Stephen Driscoll

I was born and raised in Omaha, NE. I was the third generation in my family to grow up in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Before I started high school at Gross Catholic, my family moved to St. Columbkille. For the past eight years, St. Frances Cabrini has been my home parish.

Throughout grade school, high school, and college I was always drawn to our Catholic faith. Looking back, I can see clearly how the Father was planting seeds and cultivating a call to the Priesthood. However, I resisted that call for a long time. I looked at other things to fill the longing in my heart. But the Lord is gentle, patient, and persistent.

A turning point in my discernment came when the Lord brought me to St. Frances Cabrini Parish. Cabrini became a home — a place of encounter where I experienced Jesus. I began to see the Holy Spirit working in and through people. As I became more involved, the people of Cabrini helped me recognize how the Holy Spirit was working in and through me.

Discernment moved from a place of fear to an experience of freedom. I have learned that you don’t have to know the outcome, but that if you trust the Lord and allow Him to love all of you (your goodness and brokenness), He will take you on a wonderful adventure. A vocation is meant to enliven who you are as a gift to the world. For those who are discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life, don’t be afraid to take the next step. Trust in the Lord. There is peace, freedom, and adventure waiting for you.

Please pray for me! You are in my prayers.

RETURN TO SEMINARIANS

Hey! I’m Zach Eischeid. I grew up in Elgin, Nebraska and belong to the Saint Boniface Parish. I attended Saint Boniface Elementary and graduated from Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School. Saint Boniface Parish is a great place to learn about the Faith with our schools and to see so many parishioners helping each other and our parish in a myriad of ways.

My discernment has been around for as long as I can remember. Since I was a toddler, the priesthood always amazed me. However, around junior high, I kept pushing it to the back of my mind because I didn’t want to be labeled as that “extra-religious guy.” After graduating, I decided to attend Benedictine College to major in Theology. Towards the end of my first year at Benedictine, while at my sister’s wedding dance, I oddly had a strong feeling about seminary. A month later, I attended the priest ordination while teaching Totus Tuus, and started weeping during the procession in the cathedral. This sign was big encouragement in finally giving my future in God’s hands. I am currently at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis and have made many fraternal friendships, as we are all on the same journey of striving to be what God wants us to be.

For all those with even an inkling about entering seminary, I encourage you to be open to it. Pray about it, frequent the sacraments, and remember: “You were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” And remember, every priest and seminarian has gone through what you are going through.

In my down time, I like playing any sport, especially basketball and baseball, jamming on the ukulele, listening to Christian rap, watching Nebraska football, and combating heresy.