by Catherine Halbmaier
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — This fall, the vocations office of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will send three men to the seminary in order to discern their call to the priesthood.
According to Father Dan Morris, vocations director, this group of seminarians is special for several reasons. Through the stories of Nathan Laudan, James Euston and Gabriel Zuniga, he said, we can see God’s care for all of his people.
“These guys come from very diverse backgrounds,” said Father Morris. “They all have different ages, cultures and passions. It’s really an example that God calls all kinds.”
The process
Preparing to enter the seminary is a major undertaking in itself.
“The process takes about four months, then a man applies with the archdiocese and with the seminary we send them to,” said Father Morris. “Usually, we like to know a man for almost a year before letting him apply. We want to let the guys be known and engage in this process. That can benefit both them and the church all the more. Lots of vulnerability is involved, and this generation is very willing to share.”
Kelly Kmiecik, administrative assistant to the vocations office, reiterated the office’s dedication to guiding the discernment process.
“I just want to help these young men,” Kmiecik said. “I’m most impressed by this group’s diversity and perseverance. God really does call all kinds.”
Nathan Laudan: ‘The Barrenness of a Busy Life’
Before applying to the seminary, Nathan Laudan led a successful life in the working world. Now, faced with the first year of formation at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Laudan looks forward to a change.
“I’ve been in the working world since 2016 and lived all the business that comes with that,” Laudan said. “I’m looking forward to giving myself the time and space to experience God’s presence.”
Laudan grew up attending Holy Trinity Parish in Paola and attended school there until eighth grade. After completing public high school, Laudan went on to Kansas State University in Manhattan, where he served as a lector. Upon entering the workforce, Laudan became more deeply aware of his calling.
“I went to work for my fraternity, where I had an opportunity to serve men all across the U.S.,” he said. “That was when I started to identify the Catholic Church as my home. With each job transition, I always considered the priesthood but didn’t really talk to anybody about it.”
According to Laudan, it was through conversations with a non-Catholic girlfriend that he realized the depth of his calling.
“Midway through COVID I was dating a girl, we had some really serious conversations about faith, and it led me to realize that I couldn’t ignore this,” Laudan said. “I found true love of the Eucharist. We separated, and I went to go visit with the vocations office.”
In June of 2023, Laudan made contact with Father Morris, and the application process began.
“Father Dan has been a big help,” Laudan said. “He walked with me and gave me the tools and the resources to discern well.”
Arriving at this point in his journey, Laudan reflected on the hectic nature of life in the working world.
“I think it was Socrates who said, ‘Beware the barrenness of a busy life.’ I have lived that, and I’m excited to remove distractions and immerse myself in God’s presence.”
James Euston: A call to immediacy
Halfway through his sophomore year at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, James Euston knew he had to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. But Euston was not always so receptive to this calling.
“I grew up Catholic, but my family kind of left around my fourth grade,” Euston said. “I decided I wanted to be confirmed on my own, and youth group kept me close to the Lord.”
“At first, I was afraid of my calling and ran away,” he added. “I thought, maybe God will reveal it to me later.”
According to Euston, his first year at Franciscan University provided him with invaluable formation and opportunities to nurture his prayer life. A special opportunity came in the form of the university’s Austria program, in which students live and study abroad for a semester. While participating in this program during the fall of his sophomore year, Euston experienced a call at Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“I wanted to be alone with the Lord and pursue him only because of the grace I received at Medjugorje,” he said. “Everything flowed up to that point. After that, the Lord spoke to me really clearly.”
Upon returning home, Euston reached out to Father Morris and began the application process.
“Father Dan gave a very encouraging email back and invited me to meet with the archbishop,” said Euston. “That’s how we got the ball rolling. That winter, I met with him and Father Dan, and we laid out a temporary timeline for my application.”
Euston likened his call to that of the original disciples, describing his choice to leave behind college and the life he had known.
“It became clear that even though I love Franciscan and it would be hard leaving, the Lord was calling me now,” Euston said. “I wanted to respond in the moment like the disciples did. They dropped everything to follow. Christ always called them to immediacy, and I wanted to respond to that call.”
Gabriel Zuniga: Providence and trust
The road to discernment is a long one and requires much trust in God. For Gabriel Zuniga, born in San José, Costa Rica, this is especially true.
“I have felt called by the Lord for as long as I can remember,” said Zuniga. “I grew up in a humble home where we often faced financial hardships. I learned to trust in God’s providence and saw his unwavering support through others lending their hands.”
At 18 years old, Zuniga entered the seminary for the first time. Upon reaching the second year, he decided to pursue other paths in life. He worked as a teacher and led pastoral care at the school. It was during eucharistic adoration with his students that Zuniga felt a renewed calling to the priesthood.
“As I approached the tabernacle, took the host and placed it in the monstrance, everything which was dormant in my heart stirred,” Zuniga said. “With my spiritual director’s guidance, I decided to respond to this call. I needed to let go of everything, including the woman I loved.
“Telling her that I felt called by God was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Love involves the mystery of suffering.”
Thanks to a connection between Zuniga’s spiritual director and Father Dan Coronado of the archdiocese, Zuniga was referred to the vocations office. He arrived in Topeka in March and has been working hard to perfect his English quickly.
“I have only five loaves and two fish, which may seem insufficient, but I trust that God shows his strength through our weakness,” said Zuniga. “I am grateful to God for the opportunity to come to this country and for the warm welcome I have received.”
Still calling
Through the varied experiences of these three men, it becomes clear that God calls all kinds to his priesthood. Father Morris and the vocations office strive to help any who come to them with a calling.
“The application forced me to concretely lay out why my heart desires to serve the church as a priest,” said Laudan. “It’s necessary in order to know the hearts of the men applying.”
Euston praised the formation he received during his application process.
“The diocese is very blessed,” said Euston. “The archbishop has been incredible; he is an amazing shepherd to all of us and has put amazing shepherds beneath him.”
For Zuniga, the support of the archdiocese on his journey was invaluable.
In his words: “It is moving to feel that he who called his disciples more than 2,000 years ago is still calling men and women from every race, language and nation to dedicate their lives to the greater glory of God.”
