Daniel Ciucci

Year in Seminary: Philosophy – 1st Year
Age: 24
Home Parish(es): Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. Thomas Aquinas (Boulder)

What did you do before you entered the seminary?
Before seminary I studied Business Administration/Operations Management at the University of Colorado at Boulder. During this time I increased in faith, community and self knowledge at St. Thomas Aquinas Center which serves the University in Boulder.

Name one person who influences your decision to go seminary. How did this person encourage you?
Though God employed many people to bring me to where I am today, it was the witness of joy which had the most impact on me. This witness came from (then) Deacon Pawel Zborowski. He was assigned to Sacred Heart of Jesus during my senior year of high school. During that year I witnessed a man enter into and graciously, dare I say joyfully, accept a life of celibacy – a life of audacious generosity for the people of God. In that man I saw how his love for God and for God’s people strengthened him to give up a wife and children so that he could be completely available for the Church and Her mission.

What do you enjoy most about the seminary?
I love that, in seminary, we are encouraged to be more human, that is, truly human. If grace builds upon nature, then it is vital that nature have its firm foundation in goodness. By this I mean to say that having habits that make us happier and healthier will, in turn, make us holier. The seminary encourages us to pursue our interests. Personally I find cooking to be very life-giving; so I am given many opportunities to develop this skill. Recently I was given an opportunity to cook side by side with the rector of the seminary.

What would be your one piece of advice for a young man discerning his vocation?
Peace and freedom. At every stage of discernment one must seek to be free or anxiety and pressure when making a decision. In this his intentions are more pure and allow him to be unencumbered as he seeks the will of God in his own life.  Peace is a grace from God which confirms and affirms us in our current path. Without freedom, love is impossible.

What is a good book for someone thinking about his vocation?
Priests for the Third Millenium by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

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