College Seminarians

Andrew Heyer

First year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: Our Lady of the Valley, Windsor

Age: 18 years old

Name one person who influences your decision to go seminary. How did this person encourage you? Kevin Burnett was my Totus Tuus teacher my junior year and helped me truly think of the idea of going to the seminary. He helped me to understand what seminary life entailed and put the idea in the front of my mind. Kevin also helped me contact Father Crisman who was very helpful in leading me though my decision to go to the seminary. I would highly advise calling Father Crisman if you are discerning a call to the seminary.

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Connor Lyle

Year in Seminary: College Age: 20 Home Parish(es): St. Thomas More

At what point in your life did your faith come alive? How did this happen? My faith really came alive during my Junior year of High School. I opened my heart to God’s will, and He strongly called me to follow Him.

Name one person who influences your decision to go seminary. How did this person encourage you? My Mother played a huge role in my decision making. Not that she was urging me to attend seminary, but she was praying for my vocation daily. God heard her prayers, and made known to me what exactly my vocation was.

What was one of the most important things that helped you take the step into seminary? I knew that my life would not be satisfied unless I followed the will of God. Knowing this gave me confidence in my decision to enter into seminary.

What do you enjoy most about the seminary? The seminary teaches us men how to live our lives radically for Christ. I am not alone in my journey. It is a great blessing to have so many young men helping each other reach our goal of holiness.

What would be your one piece of advice for a young man discerning his vocation? Ask God exactly what it is He wants of you. He will answer.

 Dakota Lane

Second year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: Christ on the Mountain, Lakewood

Age: 19 years old

What do you enjoy most about the seminary? Without hesitation I can say that the thing I enjoy most is the structure. It is a busy and rigorous schedule which forces me to really make an effort to cling to our Beloved Lord, because it can be so easy to be swept up in the busyness of our life, but through His grace we can come to see Him loving us in everything.

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Daniel Wolbach

Year in Seminary: College Age: 19 Home Parish(es): Light of the World

At what point in your life did your faith come alive? How did this happen? My faith started to grow rapidly after my Confirmation. All throughout high school I grew closer to God.

What do your family and friends think about you studying to be a priest? My family and friends have always encouraged me to follow God’s will and they have told me that no matter what his will is they support me 100%.

What would be your one piece of advice for a young man discerning his vocation? My one piece of advice to any man discerning his vocation is that you should strive to go to confession at least twice a month as well as attending daily Mass. Prayer time in Eucharistic Adoration is also a must.

Describe your relationship with the Blessed Mother. In times of distress or worry I always find myself going to the Blessed Mother for help and comfort. One habit I picked up at the seminary is to pray a daily Rosary and always keep her in mind.

What is a good book for someone thinking about his vocation? If you have ever thought of joining the seminary or have ever wondered if you have a vocation you should read Fr. Brett Brannen’s book ’To Save a Thousand Souls’.

Jessee Kilgore

Second year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: Holy Trinity, Westminster

Age: 19 years old

Describe your relationship with the Blessed Mother. Mary is my inspiration and the woman that constantly brings me closer to Jesus. All she wants for me is to be perfectly united with Jesus, and that is what she pursues for me. She is by far the woman I love the most in my life!

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Joe O’Hayre

Second year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: Shrine of St. Anne, Arvada

Age: 25 years old

What would be your one piece of advice for a young man discerning his vocation? Draw near to God daily through a time of personal prayer.

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Justin Doerr

Second year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: Holy Name, Steamboat Springs

Age: 19 years old

What would be your one piece of advice for a young man discerning his vocation? Be patient. Unlike St. Paul, very few of us are knocked off of our horses and given clear instructions. Most of us are more like Elijah-God speaks to us in a whisper. Often, that whisper takes a long time to discern.

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LukeHoffman

Second year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: St. Frances Cabrini, Littleton

Age: 19 years old

Profile coming later…

Red Braz

Second year seminarian at St. Gregory the Great Seminary, NE

Home Parish: St. Andrews the Apostle, Wray

Age: 19 years old

At what point in your life did your faith come alive? How did this happen? I haven’t been Catholic my entire life and when I reached my sophomore year in high school I was confirmed into the Church. Later that year I became head server at my parish and that’s when I really started enjoying the faith! I started understanding the faith more and enjoyed going to Mass! I also enjoyed telling others I was Catholic or living my faith and showing others through my actions I was Catholic. It helped change my life a lot!

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Sean Conroy

First year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: St. Frances Cabrini, Littleton

Age: 18 years old

What do your family and friends think about you studying to be a priest? I have gotten so many different responses from telling all kinds of people that I am studying to be a Catholic priest. But, I couldn’t be more thankful for the utmost support that I have received from my family and friends. Even though some friends may not understand why I would want to do this with my life, I pray that my life may be a witness for their conversion to the Lord.

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Stefan Boyer

First year seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary, MN

Home Parish: Spirit of Christ, Arvada

Age: 18 years old

What was one of the most important things that helped you take the step into seminary? The most important thing that helped me consider seminary more seriously was understanding that going to seminary is a place to formally discern God’s will and not just a place were I have to become a priest if I entered.

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