Denver Catholic

RYA N M ACK What's your Hometown? I grew up in Billings, Montana and then lived in and around Golden, Colorado for six years before entering seminary. What was your upbringing like? I was raised in a faithful Catholic home. A vocation to the priesthood wasn't really on the radar growing up, but my brother, sister, and I were formed well in the practice of the faith. I came to Colorado in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Colorado School of Mines. During my four years of undergraduate studies, I had a deeply formative experience with FOCUS missionaries and students in Mines Catholic Campus Ministry. When did you discover that the Lord was calling you to be a priest? Looking back, I think life had been a little too stressful in college to discern well, and it was only once life had slowed down, working as an engineer in Denver that I could actively address the question of vocation. I started up spiritual direction with the pastor at my parish. It wasn't until about a year and a half of simply developing my spiritual life that a clear call came through prayer. In a concrete sense, in t wo particular instances of prayer I heard Christ invite me to participate in his priesthood. Several months afterward, I entered seminary in the fall of 2017. What are you most looking forward to about being a priest? A call to spiritual fatherhood was a very real element in my vocational discernment, and f lowing from that, I really look forward to preaching and teaching in the parish. I'm excited to be able to give blessings and to facilitate the sacramental life in the Church. OW E N L I M A R TA What's your hometown? Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia. What was your upbringing like? My parents are both from the cor- porate business world (banking). One younger sister who is a dentist and one younger brother who is a banker. When did you discover that the Lord was calling you to be a priest? My family converted to the Cath- olic faith from Buddhism when I was in 3rd grade. I first fell in love with the Blessed Mother, and I started praying the rosary before I go to bed. From that point, I guess there is only one place the Blessed Mother leads you, namely a deeper love for Jesus Christ. I fell in love with them so deep that I want only to be theirs and completely theirs. I knew I wanted to become a priest by then. I came to the U.S. for college orig- inally, graduated with a business degree from CSU. During my time there I learned more about diocesan priesthood and fell in love with this diocese. Then I just decided to enter. What are you most looking for- ward to about being a priest? Go out, baptize them, and teach them, "that they may know Thee the one true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent" (Jn 17:3). DAV I D H A L L What's your hometown? Denver, Colorado. What was your upbringing like? I was born and raised Catholic, and I've been in Catholic school since I was three years old! I have lived in Colorado my whole life, except for my four years of college. I am the second of four boys, and we spent our time growing up playing sports, playing music, and breaking things around the house. When did you discover that the Lord was calling you to be a priest? I first felt the call to be a priest when I was pretty young; I told my mom I wanted to be a priest when I grew up when I was maybe 8 or 9. This call became clear when I was in college, and during my senior year, I decided that I would enter seminary after graduation. What are you most looking for- ward to about being a priest? I have been tremendously blessed to have experienced the love of Jesus Christ in my life, and the ways that he has transformed me as I begin my journey. As a priest, I deeply desire to communicate to people how deeply they are loved by God. 31 DENVER CATHOLIC | MARCH 2023 PHOTO BY DANIEL PETTY | DENVER CATHOLIC

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