Seminarian Nick Freyberger

Parishioners of Our Lady of Hope,

I'm excited to have the opportunity to serve at Our Lady of Hope this summer as a seminarian as I continue to discern God's call for me in my Vocation! I am from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper, and I just finished up my third year of seminary formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. I've already had some interaction with Our Lady of Hope and have had the chance to meet some of you when visiting my mom, Pam, as well as my brother, sister-in-law, and niece, Kyle, Hannah, and Zelie when I've been home over breaks. I'm excited to get to know more of you throughout the summer, and I've put together this brief bio so you can get to know about me!

Growing up, my family lived in Evansville, and I went to St. Wendel School from kindergarten through 4th grade. After that point, I moved with my family up to Jasper where I completed middle school at Holy Family and went to Jasper High School. Growing up, mom did a lot to encourage my brothers and I in the practice of our faith, including bringing us to Mass and Confession, Eucharistic adoration, and praying together. This provided a foundation of faith in my life and was initially where I heard a call to priesthood.

After I graduated high school, I went to Purdue University where I studied civil engineering. Here I began to go deeper in my own personal relationship with God, more removed from the encouragement from family. I spent most of my free time when I wasn't studying at the Newman Center, St. Tom's, or at Mackey Arena watching Purdue basketball games. It was at St. Tom's that I found friendships that pointed me towards Christ. Here I was part of the Men's group, ran a Bible study group, and helped many times with the semesterly retreat, Boiler Awakening.

Once I graduated college, I began a career in Indianapolis. I worked for a company called ARCO Design/Build in Indianapolis, and ran a couple of construction projects as a Project Manager. While I had attained the goal of a college degree and a good job after graduating, I still lacked the fulfillment I thought I would have both inside and outside of work. There was a restless feeling that I couldn't shake, and after both a deepening in my faith and a breakup, I knew much of it was from me trying to live my own plan for my life. I finally made the first of many acts of surrender and asked God to show me what His will was for my life. I asked Him to show me what He made me for, and how to truly love as He does. 

Almost immediately, He guided me to a group called FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). FOCUS sends missionaries to college campuses across the country to evangelize and bring the good news of Christ to a place that largely lacks the Gospel. In my time as a missionary, I went to Mass and prayed a Holy Hour daily which was foundational for hearing God's voice. While spending more time in prayer and walking with college students in their relationship with Jesus, God made it clear He was calling me to take the next step into seminary.

The past three years in seminary have been some of the best years of my life. I spent the first year in Evansville, getting to know the Diocese of Evansville in a deeper way and continuing to develop a life of prayer. During the past two years, I was in formation at Kenrick-Glennon seminary in St. Louis. Here I studied philosophy and have learned to follow Christ in a more complete way as His disciple, surrendering anything that keeps me from drawing near to Him. As I continue to progress through seminary, I continue to be convicted of Jesus calling me to follow Him as a priest. At the end of this summer, I will continue my seminary formation in the configuration stage of seminary at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, which is the same seminary Fr. Tyler Underhill attended. This stage of seminary will focus on theology studies and the conforming of my heart to the heart of Christ as I prepare to become an alter Christus (another Christ), as his priest.

For hobbies, I enjoy disc golf, golf, hiking, guitar, and board games, and would be happy to share in any one of these activities with you. I also would be happy to join you for a meal in your home or out and about in Washington at some point this summer. I look forward to what this summer has in store and all God desires to speak to me through the priests and the people here in Washington!

In Christ,

Nick Freyberger