Priestly vocations

For a small diocese like ours, we are tremendously blessed with the number of seminarians who have answered the call to the priesthood. The diocese currently has 15 seminarians, at different levels of study, in formation to one day, God willing, become your priests.
 
This fall, eight men were accepted into seminary for the Bismarck Diocese. New to the seminary this year are Aiden Schaefbauer, Nolan Johnson, Ronan Klindworth, Preston Barbie, Tyler Selzler, Taylen Thomas, Paul Vetter and Joseph Schweitzer. In this month’s article, we introduce you to two of the eight newest men studying to someday be your priests. The previous two issues of the Dakota Catholic Action have featured six of the new men.
 
Aiden Schaefbauer
 
Seminarian Aiden Schaefbauer grew up attending the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary with his family and credits parish life for greatly influencing his path to the seminary. 
 
“My family is on the hospitality team, so from a young age, I was serving in the parish,” Aiden said. “At a young age, this sparked a desire to serve others and fostered a deeper reverence for the Mass. These things only grew once I was able to serve at the parish. In my senior year of high school, I became an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and that had a tremendous influence as I was bringing the Lord to His people. Through that, the Lord grew the desire for the seminary.”
 
 Aiden said that joining the seminary came, not from a big realization, but rather many more subtle nudges throughout his life.
 
“The earliest thought I had of the priesthood and seminary was when I was a sophomore in high school,” he explained. “Although, the final push to join the seminary did not come until a couple of years later. There was no single defining moment; rather, it was the accumulation of small graces through which the Lord patiently worked on my stubborn heart. This building up of graces finally struck me during my first year of college during a retreat.”

Aiden received guidance from many people on his faith journey. One influential piece was his cousin who had joined the seminary a few years before him. His cousin has recently discerned out of the seminary for our diocese.
 
“There have been a lot of influential people in my journey to the seminary,” Aiden noted. "My cousin played a significant role in my journey into the seminary, but in the opposite sense, where I felt like I was following him into the seminary. The Lord, through different priests, showed that I was wrong in thinking this way. Along with this, my high school and college chaplain also had a significant role by simply being a witness and guide when I was discerning. They were both great models of what it looks like to live a life centered in Christ.”
 
Aiden is studying at the St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C.
 
“My seminary experience has been amazing,” Aiden said. “One of the greatest blessings of seminary life is being surrounded by men who are walking the same journey of discernment. Living, praying, and studying alongside others who are seeking to respond faithfully to God’s call has shown me that vocation is not a solitary pursuit. The fraternity formed in seminary has challenged me to grow in virtue, accountability and humility, while also encouraging me during moments of difficulty. 
 
“Witnessing the sincerity, generosity and perseverance of my brothers has strengthened my own commitment and reminded me that discernment is not meant to be lived in isolation, but within a community who supports, sharpens and strengthens one another. Along with this, the formation at the seminary is a tremendous blessing. I have learned so much in my short time in seminary.” 
 
Aiden shared his gratitude to the people of our diocese for the prayers and support offered to him and all the seminarians.
 
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the people of the Bismarck Diocese for your continued prayers and support,” he said. “Receiving letters from people of the diocese always brings me a strong sense of home and belonging. They serve as a reminder that my discernment and formation are supported by a faith-filled community that continues to encourage me on my journey.”
 
Nolan Johnson

Seminarian Nolan Johnson grew up in Mandan attending the parish of St. Joseph. Parish life and interacting with the priests there had a significant influence on his decision to join the seminary.
 
“My parish has been a huge grace to me having served under Fr. Shane Cambell and Fr. Josh Waltz,” Nolan said. “These priests have helped me discern the seminary and helped me with all the religious questions I would ask them.”
 
His first thoughts of the priesthood began in the role of altar server at Mass while enjoying the advantage of an up-close and personal view of the beautiful sacrifice. Even at that young age, he could picture himself in the role of the priest someday.
 
“My first thoughts of seminary were when I was a little kid, when I first started serving as a Mass server,” Nolan explained. “Father Shane was celebrating the Mass, and I thought to myself that I could be the person to do that one day.” 
 
The motivation to join the seminary came when Nolan was in college and had the realization that he was meant for greater things.
 
“The final push to seminary came later when I was in my first year of college,” he said. “I knew I wanted something more and the place I knew I could get more out of my faith life was the seminary. My parents and family have been so supportive and are walking with me on this long journey and I can’t appreciate them enough for having helped grow me into a good man.”
 
Nolan is in formation for the priesthood at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. Seminary has proven to be valuable in human formation as well as bonding with men of like minds. 
 
“The seminary is an amazing place with a bunch of men that are striving for the same thing,” he said. “We work toward greater connection to our vocation and relationship with the Lord. I love the seminary and how many activities we do. In addition to formation classes, one of my favorite parts is the number of sports we play.”
 
He is appreciative of the prayers and support of the people of his home diocese. He knows it sustains him and his fellow seminarians through the daily trials and triumphs.
 
"Thank you so much to the people of the Bismarck Diocese for your never-ending prayers for me and my fellow brother seminaries,” Nolan said.
 
Others in formation

Please continue to pray for all the men following their call to the priesthood in different stages of formation for our diocese. Deacon Colton Steiner will be ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on June 12. Those studying for the diocese at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis are Griffin Schaeffer, Alex Wilson, Nolan Johnson, Paul Vetter, Taylen Thomas and Tyler Selzler. Those men at St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C. are Aaron Ripplinger, Thomas Kraljic, Aiden Schaefbauer, Preston Barbie, Joseph Schweitzer and Ronan Klindworth. Seminarians Joe Schon and Joseph Richter are in Rome studying at the Pontifical North American College. Joseph Richter will be ordained to the diaconate on Oct. 1 in Rome.
 
Please also include in your prayers all the young men and women in our diocese who may be considering a call to the priesthood or religious life.