Seminarian Profile: Tim Wyciskalla
St. Barnabas Parish, Indianapolis
Favorite...
- Book: True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis De Montfort
- Movie: The Godfather
- Team:
- Artist/Song: The Beatles, A Day in the Life
- Quote: “One thing in this world is different from all other. It has a personality and a force. It is recognized, and (when recognized) most violently loved or hated. It is the Catholic Church. Within that household the human spirit has roof and hearth. Outside it, is the Night.” -Hilaire Belloc
- Activities: Mass, Adoration, Movies, Music, Basketball, Racquetball
- Saint: St. Francis
I was born and raised in the south side of Indianapolis, and I am 20 years old. My family has been active members of St. Barnabas parish for 29 years. I went to St. Barnabas grade school for eight years, after eighth grade I went to Roncalli High School for four years. I have just completed my third semester at Bishop Brute College Seminary. I have two older sisters, an older brother, two brother-in-laws, and a sister-in-law. I also have three nieces, two nephews, and a new niece or nephew due in June of 08. I have been blessed with a very close family, which I believed has been integral in my vocation story.
Much of what led me to seminary can only be observed (at least by me) in hindsight; looking back I can see God working in my life in many ways to lead me where I am today. I didn’t consider the priesthood in grade school or middle school. However, being at St. Barnabas put my in constant contact with many great examples of what a priest is (Fr. Sciarra, Fr. McNally, Fr. Farrell, etc). So from a young age I had a profound respect for priests in general. Throughout most of high school I was planning on going to a large state university to study business. I was a cradle Catholic, and my family is very strong in the faith; however, It wasn’t until I began to seriously study the teachings and history of the Catholic Church (prompted by the need to answer questions by non-Catholics I worked with, and with the help of a wonderful religion teacher named Ms. Somrak at Roncalli) that I really began to love the practice of my faith. I loved studying apologetics, and it led me to a deeper understanding of the faith, which in turn led to more participation in the parish youth ministry. During my time with the parish youth ministry I attended adoration frequently, it was before the Blessed Sacrament that I first considered the call to Priesthood. Since then I have been discerning that call intensely, which led me to where I am today.
As mentioned earlier I am a sophomore at Bishop Brute. The seminary has been a wonderful place of spiritual, as well as human growth for me. Daily Mass, daily community Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration three times a week, and the philosophy program at Marian college have all enriched my discernment towards the priesthood incredibly. The community at Bishop Brute is also highly conducive to formation. It was a perfect place to grow in faith and in person towards the goal of priesthood.
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