“I truly have a desire to help people and share the love and mercy of God with them,” reflects the Diocese of Gaylord’s newest seminarian Mark Steck, who is currently in his first year of study at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“The thing I like most about my seminary experience is having my whole life center around Christ and my love for him. And with that, I am a witness to the faith and his love.
“A day in the life of a seminarian is inspiring. It begins with Holy Hour and morning prayer, and every day we celebrate the holy Mass as well as the Liturgy of the Hours,” he explains.
“Outside of this, there is time for recreation, and fraternal time spent with brother seminarians.”
When Mark has downtime, he enjoys reading, cooking, playing the piano and spending time with his four siblings.
Hearing the Call
When reflecting on his vocational journey, Mark shares, “Priestly discernment was nurtured through my upbringing, which consisted of attending daily Mass, adoration, daily rosary and other prayers throughout the day.”
He continues, “While I enjoyed serving God as an altar boy, I never seriously considered priestly vocations. I was considering a culinary career given my interest in cooking.”
Mark’s priestly discernment, however, blossomed in November of his junior year of high school.
“The Diocese of Gaylord was hosting a seminary visit to Josephinum Pontifical College in Columbus, Ohio. I did not know what a seminary was like, so when I got there it was a nice surprise to see that it was a cool place. It was full of guys who loved the Lord and were answering his call,” he remembers.
“Just a few months later, in February of my junior year, the diocese was having another seminary visit to St. John Vianney College Seminary (SJV) in St. Paul, Minn. On this visit, I met a lot of the young guys. They inspired me to think about what God wanted me to do.
“At the beginning of my senior year of high school, the priesthood was in the back of my mind. When I went to Mass on Sundays, I was inspired by Father Donald Libby’s homilies on vocations. I could feel something in my heart as if God was telling me this is what he wanted from me.
“That same year, I read and meditated on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and something about that made me realize that I could not have
a happy and fulfilling life unless I did what God was calling me to. After this, I remember telling God, ‘If you just tell me what you want me to do, I will do it,’” informs Mark.
“After praying and thinking about it for a few months, I realized that through those homilies and spiritual exercises, God was telling me what to do. I just had to answer him. In the winter of my senior year of high school, I decided to contact Father Rexroat and begin the application process.”
Prayer Empowers
Mark garners spiritual encouragement through his prayer intentions to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Augustine, among others, for guidance and strength.
When asked what he would tell those discerning the call, he says, “Do research and find out some things about seminary and the priesthood that you never knew before. Be open to God’s will and realize that only he can bring eternal peace and happiness.
May God continue to bless Mark and all those discerning priestly vocations with love and guidance. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, may she offer fortitude, wisdom and nourishment for those in discernment and ordained.
