Laboure Society
“My name is John Nicklaus. I am discerning a call to serve Christ and His Church as a priest with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This is my story. ”
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My name is John Nicklaus. I am discerning a call to serve Christ and His Church as a priest with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This is my story.
I grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. I am one of five children. The Catholic Faith was a central part of my family. We attended Sunday Mass, prayed before meals, and my father, a deacon, encouraged me to pray daily. I had a longing to live my life for God, but struggled to let Him lead me. This changed, however, in my high school years, when I began to open myself to the Lord and trust in His plan for my life. Year by year, God took the little openness that I gave Him and multiplied it, giving me the grace to follow Him more closely.
In high school I did think about becoming a priest, but I pushed that idea away because I was afraid that it meant I would not be able to do what I wanted with my life. During college, the chaplain asked me if I had ever considered seminary. When I told him I had been avoiding that question, he encouraged me to ask God what He intended for my life. As I prayed, I realized that the evil one had been using my fear to push me away from God; yet, having received peace through prayer, I knew that I could trust God’s plan whatever it may be. The One who created us and knows us intimately knows what will ultimately lead to our greatest fulfillment.
As I follow God’s calling to the priesthood, I seek others to accompany me on this journey. May we meet so that I can share more? Until then, please keep me and my classmates in prayer, and feel free to reach out to me at JohnNicklaus@rescuevocations.org.
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