul Hoesing will be leading a pilgrimage to Rome during the week of my diaconate ordination. Fr. Hoesing is the Vocations Director of the Archdiocese of Omaha, a graduate of the North American College, and an excellent guide to encounter Rome on pilgrimage. This trip will depart Omaha on Saturday, September 29, 2012 and return to Omaha on Saturday, October 7, 2012.

Download Trip Itinerary

How did your 2009-2010 seminary year go?

This year has been a year of huge growth for me. I just finished my first year of graduate school (and my fifth year of seminary). Moving to Rome, I spent the better part of the year adjusting to a new language, a new culture, and a new seminary program. However, I also experienced so many blessings in the course of this year of seminary. I’ve made friends from different countries around the world. This summer I had the opportunity to make a 30-Day Ignatian retreat during the summer

What are one or two highlights of the year?

One of the great traditions at our seminary surrounds Thanksgiving weekend. After an American breakfast and Mass, we read the President’s proclamation of Thanksgiving before we start our Thanksgiving dinner. We sit at tables by state and we invite other Americans from the city who would not otherwise be able to celebrate the day. We have our turkey and pumpkin pie. But for the Italians, it’s just another workday.

Another highlight of the year was to go on pilgrimage to see the Shroud of Turin. It was powerful for me to go on pilgrimage with prayer intentions from the parish and others to the display of the burial cloth of Our Lord. Thousands of people came each day for the showing.

What was one misconception that you had about seminary that has been changed since entering?

I thought life would get boring inside of a seminary… I couldn’t have been more wrong! Life is full of friends, prayer, study, and fun. It is powerful and dynamic to live a life radically centered on the Lord.

What would you say to young men who may be thinking of the priesthood?

Go and visit a seminary. See men living, praying, and thriving in the life you are thinking about entering. Without a visit, you really can’t understand what it’s like. These five years have been the most joyful of my life.

What would you say to their parents?

If you want to know what seminary is like (or what that strange species of seminarians are), go and check it out! We are regular guys living in a household of faith! We are men who are serious about our life of prayer and our relationship with Our Lord, but we are also serious about brotherhood, studying, sports and living life. We are entering into an area of deep relationship with the Lord in a brotherhood in order to figure out if this is the calling for our lives. A student in seminary is in discernment, not a contract. We are asking him to give seminary a try, but he is free to choose to continue or not while in the program.

Is there anything that you would like to say to our parishioners?

Thank you so much for everything that you do to support me. I am so grateful for the prayers, cards, and financial support of the parish. Even though I am 6,000 miles away, I am united in prayer with you. I look forward to next June when I can kiss the ground in America again! Please continue to pray for me and know of my prayers for you.

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Patrick Cooley
spent last year studying at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

How did your year go?

It was a great year. It was my senior year and I already had one year under my belt so I knew what was expected of me and how the life of a seminarian went. So I was able to enter deeper with the Lord in prayer and grow closer to my good friends.

What were one or two highlights of your year?

One of my highlights was the ability to spend an hour of adoration each day with the Lord. Also, being able to play a number of sports with my fellow seminarians.

What was one of your misconceptions that you had about seminary that was changed after you entered seminary?

It’s easy to think of seminarians as one type of people, but in reality, seminarians are a very diverse group of ordinary people with different talents and abilities. For example, some are very outgoing and funny, some are intellectual, others are very new to the idea of seminary because of a conversion in their lives, others have come from families close to the Lord and so it’s not such as drastic a change.

How did you feel the Lord leading you to another vocation?

Through conversations with priests and spiritual directors, many hours of prayer before the Lord, coming to know myself better and my desires, inclinations and abilities, and the counsel of many priests and seminarians, I felt that the Lord was calling me to the married life.

What would you say to young men who may be thinking of the priesthood?

First and for most, be not afraid. Trust in the Lord and His plans for you. Seminary is one of the best places for a young man to grow spiritually and in virtue. All men are called to authentic fatherhood, whether that’s as a father of a family or as a father to his parishioners. And seminary is the best place to foster this fatherhood. Any time spent in seminary is never wasted time even if you ultimately discern out of seminary.

What would you say to their parents?

Parents are usually concerned with the well being and happiness of their son. The priesthood can be looked at as a challenge and a difficult life. Though it is a great sacrifice, doing God’s will is what will ultimately bring us happiness and fullness of life. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to discern my call.

What are you looking forward to as you continue on with your life?

I look forward to continuing to grow closer to the Lord. Seminary has taught me so many valuable skills and how to be a better Catholic man. I hope to take all that I have learned and experienced to use it for all that God has planned for my life. I will be forever thankful for these two years.

Is there anything that you would like to say to the parishioners?

I thank you for your many prayers through the years. It has been a blessing to know that so many people were praying for me on a daily basis. Continue to pray for the seminarians and for more vocations.

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Chaz Zurcher
spent last year studying at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

How was your school year?

It was very good. It was challenging taking new philosophy classes but at the same time, very rewarding because I was able to receive a good education as to how to defend the Church and her teachings.  Overall, a great year for growth.

What are one or two of your highlights?

Just being involved in the brotherhood. Just being surrounded by so many holy men who are giving their lives to the Lord and discerning what the Lord wants for them.

What was one of your misconceptions about seminary that was changed after you entered seminary?

That seminarians never had fun! Instead, we had lots of fun. We prayed hard and we played hard.

What would you say to young men who may be discerning the call to the priesthood?

Take that discernment to the Lord in prayer because the Lord tells us that when we seek Him that we will always find Him. If the man goes to the Lord and asks Him what He wants of him, the Lord will tell him. And if a man is willing and open to receive it, the Lord will tell him. And the seminary is a great place to discern that call.

What would you say to their parents?

I would say that you should be very proud that your son is willing to live for Christ and now it is just the matter of what direction the Lord wants him to go. They should feel no fear in their son placing his life in the Lord’s hands, because that is the best place to be. Your son’s happiness depends on it!

Is there anything you would like to say to our parishioners?

Thank you for all your prayers and support. We seminarians really cannot do this without you. Be assured of our thanks and prayers for you.

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Jacob Stein
spent last year studying at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

How did your year go?

The year was fast but it was a year of great growth. Every day I would wake up and I’d be extremely happy because even though it was hard work and required a lot of effort, I just had to take the opportunities that came my way to grow in virtue.

What were one or two highlights of your year?

One of my highlights was having holy hour and Mass each day. Another was going to New Orleans and working with the Dominican Sisters. We were able to take everything that we learned, especially in pastoral charity, and apply it to real life situations.

What was one of your misconceptions that you had about seminary that was changed after you entered seminary?

As I had been waiting for a few years to enter seminary, I thought that I was going to be prepared for seminary. But everything that I had come to expect about seminary fell short of what it was actually offering me and the gift that it was. I had to get rid of my preconceived ideas and allow God’s grace to transform me. I had to just take seminary as a gift that it was, with the opportunity to become a better man.

What would you say to young who may be thinking of the priesthood?

It is definitely a sacrifice to discern the priesthood in seminary.  However, the opportunity to grow in your spiritual life and the graces that come with that is something that you cannot even fathom outside the experience. Any young man who has even had a notion of the desire of the priesthood should take the opportunity to sacrifice their time to discern their vocation because their sacrifice will be rewarded beyond their imagination.

What would you say to their parents?

Parents should encourage their sons to discern the priesthood and not to be afraid of the possibility of sacrificing your son to the priesthood.

What are you looking forward to as you continue on with seminary?

I look forward to studying and to coming to a greater understanding of the Church and her Teachings.

Is there anything that you would like to say to our parishioners?

I would like to thank them for their prayers and support, and to let them know that we are constantly praying for the parish as well. We know that as seminarians we were sent by them to study the Church’s Teachings and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

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Daniel Szalewski
spent last year studying at Conception Seminary College in Conception, MO.

How did your first year go?

I think God really took care of me. The first day I went down there, I did not know what quite to expect, so I was kind of nervous. But throughout that whole year, He just took care of everything. He gave me friends and helped me to grow closer to Him.

What were one or two highlights of your year?

I think it is the sense of community among the seminarians. It’s kind of bittersweet. Sometimes they drive me crazy, but I think it is really helpful to have their support and having them there really supports me in my vocation.

What was one of your misconceptions that you had about seminary that was changed after you entered seminary?

Especially at the college level, it is just trying to figure out God’s will. I think many guys think that you have to know you are going to become a priest to go to seminary. I think if you are not sure about your vocation, it is the place to go so that you can settle that question; just [having] the freedom from all the outside distractions to discern God’s call.

What are you looking forward to as you head back to seminary?

I really missed that community this summer. I am looking forward to going back there and experiencing that community. I am also looking forward to classes – at least for now.

What would you say to young men who may be thinking of the priesthood?

One of the important things in his journey to discern his vocation is to talk to a priest and get a spiritual director to help them. Also, you’ll never hear the call unless you are listening. So that means taking the time each day before the Blessed Sacrament, if possible, and just listen to God and grow in a relationship with Him.

What would you say to their parents?

It is important to be completely open to God’s will for their children because parents want their children to be happy and what’s best for them. God the Father wants the same but only more so. And, just be nurturing of a vocation and supportive.

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