Eliot Schwer

Pre-Theology II
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

I grew up in the Millard District of Omaha and was raised in the Protestant tradition. I attended Trinity Christian Church on 156th and Dodge and went to school there as well from kindergarten through the eighth grade. I graduated from Millard North High School in 2002 and then went on to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Towards the end of my undergraduate career I became increasingly interested in things Catholic and in Easter of 2007 I was received into the Church at the Newman Center in Lincoln. Shortly thereafter I became a missionary for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). During this time my parents moved to midtown in Omaha which was the beginning of my relationship with my adopted parish, St. Margaret Mary, which generously supported me during my two year ministry with FOCUS. In my first year I was placed at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and was then sent to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley my second year. During this two year period FOCUS gave me the opportunity to discern my vocation more fully. Outside of time with college students I was able to use much of my time to seek the face of the Lord in prayer. While in Illinois I had inklings of a desire for the priesthood but it was not until I arrived in Colorado that I became more intent on discerning God’s call potentially as a seminarian. As I came to a deeper understanding of God’s love for me I began to realize that I wanted to give my life completely to Him. As a former Protestant, the idea of celibacy had never really entered my mind before but as my Catholic sensibility grew I realized that one truly could live for God and His desires alone if he is granted to do so. I began to see the depth of the call of the priesthood. In saying no to one particular woman for the sake of God and all of His children I would be able to give myself to all in a way that I could never have imagined. The ability of the priest to act in Persona Christi in the sacraments seems to be a very intimate way of knowing others as well as knowing Love Himself.

I look forward to attending seminary at St. John Vianney in St. Paul, MN in hopes that this new found passion will continue to be nurtured and grow into the fullness of a vocation. I have been encouraged by the true brotherhood and masculinity that I have seen exhibited by the men at the seminary and like them, I hope to become more molded into the image of our loving Savior. For any man even remotely considering the call of the priesthood I would highly encourage you to come and see life at the seminary. Do no succumb to the pressures and the ignorance of this passing world. In the end the only thing that matters is God. Either you have Him or you don’t. “The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is his name” Exodus 15:3. As I see more of life in this world I begin to see that it is truly a battle. As I go into seminary I know that I will be trained for the battle more effectively there than anywhere else. No matter what my vocation ends up being I know that my years in seminary will prepare me to b e the man that God created me to be; A man who does not give in to apathy, sloth, sarcasm, selfishness and pride but by the grace of God, a man who is Love’s servant above all else. A man that will not be bought or corrupted by the ways of the world but who stands and is willing to testify to the light in the darkness!