Peace of Christ to you! It is my absolute honor and joy to be assigned to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception for my final year of seminary formation as a transitional deacon!
I am sure that we will share much with each other over the coming months, but here is just a small sense of who I am. As a sixth child of eight, my parents raised me Catholic, although not “exceptionally.” My upbringing in the faith mirrors many Catholic families. The moment of change would occur upon leaving for college. I experienced a distinct longing, which I came to realize was the presence of God’s calm but persistent calling to do something different. To follow him uniquely. I came to recongize this as the invitation to discern priesthood, which had me leave the University of Akron after one year to study at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland starting in 2018. It’s here I met a few good men whose names might ring a bell.
Deacon Chuck and I are classmates who have been studying together for the last five years. It is through his stories and love of this parish that I came to first hear about this community. Additionally, I consider myself a good friend of now Fr. James Parisi! He gave me a call when my assignment was made public, and I’ll never forget what he shared with me. “You have the best parish in the Diocese of Cleveland.”
Over this last week, I am coming to experience exactly what both of these men mean when they speak of you and your faith. I can see how the love of Jesus Christ can be made present through the work of your ministries, in the pursuit of excellent education and leadership in your school, and the genuine relational love that you have for me as your deacon. I hope to grow to know you more through our weekend liturgies and throughout my time here at this parish. I truly believe that the Father, who is never outdone in His goodness, will abundantly bless our relationships and time together, and may the Holy Spirit guide us closer to the Sacred Heart of Christ together!
Deacon Nathan
