Deacon Angel Anaya Estrada:
St. Hyacinth Parish, Milwaukee - Class of 2009
My name is Angel Anaya. I was born and raised in Colombia. Though the idea of being a priest came to my mind when I was a kid, later on during my teen years I changed my mind and decided that I would like to study medicine. After high school I worked with Franciscans as a volunteer in projects of social justice helping the poor. That was the first strong religious experience with God face to face through the face of the poor.
Later on, I decided to study medicine in the Escuela Nacional de Medicina Homepatica and worked as a doctor for almost 5 years. That was a wonderful experience healing the physical body of the people but something deep inside kept telling me that was not enough.
To answer the deep questions in life, I decided to go back to school and studied philosophy. But philosophy was not the answer either. After much struggle finding a spiritual path, and thanks to the Verbum Dei Missionary Community I came back to the Catholic Church with more passion than ever. With the Verbum Dei Community I was involved with spiritual retreats for young people helping them to have a deep experience of Christ.  From this time on, I came to realize that God was calling me to the priesthood to dedicate my entire life to spread the Good News of Jesus helping others to find meaning in their lives.
After a year of discernment and supported by the counsel and prayer of many priests, the Poor Claire Nuns of my home town, I went to Seminary where during two years I completed the philosophical cycle and came to Milwaukee in 2004 to study theology. Nowadays I’m in my fourth year in my process toward the priesthood.

Deacon Phil Bogacki:  St. Charles Borromeo, Milwaukee - Class of 2008
My name is Phillip Bogacki from Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Milwaukee and I am in my 5th year in the seminary.  I was ordained to the diaconate on December 8, 2007 and will be ordinaned to the priesthood on August 1, 2008.  Currently I am at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain, Belgium. Prior to entering the seminary, I received an accounting degree from Marquette University.  The most rewarding part of my time in the seminary has actually been the challenges.  Seminary life gives you a very unique opportunity to explore your own life in a deep way and review how you function and what “makes you tick.”  Whatever one decides to do in the long run, spending time in a seminary will be beneficial, if only for the opportunity to know oneself better.  There are great challenges in the seminary and in priesthood, but Christ always gives you the grace to endure those challenges and succeed, and often in ways you’d never expect!

Johnny Burns: Lumen Christi Parish, Mequon - Class of 2010
I’m Johnny Burns and I’m from Lumen Christ Parish.  This is my second year of theology at the North American College in Rome.  God willing, I’ll be ordained a priest in 2010.  Just a bit about myself: I haven’t always wanted to be a priest.  In college, I studied Business Marketing.  When I graduated, I discovered that the job offers in business all lost their luster when it came to decision time.  Gradually, I realized that God was asking me to consider priesthood, and that I had been fighting against this for a very long time… I had been trying too hard to control my future.  Now, seminary is incredible.  It’s the place to step outside all of the distractions and ask the question with an open heart – “Am I called to be a priest?”  It’s the place where we are transformed into the men He calls us to be.  I never could have anticipated the peace and happiness that come with discerning the will of God – it is the greatest adventure.  As Jesus said, “Cast out into the deep!”

Jonathan DeVries: St. John the Evangelist, Kohler - Class of 2012
I was 17 when my parents first brought up the idea of priesthood to me. They mentioned that they thought that was the direction God was calling me. At the time, being in high school and unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, I blew them off. I told my parents that I would think about it but did not give the idea much consideration over the next few years.

It would not be until after my studies at university were complete and I was working in the human resources field that I would hear the call that my parents had seen years before.  During my time working in corporate world I came realized that I loved helping people, that I loved being of service to people but that I did not care much for the aspects of corporate world such as money, titles, or positions. I cared more about helping people than titles, or income or positions. It was at this time in my life that I started to ask myself some very serious questions about what I wanted to do with my life.

Over the next few months I stared to actively think about priesthood and the started to consider deeply the idea of entering the seminary. I meet with the priest in my parish and started asking questions. Eventually I came to a point where I thought that entering the Seminary and discerning my call to the priesthood was the direction God was calling me.

The decision has been on of the best decisions I have made in my life. Every day I am grateful for the opportunities and challenges God has given me during my time in the Seminary.

Aaron Esch: St. Patrick, Elkhorn - Class of 2010
My name is Aaron Esch.  I am from St. Patrick Parish in Elkhorn and am now in my third year of theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.  I look forward with hope to my expected ordination in 2009.  After high school I entered the archdiocese’s college seminary program while studying history and philosophy.  The time in college seminary gave me the opportunity to explore and become more certain of my vocation to diocesan priesthood.  These years in seminary have been most blessed.  I have met many wonderful friends and grown in ways I never could have imagined.  The preparation for priesthood is a long and often difficult process, but I thank God constantly for having called me to serve Him in this way.  Finding God’s will for my life has been a great joy for me.  Seminary has been great, but I cannot wait to begin priestly ministry.

Javier Gautiva: Missionary Community of Saint Paul, Racine - Class of 2010
I was born and raised in Colombia, where, at age 16, I met two priests of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) who impressed me with their dedication to serve those most in need. I stayed in contact with them for the next two years, then decided to join them. Before beginning my priestly formation at St. Francis de Sales Seminary, I served the poor in the Dominican Republic and Kenya. I found those experiences fulfilling and humbling. “Helping people in those remote areas strengthened my vocation to be a priest,”.
I came to Saint Francis de Sales to follow in the footsteps of members of his community who had preceded me, especially Fr. Pere Cané and Fr. Martí Colom, the Milwaukee Archdiocesan priests I have known since my teen years. “The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is an exciting place to be and help build the Church,” It has a lot to offer, with a wide range of ministries and great mixture of people.” I would like to serve in inner city parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and hope some day to return to mission countries where the Church is often the center of the community.  No matter where I end up, though, “I believe my studies at Saint Francis will help me become a good priest.”

Enrique Hernandez: St. Peter & Paul, Milwaukee - Class of 2012
It seems like a long time since I accepted an invitation to leave my home in Columbia and study English as a second language here in Milwaukee.  The goal was to do much more than learn English.  I was also testing my dream to be a priest in a foreign land.  I am enjoying the support I receive from all my brother seminarians.  Before I know it, it may be time for ordination.

I think there were two ways I heard God’s call to priesthood: (1) through liturgical and private prayer and (2) through involvement in a faith-filled Catholic community.  As a college student I got involved in all kinds of Catholic activities such as Bible studies, service projects, apologetics groups, and retreats.  Through these activities I met an amazing group of friends who challenged me to grow in my faith and who supported me in pursuing God’s call, whatever that may be.  I also got to know a number of priests who deeply inspired me.  They showed me the beauty and adventure of “casting out to the deep”.  These past four years of seminary have been the happiest years of my life and once again proves to me that God can never be outdone in generosity.

Christopher Klusman: St. Matthias, Milwaukee - Class of 2011
The first people that I told about my call to the priesthood were my parents.  I can't think of how many sleepless nights I've endured, as I tried to come up with words that could break the news with great ease.  It was as if I was trying to think of a perfect proposal for the woman of my dreams.  I swear I came up with over 100 ways.  When I broke it to my parents, ironically, it wasn't what I planned.  It came straight from the heart, since I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me.  My parents cried, but they were tears of joy.  Later, when more people found out, they were like, "I'm not surprised.  It is a great fit." I didn't expect that they felt that way.  If I only knew, I wouldn't have put myself through such agony!

Meeting a seminarian at a sign-language workshop was one of the things that prompted me to contact the vocations director for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I have been deaf since birth. The deaf community needs priests, and I hope that I will be able to serve in this way. When I first told friends that I was seriously thinking about priesthood, some of them came up with ideas for a "priest super hero" costume. My hobbies are painting, sculpting, sometimes sketching, and weaving. Although I am deaf, I lipread and can "hear" some sound with a hearing aid. I talk verbally with people who can hear, but I'm also fluent in sign language.

Brad Krawczyk: St. Stanislaus, Milwaukee - Class of 2012
I found being in the “Seminary Without Walls” program a great way to keep the possibility of priesthood before me.  Now that I am studying here with other men pursuing the same dream I am thankful for all that Saint Francis Seminary is offering me. I especially enjoy being the sacristan for many Eucharistic celebrations. This year I have the opportunity of coordinating the Men's Discernment Group Meetings. I invite anyone interested in discerning thier vocation to join us for great information and to meet others who are also diserning their call. Please e-mail me at: bkrawczyk@sfs.edu

Play my video to hear how my parish played a part in my path to priesthood.

Ryan Pruess: St. Peter, Slinger - Class of 2012
After graduating from Slinger High School in 2001 I earned a degree in Criminal Justice as well as completed the police recruit academy at Waukesha County Technical College .  Although I liked the program and the career path I was on, something kept tugging me back to the Catholic Church.  After careful consideration, prayer, and talking over my concerns with the vocations director, I decided to enter the college seminary program and put my future in law enforcement on hold until I was sure that God was not calling me to the priesthood.  Well, two years later I am filled with anticipation and joy as I prepare to enter the major seminary program this December.  I completed my undergraduate studies at Cardinal Stritch University and graduated with a degree in Religious Studies in December 2007.  I am very excited to continue my academic formation this spring with the other seminarians.  I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in the college seminary program.  It really gave me the time I needed to discern my call to the priesthood and to grow spiritually.  Thanks to the college seminary program, I am more prepared than ever both mentally and spiritually for the challenges and exciting opportunities that are ahead  I am thankful that I took the time to discern my path in life and truly feel like I belong here, in Milwaukee, serving God's people and Church as a Catholic priest.

Rick Rupprecht: St. Hyacinth, MIlwaukee - Class of 2010
I am in my third year of Theology here at St. Francis Seminary.  This year I am on my pastoral internship year at St. Andrew Church in Delavan.  Hopefully I will be ordained as a priest in 2010.  I was a member of both the St. Francis Seminary High School Program and the St. Francis Seminary College Program while discerning priesthood earlier on.  I received a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and in History at Marquette University.  I also earned a Master’s degree in Spanish and in Education from Marquette.  I became a high school Spanish teacher, teaching most of my years at St. Thomas More High School.  I decided after years of teaching that I needed to explore my call to priesthood again due to the fact that I still felt called to minister to and serve people in the Church.  My parish is St. Hyacinth in Milwaukee.

David Schroeder: St. Catherine, Ripon - College Program Sophmore
Hi!  My name is David Schroeder.  I am from the northwest corner of the Archdiocese at St. Catherine of Siena parish in Ripon.  From my youth I dreamed of being a priest and a professional football player like Reggie White.  In middle school I started going on retreats with the Legionaries of Christ, because I liked the sports and competitions, but it was the spiritual talks that returned my childhood desire to become a priest.  I entered the diocesan seminary in La Crosse for my first year of high school and then joined the Legionary’s novitiate, but religious life was not my vocation.  After two years at Ave Maria University in Florida I became a seminarian for Milwaukee.  I am currently in my second year at St. Joseph Seminary in Chicago, and I hope with the help of your prayers to be ordained in Milwaukee in 2014.

John Paul Shimek: St. Mary, Elm Grove - Class of 2011
I am John Paul Shimek, a second year theologian at the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington D.C. Outside of class, I serve as a chaplain at one of the capitol’s largest nursing homes. As a child, I became interested in the priesthood through the example of my parish priests. I began to be attracted to the kind of work they were doing. When I entered Brookfield Academy I became interested in the Church’s intellectual heritage. I began to wonder whether it would be possible to combine high-octane learning with a commitment to pastoral ministry. In college I was introduced to a number of Benedictine monks who succeeded at this task. Recognizing the need for diocesan priests, I decided to apply to St. Francis Seminary. Archbishop Dolan asked me to study at CUA and so I began my theology studies there in the fall of 2006.

Jacob Strand: St. Bruno, Dousman - Class of 2012
To be honest, my first thoughts of priesthood were filled with fear.   I think that’s pretty typical because the revelation of God’s loving plan frightens us when we realize it differs from the one we had personally conceived.  But at the same time, underneath the fright, I saw the priesthood as a challenging invitation to actively respond to God’s will with an entire life commitment.  Through prayer and introspection I have now realized that it was God’s grace working deep within my soul that sparked this overwhelming desire to respond to this invitation.  Although there are many ways to give our lives to God, He continued to reveal that only through the priesthood would I be able to become the person He created me to be.  Now as I strive to renew this commitment daily, I consistently find that the hesitancy, doubt, and questioning fade and that the great mission of humbly following in the steps of the priesthood of Jesus consumes me.  Thanks be to God!

I first felt that God might be calling me to priesthood toward the end of my sophomore year of college.  It was something that I never would have expected or anticipated.  For months I tried to avoid the deep-down feeling in my heart.  It wasn’t until I began praying about priesthood and sharing my desires with friends whom I had made through Newman Center Campus Ministry, Catholic Youth Expeditions, and Fr. Carr’s Place 2B, that my vocation was able to come to fruition.   I suppose that this is what has been the greatest gift of seminary life as well, namely, prayer and community.  It is precisely through these gifts that Jesus calls us into a deeper relationship with Him through the Church.  It isn’t easy.  It requires sacrifice and self-gift. And yet, in the midst of it all, I’ve never been happier and have never felt more fully alive in Christ.  Thanks be to God!

Matt Widder: Blessed Trinity, Sheboygan Falls - Class of 2010
I grew up on a dairy farm in Sheboygan Falls, and Blessed Trinity is my home parish. I am currently in my fourth year in the priestly formation program. This year I have the wonderful opportunity to experience the life of a parish first hand through an internship at Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac.  Prior to entering the seminary I obtained a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. When I made the decision to major in Exercise Science priesthood obviously was not front and center on my vocational radar screen. However, through a couple unexpected twists and turns the prospect of priesthood gradually moved front and center in my life. Ultimately the call got to the point where if I wouldn’t have pursued it I would have always looked back and wondered if I had ran from my true vocation in life.

If you have looked at the pictures on this website, you might have noticed that I am one of the older seminarians.  I entered the seminary when I was 38 years old.  I have been a physical therapist for 14 years.  I have two bachelor’s degrees – a BA in art from St. Norbert College in DePere, WI and a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas.

I probably had an inclination toward the priesthood when I was in grade school at St. Patrick’s in Ripon.  Going to Mass everyday was fun for me and I remember wanting to be a priest at that time in my life.  That idea didn’t really go away until I was in college and I thought I would get married and have children.  This was strengthened when my sister was born (I was 16) and I was able to care for her when my mom was away.

I eventually settled down in Sheboygan, WI and became active in several activities that rekindled something that made me feel inside that there was something I was supposed to do within the Church.  At this time I had begun doing a variety of mission trips to several countries including Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Honduras as well as mission trip here in the U. S. with teens from the Sheboygan Area and a contemporary Christian Music Ministry.  In my local community, I became active as a cantor, choir member, RCIA catechist and helping with the Life Teen program at another parish (St. Dominic’s in Sheboygan). 

When I became convicted that there was something that I was supposed to be doing, I went to my priest and asked him about the deaconate.  He asked me if I had thought about the priesthood and I explained to him that I had…when I was a child.  He gave me the numbers at the seminary for the vocation’s office where I spoke to someone about both vocations – deaconate and priest.  It was suggested that I work with a spiritual director, who (along with much prayer and personal discernment) helped me to choose the path of the priesthood.

It has not been an easy road, but I have always been able to step back and say that this is where I am supposed to be, this is where God wants me at this time.  I enjoy talking about my journey.  I love my life as a physical therapist and the ministry that I have there, but I believe that I can take that experience and so much more to the people I will walk with later as a priest.  I want to show them a God that walks with them in all aspects of their life.