(Left to right) Dcn. Robert Waller, seminarian Conrad Jaconette, Fr. Zachary Kautzky, Fr. Tim Mergen, Fr. Ryan McDaniel gathered for a field Mass at Jack’s Valley for the United States Air Force Academy Class of 2028. COURTESY OF CONRAD JACONETTE

Christopher French

Second Configuration, Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology

This summer, the diocese sent me on a Spanish immersion program in Guatemala. It was a time to learn Spanish and experience the vibrant culture and daily life in Guatemala. I had plenty of opportunities to try Guatemalan food, which was pretty good. My efforts to learn Spanish were both challenging and rewarding, helping me connect more with the culture and the people there. Coffee was another highlight for me in Guatemala. I’m not a big connoisseur of coffee but I will say the coffee in Guatemala was one of the best that I have had. While there, I also had plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. It was great being able to connect with local people.

A memorable experience for me was visiting the site where Blessed Stanley Rother was martyred in Santiago Atitlán in 1981. There, I got to learn more about his story and see how he had such a profound impact on the people there, even to this day. Overall, my time in Guatemala was very good and I look forward to practicing my Spanish at seminary this fall semester.

Seminarian Christopher French takes a selfie at Lake Atitlán, near where Blessed Stanley Rother, a priest from Oklahoma, was martyred in 1981. COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER FRENCH

Hunter Dickens

First Discipleship, Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology

My first summer as a seminarian included the National Eucharistic Congress culminating in Indianapolis. There, I arranged for sacred art from churches around the country to support the prayer of those going to Confession. It was a blessing to see countless people praying before these artworks, either while preparing for the sacrament or fulfilling their penance afterward. 

The Congress’s success stemmed from its focus on prayer and the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, from which prayer and liturgy flowed into cultural events like the downtown procession. This experience connected with my summer research project on the history and culture of the diocese, highlighting our opportunity to be the light where Catholicism is in the minority. I explored how we can uniquely embrace the family values that have for generations united and shaped our community, shared through art and cultural moments.

The most important aspect of my summer was the time spent in the diocese with the people of St. Peter of Alcantara and St. Augustine Parishes. They welcomed me into their community and deepened my understanding of our core values. Through their daily lives, I saw how our culture thrives on neighborly care for all people within our parish boundaries. Their work on the farm helped reveal how our resilient faith must be rooted in a deep trust in God.

Hunter Dickens, a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro, assists children in making s’mores during the Catholic Kids Camp Vacation Bible School program at St. Peter of Alcantara Parish in Stanley, where Dickens was assigned for the summer. COURTESY OF ST. PETER OF ALCANTARA

Conrad Jaconette

Fourth Configuration, Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology

The life of a seminarian is never boring, to say the least. This summer, I spent 26 hours in flight, immersed myself in 135 hours of Spanish language study in Guatemala, and, for four weeks, I witnessed the profound faith of the Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy. In all these events, I engaged with countless individuals whose lives have been radically transformed by Christ through His Holy Catholic Church.

To say that I am blessed as a seminarian in the Diocese of Owensboro is an understatement. This summer afforded me the unique opportunity to witness Christ’s interaction with people from diverse backgrounds. From a five-hour Corpus Christi procession on the cobblestone streets of Guatemala, where an entire town paused to celebrate the Eucharist, to an emotional field Mass with 300 basic cadets, covered in mud, sweat, and tears – I encountered faith in its most raw and powerful form.

This summer, God stretched and pushed me beyond my comfort zone, revealing to me His people – people around the world thirsting for an encounter. An encounter with the sacraments, His Church, and one another. What a beautiful Church we have, and what a beautiful gift it is to serve as your seminarian.

Originally printed in the September 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.