Dear Friend in Christ,

As I prepare for ordination to the priesthood, I have been reflecting on how the Lord first called me to consider this vocation.

One summer during my time at the University of Notre Dame, I was given the opportunity to serve at Mission of Our Lady of the Angels with the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago. It was there that I encountered the love of Jesus in a powerful way, especially through the witness of the Sisters. These were women who had freely given their entire lives to Christ. They had an authentic joy and a fullness of life that was deeply attractive. As Jesus began to transform my own heart, I began to feel a tug to make a similar decision to be “all in” for Him.

Through a newly established life of prayer, God began drawing me closer to Himself, and I started to hear His voice more clearly. But I still had many fears. After graduating, I briefly explored a career in software development, yet the call to trust God remained. I was not certain that I was called to be a priest, but it became clear that I should at least give Him the next year of my life by trying the seminary.

What God has done since that decision has been amazing to witness, especially within my own family. I shared some of my formational journey with my father, who entered the permanent diaconate program shortly after I entered seminary. We were ordained deacons at the same Mass last year. My sister, Sister Elizabeth, discerned to join the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and is currently a second-year novice. In the last few years, my other three siblings have also served as Catholic missionaries both domestically and abroad, while my mother has been a church music minister and a steadfast powerhouse of prayer for our whole family.

I am deeply grateful God led me to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM). I am especially grateful for the community here, a brotherhood of nearly 90 other men who encourage one another to grow in holiness. It has been a gift to center my life on daily Mass, Holy Hour and praying the Liturgy of the Hours together. I am also grateful for what I have been able to learn in the classroom from priests and professors who are deeply in love with Christ and faithful to the teachings of His Church.

MTSM has also provided me with the opportunity for meaningful ministerial experiences. During my pastoral internship year, I served with the Riverview Catholics Family of Parishes. I have also had the privilege of helping inmates at Lebanon Correctional Institution become Catholic and ministering to the sick at The Christ Hospital. These moments have helped prepare me to serve God’s people with generosity and compassion.

Formation like this does not happen on its own. It is made possible through the generosity of people who believe in preparing faithful and joyful priests to serve the Church. Your support of MTSM helps seminarians like me grow in prayer, receive strong formation and gain the pastoral experiences that will shape our future ministry.

I am humbled by what God has done in my life and in awe of the profound gift that is the priesthood. Will your prayerfully consider a financial gift to support the formation of seminarians at MTSM so many more men can follow where God leads them?

Please pray for me and my classmates, that we will be saintly priests whose whole lives are devoted to bringing others to Jesus Christ, the source of all that is good, true and beautiful.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Deacon Daniel Jasek
Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Thank you for supporting the seminarians studying for the priesthood at MTSM!