Meet Jacob Rose
Do your family and friends think it is a good idea that you’re becoming a priest?
My family has been very supportive of my decision to be in the seminary. It has been a journey for us collectively, as I learn more about the priesthood and God’s call, they too learn more.
Do you ever have any fun? What do you do in your free time?
Absolutely there is time for fun. I was involved in the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s in Winona. Also, I find myself spending free time hanging out with my brother seminarians and just enjoying life for fun.
If you were not a priest, what do you think you would be?
It’s hard to say, but mostly likely something involving financies. Probably, financial advisor and insurance salesman during the week, and a side job of being a disc jockey.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
I have one older brother and one older sister as well sister-in-law and a brother-in-law.
What is your favorite TV program?
West Wing and Law & Order: SVU
Who is your favorite singer or music group?
Chris Rice or Fernando Ortega
Do you ever get bored while studying to be a priest?
I try not to let boredom be part of my vocabulary, and there is never time to be bored. Seminary is very busy, but also very rewarding.
How is seminary different from a regular school?
In addition to regular school, we have other areas of formation, which include Pastoral Formation, Spiritual Formation, and Human Formation.
How often do you see your family?
On breaks during school, all summer, and periodically a family member will stop by school for a visit.
Can you really be happy as a priest since priests don’t make much money?
Without a doubt! I think it may actually be easier to be happy without money, because then it is easier to focus on God and find true happiness.
How often do you pray?
Saint Paul says, “Pray always, without ceasing,” so I guess I try to pray as often as possible, even if it is on the way to class.
Who helped you decide to become a priest?
Father James Kruse had a large impact on my going to the seminary. I think if he hadn’t have said something, I would have done other things; I would have followed my will, not God’s will.
When did you decide to study to be a priest? How did you know God was calling you to be a priest?
I decided to study to be a priest during my second semester of my senior year of high school, and knew God was calling me to the priesthood through prayer.
I thought God was making a mistake in calling me, but after being open to what He was saying through prayer, I realized that I was making the mistake in not listening.
What do you think the best thing will be about being a priest?
Being in persona Christi, that is, standing in the person of Christ for those in need. I also look forward to serving God’s people through the sacraments and other acts of love.
How has TEC influenced your discernment to the priesthood?
I am what they call in the seminary, a lifer. I initially heard the call to the priesthood when I was six or seven years old. This call was coupled with growing up in a Catholic family, with many good role models in the faith. Our family was rooted in praying together and attending Mass; this faith has helped all of my family to be very supportive of my being in the seminary. We have learned together what it means to be called to the priesthood and how the seminary works to form priests.
I attended public grade school up to eighth grade, and then moved on to a Catholic high school. During high school, I was able to start making my faith my own, especially through the TEC program. I started getting involved with the TEC program during my sophomore year of high school, and have been actively involved ever since either through being on teams or wheat teams, serving on the core team, or by offering WHEAT for those involved in the weekend as well as the success and trajectory of the program.
Through my involvement in the TEC program, coupled with my Catholic high school education, I was able to answer the call to go to the seminary right after high school in 2005. I attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, and took college courses at Saint Mary’s University. I graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in philosophy with minor studies in business and theology. While a college seminarian, I was involved in the Knights of Columbus, Seminary Choir, Students for Life, and other campus activities.
After college seminary, I came to Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Mount Saint Mary’s is America’s second oldest Catholic University offering 40 undergrad majors as well as many graduate school programs. Among the grad programs at the Mount exists Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, which is fed by approximately 30 dioceses across the entire globe. There are about 160 men studying for the priesthood at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary from many dioceses in the United States, Columbia, Togo, Africa, and Sri Lanka.
God willing, I will be ordained a priest in 2013, but only by the grace of God. Please continue to pray for vocations, and about your own vocation. A special prayer about my vocation that I say quite often, “Lord, help me to want to be what you want me to be.”
My family has been very supportive of my decision to be in the seminary. It has been a journey for us collectively, as I learn more about the priesthood and God’s call, they too learn more.
Do you ever have any fun? What do you do in your free time?
Absolutely there is time for fun. I was involved in the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s in Winona. Also, I find myself spending free time hanging out with my brother seminarians and just enjoying life for fun.
If you were not a priest, what do you think you would be?
It’s hard to say, but mostly likely something involving financies. Probably, financial advisor and insurance salesman during the week, and a side job of being a disc jockey.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
I have one older brother and one older sister as well sister-in-law and a brother-in-law.
What is your favorite TV program?
West Wing and Law & Order: SVU
Who is your favorite singer or music group?
Chris Rice or Fernando Ortega
Do you ever get bored while studying to be a priest?
I try not to let boredom be part of my vocabulary, and there is never time to be bored. Seminary is very busy, but also very rewarding.
How is seminary different from a regular school?
In addition to regular school, we have other areas of formation, which include Pastoral Formation, Spiritual Formation, and Human Formation.
How often do you see your family?
On breaks during school, all summer, and periodically a family member will stop by school for a visit.
Can you really be happy as a priest since priests don’t make much money?
Without a doubt! I think it may actually be easier to be happy without money, because then it is easier to focus on God and find true happiness.
How often do you pray?
Saint Paul says, “Pray always, without ceasing,” so I guess I try to pray as often as possible, even if it is on the way to class.
Who helped you decide to become a priest?
Father James Kruse had a large impact on my going to the seminary. I think if he hadn’t have said something, I would have done other things; I would have followed my will, not God’s will.
When did you decide to study to be a priest? How did you know God was calling you to be a priest?
I decided to study to be a priest during my second semester of my senior year of high school, and knew God was calling me to the priesthood through prayer.
I thought God was making a mistake in calling me, but after being open to what He was saying through prayer, I realized that I was making the mistake in not listening.
What do you think the best thing will be about being a priest?
Being in persona Christi, that is, standing in the person of Christ for those in need. I also look forward to serving God’s people through the sacraments and other acts of love.
How has TEC influenced your discernment to the priesthood?
I am what they call in the seminary, a lifer. I initially heard the call to the priesthood when I was six or seven years old. This call was coupled with growing up in a Catholic family, with many good role models in the faith. Our family was rooted in praying together and attending Mass; this faith has helped all of my family to be very supportive of my being in the seminary. We have learned together what it means to be called to the priesthood and how the seminary works to form priests.
I attended public grade school up to eighth grade, and then moved on to a Catholic high school. During high school, I was able to start making my faith my own, especially through the TEC program. I started getting involved with the TEC program during my sophomore year of high school, and have been actively involved ever since either through being on teams or wheat teams, serving on the core team, or by offering WHEAT for those involved in the weekend as well as the success and trajectory of the program.
Through my involvement in the TEC program, coupled with my Catholic high school education, I was able to answer the call to go to the seminary right after high school in 2005. I attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, and took college courses at Saint Mary’s University. I graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in philosophy with minor studies in business and theology. While a college seminarian, I was involved in the Knights of Columbus, Seminary Choir, Students for Life, and other campus activities.
After college seminary, I came to Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Mount Saint Mary’s is America’s second oldest Catholic University offering 40 undergrad majors as well as many graduate school programs. Among the grad programs at the Mount exists Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, which is fed by approximately 30 dioceses across the entire globe. There are about 160 men studying for the priesthood at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary from many dioceses in the United States, Columbia, Togo, Africa, and Sri Lanka.
God willing, I will be ordained a priest in 2013, but only by the grace of God. Please continue to pray for vocations, and about your own vocation. A special prayer about my vocation that I say quite often, “Lord, help me to want to be what you want me to be.”
